Essential Barry Diament masterings

That's the mastering credit for the original LP. Many of the early CDs just reused the Lp artwork and didn't change the credits.

 

For the sake of this thread I'm posting that Barry recently listened to an original Highway to Hell (Japan) and stated that he believes that the mastering is his work.
I got an original Atlantic lcd ast week and can also confirm that it sounds great to these ears.

Here's his post from the AC/DC thread- Thanks for the info Barry!




A friend has sent me an extra copy he had of "Highway To Hell".

The CD was manufactured by Warner-Pioneer (#18P2-2761).
After listening and searching for long dormant memory cells (we are after all, talking about something from more than 20 years ago), I believe this was manufactured from a CD master I created.

The CD master was probably sourced from a copy (I don't recall originals on this one and those few occasions I actually had originals seem to stand out in memory).

I did notice a few things in this pressing that I would have flagged, had I heard it back then. (I didn't hear any Japanese releases back then.)
Namely, if you listen to the transition from the end of "Beating Around The Bush" to the start of "Shot Down In Flames", there is a small click just as the latter starts. You won't hear it if you just go directly to "Shot Down In Flames". I think this happened in the pressing plant. Don't know why or how. There are similar clicks in front of "Night Prowler".

Other than that, I hear little hints that tell me the source was my master.

Hope this helps the folks trying to figure this out.

Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com

 

Barry,

Did you do the mastering for "Hello, I Must Be going" after Phil liked what you did for "Face Value" and did yo have a flat transfer of those mixes also? Thanks.

Pat

 

Hi Pat,

If I recall correctly, when I created my version of "Face Value", "Hello, I Must Be Going" was already out. When Phil heard what I did with "Face Value", the directive came to have me create masters for both albums, which I did.

I believe both have since been re-mastered again, so it may take some searching to find the versions I did. The "target" disks from West Germany are the original masterings, before the ones I did.

I sent clones of my masters to many pressing facilities. The CDs I kept for myself at the time (I no longer have them unfortunately) were pressed by WEA Manufacturing.

Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com

 

Barry,

Did you master the Anthology of Bread CD on Elektra? I believe that it is listed as your mastering somewhere in this sprawling thread, but I don't think it has ever been directly confirmed by you. Since there are no mastering credits on the CD, I thought I'd ask you directly.

Thanks much and cheers,

 

Here's a thread involving our efforts to ID Barry's Hello (Barry commented in that thread as well (thanks Barry!)):
http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=91775&highlight=collins

The one I think is Barry's mastering sounds great! (except for the one channel drop-out at the beginning of the disc on mine)

 

Hi Gary,

Sometimes I remind my self of a politician at a senate investigation:
"I'm sorry, I don't recall".

I don't recall mastering any CDs by Bread. (Doesn't necessarily mean I didn't. I just don't remember doing any of their CDs.)

Perhaps Zal remembers this one.
What do you think Zal, does it ring any bells?

Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com

 

As far as this is concerned...the original release date was in '85, and the CD was released in '90, and by that time I believe Barry had left Atlantic...

 

Thanks Barry. I have the "Target" pressing and a WEA pressing. The WEA pressing starts at 0.00 - no lag time before the first track and the drums just explode from the speakers and the first track Peaks at -0.4 dB in Peak LE 5.

I have 3 pressings of Face Value - trying to get your version. One is the "Target", one is a Columbia House issue - very early US release with a DIDX 448 stamped around the center, and a WEA issue. The DIDX issue seems to be the same as the Target once you increase the gain of the Target. The Wave forms look the same. The WEA issue is different and again the first track Peak level is -0.4 dB.

Pat

 

Thanks for the info. Since most here use EAC and I am on a MAC and don't have EAC, most of the info they talk about I can't relate to. Peak levels and wave forms I can relate to.

Pat

 

Hi Zal,

Where is the "1990" coming from?
If Amazon, if might be wrong.
(It would appear they had no calendars until then. )

If the original release was in '85, Atlantic was doing CDs then.
This would make me suspect that either I did it and have forgotten or it was one of those that was farmed out for outside mastering when the flood of CDs became too much for one person to do. (I'd be on the latter but am not sure.)

Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com

 

Hi Pat,

If you compare CDs from my masters to the earlier releases of Phil's first two solo albums on CD, the differences should be quite pronounced and not simply level based (though mine are louder because the initial CDs didn't use the headroom).

There should be more dynamic range (i.e. "slam"), more bass extension and an absence of the lower treble boost of the earlier versions.

Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com

 

CD Universe says street date was Oct.25, '90. If they get their info from Amazon, I don't know.

Dennis King did the mastering for vinyl.

 

Hi Zal,

To my knowledge, Dennis didn't do any CD masters.

I might be able to tell if it is my work (I don't believe it is) if I could hear an original CD but I don't have one.

So I suppose it remains a mystery.

Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com

 

I have Led Zeppelin - Song Remains The Same (2CD) Swan Song (250161D)... but it also say Mfg for BMG. I bought this a very long time ago, probably late 80's or early 90's. Would this still likely be Barry's master even though it was done through BMG? Also anyone know who just did the 2007 remaster of this that was just released ? (By the way, somebody spelled your name Diamont by mistake in the credits area of that wiki page

TIA

 

Yes, you would have Barry's cd mastering. I love that version.
The 2007 release was mastered by Bob Ludwig.

Btw, Welcome!!!

 

Excellent. And thanks for the welcome...my first post here. Been lurking for a while and thought it time to join in.

Is that you with JP in your avatar?

 

No, that's the great Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top).

 

was thinking ZZ top when i saw the beard, but had to ask.

 

Can we update the list with catalog numbers where available?

 

Barry, I believe you're right.

When Dennis mastered the Drifters double box sets, I ended up "mastering" for the CDs, but to a great extent, I left the sonics pretty much as Dennis had done them.

I was handed 1630s of both boxes and formatted from them. I don't know what he actually used to cut his vinyl from. But my perception at the time was that he did little EQing and minimal compression. Maybe he did apply more when he actually did the cutting.

But, to my ears, my 1630s sounded pretty much like the original master tapes.

 

Here you go. It is still a work in progress.


AC/DC - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
AC/DC - Highway To Hell (confirmed)
AC/DC - Back In Black
AC/DC - For Those About To Rock
AC/DC - Who Made Who

Bad Company – Bad Company
Bad Company – Straight Shooter
Bad Company – 10 out of 6
Bad Company - Run With The Pack (1975) ??
Bad Company - Burnin' Sky (1976) ??
Bad Company - Desolation Angels (1979)??
Bad Company - Rough Diamonds (1982)??
Anita Baker - Rapture
Bellvue Cadillac - Black and White
The Blues Brothers - Briefcase Full Of Blues (CD) Atlantic, WEA International Inc.
Tommy Bolin - The Ultimate CD
Edie Brickell & New Bohemians - Shooting Rubberbands At The Stars (CD, Album) Geffen Records

John Cage & The Arditti Quartet - The Complete String Quartets, Vol. 1 (CD, Album) Mode
The Call - Reconciled
Chic - C'est Chic (?)
The Coasters - The Ultimate Coasters (maybe)
Phil Collins - Hello, I Must Be Going (still haven't determined which version is Barry's mastering)
Phil Collins - Face Value (still haven't determined which version is Barry's mastering)
Cowboy Mouth - Word of Mouth
Crosby, Stills & Nash - Crosby, Stills & Nash
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Deja vu
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - So Far

Danzig - Danzig (CD, Album) American Recordings
Dr. Fiorella Terenzi - Music From The Galaxies (CD) Island Records (US)
Dokken - Under Lock And Key (CD) Elektra
Dokken - Breaking The Chains (CD, Album) Elektra
Dokken - Under Lock & Key

The Eagles – The Eagles (CD)
The Eagles – Desperado CD
The Eagles - Hotel California CD
The Eagles – The Long Run (CD)
The Eagles - Greatest Hits (?)
The Eagles - Greatest Hits Volume 2 (confirmed)
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Emerson, Lake & Palmer (CD) Atlantic
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery (CD, Album) Atlantic, Columbia House
Enya - Watermark (original and reissue with added tracks)

Roberta Flack - Killing Me Softly
Aretha Franklin - best of (?)

----------------------------------------------------

- "I did create CD masters for all --or almost all-- of the Genesis albums not long after I left Atlantic in the late '80s. Since I never received copies of pressings, I do not know if any of the masters I sent were ever used for CD production."

See posts #222 - 228 in this thread.

Genesis - Selling England By The Pound (?)
Genesis - A Trick Of The Tail
Genesis - Duke
Genesis - Abacab
Genesis - Three Sides Live

----------------------------------------------------

The Georgia Satellites - The Gerogia Satellites CD, Album) Elektra
Guns’N’Roses - Appetite For Destruction (CD, Album) Geffen Records
Guns’N’Roses - G N' R Lies (CD) Geffen Records, BMG Direct Marketing, Inc.

Hex - Hex (CD, Album) First Warning Records
Hex (LP) Demon Records 1990

INXS - Listen Like Thieves (CD, Album) Atlantic

Grace Jones - Island Life

Keeler - Autofocus (CD) Great Orm Productions
Tommy Keene - Based On Happy Times CD
Rusty Kershaw - Now and Then
Kitaro - The Light Of The Spirit (CD, Album) Geffen Records, Geffen Records
KMFDM - Glory (CD) Wax Trax! Records, TVT Records

Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin (supplied with the "reverse channel" tape. This tape has been used for other vinyl masterings. Some songs from this album used on comps have "reverse channels")
Led Zeppelin - II
Led Zeppelin - III
Led Zeppelin - Houses Of The Holy
Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti (2xCD) Swan Song
Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains The Same (2xCD) Swan Song
Led Zeppelin - Presence (CD,Album) Atlantic, Swan Song
Led Zeppelin - In Through The Out Door
Led Zeppelin - Coda

Bob Marley - Catch A Fire (CD) Tuff Gong
Bob Marley - Burnin'
Bob Marley - Natty Dread
Bob Marley - Live! (CD, Album) Tuff Gong, Island Records
Bob Marley - Rastaman Vibration (CD) Tuff Gong
Bob Marley - Exodus
Bob Marley - Kaya (CD) Tuff Gong, Island Records
Bob Marley - Babylon By Bus
Bob Marley - Survival (CD, Album) Tuff Gong, Island Records
Bob Marley - Uprising (CD) Island Records (Germany)
Bob Marley - Confrontation (CD) Tuff Gong, Island Records
Bob Marley - Legend

Mike + The Mechanics - Mike + The Mechanics
Mötley Crüe - Too Fast For Love

Ivan Neville - Thanks (not 100% sure)
Gary Nicholson - The Sky's Not The Limit
Nico - The Marbel Index
Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine (TVT Records)
Nu Shooz - Poolside (CD)

Of Cabbages And Kings - Hunter's Moon (CD) Les Disques Du Soleil Et De L'Acier, Triple X Records
Of Cabbages And Kings - Never Too Late (CD) Triple X Records
Benjamin Orr - The Lace (CD, Album) Elektra

Robert Palmer - Pressure Drop
Robert Palmer - Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley
Robert Palmer - Pride
Robert Palmer – Riptide CD

The Rascals - Ultimate CD
Ratt - Dancing Undercover (CD) Atlantic
Otis Redding - Ultimate Otis Redding CD
Linda Ronstadt - Simple Dreams
Linda Ronstadt - What's New
Linda Ronstadt - Lush Life
Linda Ronstadt - For Sentimental Reasons

Simply Red - Men And Women
Slayer - South Of Heaven (CD, Album) American Recordings 2002
Slayer - Reign in Blood
Stacey Q - Better Than Heaven
Subdudes - Lucky
The Sun And The Moon - Sun And The Moon (CD, Album) Geffen Records

Pete Townshend - All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes
Pete Townshend - Psychoderelict (CD, Album) Atlantic 1993

- "'Psychoderelict' was most definitely from the 1/2" original mixes, placed in my hands by Pete himself. Now there's a memory that remains in the foreground light: me and Pete alone in the mastering room, listening to the final playback of the mastered version of the album, both of us tapping our feet to the beat. (Was I nervous? I must have lost a gallon of sweat, hoping he'd like what he heard. We listened to the whole thing without talking. Then, his comment: "Superb". One of my happiest mastering memories.)"

Pete Townshend - White City
Pete Townshend - Deep End Live
Pete Townshend - Scoop (?)
Pete Townshend - Another Scoop (?)

Underworld - Born Slippy (CD) Wax Trax! Records, TVT Records
U2 - Under A Blood Red Sky (CD, Album) Island Masters
U2 - October (CD) Island

Various - Atlantic Soul Classics
Various - Stand By Me (soundtrack)
Various - Woodstock - Music From The Original Soundtrack And More (2xCD) Atlantic

Work Of Art - Lift (Soundkeeper Recordings - SR4001)
Work Of Art - Simplicity (Sword in the Stone Records - SSR54)

Yes - The Yes Album
Yes - Close To The Edge (CD, Album) Atlantic
Yes - Drama
Yes - 90125

Warren Zevon - A Quiet Normal Life: The Best Of Warren Zevon (CD) Asylum

 

GREAT work, Darcy!!!

 

Barry mastered the original release and not the 2003 remaster on the Hip-O label.

BTW, thanks for the list.

 

No really. I just read the posts and made changes. This is still a work in progress. What needs to be added? Catalogue numbers? I just listened to a few Genesis "A Trick Of The Tail" CDs which weren't the same. Is one of these Barry's work?? And to track down the Phil Collins discs.

The new Work Of Art disc Barry is mastering (and mixing?) has a reggae flavour. If you like his Marley masterings this might be up your alley. I assume these are better sounding recordings.

fixed. I'm not sure what (CD, Album) means. I only did a copy and paste of what other members added earlier in the thread. Did Barry also do LP mastering for some of these?