Rhino Remixes "Chicago Transit Authority" for 50th Anniversary

Ridiculous rationale

See: Martin, Giles - re: the Beatles

 

But what if the remix sounds better? I'm in.

 

Me as well. I love the original mix, but would also love to hear what treasures might be buried in it.

 

Presumably not many, since I believe it was an 8-track recording. And I’d be surprised if an attempt was made to make it sound significantly different anyway.

Extremely unlikely, because of both the high quality of the original mixes and the person who did the remix.

 

Never mind the remix, what will he do for dynamic range?

 

While it is a ridiculous rationale, that is not a very good example.

 

Not exactly the best example to make your point.

 

Chicago II Steve Wilson Remix on CD is about $11 new. Chicago Transit Authority MFSL CD is about $40 new. If the new CTA Remix is about $15, I’ll give it a try.

 

I have the Sony 20bit 24k gold cd, and will want to hear it. But like 16 if they start chopping parts...I'm out..I can't even stand to hear the 3 missing Guitar notes on You're the Inspiration although it may have been the second ver released with those notes, so I dunno, born in 72 so I was -3 when it was released and I wouldn't edit a single note out, if they chop Terry's belch, they should be ashamed

 

Make it stop

 

Actually anyone today probably has better hearing than anyone who was producing 50 years ago. Just depends on the sounds and style they like..

 

Damn those youngsters in their 40’s.

 

Every time a member of the band (Chicago) decides on who would carry out the remixing or re-mastering, it's always been a missed opportunity. I hope someone from an audiophile circle/forum would educate and inform them about who the highly regarded mixing/re-mastering engineers are in the music industry who could perform the remixing job better!
If the sound turns out good, I'll get a copy on vinyl.

 

The Chicago II remix release was a success I’d say.

 

So getting into the technicalities of this, what could theoretically be improved? I notice listening that the horns are sometimes panned on only one side such as Questions 67 & 68 and Introduction. I wonder if those were double-tracked and if they can be spread out. Maybe tambourine and other instruments can be split out on I’m a Man.

It’s hard to know what kind of improvement could be done without knowing how the album was recorded and what tracks are available.

 

I don't think the band had anything to do with that.

As noted, I believe CTA is an 8-track recording. If memory serves, the quad mix isn't any more spread out. That is, I seem to recall that the horns are still all mixed together, other than for things like solos which are clearly on separate tracks.

 

They didn't.
Hence...

 

If it's an all-analog master for the vinyl, and if the remix isn't too over the top, I may get the vinyl.

 

I'll take the MFSL for CTA and the Steven Wilson remix for the second album.

 

Nobody has even heard this yet and they’re already shooting it down! I’m going to be optimistic about this, maybe I’ll be proven wrong, but what have I got to lose? $15? (I’m referring to the CD).

 

Yes, because:

1) The existing mixes sound excellent.

2) The last Chicago project from this engineer sounded terrible.

 

I agree. The Steve Wilson remix of Chicago II is successful and a great sounding remix because the project was not supervised by the band.

 

A typical summary of these threads:

Music traditionalists: "Leave my memories of my music collection alone!!!!"

Music industry: "No. Revision and repackaging equals $$"

Music traditionalists: "Grrrrr...."

 

why?

 

I prefer the old Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab half-speed mastering of the first album Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). Nothing against the newer MoFi remastered CTA SACD which is also good in it's own right. I also love my CTA Sony/Legacy Mastersound Gold CD remastered by the late Doug Sax in the 90's.