I scored this one off eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1575&item=2526005361&rd=1 Does anyone know how good it sounds? I've always thought the U.S. CD and vinyl had way too much top end. I have not heard this disc or the MFSL vinyl.
I'd be interested in knowing too. All I have is the US vinyl of this release. But, if it's anything like the first releases of Rio, including the Toshiba release as I understand - they may all still be the same. Joel
I got the Duran disc today, and I can say it's a different mastering than the U.S. disc. I have compared the two. The Toshiba disc is certainly not as bright and the bass is warmer with more presence. The album mix itself is still that made-for-radio 80's pop sound so the gains are minimal. The hiss does not fade between tracks like the U.S. disc and judging from the level of hiss, the tape is probably another generation down. That may account for the slight softening as well. On a whole, I'd have to say the Toshiba disc is better balanced and an easier listen for my ears. So I'm happy with it. Musically, this is not Duran Duran's best work. This one of the very first LP's I ever bought so it remains a sentimental favorite. For those keeping score, the catalog # is CP35-3082.
I just posted a scan in the"first pressings" thread. While doing that, I noticed this Duran disc catalog # is right before the Bob Seger disc The Distance shown on page four.
That would describe about 80% of the Japan CDs that I have. The Toshiba "black triangle" CDs seem to be especially good...perhaps because they are so old.