DCC Archive Fresh Cream

Just out of curiosity - who here would be interested in a remix of Fresh Cream? Ie, ala Pet Sounds - syncing up the original backing multitracks with the overdub multitracks, so the backing isn't totally squashed in one channel (or, in the case of I'm So Glad, total mono). Last I knew all the tapes existed. As far as I'm concerned, the thing could say "THIS IS A REMIX - NOT THE ORIGINAL MIX" - whatever. To hear the backing on I Feel Free sound like it does on Toad would really rock...

Just something Steve and I have been having a little discussion about...

 

Count me in on that one Luke! That would be awesome to hear with the same depth of harmonies as Pet Sounds.

 

Interested ? Oh hell YES ! Not only my favorite Cream title, but also my favorite "audiophile" disc and top 5 desert island title as well. A+ suggestion all the way Luke, count me in too ! -ED

 

Well, I guess I'm not the only one, then. Convincing Bill Levenson might be another story, though. Then there's...hmm, maybe I won't touch that yet, Steve

 

I'll buy it if it's $11.99 or less and proves to be a revelation.

 

You bet!! As much as I like the DCC disc that stereo mix annoys me but I thought the multis for that album were thrown out years ago because I thought British Polydor weren't as concerned about archiving their tapes as the U.S branch(Polygram). That guy Levenson seems to have his head screwed on right,read an interview with him about 10 yrs ago concerning Polygram's holdings,it was obvious he is no boob who couldn't care less about that wonderful archive.

 

Hmm...when I spoke with Bill Levenson awhile back, I specifically asked about this (and the possibility of I'm So Glad in stereo). At the time Bill told me that all of the tapes *do* exist, and that it *would* be an interesting project. He seemed concerned about the complexity of a sync-up, though.

 

Hell,if he says they exist then by all means someone should do it,I've had the idea for a re-mix for ages when I found out how it was recorded but thought the stage tapes were gone.It would be great to hear Steve get a properly balanced stereo mix going,no worrying if about compression,effects etc.. just get a good balance then and let it ride..

 

Well, I know *I* would worry about such things, but...

Also, for those not in the know, here's the deal. For the majority of the songs, the backing tracks were cut on a 4-track machine. Drums, bass, rhythm guitar, and possibly another guitar, piano, etc. Those 4 tracks were then bounced down to a mono machine, as they only had 1 4-track machine. That mono backing tape was then copied to another 4-track, with 3 tracks open for overdubs - vocals, lead guitar, handclaps, etc.

Right now the backing is squashed into one channel. A remix would allow the backing to be spread out and un-squashed a bit. For example, rhythm guitar left, drums center, bass right - you get the picture.

Note that on a couple of tracks, everything was cut on the original multitrack, so no bouncing was involved and things sound a lot better. Toad is an example of this (guitars left, bass center, drums right).

 

Well let's face it,once you start doing a re-mix you have to get all the right gear etc... if re-mixing ala Simon And Garfunkel reissues to be historically correct BUT this job as far as I'm concerned is not mean't to be "historically" correct because a "true" stereo mix already exists I just want to hear those 7 tracks going full blast damn the correct compression and effects unless it's for technical reasons(as you can tell I'm not an expert on recording techniques/mastering,I'll leave it to Steve)and to hear a much improved stereo spread.

 

Do it! Do it! Do it! I love The Cream. It would be great to have the soundstage opened up.

I saw them perform in a small teen club in a suburb of Chicago during their last American tour. It was great.

By the way, has anybody heard the Jack Bruce/Ginger Baker CD called Sitting On Top Of The World? It is a live concert recording of Jack’s 50th birthday concert.. About 5 or 6 of the songs on the album are Cream songs. Even though Eric is not playing on the album, these songs sound great. Jack’s voice is powerful, his bass still has that strange “burping” sound, Ginger’s drumming is as good as ever and the backup band really rocks. If you are a Cream fan this CD is worth getting.

 

Try having a look for Jack's "Cities of the Heart" - the full concert that was precised on "Sitting on top of the World" It also comes in a special edition - see ebay

 

Not only would the un-bouncing allow flexibity in stereo placement, but it would also get you up a generation too. Both changes would really help with Cream's recordings, I would think. It'd be REALLY hard to do something that would satisfy the people who have been listening to this in the original mixes for 30+ years. We'd need . . . .


A Bird!?

A Plane!?

No, Steve!

-j

 

Two generations, actually. The backing four-track was first bounced to a mono machine, then *that* was copied to a second 4-track. They only had 1 four-track machine...

 

Luke, isn't this exactly what they did with The Beatles Yellow Submarine Songtrack? But in that case, you did not like the results?

 

Yeah, that's what they did, and no, I didn't like the results. It's not that it *can't* be done right, it's just that they didn't do it right.

On the other hand, I quite like the stereo mix of Pet Sounds, done the same way.

Besides, if Fresh Cream were remixed like that, I'd make sure...er, nevermind

 

Well, I didn't care for the Songtrack either. The funny thing is I would rate it fairly high, on a strictly sonic scale. It just sounds so... er ... "clinical". I find myself more interested in taking apart the recording technique rather than having the music flow over me. This becomes even worse when listening in 5.1 on the DVD.

As a matter of fact - that is the problem with many of the current surround mixes.

 

You know Luke, the more I think about it, the record company shouldn't have any objections to put out a remixed version of Fresh Cream. Hell, look at how many versions of Live At Leeds is floating around out there ? (and they still haven't gotten it right). -ED

 

I mentioned it to Bill Levenson a few years ago, and he seemed a bit interested. E-mailed him recently but haven't heard back...