Please post your pressings of Simply Red CDs in your collection, including all the usual bumf e.g. mastering credits, label, manufactured by and matrix codes. Feel free to include peak levels if things get serious! There seems to be a paucity of information, especially considering that Barry Diament is reported to have mastered a version of Simply Red Picture Book Simply Red Men And Women Simply Red A New Flame Simply Red Stars I have : Picture Book, Germany, wea International / Elektra 7559-60452-2 (Matrix 755960452-2.3G WME) where the booklet says 'Originally mastered by Arun Chakraverty'. A New Flame, wea/Elektra Germany, Manuf'd by Teldec, 244689-2 (Matrix 244689-2.3RSA) where booklet says 'Mastered by Bernie Grundman at Grundman Mastering'. I am expecting Men & Women and Stars to arrive by post in a few days' time and I will post info on the pressings I receive.
Picture Book Simply Red / Picture Book Picture Book, Germany, wea International / Elektra 7559-60452-2 (Matrix 755960452-2.3G WME) where the booklet says 'Originally mastered by Arun Chakraverty'. Track 1 Peak level 99.8 % Track 2 Peak level 99.9 % Track 3 Peak level 88.7 % Track 4 Peak level 74.4 % Track 5 Peak level 83.9 % Track 6 Peak level 86.8 % Track 7 Peak level 62.4 % Track 8 Peak level 76.1 % Track 9 Peak level 86.6 % Track 10 Peak level 86.5 % ------------------- DR Peak RMS Filename ---------------------------------------------------------------- DR15 -0.21 dB -17.70 dB 01 Come To My Aid.wav DR16 -0.01 dB -18.77 dB 02 Sad Old Red.wav DR15 -1.21 dB -17.19 dB 03 Look At You Now.wav DR14 -2.68 dB -18.30 dB 04 Heaven.wav DR14 -1.94 dB -17.75 dB 05 Jericho.wav DR15 -1.57 dB -18.64 dB 06 Money's Too Tight.wav DR13 -4.33 dB -21.20 dB 07 Holding Back The Years.wav DR14 -2.61 dB -19.52 dB 08 Red Box.wav DR14 -1.54 dB -17.46 dB 09 No Direction.wav DR15 -1.52 dB -18.83 dB 10 Picture Book.wav ----------------------------------------------------------------- Number of files: 10 Official DR value: DR15 Info from simplyred.com Release Information Released: October 1985 CD — Elektra 960452 CD (digitally re-mastered in 1992) — EW9031-76993–2 Cassette — EKT27C Vinyl — EKT27 Limited Edition Picture Disc — EKT27P Released: June 2008 Collector’s Edition CD & DVD — 2564–69514-5 Including extra tracks and a DVD from the Montreux Jazz Festival 1986 — more info here Credits Mick Hucknall — Vocals Fritz McIntyre — Keyboards & Vocals Chris Joyce — Drums & Percussion Tony Bowers — Bass Sylvan — Guitar Tim Kellett — Trumpet Produced by Stewart Levine Engineered and Mixed by Femi J Assistant Engineer Chris Dickie Ian Dickson — Tenor Sax on Jericho, Sad Old Red and Heaven Ronnie Ross — Baritone Sax on Jericho, Sad Old Red and Heaven Francis Foster — Congas on Come To My Aid and Look At You Now David Fryman — Guitar and Vocals on Open Up The Red Box Recorded at Soundpush studios, Blaricum, Holland and RAK studios, London, England Mixed at Air Studios, London, England Digitally remastered by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Los Angeles in 1992 Produced by Stewart Levine for Oliverea Productions Ltd Front cover photograph — Simon Fowler Back cover photographs — Malcolm Heywood Sleeve Design — Peter Barrett Worldwide Representation — Elliot Rashman and Andy Dodd for So What Arts Ltd All tracks used by kind permission of the publishers
All I have is the greatest hits, which (as far as I can tell) has only the album versions of the hits, and is a little on the loud/compressed/limited side. Not my go-to choice for sound quality. For the 45 versions of the hits, I have to rely on a smattering of UK compilations.
Picture Book - booklet says "originally mastered by Arun Chakraverty" Elektra 960 452 - 2 Disc Made in West Germany by Polygram Matrix reads: 7599 960 452-2 2895 879 02 # EAC peak levels: Track 01 86.9 % Track 02 82.4 % Track 03 79.4 % Track 04 62.9 % Track 05 77.2 % Track 06 88.8 % Track 07 66.3 % Track 08 77.4 % Track 09 91.8 % Track 10 82.9 %
2 different masterings for Picture Book already. Woo! I'll run numbers for my U.S. pressing later (it might be a record club edition--can't recall offhand). I've also got a couple of lp copies in case we need to do additional detective work I've got U.S. cds for all the albums up to Life, and lps (some foreign some U.S.) for everything up to Stars.
Men and Women - booklet says "Mastering engineer: Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound, New York" Elektra 242 071-2 Disc made in Germany by Record Service GmbH, Alsdorf Matrix reads: 229242071-2 WME EAC peak levels: Track 01 86.4 % Track 02 100.0 % Track 03 88.2 % Track 04 92.3 % Track 05 33.2 % Track 06 86.0 % Track 07 86.6 % Track 08 100.0 % Track 09 84.9 % Track 10 93.3 %
Picture Book - booklet says "digitally remastered by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman mastering, Los Angeles 1992" East West 9031-76993-2 Disc Made in Germany Matrix reads: 903176993-2.3 WME IFPI 00607 Track 01 98.9 % Track 02 98.4 % Track 03 100.0 % Track 04 96.8 % Track 05 97.4 % Track 06 99.8 % Track 07 93.5 % Track 08 100.0 % Track 09 98.7 % Track 10 98.2 %
A New Flame Simply Red / A New Flame A New Flame, wea/Elektra Germany, Manuf'd by Teldec, 244689-2 (Matrix 244689-2.3RSA) where booklet says 'Mastered by Bernie Grundman at Grundman Mastering'. Track 1 Peak level 90.1 % Track 2 Peak level 88.2 % Track 3 Peak level 90.9 % Track 4 Peak level 89.2 % Track 5 Peak level 86.9 % Track 6 Peak level 97.6 % Track 7 Peak level 90.2 % Track 8 Peak level 91.7 % Track 9 Peak level 85.0 % Track 10 Peak level 97.7 % DR Peak RMS Filename ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DR11 -1.01 dB -13.66 dB 01 It's Only Love.wav DR10 -1.17 dB -12.95 dB 02 A New Flame.wav DR10 -1.03 dB -13.25 dB 03 You've Got It.wav DR10 -1.07 dB -12.81 dB 04 To Be With You.wav DR10 -1.32 dB -13.23 dB 05 More.wav DR11 -0.27 dB -12.42 dB 06 Turn It Up.wav DR10 -1.18 dB -13.64 dB 07 Love Lays Its Tune.wav DR10 -1.05 dB -12.87 dB 08 She'll Have To Go.wav DR11 -1.44 dB -15.87 dB 09 If You Don't Know Me By Now.wav DR9 -0.21 dB -11.60 dB 10 Enough.wav ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of files: 10 Official DR value: DR10 From simplyred.com Release Information Released February 1989 CD — WEA 244689–2 Cassette — WEA WX242C Vinyl — WEA WX242 Released: June 2008 Collector’s Edition CD & DVD — 2564–69507-9 Includes extra tracks and a DVD of the ‘Let Me Take You Home’ concert filmed at Manchester Polytechnic in 1990 — more info here Credits Mick Hucknall — Vocals (*All Vocals on Enough) Fritz McIntyre — Keyboards & Backing Vocals (*except Enough) Tim Kellett — Trumpet & Keyboards Chris Joyce — Drums Tony Bowers — Bass Heitor T P — Guitars Ian Kirkham — Saxophones Produced by Stewart Levine for Oliverea Productions Ltd Engineered and Mixed by Daren Klein Recorded at Air Studios, Montserrat Preparation in Gallarate, Italia Mixed at Ocean Way Studios, LA Assistant Engineers Karl Lever and Clark Germain Synthesiser Programming by Erik Hanson and Larry Williams Percussion — Lennie Castro Backing Vocals — Stephanie Spruell (*except Enough) Mastered by Bernie Grundman at Grundman Mastering Cover photography — Juergen Teller Inner sleeve photography — Sheila Rock/Juergen Teller Sleeve Design — Peter Barrett & Andrew Biscomb Representation: Worldwide — Elliot Rashman and Andy Dodd at So What Arts Ltd The Americas — in association with Burton Management All tracks used by kind permission of the publishers
A new flame - booklet says "mastered by Bernie Grundman at Grundman mastering" Elektra 244689-2 Disc Manufactured in Germany by Teldec Record Service GmbH Matrix reads: 229544689-2 WME EAC peak levels: Track 01 90.1 % Track 02 88.2 % Track 03 90.9 % Track 04 89.2 % Track 05 86.9 % Track 06 97.6 % Track 07 90.2 % Track 08 91.7 % Track 09 85.0 % Track 10 97.7 %
make 3! Curious about the early US release, but I think its EAC peak levels are identical to the early WG cd ones
Well at least the WME / RSA masterings of the German A New Flame are identical! For Picture Book the picture is interesting already! Two early masterings from Germany with different Peak Levels and the acknowledged Grundman Remaster (again made in Germany). Marcel's 'pre' master is made by Polygram, mine was made by Record Services GmbH (sorry I didn't originally see that print on the back cover as it is extremely small). I wonder if the Polydor will turn out to be the US master and the Record Services the UK master? Just conjecture at the moment!
Stars - booklet says mastered by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman mastering, Los Angeles EastWest 9031-75284-2 Disc Made in Germany Matrix reads: 903175284-2 WME EAC peak levels: Track 01 100.0 % Track 02 98.3 % Track 03 100.0 % Track 04 100.0 % Track 05 100.0 % Track 06 98.3 % Track 07 100.0 % Track 08 100.0 % Track 09 100.0 % Track 10 99.2 %
I think all "Men and Women" and "A new flame" euro CDs share the same mastering: I am talking about the pre-deluxe remastered ones, so there should be no differences between the Elektra and the EastWest releases. Wondering about the US Picture book version. Many thanks in advance Curbach
Stars (collector's edition) - remastered in 2008 by Kevin Metcalfe at The Soundmasters, London. Technical co-ordinator Andy Scade Rhino 5144-2673-2 Disc Made in the EU Matrix reads 5144267329CD V01 FDI IFPI L016 EAC peak levels (FYI: this edition includes several bonus tracks but I'll report the 10 tracks of the original album only) Track 01 98.2 % Track 02 98.0 % Track 03 98.2 % Track 04 98.0 % Track 05 98.2 % Track 06 98.0 % Track 07 98.2 % Track 08 98.2 % Track 09 98.2 % Track 10 98.0 %
I am getting Stars the 2 disc edition made in japan in the 90's E/W Can anybody tell mr if the 2008 collector editions are worth getting?
Here is my U.S. pressing of Picture Book: 86.9/82.4/79.4/62.9/77.2/88.8/66.3/77.4/91.8/82.9 Note this disc is a little odd. It is a BMG edition and the artwork says EastWest Records 9 60452-2, but the disc face says Elektra 60452-2. SRC pressing. Edit: I can see this matches marcel's Polygram disc.
Men And Women U.S. Elektra E2-60727 (Columbia House Record Club): 86.4/100.0/88.2/92.3/33.2/86.0/86.6/100.0/84.9/93.3 Total time: 41:23:27 Edit: Looks like I match marcel again.
A New Flame U.S. Elektra E2 60828 (Columbia House Record Club): 100.0/96.6/95.7/100.0/98.9/92.9/92.1/99.2/91.0/97.9 Total time: 40:52:18 Finally something different it appears
Stars U.S. EastWest Records America 7 91773-2: 100.0/97.9/98.8/99.3/99.9/97.4/99.9/99.4/99.9/98.6 Total Time: 41:17:30 Different again!
Hi Curbach, Marcel Do the US or EU Polygram booklets mention 'CD mastering by Barry Diament' anywhere?
Well today I got hold of another copy of Picture Book. On the disc, Manufactured in Germany by Record Service GmbH, Alsdorf Elektra 960 452-2 Matrix; 960 452-2 SRC-01 Same Levels as Curbach and marcel's discs. 86.9/82.4/79.4/62.9/77.2/88.8/66.3/77.4/91.8/82.9 DR Peak RMS Filename ------------------------------------------------------------------ DR15 -1.68 dB -18.87 dB 01 Come to My Aid.wav DR16 -1.81 dB -20.52 dB 02 Sad Old Red.wav DR14 -2.03 dB -17.53 dB 03 Look at You Now.wav DR13 -4.16 dB -19.29 dB 04 Heaven.wav DR14 -2.50 dB -18.78 dB 05 Jericho.wav DR15 -1.32 dB -18.18 dB 06 Money's too Tight (to Mention).wav DR13 -4.19 dB -21.65 dB 07 Holding Back the Years.wav DR14 -2.27 dB -18.87 dB 08 (Open up the) Red Box.wav DR14 -1.03 dB -17.35 dB 09 No Direction.wav DR15 -1.69 dB -18.92 dB 10 Picture Book.wav ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of files: 10 Official DR value: DR14 ====================== For Picture Book, it looks like there there are 2 distinct pre-1992 masterings. I would conjecture that the first one I posted is the UK edition and the second (the one here) is the US (Rest of World?) edition. I had a listen this evening to both and there is a sonic difference. The one I'll call 'UK' for now has a better defined treble and much better soundstage (almost 3-Dimensional). The one I call 'US' has a seemingly deeper bass, but only because the treble isn't as well defined. The UK doesn't lack bass but can sound a little shrill on louder passages eg Track 3, but makes up for it when the music is quieter eg Track 2 when it sounds more intimate and enveloping. I would be happy with either but I reckon I shall be listening to the 'UK' mastering for now. Its more involving and make you feel 'inside' the music. Maybe its a tape-generation thing (there is not DDD signifier on the disc as there is on 'A New Flame')? Note: I haven't as yet heard the 1992 or 2008 Remasters.
