I'm in a Moody Blues kick...

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Todd Fredericks, Aug 10, 2002.

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  1. Todd Fredericks

    Todd Fredericks Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    A New Yorker
    Which vinyl pressings would be considered the best? I just won a first pressing UK 'On The Threshold Of A Dream' on Ebay. Are the UK's great or anything else??

    Todd
     
  2. BeatleFred

    BeatleFred Senior Member

    Location:
    Queens, New York
    My fave MB is 'In Search Of the Lost Chord'- now THATS a Great album- "Voices in the Sky", "Thinking is the Best Way To Travel"...etc.. its just a great record all the way through.
     
  3. Michael

    Michael I LOVE WIDE S-T-E-R-E-O!

    Have you checked out any of the Moody Blues CD releases?
     
  4. jkerr

    jkerr Senior Member

    Location:
    Suffolk, VA
    It would be nice to see some info on the different MB lp pressings. I remember reading somewhere, maybe audioasylum, that the uk issues (all? some?) were actually pressed in Holland. And sounded better than the MFSL Anadiscs.

    I just recently got 5 Moody lps from a used record shop. US pressings. Have no idea of the vintage but they were cheap ($5 or 6 ea). After a good cleaning, all but one were dead quiet. They sound very nice & warm.

    Also the comments around here about the Speakers Corner pressing of Days of Future Passed are very positive. I might spring for that one myself.
     
  5. pdenny

    pdenny 22-Year SHTV Participation Trophy Recipient

    Location:
    Hawthorne CA
    I used to listen to the MFSL SEVENTH SOJOURN LP (still have it)...really great, certainly blows away any redbook CD version.

    And then I got the DTS CD...oofah! This is probably the best-sounding multichannel mix of anything I've ever played. Talk about air! You can hear the breath coming out Ray's mouth into the flute at the opening of "Land of Make Believe"...chairs squeeking in the orchestra on "Isn't Life Strange." The 2-channel mix is fab too.
     
  6. Sckott

    Sckott Hand Tighten Only.

    Location:
    South Plymouth, Ma
    I was lucky to buy a Decca reissue of Search of The Lost Chord. The pressing was as thin as a coffee stir. The sound as fabulous! Try and snag a UK pressing of the album.

    I also got a Deram Future Passed, pressed in Holland, and it was mediocre, mostly for the fact that the pressing was VERY noisy! Mint, brand new.

    IMHO, if you find the older MB Cds, the ones with the grey back-covers, get them. especially "Lost Chord" and "Threshold Of A Dream". Both have never sounded better.
     
  7. stereo71

    stereo71 Senior Member

    Location:
    texas
    Hi Todd--

    Congratulations on winning the UK Threshold! It's always
    been one of my favorite Moodys albums, very dynamic sound.
    Be sure to let the final cut on side 2 play into the runout
    grooves...

    I can't really say what pressings are the best, but I do
    know that if you want the original mix of Days of Future
    Passed you have to find an early (60's at least) Deram
    (or UK Decca?) pressing, as the later ones (and all CD
    versions) are made from a 70s remix. Something about the
    original two-track master being damaged or deteriorated
    beyond use. I have several original (or at least early)
    Lps, as well as the new Speakers Corner issue. It is a
    good pressing, slightly bright but not excessively so.
    To my ears it has that "made from a digital source" kind
    of graininess that the originals don't, especially on some
    of the vocal parts. It is identical to the CD mix.

    I found a mint MOFI of Threshold not too long ago, and it
    sounds wonderful! Let us know how your UK copy sounds.

    --Roger
     
  8. Stax Fan

    Stax Fan Forum Resident

    Location:
    Midwest
    I have an original UK Deram "On The Threshold Of A Dream". It sounds wonderful...and it's quiet. Unfortunately, I've never heard the MFSL Anadisc, gold CD, or the Nautilus pressing...so I can't compare. Still, it's hard to imagine they'd be better. I know it's better than the US Deram, and as mentioned above, that's a pretty solid pressing. The original UK DSS pressing of "In Search Of The Lost Chord" is a winner, too!
     
  9. Todd Fredericks

    Todd Fredericks Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    A New Yorker
    I'll definately post my experience with the UK 'Threshold...' when I get it in a week or so. I have a nice US Deram and it has the "tone" in the run-out groove (I listened to it tonight). I have the MFSL of 'Every Good Boy...' and it does sound excellent. I had a chance to pick up all those MFSL MB'
    s when they came out but I just kept passing (I used to see them in Tower/J&R/Virgin/etc. all the time/the good old days). I also have the US pressing of that one too. I beleive I have all the US pressings (plus an original Deram of 'Days...'). I also have an early 70's Japenese 'Days...' and that sounds good too (I think it's the original mix). So, right now I'm curious to hear what a UK first pressing sounds like compared to the others. I think those early albums are just great...

    Todd
     
  10. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialistâ„¢

    Location:
    B.C.
    As far as the Gold CD's by MFSL, they are the best CD version out there as the originals are far more scarce, but they do suffer, tragically I might add, from the dreaded smiley faced eq.:(
     
  11. jkerr

    jkerr Senior Member

    Location:
    Suffolk, VA
    Todd, how do you tell its a first pressing? I love those early ones too and if the UK pressings are a lot better than the US (which would make sense) I'd like to track those down, especially if they can be found for reasonable $ (meaning a lot less than the MFSLs).
     
  12. Todd Fredericks

    Todd Fredericks Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    A New Yorker
    From my limited knowledge on this (still researching), the key comes from the number after W on the dead-wax. W-1 (first pressing), W-2 (next pressing), higher numbers much later. I hope Tom Port is lurking somewhere to add to this...

    Todd
     
  13. stereo71

    stereo71 Senior Member

    Location:
    texas
    In case you haven't seen this, Tom's blurb on the Speakers
    Corner DOFP (and comment on first pressing) is here:

    www.betterrecords.com/working/rock.php?section=speakers

    I'll admit I think the pressing is great, as is the sound
    quality, it's just not the original mix I remember hearing
    since 1968. The differences are subtle, as Derek Varnals
    did a great job on the remix--and I recommend it as quality
    vinyl. Sure would like to find a UK first press though!

    --Roger
     
  14. Stax Fan

    Stax Fan Forum Resident

    Location:
    Midwest
    The following is the information necessary to determine the origins of your UK Decca-produced Moody Blues LPs:

    The lacquer number is located at the 6 o'clock position, following the tape sequence number. The letter following the lacquer number represents the recording engineer. My original UK Deram "On The Threshold Of A Dream" looks like this:

    For the A side: ZAL-8827-1W
    For the B side: ZAL-8828-1W

    The mother number is located at the 9 o'clock position.

    The stamper number is located at the 3 o'clock position. The word "BUCKINGHAM" is used to denote the numbers 1 through 10...B=1, U=2, C=3, and so on.

    Hope this helps.
     
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