DCC Archive Buddy Holly - Canadian version

Ok, I just got another shipment from hmv.com. Among the discs was the Buddy Holly one. *Unfortunately*, this is clearly the "bad" version. Put it in mono and the high end goes to **** (loss of high end, phasiness).

Great sounding otherwise, but don't go for the Canadian version if you're looking for the "good" version...

Steve, am I correct in saying that the "bad" version comes from the LP master tape (rather than the CD master tape)?

 

Hi Luke,
Just for general infn the good Buddy Holly: From The Original Master Tapes on the back of the booklet it says compiled and remastered by Steve Hoffman.
Curiously what are all the numbers on the spine? The ones on mine are DIDX-203 & MCAD-5540. I also have a number on the back cover D 120069

[ October 02, 2001: Message edited by: Dave ]

[ October 02, 2001: Message edited by: Dave ]

 

Luke,
Thanks for the information. I actually made a trip to Canada this past weekend and had this disc in my hands, but put it back.

-Craig

p.s. For those keeping track: A&B Sound in Victoria B.C. had ten copies of the S.H. mastered Who's Next available at $7.99 (Canadian) each.

 

Craig,
You forgot to mention that in B.C. we also pay 14% tax on top of that price. But for sure in Western Canada A&B Sound is the store to find just about anything you're looking for. Gary, member on the board found some DCC aluminum albums, gotta go chech em' out, at A&B downtown Vancouver for $14.99 CDN. and some gold Frank Sinatra DCC for $39.00 CDN. A&B is a great place.

 

Well, the problem is that MCA put out two versions (to the best of my knowledge) with little or no visable difference. Like all of the different Who's Next CDs. The differences between the good and bad Holly CDs are pretty minor, but...

Are you *sure* you've got the good version? Flip the switch on your receiver to mono on Oh Boy! If the high end drops out, you've got the "bad" version.

 

Hey Luke,
Yup I'm sure I've got the good copy. Turn it into mono and the highs almost seem a little clearer where as on my MCA Ultimate the high end goes flat in mono.
And yours says compiled and remastered by Steve Hoffman as well??!!

[ October 03, 2001: Message edited by: Dave ]

 

I tell ya. Talk about flogging a dead horse. Steve is gonna freak out and start using Sonic Solutions Nonoise technology if people keep asking this question. Good thing I kept a hard copy of the original thread. Yes, Steve mastered one for CD and someone (Steve?) mastered one for LP. Some nameless individual used both to press CDs, after Steve left MCA. The LP version’s top end will slightly collapse out of phase when the mono button is pushed. Trust me on this one. This is the only way to tell. I know this because I have both versions (both for under five bucks, used. What a deal!) If you have the LP version and you press the mono button, you will know if you have the LP version. The CD version suffers not. To quote Steve “Don’t despair if you have one of these: Both will give you a good sound; the un-futzed-with sound of the real Buddy Holly masters: An awesome vintage Ampex tubey-like sound, my favorite.” The only difference I can see between them is the Cd version is DIDX-203. The LP version is DIDY-203. Also the CD version is a Japanese pressing and the LP version is a US pressing (inconceivable). Personally, a CD made from the LP master (one generation removed from the master) is still better than the new Nonoised, futzed with stuff out there. Of course there is always the old argument of “the Artist’s intent” and how did Steve want people to hear it. Frankly, both sound great. If you have the LP version, just pretend that you are listening to a record. The important thing is to enjoy the music. With everything going on in the world, the old “LP version vs the CD version” argument is kinda silly, IMHO.Rave On!

 

Comments for Joel and Evan:

- I don't know if the "CD version" has it, but the "LP version" has *no* count-off on I Doesn't Matter Anymore. True Love Ways *does* have the studio chat prior to it.

- The Canadian version (the "LP version") is DIDX - I have a feeling that's not a good judge of if the disc is good or not.

- Even though the Erick Labson mastered stuff is a bit harsh, I don't think he used any noise reduction (it sounds too good for that).

 

Just played my Buddy CD which I purchased as one of my first CDs just after the CD release. On "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" there IS a countoff of "1,2,2" by the engineer. My copy has DIDX-203, MCA5540 on the spine. The insert does say "compiled and remastered by Steve Hoffman". Hope this is of some help.

 

Winston: do you think you could post the information on the inner ring of the disc itself. Also, whether it was made in the US or Japan. I have a feeling the outter packaing is the same on all the different releases.

Thanks for the note about the count-off, though.

 

My disc reads "Manufactured in Japan for MCA Records, INC. The inner ring has "MCAD 5540 M1E1". Hope this helps Luke.

 

Yeah, it does....thanks!

 

One more interesting tidbit - just got word from a friend of mine with a "bad" copy - his *has* the count-off on It Doesn't Matter Anymore. Hmm - looks like there are more than 2 versions.

 

I believe I have the good version. I bought it back in 1987. When the cd's were encased in the long cardboard boxes. It has the count-off on I Doesn't Matter Any More, and
the chatter before True love Ways. This was actually the first album I ever had. My mum bought me the LP, and then for Christmas it was the CD. So I believe I have both of the good versions. I was in 3rd grade. A young'n.
The movie La Bamba kick started my record collecting, and my wanting to be in a rock band. Huhhh....my first record I ever bought was mastered by Steve Hoffman. Even then I thought...what a sweet job...I'd be in heaven getting all these tapes together. It looks like he discovered all the official studio recording dates too.
Sorry for the ramble..

-Wes

 

I remember Steve telling us "don't lose any sleep over it," 1) because if you play the 'bad' version in stereo, it won't be a problem, and 2) it all sort of evens out anyway because the 'bad' version would be tonally richer having been cut from the Lp master. Don't have both versions, so I can't make that comparison myself.

[ October 04, 2001: Message edited by: Camarillo ]

 

Why would the bad version sound any "richer"? If anything I would think it would be exactly the opposite. More hiss, for one thing.

As for not hearing problems in stereo - I can. There are a good number of places where I'll hear little thumps or noises coming out of only one channel. It seems to me Oh Boy! has a number of examples. When I get home I can listen again and report...

Also, as we've already established, some "bad" CDs have the intro to It Doesn't Matter Anymore - so that's not a way to tell the discs apart.

 

Don't know why it would sound richer, I'm just going by memory. I don't have the CD cut from the Lp master so I couldn't make that comparison for you.