Not sure Eno had anything to do with the mixing. Thought it was producer Visconti together with Bowie.
Yes, in Visconti's recording notes included with the A New Career... box, he says that Eno was only around for the first two weeks on "Heroes"
I really like the remix for "John I'm Only Dancing" on Ryko Ziggy. It's rare that I prefer modern remixes but it's my go to version for that song. Gives it more space and the original kind of sound like a tape with Dolby, there's something rather dry about it.
Was it really a remix for a single in 1979? I'd always assumed it was a new mix for this release. Boy, Bowie's RCA years are a jungle.
Oh yes that's right. Just the different versions and mixes of "Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand" or "I'm A Boy" alone. Or "My Generation" live at Leeds with a muted "AOOOOOOOOOOH" and "mamamamama"s ,or not, depending on what you listen. etc.
Bonus material was so rare on classic albums back then, and these re-issues could be found pretty much everywhere! They really felt special.
I’ve been on a hardcore Rykodisc kick for the past couple of months. This is still my favorite Bowie reissue series.
Yep, at least they finished the job and almost all with bonus tracks! Every reissue series promising vault material since seems to stop around 1976!
So I've never heard the Au20 of this, unfortunately. But ignorance is bliss, as my "vanilla Ryko" (to borrow a term from Jeff Rougvie) is the best CD presentation of this album that I've heard, including the Virgin, RCA and 2015s.
I always get a kick about the concept of a best version of Low. It was a decidedly low fi approach; it sounds like everything was recorded in the red.
Weird. I actually think it's one of his smoother and crisper recordings. They're harsh electronic sounds but they don't feel distorted as far as exceeding audio levels go.
My guess is this is a reference to the drums and percussion, which were processed in the studio. I'd not describe it as "lo-fi" though, this was a very deliberate sound, and looking back, it seems as though it couldn't have been any other way.
I’ve always thought those drums anticipated the gated reverb sound that is associated with Steve Lillywhite productions a couple to three years later. Not sure how TV achieved that drum sound but it was highly original in 1977.
Played the Ryko "Hunky Dory" the other day as "prep" for the imminent boxed set. Embarrassing Admission Time: Only now - after 32 years of listening to the song - did I realize the old man on the beach was supposed to be God. I just thought it was some random old hippie. Well, I never was much of one to analyze lyrics!
Check the "dead wax" of the Ryko low. Some aluminium CDs used the AU20 mastering (look for 80142 - the gold CD catalogue number - instead of 10142 - the regular CD catalogue number - in the "dead wax").
This is how I got the Au20 mastering. Don't have the gold CD, but I do have the same audio. I don't recall it sounding tremendously different to the standard/original Ryko mastering, but I haven't compared in a long time.
Unfortunately have a standard 10142. But happy with it all the same. i do have a secret gold Ziggy though!
I have every mastering of Low – well, I don't have the Japan for US RCA, but I did get a WAV rip of my friend's copy back in 2017. I should set up a blind listening test and save @Tsomi some headache.
