Best sounding David Bowie albums on the RCA CDs (only)?

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by pig whisperer, Nov 8, 2006.

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  1. pig whisperer

    pig whisperer CD Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Tokyo, Japan
    I'm told this is a Russian "Ziggy" in a paper sleeve. Has anyone heard one of these?
     
  2. yesstiles

    yesstiles Senior Member

    Some of those Russian releases really have stellar packaging.
     
  3. CardinalFang

    CardinalFang New Member

    Location:
    ....
    I've added more Bowie RCA samples, thanks to a fellow forum member.

    http://needledrop.wikispaces.com/David+Bowie+CD+Comparisons

    Space Oddity (Germany)
    Heroes (Germany)
    CHANGESONEBOWIE (Germany)
    Hunky Dory (Germany)

    We still need German samples of The Man Who Sold The World, Ziggy, Young Americans, Low, Lodger, Scary Monsters, CHANGESTWOBOWIE and Fame & Fashion (assuming they all exist). Of the Japanese pressings, we need Aladdin Sane, Diamond Dogs and Young Americans (again, assuming they all exist). And of course, we need most Rykos and all the current masters.
     
  4. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    Keith, I can provide the W. Germany RCA's of The Man Who Sold The World, Low and Lodger. I can also supply the Japanese RCA's of Aladdin Sane, actually Japan for Europe, Diamond Dogs and Young Americans.

    Please PM me in about a week to remind me as I'm kind of busy these days ok.
     
  5. stypee

    stypee New Member

    Location:
    New York
    Oh man this thread is going to make my head explode! In my personal opinion the SACD of SCARY MONSTERS, aside from the 1st track, sounds pretty awful. I just don't understand why anyone would want to put out a 2 Channel disc.. I have the same problem with the Gabriel remasters on SACD... It just doesn't make sense.
     
  6. vonwegen

    vonwegen Forum Resident

    Major dropouts, but sounds wonderful? :unhunh:

    A few years ago, I did a comparison between the RCA CD of Ziggy and the MoFi vinyl--no contest, the Mofi vinyl LP stomps all over the RCA CD, which also has a fair amount of background noise and some abruptly truncated fade-outs, iirc.
     
  7. CardinalFang

    CardinalFang New Member

    Location:
    ....
    Which RCA? Germany or Japan?
     
  8. CardinalFang

    CardinalFang New Member

    Location:
    ....
    W. Germany samples from Man Who Sold the World and Lodger have been added, thanks to another forum member. :)
     
  9. Andreas

    Andreas Senior Member

    Location:
    Frankfurt, Germany
    It sounds wonderful except the dropouts.
     
  10. grbl

    grbl Just Lurking

    Location:
    Long Island
    So, any clear conclusions?
     
  11. Oatsdad

    Oatsdad Oat, Biscuits, Abbie & Mitzi: Best Dogs Ever

    Location:
    Alexandria VA
    Bowie rules? :D
     
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  12. CardinalFang

    CardinalFang New Member

    Location:
    ....
    I wouldn't expect any clear conclusions. All these CDs vary enough (RCA Germany & Japan, Ryko and EMI) that you're choosing the lesser of the evils. None are perfect (some are close). I think it comes down to what you can live with. That's why I started the page to post all the clips for comparisons.

    It would be nice if we received more MP3 clips... especially the Ryko stuff. If you can help, please make a clip that contains the same passages found in the existing RCA clips. Encode them to MP3 with a high bitrate, and make sure they don't total more than 2 MB in size. If you can't register and upload at the Wiki, just use http://www.yousendit.com and post the link here. I'd be happy to post it on the Wiki for you.
     
  13. vonwegen

    vonwegen Forum Resident

    Mine is Japan--has the blue ring around the edge.
     
  14. vonwegen

    vonwegen Forum Resident

    That must be aggravating, though.
    (voice of Yosemite Sam) "CDs ain't supposed to have no drop-outs, d*mn it!"
     
  15. rnranimal

    rnranimal Senior Member

    Location:
    Ohio
    Any opinions on the RCA Golden Years CD? Anything unique or best presented here? Or is this one just for Bowie RCA Completists?

    I did a search but couldn't find any info on this one.
     
  16. I Am The Lolrus

    I Am The Lolrus New Member

    Location:
    LA, CA, US
    um what on earth am i hearing? Was this song no-noised on every other cd but the japan rca?????? It sounds totally different. !?!?!
     
  17. mermaidautopsy

    mermaidautopsy New Member

    Location:
    United States
    The whole Japanese Station to Station is much brighter and hissier than the German version. Along with the Japanese Low, it's a very odd master.

    Here's all I know: everything from Station to Station through Scary Monsters is better on the German side. Prior to that, I can only say for sure that the Japanese TMWSTW is better. Ziggy Stardust seems to be a toss-up, but a lot of people prefer the Japanese.
     
  18. I Am The Lolrus

    I Am The Lolrus New Member

    Location:
    LA, CA, US
    Is it hissier? I hear air and reverb- to me it sounded like the other versions went through a no-noiser by comparison. Anybody around here ever hear the masters? Which is correct?
     
  19. mermaidautopsy

    mermaidautopsy New Member

    Location:
    United States
    My original Station to Station vinyl sounds identical to the German CD. The Japanese sounds more like someone cranked the treble all the way up.
     
  20. onlyconnect

    onlyconnect The prose and the passion

    Location:
    Winchester, UK
    Aren't there three in some cases - Japan for US, Japan for Germany, and Germany for Germany (Europe)?

    Or maybe more :)

    Tim
     
  21. pig whisperer

    pig whisperer CD Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Tokyo, Japan
    I have a Japan R32P "Young Americans" which beat the W. Germany disc in a shoot out and smoked the Japan for U.S. disc (I kept the Japan disc, Dave took the W. German and sold his Japan for U.S.). There were only four or five discs in this series - I also have "Ziggy", but haven't had a chance to A/B it with another disc - and there was an earlier Japan for Japan series with a small number of titles I haven't heard. My favorite, "Hunky Dory", was not a part of either series. :sigh:
     
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  22. SCOTT1234

    SCOTT1234 Senior Member

    Location:
    Scotland
    This is an interesting observation because I have been collecting the original UK and German Vinyl pressing of Bowie albums and I came to the conclusion that the German orange RCA pressings prior to Station to Station are not as good as the UK orange RCAs, but from Station onwards, the German's are noticeably better (especially "Low")
     
  23. I just did some comparisons with some of the David Bowie RCA CD's from Germany/WG and Japan (for USA).

    Ziggy Stardust:
    I compared my German/WG RCA CD with the mp3 file from the website. These seem to be very similar masterings. For a proper comparison, I would have to listen to the original CD of the Japan for USA. I had the impression that the WG CD was just a very tiny bit brighter than the Japan version, but it could also be the same mastering. There certainly wasn't as much difference as with the other Japan vs. WG RCA comparisons.

    Station to Station:
    Without a single doubt, the WG RCA is clearly better in my opinion. The difference is quite large. I only used the mp3 file from the website for the comparison, but since the difference was so large, there is no need for me to listen to the original Japan for USA CD.

    Heroes:
    As with "Station to Station", the German/WG RCA is also much superior. I only used the mp3 file from the website for the comparison, but since the difference was so large, there is no need for me to listen to the original Japan for USA CD.
     
  24. drbryant

    drbryant Senior Member

    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    I'll just chime in with the favorites of the ones that I own:

    Hunky Dory - Made in Germany PD84623
    Young Americans - Made in Germany PD80998

    I can see why some people don't like the Young Americans disc, but I just love the sound of the snare drum on the tracks recorded as Sigma Sound (not the tracks recorded at Electric Ladyland). It makes everything just swing.
     
  25. Dr. Merkwürdigli

    Dr. Merkwürdigli Active Member

    Location:
    Oslo, Norway
    I have both the Germany and the Japan version of:

    Diamond Dogs:
    I prefer the Japan edition. The Germany version is slightly veiled and lacks some definition/punch in the low end.

    Heroes:
    I think I prefer the Japan edition but it is kind of close. The Germany version sounds slightly pumped up in the low end making it slightly boomy sounding. The Japan version has more air.

    Scary Monsters:
    Although they are different masters I find it hard to tell them apart. To me they are equal.
     
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