Having been a little disappointed with the Sticky Fingers vinyl reissue, I decided, with the advice of people in various forums, to buy the Cardboard Sleeve (mini LP) Platinum SHM-CD from cdJapan. (My CD player will not play SACDs) I'm assuming the quality is pretty much the same? I'm now looking to buy Exile On Main Street but once again, the vinyl reissue has been panned quite heavily here....I see that that is also available in Platinum SHM-CD so would I be right in assuming that once again, this is a fabulous version to get? Ideally, I'd prefer vinyl but mint copies are hard to come by and as I say, these CDs get great reviews here. Any help would be appreciated and apologies if this has been covered elsewhere.....I did look but could not find a definitive answer. Thanks
Many thanks......as I said....a great vinyl pressing would be ideal, but seems they are hard to come by and vary quite a lot. Def seems the vinyl reissue of EOMS was poorly received, hence me looking at CDs for this release. Once again, appreciate your advice. Gonna order that CD now!
Another vote for the platinum. I had the 1994 Virgin and the Deluxe remaster, but the Pt is far and away the best. Analog sounding with excellent range and image.
Yeah, but there's something I don't like in all the virgin cd's...they sound weird to me...and I've never heard the LP's, unfortunately
Original pressings always have their appeal, but Atlantic Records pressing plants (or the plants they used) churned-out a lot of crappy-sounding vinyl in the early-70's. I remember taking Sticky Fingers back to the shop a couple of times, but eventually gave up. More than 40-years later I still remember the frustration I experienced trying to get a somewhat clean pressing of King Crimson's Red... they were all pressed on recycled vinyl with chunks of paper labels embedded in the grooves. Exile was probably better and the LP sides were relatively short, which helps, but I don't remember my original pressing sounding particularly good. Unfortunately it was stolen one night when I was deejaying (we all need our pee breaks). I regret the loss more for the jacket and postcards than the original grooves.
Lots of people will lend their support for the Artisan mastered vinyl coming out of the Monarch pressing plant (MO), which seems to have had the best sounding/cleanest pressings in this period for the Atlantic catalog. There were also some labeled CSM (Santa Maria) as well (to be found after the catalog number). Earliest label variations have the DIST BY ATCO/B'WAY in bold along the rim of the label, but those seem tough to find as that was at the very beginning of the pressing run before they switched labels and addresses (I think). This is based on memory from an earlier thread that you may want to seek out.
Got the Exile Bluray on Friday, and I have to say it sounds incredible. I'm not sure how accurate this is, but I read on a few forums that it's the same master as the SACD. I wouldn't be surprised as the sound is just so great. I highly recommend.
Either the Canadian Kinney or a clean Artisan cut Monarch pressing will likely make you happy. Despite popular legend that Exile is a murky album, that will not be the case with either of these pressings. The trick is finding a quiet US pressing. I have literally a dozen copies of this and they sound fantastic, but none of them play dead quiet. On the other hand, the Canadian Kinney I have is super quiet and packs a major wallop. It's pretty well regarded here too.
Another vote for the Artisan Monarch vinyl. Very tough to find a clean copy, but even with a bit of noise it's the best way to listen to this music IMO. This album was meant to be heard as four sides, not one continuous play like the digital versions.
If you're talking about this one, yes, same exact mastering as the SACD and the Platinum: http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/UICY-75762
Vinyl - Canadian Kinney or Monarch artisan one are best according to the experts. I only have a US RSR and 2010 180g. CD - SHM Platinum CD. The Virgins are good too but the SHM just sounds clearer and cleaner. Virgin sounds a tiny bit muffled by comparison. CBS is good too aside from weird sound issue on Sweet Virginia.
Lucky for me it's my least favorite song on the record. I posted elsewhere yesterday that I played it (I have the Japan 23DP) in my car that day and man oh man is that disc crankable!
