Sinatra / Reprise Sound Quality: "Sinatra and Strings" (rec. 1961) - incl. NAB/AME EQ, etc.*

If you want to hear the original mix (which is my preference overall), get a stereo copy mastered/pressed at Columbia made in the mid-late 60's. I have not confirmed the 1G cut, but each side of the 1H cut - confirmed via a friend's early 70's copy - comes from the remix (heard on the 80's JPN expanded LP and the MoFi). Any others I've heard from 1A - 1F (though I have not heard every cut for each side) have the original mix. I have never confirmed the 1Gs, and would like to know. It's possible that some 70's copies have metal sourced from the cuts made from the original mix, but it might be harder to find. The early-era "R9" copy I had didn't sound that great, but I like the sound of the Columbia ones a lot.

 

That explains a lot--thanks, great information!

Just checked my copies. A stamped 1B 1A deadwax "Anxious Frank" was earmarked as best, well ahead of some later issues. So the later ones have a different mix? I also have a -1H -1F orange tan with handwritten deadwax on both sides, and am guessing that would use the remix?

Compared to the 9 o'clock Capitol mono Close to You I was just spinning, Strings does not hold up so well sonically IMHO. Sad, since it's superb from a musical standpoint. There's a grainy quality throughout, and when the orchestra digs in, that curious distortion kicks in. I always thought the funny sound was a vinyl issue, not distortion from the master tape...Wow, the strings almost sound more like a Mellotron than the real deal.

 

Interesting technical paper on NAB, IEC, and Ampex EQ at this link:

http://home.comcast.net/~mrltapes/equaliz.html

I had never heard of AEC until you guys mentioned it. Man, was that a bad idea! I can't believe the guys at Ampex didn't test this out enough, and the Capitol engineers were too stupid not to listen more carefully.

+15dB @ 1000Hz? Yikes...

 

Spinning the "Anxious Frank" stereo vinyl...

Woah, I just heard that overload effect on the intro to "Stardust". As the orchestra swells, everything sags and then there's a fuzz tone when the cymbal crashes. It gets ugly. And this is on a clean vintage record that was still sealed up to a couple months ago.

 

I have one like your favorite copy, and it's what I always go back to as well. Actually, one side already transitioned to the "happy" Frank image on the label. I didn't get it sealed, but it's pristine. Ignoring quirks of the recording like those noted above, I think it's a nice sounding record. The strings have that United/Putnam sound of that time (like some of the Ray Charles recordings from around then, for instance), which is not entirely realistic, but I think has charm. Not like Golden Age Capitol, but what is?

The 1H is the remix. It's not bad, and seems to be what lots of people are familiar with now. It has more conventional echo vs. the touch of slap on Frank on the original stereo mix, but I prefer the sound of the old mix, which seems to lay the recording out more "bare" in a good way as it has a presence and directness that the second mix doesn't. I sometimes think they bathed the second mix with much more echo to sort of cover up/smooth over some of the faults of the recording. BTW - Compare "All Or Nothing At All" on the original stereo mix to the rest of the album - they didn't add any echo to Frank on that song.

 

^^^Good to know, thanks MMM.

It will be interesting to compare the two mixes. I guess the "remix" being used as the source makes the recent MFSL vinyl reissue less desirable (I have not heard it yet).

 

The thing is, I have no idea when that 'other' mix was made. For all I know, it could have been done around the same time, before, shortly after, etc. the mix I noted above on the older pressings, but then not used for years for whatever reason. The situation sort of reminds me of the change in mix used for the RING-A-DING DING! LPs...

I don't know that I would say the different mix makes the MoFi more/less desireable - that's up to which mix you prefer, if you have a preference. Who knows if what I call the first mix's original master even exists and/or is useable anymore?

 

Matt, thanks. That's from a 1F/1D late-60's copy (though the lacquers were cut earlier). The iTunes clip I believe is from the remix done for the EOTC disc.

 

That's the "2nd" mix. The original CD/20 CD set has that mix as well.

 

Thanks for the Comparison clip

 

Besides UK Decca engineers, too.

 

Quick graphic comparison....15 ips NAB:



And 15 ips AME:

 

Thanks for the samples, Matt.

The remix certainly seems "dull" in comparison to the original mix on Martin's columbia4reprise pressing.

A a real drag because most of us only have access to the former.....

 

My go-to version of this album is a vinyl rip of the "smiling," F-1004 A, mono LP. It sounds quite nice.

As for the stereo version, I alternate between the Suitcase and the EOTC versions.

 

Not really...we all have our favorite FS periods. And I find that they can change from time to time. Thank God The Man left us with such a huge catalogue (sound critiques aside) to continually peruse as we get thru life!

 

What did you think of it, content wise/musically? I think side one in particular is one of the very best sides he ever did.

 

I completely agree.

 

Just glorious. Staggering, historic, sublime.

As are "Spring" and "Yesterdays" on side two.