Please, PUH-LEEZ!! Tell me there's a better sounding version of Steppenwolf's Monster

I have the MCA CD and it really sounds like crap! Harsh, grainy, the high frequencies even drop out completely at one point! Huh?!!! Who was the fool that mastered this? What a POS!

However... I love this album! One of the most under-rated albums from this time period... IM(not-so) HO. Is the LP or BGO CD version any better? Please someone, tell me there's a good sounding version of this masterpiece!

tw

 

I've got an early pressing of the vinyl at home that I haven't listened to in a long time. I'm in Utah now (skiing, of course ), but will listen to the LP when I get home and post a reply.

 

I have a fairly clean LP and it isn't that much better. It has that typical Richard Polodor sound, dull, aimless. In fact, I just played it a couple of weeks ago, and thought it might be good to put on CD-R, if I could come up with some god EQ moves.

 

What's the catalog number on your CD and what country was it made in?

 

A lot of Dunhill lps were issued by RCA in Canada, and they were certainly better pressings. I haven't heard the "Monster" album on a Canadian press, but something must be better than the US vinyl, and the US CD isn't a prize either.

 

# Label: Mca
# Catalog: #31328

This is the only info I have... Thanks for any light you can shed on this matter...

tw

 

Is there a lettered index prior to the number itself like MCAD?

 

Yep... MCAD & here's the UPC code if that helps: UPC: 076743-13282-7

Good god... is there a possiblity of a better sounding version?!!!

Thanks!

tw

 

I haven't heard too many decent sounding Steppenwolf CD's at all really. I've got that ridiculously bad MCA cd of their first album, and every single song on it except Born To Be Wild has a godawful woww during the intros, like a tape machine speeding up, or a nast tape stretch. I've considered "remastering" it myself (from the CD of course) and trying to correct it so that I can at least make it somewhat listenable.

What is the deal with their catalog? I'm sure it's been discussed. I'll do a search...

GD

 

Alright... I'm on a crusade here to find out if there's a decent sounding version of Monster. I have an email into "Andy" at BGO asking about the SQ of BGO's Monster relative to the MCA version. Also, I listened to my MCA CD of Steppenwolf's Gold CD and all the tracks sounded acceptable, considering their vintage, except for the tracks from Monster. This leads me to fear that the Monster 2 track master is the problem

I'm leaving for a week... but when I get back, I'll listen to Steppenwolf's Gold on LP and report the differences between that version and my MCA CD version. Finally... I'm going to buy the BGO CD of Monster (what's $15 clams anyway?)and will report my findings regarding the various version's SQ.

See you guys in a week!!!

tw

 

If you're fortunate enough to find a Japanese or W. German 1983-84 CD pressing I'm certain it would be better. For vinyl, you'd have to ask someone else.

 

The Canadian version doesn't have the tape drag you speak of and is mastered by Steve.

 

I have the BGO Import of Steppenwolf 7/At Your Bithday Party Two fer and it sounds good to my ears . I have the original MCA of "7" and it sounds muffled in comparison. I don't have the disc that you are inquiring about so don't know about that one. But I think BGO did a pretty good job with the other Steppenwolf too from what I have read about it.

 

Steppenwolf sonics were never great to start with--the mono mixes were at least done with some care, and they have a punch and power the stereo's just don't have--and the US ABC/Dunhill vinyl was generally lousy. The German and Canadian pressings of Three Dog Night that I have are at least quieter than the US, if the sonics still don't knock ya out.

Can't say the CD edition is any big deal, either, but I'm not disatisfied with it, just didn't expect much going on. I'm sure if Steve had been able to master more Steppenwolf, he could have done a little with it, but only he could say how much.

The single edit of "Monster" was hideous, but it did come out in stereo, FWIW.....

 

I seriously doubt the Canadian version is any different than the USA version on this one as it has the same catalog number and as far as I know Steve did not do a mastering for any other Steppenwolf other than the S/T album.

 

I've now had a chance to listen to my LP. The record is beat from being played on a college roommate's crappy TT too many times, but the sound is decent. Good vocals, pretty fair highs, OK bass, but the guitars and most drum sounds are recessed. Matrix #s are DS-50066-A and DS-50066-B. Each side has an additional symbol that looks like a K.