Old Polydor CD "Strange Brew-The Very Best Of Cream" mastered by Dennis Drake. Best sound, cheap!

My Polydor CD was pressed in West Germany with the matrix ending in 03. The credits state that it was mastered by Dennis M. Drake.

 

oh I have that vn. already, bought the CD in a local store many years ago, they've probably gone to the wall since.. spend way too much time (& money) on discogs and for the most part I like it.. but it can be a bit like eBay crossed with Wikipedia, the info's only as good as the seller/user contributing the data to the various listings and some sellers/users contributions are more accurate than others (being diplomatic!).. anyway, thanks for your help and belated Merry Chrimbo to you and yours

 

IIRC I seen WG's with 04's for this album as well.

 

I've had this one since the early 90s. I'll have to go dig it out and give it a listen. Thanks for the recommendation Steve!

 

I have that original CD too, Steve. Great album and sound.

 

A search here shows recommendations going back to 2005.

 

I've got this one, you are right Steve it's really good. I've also got Wheels of fire & Fresh Cream
all mastered by Drake. They all sound good.

Merry Christmas to all !

 

This one just makes me laugh and think that maybe my taste in sound isn't too far off! I've had that exact CD for years and have always thought it was among the best sounding Cream audio I have ever had across multiple formats. Thanks Steve!

 

Can only agree with Steve here: Your to-go Cream.
Nice, beefy sound, full-on bass.

 

Did Drake also master the early Polydor Disraeli Gears?

 

Thanks for the tip Steve!

 

The first Cream album I bought way back when I was in high school.

 

I've heard great things about many of the early Cream CDs, especially the ones mastered by Dennis Drake. Never heard them myself but I shall acquire them some day!

 

I've had that one for years. It was probably being sold at a discount at one of those old stores like Lechmere back in the day. It says Made in USA and also says Stigwood Group/Polydor Hamburg, but it clearly states that it was mastered by Dennis Drake so I hope I have the right one! Thought it sounded good. In fact, I compared it to an old vinyl version of Wheels of Fire ATCO SD 2-700 and thought they sounded similar which surprised me because I had expected the vinyl to sound better. I'm glad to know this information and Merry Christmas to you too, Steve!

 

Ordered! Thank you, and Merry Christmas.

 

Thanks for the tip Steve. Merry Christmas!

 

Thanks for thinking of us Steve - merry Christmas

 

I have an Australian Polydor pressing of this - 811639-2, (P) 1983 Unlike the US printing Steve referenced, the title on the spine is in all capitals.

Dennis M Drake gets a mastering credit on the inside cover (what you look at when you open the jewel case). It appears in the bottom block of text,on the second-last line of column two (not counting the last line which appears to have some numbers in a light-weight font). This text is printed in about four-point, and the printer appears to have copied it from CD artwork printed overseas, as it is lacks detail and is extremely hard to read. I had to get an illuminated magnifier, and then it was hard to read.

I obtained my copy about six months ago and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Yes, I paid $1 for it, and the money also went to charity (an Op-Shop find)!

Here is what the cover looks like:



Thanks to Steve for letting us know about this.
And a happy new year to all.

 

I'm happy with the DCC (Fresh Cream, Wheels of Fire) and Universal Japan SHM-SACDs (Fresh Cream, Disraeli Gears, Wheels of Fire). I remember me Fresh Cream was one of the first DCC Gold discs (long box) with great artwork reproduction.

 

Was this album originally released in LP form? The track list is so stingy, made me wonder ...

I've always "listened past" Jack's dodgy bass intonation; but now that Steve's pointed it out ... geez. Thanks Steve.

FWIW, I have a W. German Polydor CD of Goodbye (823 660-2) with Dennis M. Drake credited as remasterer; it's delightfully "organic" (i.e., as grungy as your compost pile.)

 

That UK pressed version looks bronzed. Sometimes, bronzed CDs play, but sometimes not.

 

I think I've an Australian pressing of this CD somewhere. I certainly have the original 1983 RSO vinyl LP but I seem to remember some of the tracks being very hissy, like they were from multiple-generation tapes

 

I'm curious - how does this mastering compare to our host's DCC disks?

I've assumed (from the glowing reports here) that the DCC's are the "gold standard" for Cream. Unfortunately, the DCC Cream's have been outside of my reach, so I can't compare. Based on Steve's recommendation, I would think that the Dennis Drake mastering would have to be of a similar caliber to the DCC. But there would have to be differences. Does anyone have both and could share a comparison?

 

I have this German version - https://www.discogs.com/Cream-Strange-Brew-The-Very-Best-Of-Cream/release/766053

is this the correct one, or do I need to hit discogs?

 

I hate to be this guy, but could someone who has this exact CD please post the EAC or DR peak values?