Michael Nesmith SQ question

Can anyone tell me why the early solo recordings sound so terrible? Is there a story? Are tapes available that would allow a remix or remaster? They rank among some of my favorite all-time recordings, but also as the worst sounding recordings that I own.

 

I've always wondered this myself. Magnetic South is especially terrible.

 

I picked up a clean LP copy recently, marked down from $7.99 to $.99. Interesting record, but everything except the excellent pedal steel is oddly muffled. Part of the problem seems to be eccentric mixing, but something else must have gone wrong. I think it was recorded here in Nashville, but I'm not sure.

 

It's frustrating isn't it ..... especially when you hear something like this! It's an acetate from the sessions of Bye, Bye, Bye and compared to the released discs, it's almost audiophile!

 

Same here on this rough mix of Listen To The Band! The story going around is the multi-tracks burned up in a fire at an RCA storage facility in Camden so making a remix from the masters an impossibility.

Is it true?

 

That is awesome! Thanks

 

Ya, they are awesome. They guy who bought the acetate paid over $600 US for it. I believe he's Japanese.

It certainly does make your gut hurt to know how clean those early RCA albums could sound.

 

There were the quad mixes too...

 

Now they sound great

 

If a studio has a reputation why would anyone record there?

 

He had a deal there?