Have been enjoying "The Complete After Midnight Sessions" from Nat King Cole and His Trio. This is the 1987 Capitol Mono Cd. Wondering if there are better sounding versions available. Thanks
The '87 version is the best that is out there. The latest reissue on Blue Note has some sonic, er, problems, IMO. My quibble with the 1987 mastering is that it sounds like the channels might have been combined. Sigh.
Take a full-track mono tape, play it back on a two-track tape machine and then (a big no no) combine the channels back into mono. Throws the sound instantly out of phase. Some mastering engineers hit the "mono" button on their consoles when a mono tape is played back in the above fashion. #1 no no in my book. See? It's been a while since I've played the 1987 version, but I remembered at the time that it sounded a bit "out". I could be wrong...
I've only heard the recent reissue from Blue Note, and thought it sounded OK. What is the nature of the problems woith the sound on this version? I must admit to not paying much close attention to the sound quality - I just thought it sounded OK given its age, and the music is fabulous. I was particularly chuffed to hear Sweets Edison's playing on this album.
Yesterday I found a mono vinyl LP copy of The Christmas Song.Sounds pretty good,couldn't wait until Christmas to play it.
I also pruchased the recent 1998 remaster version. COnsidering that this session was recorded in 1956, IMO Ron McMaster at Capitol Jazz did a stellar job. One must remember that we are talking a street price of $13.99. Regardless of the price I feel the fidelity and sonics for the most part are outstanding. For that matter all of Ron McMaster's work for Capitol Jazz using the 20 and 24 bit super bit mapping is outstanding. Cannonball Adderley - Bossa Nova Cannonball Adderley- Poll Winners NAt King Cole Sings/Geroge Shearing Plays Cannonball Adderley at the Lighthouse All outstanding remasters street price $13.99 I really like what Ron McMaster has done with these classic gems, especially considering the age of the music and the price point. Best Regards, Gary S. Freed
I love this album...but would love it even more if SH were to do a mastering job and put in out in an SACD/redbook hybrid version...
Toga, Amen to that. I agree 100%. But the quality still beats out most other standard studio garbage being distributed by any label's reissues of other titles.
Gary, I own the 1987 version and that sounds just fine....I can't compare it to the remaster in this instance but I'm sure it is OK. To be honest, I'd take Steve's version over most things given the chance! By the way, just call me Togo...I haven't been to any Toga parties recently!!!