Best version of Queen's The Game?

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Sondek, Sep 13, 2015.

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  1. Sondek

    Sondek Forum Resident Thread Starter

    I'm looking to buy the best sounding copy (I'm not happy with the 2011 remaster), so I'd like your views on this one.
     
  2. 32XD Japan1

    32XD Japan1 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Pennsylvania USA
    My vote is for the most natural sounding CD version of The Game, the original first Japanese pressing CP32-5318.
    Second place: WG Elektra Target 64513-2
    Third place: MFSL

    Dead last: Any version of this CD that is remastered, including the Hollywood Records remasters from 1991.
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2015
  3. dbz

    dbz Bolinhead.

    Location:
    Live At Leeds (UK)
    UK vinyl. Allen Zentz cut (which I think was also the USA 1st press)
     
  4. Bobby Morrow

    Bobby Morrow Senior Member

    I've only heard the 2004 Japanese MLPS and the SACD, and you know which one I prefer.:D

    Still, if you didn't like the 2011 remaster, there's no point you getting the SACD as it's only a hi res version of that.
     
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  5. rxcory

    rxcory proud jazz band/marching band parent

    Location:
    Portland, Oregon
    Agree about the remasters being awful, especially the Hollywood ones. I have the MFSL CD, always thought it sounded fine. I'll have to track down the CP32 and the WG target and see how they are.
     
  6. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    That's the Japan 2nd pressing. The Japan 1st pressing is catalog 32XD-492 released 2 years earlier in 1986. I prefer them in their release order and third the W. German Target sonically speaking. The two Japan CD's are very close IMO.
     
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  7. 32XD Japan1

    32XD Japan1 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Pennsylvania USA
    I didn't know that Dave. I think you did mention to me there were a couple first Japan 32XDs for Queen but I forgot about them. Thanks for the correction. I remember liking the WG Target more than the MFSL, though, but it was early in the game when I auditioned them. R.
     
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  8. rcdupre

    rcdupre Flying is Trying is Dying

    wow didnt know that! the CP32 is pretty common, I passed one up for $4 a few weeks ago, didnt know if Id like it...
    never seen a 32XD, and I always check the massive Queen section wherever I go, good to know !!!
     
    Dave likes this.
  9. Sondek

    Sondek Forum Resident Thread Starter

    I couldn't find 32XD on Discogs or anywhere else, apart from Ebay, but that's going for £59.99, which I'm not prepared to pay.

    CP32-5318 was on Discogs. I bought that.

    Anymore thoughts on the best vinyl version? I can't seem to find a decent copy of the original pressing (064-63 923). If the media is in NM condition, then the sleeve looks knackered with the copies I've seen.
     
  10. 32XD Japan1

    32XD Japan1 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Pennsylvania USA
    From what I understand the 32XD's of The Game and News Of The World are pretty rare and pricey. Those are the only 2 Japanese pressings going that far back, the rest are the CP32's. I think you will be happy with the CP32. What Dave says you can pretty much bank on.
     
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  11. Sondek

    Sondek Forum Resident Thread Starter

    I was thinking of getting he MFSL on vinyl (which is also pretty rare and pricey), so getting the CP32-5318 might end up saving me quite a bit.
     
  12. curbach

    curbach Some guy on the internet

    Location:
    The ATX
    Indeed it was. The original US lp sounds great, but my only comparison is to the dreaded Hollywood remastered cd.
     
    dbz likes this.
  13. Sondek

    Sondek Forum Resident Thread Starter

    The Game was always by far the best sounding Queen album imo (I used to have the UK LP (064-63 923). None of the others came close.
     
    Carlox likes this.
  14. Bobby Morrow

    Bobby Morrow Senior Member

    The only way you'll ever know for sure is to sell a kidney and buy the lot of them.:D
     
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  15. SOONERFAN

    SOONERFAN Forum Resident

    Location:
    Norman, Oklahoma
    Seems like I have read the Target and 32xd share the same mastering.
     
  16. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    Could be, but they certainly sound different when we compared them.
     
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  17. goodboyfred

    goodboyfred Forum Resident

    I have the MFSL Gold which I like but the DVDA Surround really adds a different dimension to songs like Dragon Attack and Another One Bites The Dust with killer Bass and Drums.
     
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  18. Harry42

    Harry42 Forum Resident

    For me it's the DVD-A.
     
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  19. yesstiles

    yesstiles Senior Member

    I got my "The Game" 32XD disc by buying a "A Kind Of Magic" CP32 cd from Ebay. The 32XD was what I found inside when I opened it! I didn't complain.
     
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  20. Lucky

    Lucky Member

    Location:
    S-Peterburg
    Japan shm - sacd
     
    Bobby Morrow likes this.
  21. jwb1231970

    jwb1231970 Ordinary Guy

    Location:
    USA
    This is a loud song, at least my itunes version was when i got it
     
  22. johnny q

    johnny q Forum Resident

    Location:
    Bergen County, NJ
    I have yet to hear a CD version that compares to the Allen Zentz vinyl. I have the original 80s cd, the MFSL and the Robert Ludwig from the last round of remasters to compare.
     
    Evan Guest and dbz like this.
  23. 32XD Japan1

    32XD Japan1 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Pennsylvania USA
    Nice!:)
     
  24. I prefer the 2011 release which also applies to all my other favourite albums by Queen. This edition of The Game has updated packaging plus five CD bonus tracks if you by the EP edition of the 2011 remaster.

    The one thing I don't like with the Queen 2011 reissues (including The Game) is that there are even more bonus tracks on the iTunes versions of the EP editions. These tracks would've fitted easily onto a single CD as well. The Game has three more extra bonus tracks available only on the iTunes version.

    The 2011 remasters that were done by (I think) Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering are slightly louder and compressed, but I've heard a lot worse remastered albums from this same period. They are all marked on iTunes as being, "Mastered For iTunes", so I don't know of these editions have been remastered separately from the CD editions. I've never heard the Mastered For iTunes editions myself.

    Has anybody compared the 2011 CD edition of The Game with the Mastered For iTunes edition?
     
    JimC likes this.
  25. Use_Your_Koala

    Use_Your_Koala Forum Resident

    Location:
    Paris
    The MFSL CD for me.

    C_Matt's HD revision puts a nice spin on the album, listen to it if you haven't already.
     
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