Pink Floyd The Wall, my shoot-out

Keep in mind the following:
a) is pressed by Toshiba-EMI
c) has technology based on Toshiba-EMI's CD pressing plant
d) is the same technology as c; probably the same equipment as this plant ramped up as Swindon shut down

only the BMG Sonopress disc is really substantially different than the other three. I wouldn't assume "Japanese pressing" means better or different quality. The master may be different, but these are likely digital clones.

 

I can remember very distinctly when this came out. It was very hyped in the days before it's released, and the day it was released, the rock station here at that time played the whole thing all the way through in it's entirety. You sure don't hear radio doing that anymore.
That station now plays stuff like The Black Eyed Peas and 50 cent. The only thing remaining the same is the call letters and frequency.
(sorry for the threadcrap).

 

You are very welcome Jerry. I cannot add anything as to where the masters came from. I suspect Sony in Japan. Hope you find a C2K, I'd love to know how the Aussie version measures up.
FWIW, track 9, Young Lust, starts about half a second early on the Aussie disc.

 

Have to disagree with you on this Roland.

There is a big difference between the Black Face Japan for UK AAD version and the Silver Face UK ADD version.

Cheers

David

 

So has anyone heard the CBS CP2K? If so, how does it compare to the C2K-36183 and others?

 

Really this would be an interesting comparison, but I've never known of anyone to have the Korean pressing. Maybe it's the same mastering as the Japanese second pressing on CBS/Sony as it looks somewhat similar.

 

I'm listening to it currently, and I can say the following:

1. It has CP2K-1024 (C2K 36183) on the rear of the fatboy case and on the face of the CDs themselves
2. It has CDCBS 88485 (CK36184/C2K 36183) (DIDP 20204) Disc 1 and CDCBS 88485 (CK36185/C2K 36183) (DIDP 20205) Disc 2 in the liner notes below the track listing/times
3. Track 9 Young Lust starts with the music (drums)
4. Comfortably Numb starts with a click/pop, and pops at 2:20 and 4:10

I have no idea if this info can tell anyone which mastering this is. I have no other copies of The Wall to compare it to, but it sounds quite a bit better than I remember it sounding. Of course, I'm listening to it on my headphone rig, and this setup sounds far better than any speaker setup I've ever had.

It would be interesting if this is one of the C2K 36183 masterings that most here prefer and I just happened to luck into picking this up. I say lucked into it because I bought this in a Korean record store in 1990-91 while stationed in Korea with the Army, and that was long before I knew there was a preferred mastering of this album.

 

Just received the US C2K 36183 and took it for a spin. Although I've never heard any other version, this one rocks! Natural with great extension.

I heard a drop out right towards the end of The Happiest Days right before Another Brick II. Is this for real or wash I just imagining it? Or maybe my CD is dirty.

And, since I'm into vinyl also, how does the vinyl version compare?

 

I think the original Japan or UK black-face Harvest is closest to the vinyl (UK and US vinyl mastered by Doug Sax at The Mastering Lab originally). The C2K is pretty much a remaster of this set - IMO it's clearer but louder, punchier. The well-known glitches become old friends. One thing I noticed on comparing the C2K and the Harvest - the track breaks are in quite different places in many cases.

Now one day I'll get out my UK and US vinyl and compare. I also have the US Mastersound (not Doug Sax mastered) and strangely enough that sounds quite like the C2K set..... punchy and clear.

 

is there a mastersound version???

 

Does anyone know anything about this one, which I've just picked up:

http://pinkfloydcdscanz.bizland.com/WALL/Australia8312432disc1.html

It appears to be the 1994 remaster.

 

The CD you have uses the C2K mastering.

 

Are you asking about CD or LP? There is a 'Mastersound' version on LP. However, it does not get very high praise. There is no 'Mastersound' CD.

The 'Mastersound' LP of 'Wish You Were Here' on the other hand is a must have.

 

Yep, digital clone of the 1994 remaster from EMI UK. Made in Australia by D.A.T.A., a company that is a joint venture between EMI and WEA - so the CDs are master clones from EMI UK and Holland, before they sold their CD plants. Nothing special, other than it is unusual for the NA, Europe, and Japan collectors.

 

I just picked up a C2K copy from Amoeba in Los Angeles ($14.99), and I am completely stunned at how good it sounds.

I received the MoFi as a gift when it came out in 1990, and it has been the only CD copy I've ever owned - until today.

A/B-ing the two, the MoFi sounds muddy, unclear, and seems a bit "confused" - thick and mushy. The C2K, on the other hand, sounds clear, open, and focused - everything sounds so balanced and alive.



I am totally amazed - for years, I was convinced that the MoFi was "The Version"... consider me a convert.

And to think, I almost walked out without it!


(For those wondering, this is the version I just got.)

 

This thread is completely fascinating, I do have:

-HARVEST/EMI Canadian slim case with O-card 7 2438 31243-2 9 (1994)
-EMI Japanese gatefold mini-lp sleeve 4 988006 791824 (1994)
-COLUMBIA "Anniversary Edition" double jewel case 0 7464-68519-2 0 (1997)

As well as a whole bunch of live things, promos, tributes etc,etc...in fact my "WALL" and "WALL" related CDs totals 20 discs!

 

quite a collection.

 

Sooo, you don't have any of the editions recommended in this thread then?........

Well, if you want to put that right look no further:

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=96559

 

Well, I finally was able to also listen to a Japanese Harvest version. Here is my (so far) final conclusion on these different versions:

The biggest difference is between the a) and the c)/d), but I wouldn't call the difference very big. The UK/Holland has a little more punch whereas the Japanese sounds smoother. The WG Harvest is somewhere in the middle. Compared to the Japanese Harvest, it has pretty much the same overall smoothness, but the Japanese Harvest sounds slightly veiled to me. I think this is also something Dave mentioned when he listened to the Japanese Harvest. The WG Harvest has that veil removed, and I am pretty much reminded of the difference between some of the MFSL UD's vs. UD II's, just that in this case the Japanese version has the slight veil and the WG version has it removed.

If you look at the WG being in the middle, the Japanese goes in one direction from that (slightly veiled, some people might consider it very slightly smoother than the WG version, but to me this is mostly a result of the little less transparency) and the UK/Holland goes in the opposite direction, adding just a little more punch. I find the WG Harvest to be just right (I'm reminded of Goldilocks here...).

Anyhow, either of the Harvest masterings is very nicely done and a great choice. If this is your desert island record, then I suggest to try to find a WG copy for yourself to see whether it is also your favorite version.

If you just really like this album, you should be completely happy with any of the Harvest versions.

In my experience, the WG version is quite rare. I see it less often than the Japanese version. In fact, I have only ever seen it once, and that copy is now mine.

By the way, the WG Harvest is black-faced with white lettering (the Japanese has silver lettering, i.e. the aluminum shines through the black face).

Hope this helps,
Roland

 

Bump. I've just received a copy of the U.S. C2X-36183 from Ebay (less than 10 bucks with shipping! Although shipping was 2/3 the cost... ), and the CDs are pristine.

I haven't heard this record in years, and I've only known it from crappy cassette. Last night we played it quietly, and I am still very impressed. I can still hear tons of little details even though it isn't limited into oblivion. Man, today's CDs sound like utter garbage compared to this. Artists, engineers, execs of modern popular music should listen to this and hang their heads in shame!

So what's the deal with the re-masterings--what do you all think?

 

Call me a heretic or whatever but I've not had The Wall as part of my cd collection since it went missing in college back in 1990 or so. Anyway I was in a local cd shop the other day and they had a used version for $17. I got it home and popped it in and WOW does this disc bring back memories.

Anyway without having read through all the threads here on this album it turns out that I lucked out with my used copy - nice condition no scratches, booklet looks like it's never been opened (YES you can see where some staples were at one time) and best of all it's one of the C2K 36183 versions.

Quick question - how do I determine whether the one I have is made in Canada or the US?? These are silver discs with black writing.

Disc One
CK 36184
C2K 36183
Matrix Ring: 1A CK36184 09 a

Disc Two
CK 36185
C2K 36183
Matrix Ring: 1A CK36185 13 A
Inner Ring: CMU P 81

Very outter edge of disc simply says "Columbia Are trademarks of CBS Inc." no where does it say "Made in..."???

What a nice, nice experience - why can't more modern music have the kind of dynamic range found in this album??

 

You have the U.S. version.

 

Thanks Scott. And if I understand all that I've read on here, the Canadian and the US 1st pressing are from the same master right?? And either of these are preferable to the most recently remastered versions by Harvest that you'd find new in the store today??

flattie

 

I just bought this version for $5.99 one of my cd stores. It has the similar information as above except in my inner rings it reads:

Disc 1:
DIDP-20204 121A8

Disc 2:
DIDP-020205 16 8 little diamonds (?) after then the barcode

Why is that information different in my inner rings compared to what The Bing has posted about his inner rings?