Hollies Greatest Hits Re-masters

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Khorn, Jun 20, 2002.

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  1. Khorn

    Khorn Dynagrunt Obversarian Thread Starter

    Seeking advice as to which are the best of the new Hollies greatest hits re-masters, seems to be a few out there.
     
  2. Bob Lovely

    Bob Lovely Super Gort In Memoriam

    Khorn,

    There are a number of threads in the archives!....some very good insights...

    Bob :)
     
  3. Khorn, I have the Legacy remaster from a few months ago. As usual with Legacy, it sounds really good. I don't know about other Hollies CDs, though.

    Sonny
     
  4. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    Khorn buddy!

    Just cause your a fellow countryman I'll give it to ya!

    According to our own SH the one to get is the EMI/Capitol 20 Golden Greats S2 46238 on EMI. I have it and it is miles ahead of every other version that I've heard, but I haven't heard the Legecy. ;)
     
  5. Bob Lovely

    Bob Lovely Super Gort In Memoriam

    Dave,

    That one sounds very good but I like the re-mixed three disc greatest hits set better for "pure sonics". However, for the original mixes (the re-mixes are not really that different), the disc that you recommended is a "can't miss".

    Bob :)
     
  6. David R. Modny

    David R. Modny Гордий українець-американець

    Location:
    Streetsboro, Ohio
    I gotta take issue with this Bob. Good or bad, the mixes on the Furmanak set are drastically different than the originals in nearly every case where they were done. An example, the mono-original "B" side "Not That Way At All". The original was swimming in echo effects, mega analog compression. It's pretty much dry here on the new stereo-remix.

    On the hits, same thing. Different stereo placement (purposely) from the original hard right/hard left stereo versions., dry vocals, etc...

    This set was really created with the intention of creating something different; an alternate reality not for purist purposes. I actually got a kick out of some of the results like "Open Up Your Eyes"...but mostly for the thrill of hearing them in discrete stereo instead of lo-fi mono. They're nothing like the originals though. The B sides can be found on the See For Miles "Other Side Of The Hollies" set; the hits a million other places.
     
  7. Bob Lovely

    Bob Lovely Super Gort In Memoriam

    Dave,

    I guess, I stand corrected in my description of the mixes. On some of the more well known tracks like I'm Alive, Look Through Any Window, Bus Stop, etc, etc. I do not hear those same "drastic" differences. Differences for sure, however. I have never really been opposed to remixes as long as what I hear is sonically superior to an earlier or original mix. Underlying for me is the quality of the sound. On that set, sound quality was greatly improved on many of tracks. I suppose my point of view may be unpopular but I do not consider the original mixes as sacred, especially Stereo. Why?, because so many of the Stereo mixes during that era were either poorly or sloppily done. During those years it was the Mono mix that counted and the Mono mix is typically where the real "sweat equity" was expended. In my earlier post, I should have explained my thinking with more detail.

    When it comes to the Hollies, you do not miss much!

    Bob :)
     
  8. njwiv

    njwiv Senior Member

    Location:
    Atlanta, GA
    Just picked this one up too. Very nice! Thanks for the recommendation, Steve. I am one that also likes the Furmanek 3-disc set, but it is nice to also have the original mixes of the bigger hits. What's the consensus on the Epic Anthology subtitled "From The Original Master Tapes" (appropriating the title Steve made famous)?

    Jay
     
  9. David R. Modny

    David R. Modny Гордий українець-американець

    Location:
    Streetsboro, Ohio
    It was supposedly actually mastered from *copies* of tapes dispatched to the US. It was the first place to hear "Carrie Anne" and "Dear Eloise" w/ the pre-song shenanigans, and it's absolutely essential if you're a Hollies completist for the prev. unreleased acoustic version of "Magic Woman Touch".

    The sound...low resolution, flat transfers. Kinda grainy and harsh. What I would probably say I disliked most about digital 10 years ago. It's not "over-brightened" or "compressed" or anything like that. It's not just the best sounding this stuff has sounded,....in my arrogant, snooty opinion, that is....lol!

    It was nice to have "Indian Girl" on CD too!
     
  10. David R. Modny

    David R. Modny Гордий українець-американець

    Location:
    Streetsboro, Ohio
  11. lukpac

    lukpac Senior Member

    Location:
    Milwaukee, WI
    Is that the one that has "Carrie Anne, remix stereo 2" or whatever before the song? Why would the copy have that intact?
     
  12. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host

    Why wouldn't it?

    Epic redubbed again with triple the echo for the USA album master...
     
  13. lukpac

    lukpac Senior Member

    Location:
    Milwaukee, WI
    Er...I didn't figure they would include such stuff when dubs were made...
     
  14. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host

    Oh, I see what you meant.

    At first I thought that the mixes were made just for Epic USA, but according to the EMI log books, that's not the case.

    I've heard a lot of tapes that are dubs of mixes that don't have the engineer "talk" cut off at the beginning. It's fun, but after a while get that guy outta there already and start the song!
     
  15. David R. Modny

    David R. Modny Гордий українець-американець

    Location:
    Streetsboro, Ohio
    Well, I should clarify that when the set came out the compliers specifically made mention of "Carrie Anne" being from the best master. So, take that as you may. Interesting that it appears to be an original 60's mix slate on here.



    What's also interesting is that the Furmanek Anniversary collection - which is supposed to have used original masters too - has a completely different Ron Richard's slate, simply - "Carrie Anne take two" - before Tony's live countdown. Also, this track was one of the few tracks not dealt a remix for the set....the original hard right/left panning intact. Is the original 4-track MIA?

    FWIW, both versions are the usual, same mix. Going from memory, the original American, 60's vinyl issue of "Evolution" simply added a healthy dose of crap reverb to this standard mix.
     
  16. David R. Modny

    David R. Modny Гордий українець-американець

    Location:
    Streetsboro, Ohio
    I went back and listened to the Epic Anthology this morning and it's actually better than I remembered it. The first-time stereo mix of "Everything Is Sunshine" sounds nice and authentic (i.e. compared to the original mono b side), whereas the Furmanek remix doesn't.

    "Listen To Me" which was never that great a recording to begin with, actually sounds pretty decent here (maybe even better than 20 Golden Greats?).

    It's also obvious that whether or not two-track "originals" or two-track "copies" were utilized...they were sourced from the English masters. "Try It" here is the "Butterfly" LP mix. When it was released as a b side here in the States, it eliminated the sound effect intro.

    The flat transfers of stuff like "King Midas" sounds good too. Flat, but good.

    (As per the above paragraph, It's also interesting to note that the tracks on this set, which were done by Irwin/Anesini, sound vastly different than the duo's more recent GH effort)

    So, overall, I'll eat crow and say that I think that I think the sound is good, better than what I used to think. Maybe my ears have grown up, eh?
     
  17. lukpac

    lukpac Senior Member

    Location:
    Milwaukee, WI
    How are they different? Better or worse?
     
  18. David R. Modny

    David R. Modny Гордий українець-американець

    Location:
    Streetsboro, Ohio
    Geez, I wouldn't want to make that call. The GH stuff is louder, maybe eq'ed differently. I guess what would best defined as "modern mastering".

    You should e-mail Bob and maybe, politely, ask for his input. You guys are "buds"...right?...lol!

    It would be interesting to verify or debunk just what vintage of tapes were used in the EA collection vs. the new collection of respective GH tracks. I believe it was a Goldmine article on the Hollies, way back when, that first put forth the notion of "copies" being used on the Epic Anthology (*maybe* Neal Umphred ?).
     
  19. lukpac

    lukpac Senior Member

    Location:
    Milwaukee, WI
    Ha! Not really, actually...

    I'll just let you figure out all this Hollies stuff and get back to me on it:)
     
  20. chip-hp

    chip-hp Cool Cat

    Location:
    Dallas, TX
    Is the "20 Golden Greats ..." CD currently available in UK the same mastering as the original CD?
     
  21. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    What's the catalogue number on it chip?
     
  22. chip-hp

    chip-hp Cool Cat

    Location:
    Dallas, TX
    EMI CDP-7-462382 (supposedly released in Aug. 2000) which is, as I understand it, the same cat. # as the original ('85?) release. It has the same 20 tracks (which unfortunately do not include "Pay You Back With Interest" - a #28 song on BB in '67) as the original.
     
  23. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    Hmmmm, good question Chip but I'm afraid that I really can't be of much help. Mine definately says catalogue number S2 46238 on both the jacket and cd.

    I think perhaps to be on the safe side that I'd go with the Capitol/EMI version as we know it's for sure the original mixes. Heck, mine doesn't even say what year the cd was done, just that it's the 1978 mix.

    The one I have is available from www.absound.ca and www.hmv.com

    Hope that helps a bit.:)
     
  24. lukpac

    lukpac Senior Member

    Location:
    Milwaukee, WI
    Er...that IS the same catalog number as the one Chip saw. Just formatted a bit differently.

    FWIW, my copy has the catalog number formatted just like Chip's and it says 1978.
     
  25. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    Then I'd say Luke that it must be the different country thing, but what's with the "August 2000 release" thing? It definately had to be out before that...
     
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