MFSL now doing 7 Bob Dylan titles in mono (hybrid SACD)

Bob Dylan "Another Side of Bob Dylan" Mono SACD Mobile Fidelity Labs

Mastered by Rob with assistance from Shawn.

 

Awesome, definitely picking this up. It's a transitional album but I like it quite a bit, warts and all. The only change I wish Dylan had made would be to switch out "Ballad in Plain D" (possibly the only song he regrets releasing) with "Mama You've Been on My Mind" from the same marathon session that produced this album.

 

Interestingly enough, I did a blind comparsion of "Bringing It All Back Home" via headphones, and am surprised to tell that I like the tonality of the Mono Box more. It sounds more natural, laid back, not as aggressive. Is that what you feel, too?

 

Also, The last time I compared, my girlfriend remarked that the one in the mono box sounded "of its time," where the mfsl seemed to be trying to do a modernized version. I agreed.

 

Can’t get more subjective than that.

 

Mine showed up yesterday. Another great release.

 

You're not just blown' that statement in the wind.

 

That's a good point. I continue to go back and forth on these releases, and admittedly I haven't done close A/B'ing. I think the Sonys seem to sound more natural, harsh (in a good way), raw, but a bit too thin in some places. The MFSLs sound fuller (their biggest advantage to me), fairly clear, but a bit EQ'd sounding (smoothed out; boosted bass).

Though there is surely some variability between albums. I read other posters note the speed issue with JWH. The bass sounds more distracting on the MFSL of BIABH than on the other MFSL mono mixes. Also, I think the Sony Highway 61 is really hard to tolerate, whereas the MFSL is a wonderful improvement on that weird mono mix.

 

I know what she means, though that's not always a bad thing. In this case, I think the sound loses its cohesiveness. And I can't stand the harsh harmonica on the MFSL release. At least I'm content with my BoB Mono Box CD now and not awaiting any improvement on it

 

How does "Another Side" compare to the Mono Box version?

 

I only have Mofi’s Freewheelin’ and Bring it all Back Home. The others don’t have a better sound.

 

The MFSL sounds like being in the studio. The mono box sounds like listening to a good recording. Both good but MFSL wins for me.

 

Sometimes it's easier to appreciate a mastering after I've had a chance to compare it to something that I like a lot less.

 

That's true

 

I went through this thread again to confirm, but for convenience's sake, just a run down of mixes/masters for those first eight albums used (or available) for MFSL's reissues:

Bob Dylan (self-titled debut)
Mono: original mix, original master
Stereo: original mix, MFSL could not confirm it was the original master

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Mono: original mix, original master
Stereo: original mix, original master

The Times They Are A-Changin'
Mono: new mix that was created for mono box set because original master is unusable
Stereo: original mix, could not confirm as original master

Another Side of Bob Dylan
Mono: original mix, original master
Stereo: new mix created for 2003 SACD reissue

Bringing It All Back Home
Mono: original mix, could not confirm as original master
Stereo: same remix used for 2003 SACD reissue

Highway 61 Revisited
Mono: original mix, but it's a production copy found overseas, the closest thing Sony could find to the original
Stereo: original mix, could not confirm as original master

Blonde on Blonde
Mono: original mix, but it'll be the best master they could find when Sony did the mono box set (i.e. no idea if it's the original master)
Stereo: most recent remix used for previous Sony SACD reissues

John Wesley Harding
Mono: original mix, original master
Stereo: original mix, could not confirm as original master

 

...and your post makes it a good time to post a link to this page:

Bob Dylan Remastered | Bob Dylan ISIS Magazine

 

So Another Side completes the 7 mono hybrid sacds from MFSL. I believe the debut and Another Side are still awaiting release on MFSL 45rpm viny.

 

It would still be nice to have their series completed with the mono Blonde on Blonde.

I have them all, along with the stereo counterparts, and they missing release is a big big hole.

 

Seconded.

 

I was wondering about this. As posted here in this thread, Mark Wilder got around this by doing two EQ passes - one EQ'ed for Dylan's voice, and one for the harmonica. He then went back and simply cut back and forth between passes to whatever was appropriate, and this is what you hear on the CD, a brilliant solution for a digital release.

I'm not sure if MFSL would have done the same though - I wish they'd talk more about their releases instead of leaving it to speculation, but I'm guessing what you hear is one pass on their SACD, which means they couldn't go the extra mile of taming every moment of the harmonica like Wilder did with the Sony mono CD.

 

A brilliant solution indeed! I didn't know that. Thanks for sharing.

 

George, I realize it's been a long thread, but do you not feel even the slightest twinge of déjà vu here...?

 

Only those who didn't burn out their memory during a misspent youth can experience Deja-vu.

 

"Enough about CSNY, folks...this is a Bob Dylan thread!"

 

Played my MFSL Another Side mono sacd via my Oppo BDP103EU. I thought it was fine and good to have all the albums in mono (save Blonde) on sacd to go along with the stereo mixes which I had first, as my Dylan albums collection was initially bought in the early 1970s. I still think parts of I Shall Be Free no. 10 is one of the worst songs and performances Bob has released officially in 50 plus years of recording. Mama You Been on My Mind really should have made the album (and we could use a new remaster of that performance on the BS 1 to 3).