Anyone try the Ziggy Stardust reissue yet?

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by GabeG, Jul 16, 2002.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. GabeG

    GabeG New Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC
    How is the sound?
     
  2. Paul K

    Paul K Senior Member

    Location:
    Toronto, Canada
    It has be "Mewtilated!!" AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHGGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!
    No-noised and lifeless. Was in HMV yesterday and did a headphone listen. Sounded like a lifeless blob. And one of the most kick --s records of all time.
     
  3. Sckott

    Sckott Hand Tighten Only.

    Location:
    South Plymouth, Ma
    Just what I thought. Sad. I heard the packaging was really good though.

    :(
     
  4. Claus

    Claus Senior Member

    Location:
    Germany
    Do you do a serious listening with cheap headphones at your record store??? Hmmh!
     
  5. Mal

    Mal Phorum Physicist

    I had a look at it in Virgin the other day.

    Two things:

    i) The credits inside state that the album tracks were digitally remastered in 2000 - ie the same as the 24-bit issues a couple of years ago (I assume).

    ii) The rest is credited as being digitally remastered in 2002. The mastering is credited to our old friend the "Mewtant" (and someone else whose name I can't remember).

    I haven't heard this reissue but since hearing the latest "Mewtated" Free remasters I have absolutely no plans to inflict any more noise on my ears.

    RCA all the way!!!
     
  6. Sckott

    Sckott Hand Tighten Only.

    Location:
    South Plymouth, Ma
    Remember folks, the RCA issue sounds great, but it's not from the original master tape. It's a straight-down from a good tape copy. Still, it's the best thing out for now. Beats out every LP issue I've tried, including a German pressing that sounded decent.
     
  7. -Ben

    -Ben Senior Member

    Location:
    Washington DC Area
    Just curious...which ones have you tried?
    BC
     
  8. GabeG

    GabeG New Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC

    OK, I'm going out on a limb here, but I picked this up and...it actually sounds pretty good - not like other Mew masters I've heard.


    It's not harsh and it has much more bass than the '99 Mew version. I didn't do an A/B with the Au20, but I'd say it sounds better, but I'll have confirm this.

    One question Malc, where in the booklet does it list the album remaster seperately? I only see the 2002 credit.


    - Gabe
     
  9. Sckott

    Sckott Hand Tighten Only.

    Location:
    South Plymouth, Ma
    Hmm...

    I have a late 70's "International" black label RCA that beat out my earlier yellow-labeled US RCA pressing. The black RCA w/dog pressings sound ok, but noisy in general. Since then, just the Ryco CD and the RCA CD. The RCA CD has some natural punch, ballsy too. Sonically, it's really nice.

    I've yet to hear a Hunky Dory RCA CD. That's next, when opportunity meets a decent price.

    Crank up "Hang On To Yourself" and concentrate on the center. The RCA sounds more like music to me. The Ryco CD Of Ziggy isn't that bad. I still have it around for comparison. The RCA is just easier to listen to.
     
  10. Mal

    Mal Phorum Physicist

    Gabe,

    I can't remember the layout that well but I recall that, where the tracks are listed in the booklet, the album tracks (ie disc 1) had a credit referring to 2000 whereas the bonus disc tracks had a credit referring to 2002.

    I'll go back to the shop and see if I can get another look at some point (I'll be damned if I'm going to buy another "Mewtilated" product - you can only get burned so many times before you learn to avoid the flames).

    I wonder if the US and UK packaging differ slightly?

    Malc.
     
  11. smc2541

    smc2541 Forum Resident

    Location:
    NJ
    What about the Ziggy Mofi, any good?

    Steve
     
  12. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialistâ„¢

    Location:
    B.C.
    Tossing in my 2 cents... I agree 100% with Sckott. The RCA (Japan) cds sound really natural to my ears, a true sonic delight, where as the Au20 is the next best but a little too compressed in the top end to the point of uncomfortableness as well as a slightly boosted bottom-end, and as for the regular Rykos, can you say there is definately a pain factor involved with listening to these.

    Sorry guys, I need a new computer before I can do any burning although I only have the 2 hits albums, but like Sckott I'm looking for more.

    Welcome Steve! :wave:

    Yeah, I'm kind of wondering what the MFSL vinyl sounds like too.
     
  13. -Ben

    -Ben Senior Member

    Location:
    Washington DC Area
    Here's my two cents:

    I had the RCA CD of Ziggy for years...unfortunately I sold it for $20 to a diehard Bowie collector just BEFORE the first Ryko came out. I never did get to make a direct comparison. Later...I replaced the plain Ryko for the Gold Au20 Ryko. I did a comparison at the time, and the Au20 was a bit better than the aluminum.
    THEN...I bought a Mofi LP and I was shocked. IMHO, the MFSL LP is so superior, I have not listened to the Au20 in years.
    Now...Is the MFSL a straight transfer? I don't know.
    I do have a Ziggy black label RCA LP but I have not compared it or even listened to it in years. My recollection is that it was nothing special.

    As for Hunky....My ears and many others (I think even Fremer and humorem agree on this one) believe that the UK EMI centennial LP can't be beat (CD or LP). I love this LP so much I bought two.


    BC
     
  14. Gary

    Gary Nauga Gort! Staff

    Location:
    Toronto
    Hmmmm, if it sounds bad on store headphones, imagine how bad it would sound on your home stereo! Yeeech!

    I had the last remaster once. Traded it in.

    :(
     
  15. kipper15

    kipper15 Forum Resident

    Location:
    United Kingdom
    The MFSL Ziggy is the best vinyl version I've heard. I picked up a Mint copy from Griffco a few years back. Worth searching one out if you can.

    I also own a UK '72 original, the Ryko clear vinyl release from 1990, the EMI UK Centenary edition from 1997 and the Simply Vinyl pressing from last year. The EMI release from '97 is pretty good, as is the '72 original, but the Ryko and SV pressings are nothing to shout about.
     
  16. Mal

    Mal Phorum Physicist

    I've been back for another look.

    It definitely says something like "Digital Remasters 2000" in reference to disc 1 towards the back of the booklet.

    Oddly, disc one itself says something like "Digital Remasters 2002" so who knows?

    Maybe it's a typo in the booklet?
     
  17. -Ben

    -Ben Senior Member

    Location:
    Washington DC Area

    Thanks for the info kipper15.

    Have you made a similar comparison (UK original, EMI Centenary, Ryko, Simply Vinyl) for Hunky Dory?

    BC
     
  18. Sckott

    Sckott Hand Tighten Only.

    Location:
    South Plymouth, Ma
    I agree. The Centennial Hunky Dory LP 180g is absolutely fantastic. I haven't heard anything better yet. Bought mine for $19. Glad I got it when I could, cheaply.
     
  19. Vivaldinization

    Vivaldinization Active Member

    There's a thread going on right now in the alt.fan.david-bowie newsgroup about this release, and the verdict doesn't sound good; apparently, there're bits MISSING on this new one...?

    -D
     
  20. GabeG

    GabeG New Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    NYC

    Hmm. I hadn't noticed the swapped channels. I did notice the missed snippets which makes me wonder if this is a different master from the others we've heard. I still stand by the sound quality though. Some of the guys on that list seem to think it sounds DULL compared to the Virgin issue! Well, I guess if you actually liked the Virgin you wouldn't like the new one.


    - Gabe
     
  21. Sckott

    Sckott Hand Tighten Only.

    Location:
    South Plymouth, Ma
    Pieces missing?? Oh god. Someone is out there who is bent on screwing with mother nature.

    Improve it to a pulp. :cry: Sad, sad.
     
  22. Gary

    Gary Nauga Gort! Staff

    Location:
    Toronto
    Pieces missing? Whaaaat? :confused:

    I thought David Bowie took back control of his catalogue? This could not be true if there are snippits missing....

    I must be missing something here.
     
  23. lennonfan

    lennonfan New Member

    Location:
    baltimore maryland
    I'm going to be the outcast and say I never liked the RCA Japan issue. I bought it in 1985 thereabouts and always thought it sounded dull and kind of hissy.
    I got the gold au20 and really liked that one, tho it can be a bit bright on the high end. I have an orig. RCA lp press which is ok and a German RCA which isn't too bad at all, IMO, but the gold au was my choice of best so far (I didn't like the regular Rykos too much, and I haven't heard the modern remasters...but frankly, 5 copies of that album is enuf;)
     
  24. Uncle Al

    Uncle Al Senior Member

    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    From what I could gather, the count off to Hang on to Yourself is MIA and the 3 guitar harmonic notes that bridged Ziggy Stardust with Suffragette City has been faded, separating the tracks. With that and the channels being reversed, it sounds like the mastering may have been performed by someone totally unfamiliar with the album.
     
  25. kipper15

    kipper15 Forum Resident

    Location:
    United Kingdom

    No, I can't say I have. I will do that at some point and let you know. I suspect in this case the EMI Centenary edition from '97 might come out tops!
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Share This Page

molar-endocrine