Chris Bellman - Appreciation Thread

I recently purchased vinyl reissues of some Foo Fighters albums and was quite impressed with the sound quality. I wish the Pearl Jam LP reissues (Vs, Ten, Vitology) were sonically as good as these. The Foo Fighters covers state "Lacquers cut by Chris Bellamn". Would love to know what other LP's Chris has done and thought this thread would be a good resource for it. I can start it off with what I have;

Foo Fighters - In Your Honor
Foo Fighters - One By One
Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape
Foo Fighters - There is Nothing Left to Lose

 

The recent CB-mastered Rhino LP of the Monkees' "Head" is quite good.

Didn't he also cut the Beach Boys' "Smile" vinyl?

 

Yes he did, at least the US edition (I think both the US standalone double album, as the album that came in the box).

 

Also see here for his work when he was employed at Allen Zentz Mastering.

 

I only recently have become familiar with his work, on the following:

Rhino
Van Halen II, Women and Children First, 1984 - in my opinion, all very good. Though expensive, and originals are cheap, I replaced my II and Women & Children with his. Sick and tired of trying to find a non-club copy that isn't beat up with groove damage and noise. I've heard his 1984 and I think it's excellent. Others' mileage may vary.
Ramones - 1st 4 albums. I have the first 3 and LOVE them. I have never had originals and never will, so others' mileage may vary.
Sabbath - IV, SBS, Sabotage - I have IV and SBS and I love them.

I have the 2010 Metallica Reload reissue, mastered at Grundman. Some here thought CB did it, but the deadwax does not have his characteristic "CB". In any case, it's great.

 

All the Classic Records Who lp's are great.

 

^ Only one of those I've got is the mono Who Sell Out, which is excellent.

Another is Mirror Ball by Neil Young & Pearl Jam.

Chris has posted here a few times recently.

 

His recent Sabbath cuts are awesome! And such great buys!

 

Mastodon - Blood Mountain.

Absolutely wonderful mastering and cut (and on 2x 45rpm). You haven't heard this album properly until you hear this vinyl, it absolutely destroys the brickwalled CD.

 

Neil Young - Massey Hall is probably the best sounding slab of vinyl I own.

 

Neil Young's first four albums!

JG

 

Agreed - the Neil Young records he has done are reference.

Tom

 

I love his works on the Chicago vinyl remasters on Rhino label (not to be confused with the horrible Rhino CD remasters):

Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago (aka Chicago II)

According to Chris, these two was remastered for vinyl using analog sources.

 

Just did a search looking for Chris Bellman. Want to see what other records he has done as they sound fantastic.

Wilco - The Whole Love
Phish - Junta

Hope people add in other records!!

 

Bellman did the recent "Something/Anything?" reissue, which is just fantastic.

 

Agreed. The man does great work.

 

Looks like he also mastered Cynic's Traced in Air on the 2014 Back on Black vinyl. Just listened to it again and it rules.

 

He did a Nuggets since the bulk of this 2012 thread.

 

His mastering work on the 2013 CD reissue of Fleetwood Mac's Then Play On is fantastic. The definitive version, imho.
http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/view/44697

 

I just picked up Junkyard-s/t and it's a CB.

 

My own Bellman favourite is Van Dyke Parks' mono Song Cycle.

His Grateful Dead albums sound great as well. As does Joni Mitchell's The Hissing of Summer Lawns.

 

I just found a Poison vinyl ,Open up and say ahhh, sound is superb! Chris bellman mastered. I recently found a Best of Van halen mastered CD, I will post how it sounds.

 

Zz top's rio grande mud & Tejas on Cinco box set 2017, great