Maybe if we "don't stop" waiting, we'll get some "second hand news". In our "dreams"? (sorry I'm just noodling around here...)
I think we'd all love to read the story, Steve. Any updates? Is it a really long story? We'd really enjoy reading it, as you mentioned.
Just to clarify, since I also have a West German target. West German Target (39:39) = Japan 32XD Target (39:39). They sound the same to me.
I still stand by Post #28 AFAIC, there are four versions of Rumours on CD. Those three I quoted above plus the current 2CD official remaster.
I have both the Japanese and West German 3010-2 Target cd's. The Japan cd clocks in at 39.48 and the WG at 39.42 on my player. In my opinion, the WG is sligthly (but definitely) louder than the Japanese cd.
I agree with Ben now after getting my 32XD back from being out on loan and double checking about 9 months ago. I'd long forgotten about this thread.
I just did a close comparison and I agree 100%. More notes: "Never Going Back Again" is arranged differently in both versions starting at 0:58. The WG Target seems to have an extended guitar passage that is about 12 seconds longer. But it feels artificially "tacked on" while the Japan sounds more natural to me. I wonder which version will be in Steve's work? The end of "Go Your Own Way" in the WG Target stops abruptly at "You" while the Japan Target fades out more naturally with "You can call it an..." "Oh Daddy" in the WG Target fades out early missing a pleasant guitar ending. "Gold Dust Woman" in the WG Target has less music in both the beginning and the end. The Japan 3010-2 Target wins without a doubt.
I didn't do a close comparison, but does anyone hear a slight mid-range boost on the WG target? I thought that the snare had more punch on the WG target, but it might be because I was having trouble volume-matching. The WG target is quite a bit louder than the Japan 3010-2.
my made by cinaram, canadian pressing (3010) has stevie starting singing at .15 seconds into GDW. just for info sake.
Using this thread to ask about a Rumours CD I picked up yesterday (sorry, don't have a pic) Cat # on disc is 256 344 (just below the WB logo on left side of disc). On spine and back cover it's 7599-27313-2 France:WE 851 It's a German CD. "Copyright" info is in three languages (French, English, German) in very tiny capital letters, circling the outside of the disc. Times in at 39:41 on Rotel player and 39:39 on Sony. Much less bright than the Canadian CD3010 issue. Actually sounds like the original LP tonally. Gold Dust Woman fades in but shorter fade-in compared to the LP (10 seconds on CD, 13 on LP before vocal starts). Is this yet another issue or just the Target with different markings? And did Steve ever chime in with the details surrounding all these different copies?
I have this one and think it sounds nice. Tonally, it's a wee bit brighter than my Sanyo Japan Target but not like the overly bright secret remaster. The signal level is also better (the Japan Target has a low signal level). It might be the same as the West Germany Target... I don't have that one.
I have this version and it does sound quite good , I do not have the targets yet so have no real point of reference, suffice to say this one comfortably beat the two disc remaster on two systems they were tried on (IMHO). As westcoasting said could it have the same mastering as the WG target? I will put some EAC readings up later. Simon
Very interersting thread. I was comfortable with my WG "Made in Germany" Target, but it seems a purchase of the Sanyo Japan 3010-2 Target is in order
Of all the 'Rumours' pressings on CD I own, I prefer the Sanyo Japan 3010-2 target, as it sounds most like the original first pressing vinyl LP.
Is the 32XD the same mastering? I didn't think anything could beat this one, sounds amazing to my ears.
The 32XD is not only a different mastering, but a different mix, than the Japan 3010-2 target. The 32XD uses the mix where the end of 'Gold Dust Woman' has the tamed, softened howl by Lindsay Buckingham. The Japan 3010-2 target has the 'Gold Dust Woman' with the loud, almost screeching, howling at the end of the song. It almost makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. This is how the 'Gold Dust Woman' on the original first pressed vinyl sounds. As far as sonics go, I might give a slight edge to the 32XD, but because of the mix being true to the original first pressing vinyl, I prefer the Japan 3010-2 target CD.
They both sound very good, and much, much, much, much better than the currently available RE-2 remaster.
What's a Target? Is it a pressing plant? I have no idea what version of Rumours I have. I have a similar version to Beagle's, but nowhere can I find the cat 256 344.
"target" refers to a design on early pressings of this disc. See www.targetcd.com for a detailed listing of all known targets. What is the matrix number in the disc hub? You might want to post it, and someone might be able to tell you if you have an older mastering.