Crosby, Stills and Nash (1969): Best CD?

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Craig Williams, Jan 29, 2014.

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  1. Craig Williams

    Craig Williams Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Is the recent Audio Fidelity reckoned to be the best version of this classic album?
     
  2. Myke

    Myke Trying Not To Spook The Horse

    In my opinion, for digital, yes.
     
  3. bluesbro

    bluesbro Forum Hall of Shame

    Location:
    DC
    AF
     
    hodgo likes this.
  4. hbbfam

    hbbfam Forum Resident

    Location:
    Chandler,AZ
    I think the AF CD is the best sounding version of this iconic album, period. I had the original CD , Carry On and the Box set, and I don't think any of these is close.
     
    hodgo likes this.
  5. hodgo

    hodgo Tea Making Gort (Yorkshire Branch) Staff

    Location:
    East Yorkshire
    Yes it sounds wonderful as does CSN from 1977 both mastered by our host, what more could you want!
     
    MarkO likes this.
  6. reb

    reb Money Beats Soul

    Location:
    Long Island
    I deleted my post because I didn't read the title, the 1969 album....not the 1977. :doh:

    no doubt the AF
     
  7. Andreas

    Andreas Senior Member

    Location:
    Frankfurt, Germany
    The original CD sounds very nice and I can't decide which I like better, that one or the AF. Both are worth keeping.
     
    joelee likes this.
  8. yasujiro

    yasujiro Senior Member

    Location:
    tokyo
    Concur.
     
  9. rbp

    rbp Forum Resident

    I only have the original CD which I am happy with.
    Fantastic album by the way - prefer it to Deja Vu.
     
  10. reb

    reb Money Beats Soul

    Location:
    Long Island
    I also kept my original cd and now was looking for the remaster on my shelf. And realized that I didn't buy it because it was supposedly a re-issue of the Atlantic gold cd housed in a box- which I do have- but never play.
     
  11. Michael

    Michael I LOVE WIDE S-T-E-R-E-O!

    I have a least 3 versions. I like the AF best, but it's very close between the first CD issue.
     
  12. back2vinyl

    back2vinyl Forum Resident

    Location:
    London, UK
    IIRC Barry Diament said on this forum that he did the original CD and that it was a flat transfer from the original master tape. Steve's AF is extremely close to the original in EQ - I would guess there are some subtle improvements but on a quick listen I'd struggle to tell them apart.

    The current (2006) CD from memory is actually an HDCD and it's a Bernie Grundman mastering. Like his LP masterings of this title, it's a world away from the original. Even with the HDCD decoded, all the top end has been sliced off and you're left with a bit of midrange and a mountain of bass - it's like bathing in dark chocolate. It's an absolute travesty and I love it.

    The Gastwirt remaster (1994) is half way in between, less bright than the original and quite bassy but not quite as extreme as the Grundman.

    There's a gold CD from years back that I've never heard but IIRC it was found to be a clone of the Gastwirt mastering.

    Basically it's all down to personal preference. I suggest you buy the original, the Gastwirt aluminium and the current CD, which cost very little, and see which you prefer. If it's the original, then the ultimate would probably be Steve's AF.

    BTW the Grundman is missing the few bars of "Come On In My Kitchen" in front of "49 Bye-Byes". There are lots of threads on this album.
     
    C6H12O6, mikeyt, grandegi and 3 others like this.
  13. ellingtonic

    ellingtonic Forum Resident

    Another vote for the AF
     
  14. Craig Williams

    Craig Williams Forum Resident Thread Starter

    What's the cat. number and year of the first CD issue please?

    Thanks for all the above guys.
     
    mikeyt likes this.
  15. chewy

    chewy Forum Resident

    Location:
    West Coast USA
  16. Elton

    Elton I Hope Being Helpful, Will Make Me Look Cool

    Location:
    Carson Ca.
    My vote is for the AF version. But the Diament and Gastwirt versions are good second choices. IMO
     
  17. Yeah

    Yeah Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Falmouth, Ma. USA
  18. oxegen

    oxegen Forum Resident

    Location:
    Dublin, Ireland
    I like them all. Great album!
     
  19. ssmith3046

    ssmith3046 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Arizona desert
    The Classic Records 200g record is my go to copy but for the CD I go with the AF gold.
     
  20. rbp

    rbp Forum Resident

    Atlantic 19117-2
    I am not certain what year it was released - probably mid 80's.
     
  21. HAmmer

    HAmmer Forum Resident

    Location:
    Milwaukee WI
    here's the 3 versions i have to compare
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Analyzed: Crosby, Stills & Nash / Crosby, Stills & Nash-Barry Diament
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DR Peak RMS Duration Track
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    DR12 -0.35 dB -16.19 dB 7:24 01-Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
    DR12 -0.50 dB -15.33 dB 2:38 02-Marrakesh Express
    DR12 -4.04 dB -20.71 dB 4:39 03-Guinnevere
    DR13 -3.17 dB -18.06 dB 2:45 04-You Don't Have to Cry
    DR12 0.00 dB -14.48 dB 2:56 05-Pre-Road Downs
    DR11 -0.31 dB -15.36 dB 5:28 06-Wooden Ships
    DR12 -1.97 dB -21.43 dB 2:39 07-Lady of the Island
    DR13 -2.60 dB -18.19 dB 2:42 08-Helplessly Hoping
    DR11 -0.51 dB -13.41 dB 4:16 09-Long Time Gone
    DR11 -1.01 dB -14.95 dB 5:14 10-49 Bye-Byes
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Number of tracks: 10
    Official DR value: DR12

    Samplerate: 44100 Hz
    Channels: 2
    Bits per sample: 16
    Bitrate: 1411 kbps
    Codec: PCM

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Analyzed: Crosby, Stills & Nash / Crosby, Stills & Nash Audio Fidelity
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DR Peak RMS Duration Track
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    DR12 -0.15 dB -14.83 dB 7:25 01-Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
    DR12 -1.55 dB -16.48 dB 2:38 02-Marrakesh Express
    DR12 -2.81 dB -18.28 dB 4:39 03-Guinevere
    DR12 -2.32 dB -15.81 dB 2:44 04-You Don't Have To Cry
    DR11 -0.50 dB -14.25 dB 3:01 05-Pre-Road Downs
    DR10 -0.30 dB -14.06 dB 5:27 06-Wooden Ships
    DR12 -3.54 dB -21.87 dB 2:38 07-Lady of the Island
    DR11 -2.91 dB -17.28 dB 2:41 08-Helplessly Hoping
    DR11 -1.58 dB -15.51 dB 4:16 09-Long Time Gone
    DR10 -0.30 dB -13.23 dB 5:16 10-49 Bye-Byes
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Number of tracks: 10
    Official DR value: DR11

    Samplerate: 44100 Hz
    Channels: 2
    Bits per sample: 16
    Bitrate: 1411 kbps
    Codec: PCM

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Analyzed: Crosby, Stills & Nash / Crosby, Stills & Nash HDtracks 24/96
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DR Peak RMS Duration Track
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    DR8 -0.18 dB -10.48 dB 7:23 01-Suite Judy Blue Eyes Remaste
    DR8 -0.16 dB -9.90 dB 2:38 02-Marrakesh Express Remastered
    DR10 -0.20 dB -13.69 dB 4:39 03-Guinevere Remastered
    DR11 -0.20 dB -12.79 dB 2:45 04-You Dont Have To Cry Remaste
    DR9 -0.20 dB -10.39 dB 2:58 05-PreRoad Downs Remastered
    DR7 -0.14 dB -9.51 dB 5:28 06-Wooden Ships Remastered
    DR11 -0.20 dB -15.64 dB 2:38 07-Lady Of The Island Remastere
    DR10 -0.20 dB -12.91 dB 2:41 08-Helplessly Hoping Remastered
    DR6 -0.14 dB -7.56 dB 4:19 09-Long Time Gone Remastered
    DR8 -0.18 dB -9.35 dB 5:06 10-49 ByeByes Remastered
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Number of tracks: 10
    Official DR value: DR9

    Samplerate: 96000 Hz
    Channels: 2
    Bits per sample: 24
    Bitrate: 2999 kbps
    Codec: FLAC
     
  22. back2vinyl

    back2vinyl Forum Resident

    Location:
    London, UK
    Yes, that's the original BD with the flat transfer. The bar code is 07567815162. As far as I know it's the only mastering that was done prior to the remasters so any old CD that's not billed as a remaster will probably have the flat transfer. If you go to Amazon, they now seem to do this thing where anything prior to 1990 is dated 1990 so if you get the CD version dated 1990 you should get the right thing. On Amazon.co.uk, which is where I got mine, the price is currently £3.50.
     
  23. Andreas

    Andreas Senior Member

    Location:
    Frankfurt, Germany
    Has Barry clearly stated that this was a flat transfer? Because there are posts by him where he says he almost never did flat transfers.

     
  24. rbp

    rbp Forum Resident

    I think I remember reading a thread where the flat transfer statement was attributed to Steve H.
     
  25. Tom in Houston

    Tom in Houston Forum Resident

    I have 4 masterings of Crosby, Stills & Nash on CD - the original release US manufactured, the 1993 gold disc from Atlantic, the remaster from last decade, and the Audio Fidelity.

    Steve's version is by far the best. I got them all out and played a little from each of them. The AF uses a better source than the original CD. The original sounds like the bass was rolled off. The 1993 and especially the current remaster have way too much bass. Steve made the bass an integral part of the music, not an out of control rumble track, playing while CS&N sing and strum.

    And that's just the start...

    I filed the others away, and have only played the best, since then.
     
    mikeyt likes this.
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