Roland's favorite CD versions of Queen albums

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by rjstauber, Feb 23, 2008.

  1. Plan9

    Plan9 Mastering Engineer

    Location:
    Toulouse, France
  2. Dr. Merkwürdigli

    Dr. Merkwürdigli Active Member

    Location:
    Oslo, Norway
    The original is slightly louder than the 1992 Parlophone. Except from this they are the same and also sound the same to me.
     
  3. NunoBento

    NunoBento Rock 'n' Roll Star

    Location:
    London
    This is how close they sound:

    [​IMG]

    :D
     

    Attached Files:

  4. jabbo5150

    jabbo5150 Forum Resident

    What's the consensus on the Hollywood CDs from 91 (I know the intro to It's Late got chopped on the first pressings), the crown Jewels box (Which I got for like $35 new, so I couldn't turn it down) and the anniversary edition of a Night at the Opera with the DVD? (which I thought sounded good)

    I have not heard the DVD-A of a Night at the Opera or many of the European pressings. I'd have bought them back in 91 as some stores had them as imports here, but then heard Hollywood was releasing them and went the cheaper route by getting those.
     
  5. Plan9

    Plan9 Mastering Engineer

    Location:
    Toulouse, France
    Yep, they're the same. :agree:

    At first I thought the '92 Parlophone was actually a tiny bit better, but the evidence is there.
     
  6. Plan9

    Plan9 Mastering Engineer

    Location:
    Toulouse, France
    Honnestly I have heard some of the Hollywood CDs and found them awful. Boomy, muffled, grating...

    I've never heard the Crown Jewels box and the ANATO DVD-A.
     
  7. yesstiles

    yesstiles Senior Member

    There is only one Hollywood cd worth getting: "Queen I"

    It is the best sounding of the Holylwood titles and is the only one with essential bonus tracks.
     
  8. Plan9

    Plan9 Mastering Engineer

    Location:
    Toulouse, France
    How do you think it compares with the original EMI mastering? I have heard both and would rate the Hollywood below the EMI.
     
  9. tnt95

    tnt95 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Golden Lake, ON
    Is there both an EMI UK and EMI WG pressing of ANATO?
     
  10. audiofiles

    audiofiles New Member

    I respect your work and time to do this. I can only hope you are able to do a similar thread regarding Judas Priest and perhaps Kiss and Aerosmith to a lesser extent.
     
  11. Plan9

    Plan9 Mastering Engineer

    Location:
    Toulouse, France
    Yes there is also a later Made In Holland pressing.
     
  12. ron p

    ron p Forum Resident

    Location:
    USA
    I'm not a real big Queen fan. I did just pick up the Crown Jewels box on sale. I haven't gotten around to listening to them yet. I haven't listened to any Queen in years so I don't have anything to compare to. Are these discs decent or abobomination?
     
  13. Claus

    Claus Senior Member

    Location:
    Germany
    Crown Jewels... compressed... slightly better as the horrible EMI remasters (except for ANATO)
     
  14. George P

    George P Notable Member

    Location:
    NYC
    Did you copy that off the rear art? Or was your CD actually made in West Germany? I ask because my rear art says West Germany, but the CD itself says Made in the UK.
     
  15. dbz

    dbz Bolinhead.

    Location:
    Live At Leeds (UK)
    George, some(most) of the artwork was the same and carried over from the West German issues when pressing began at Swindon UK. It's very common to have a UK CD with West Germany artwork. ADATR is one which springs to mind as a good example.

    Some of the the actual West germany Cds don't have a place of manufacture listed. Queen I & II are like this, but if you look at the CD it does give a hint that these are Sonopress(WG) cds as they have a wide mirror band around the hub and they also use sonopress matrix numbers.
     
  16. George P

    George P Notable Member

    Location:
    NYC
    Yes, this much I figured. Thanks!

    So you've seen a WG Sheer Heart Attack?
     
  17. darkmatter

    darkmatter Gort Astronomer Staff

    "The Works" Early Japanese pressings



    Compared my 38 to a friends 35 and preferred mine, now to compare my 38 to the 32 :)

    Be interesting to compare EAC readings anyone have these to hand?

    Thanks

    Simon :)
     
  18. dbz

    dbz Bolinhead.

    Location:
    Live At Leeds (UK)
    Sure, iirc they actually say Made in West Germany, I can't find a clear photo, but this SHA is one and this is the info

    Queen – Sheer Heart Attack
    EMI CDP 7 46206
    matrix number: B-5886 / CDP 7462062 B
    disc: , Made in West Germany, by Sonopress
    booklet:.
    tray insert: Made in West Germany, with UPC

    Search the classifieds and you'll see.
     
  19. ziggysane

    ziggysane Forum Resident

    Location:
    Austin, TX
    Is there any explanation for how similar the Queen I EMI and 1992 Parlophone releases sound? Is the Parlophone NR'd?
     
  20. Plan9

    Plan9 Mastering Engineer

    Location:
    Toulouse, France
    The 1992 Parlophone is just a level-shifted version of the mastering found on the original EMI. Apart from that volume change, they are exactly the same. It is not no-noised (at least not the copy I have).

    The only explanation is that they reused the original mastering, but transfered the digital tape at a slightly lower volume, for whatever reason.
     
  21. NunoBento

    NunoBento Rock 'n' Roll Star

    Location:
    London
    Be advised that this Parlophone is NOT part of the Digital Master Series, which was released in 1994 and is quite NR'd.
     
  22. rock76

    rock76 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Northwest MEX

    +1
     
  23. beavy

    beavy Forum Resident

    Location:
    Germany
    Hello,

    I tried the search function several times to find a sort of summary/comparison of the EAC peak levels for the different Queen masterings as it is available for other bands.
    Is something like this already existing somewhere?

    I'm especially interested in the peak levels of the non-remastered EMI/CP32 pressings for the older albums up to The Game.

    Yesterday I found in a second hand store a copy of Queen's A Day at the Races with the original artwork (CDP numbers) but the CD included had a different number. As I was skeptic I didn't buy it. Today the dealer just mailed me the peak levels of the CD in question:

    92.9/80.0/100.0/87.5/88.8/90.6/82.9/87.2/97.8/91.9

    Is this an original mastering?

    Thanks
    beavy
     
  24. dbz

    dbz Bolinhead.

    Location:
    Live At Leeds (UK)
    Here's my ADATR...(EMI CDP CD, Made in UK-Swindon)

    Track 1

    Filename C:\Users\Darren\Desktop\Track01.wav

    Timing problem 0:00:30

    Peak level 100.0 %
    Test CRC AA2E1C0F
    Accurately ripped (confidence 14) [BA2901E7]
    Copy finished

    Track 2

    Filename C:\Users\Darren\Desktop\Track02.wav

    Peak level 94.7 %
    Test CRC 96B976E3
    Accurately ripped (confidence 15) [2C1D9239]
    Copy OK

    Track 3

    Filename C:\Users\Darren\Desktop\Track03.wav

    Peak level 100.0 %
    Test CRC 0FF13259
    Accurately ripped (confidence 15) [7A5C1F7C]
    Copy OK

    Track 4

    Filename C:\Users\Darren\Desktop\Track04.wav

    Peak level 100.0 %
    Test CRC A819E3FA
    Accurately ripped (confidence 15) [FF199FE3]
    Copy OK

    Track 5

    Filename C:\Users\Darren\Desktop\Track05.wav

    Peak level 97.7 %
    Test CRC 7406727D
    Accurately ripped (confidence 15) [6F697D53]
    Copy OK

    Track 6

    Filename C:\Users\Darren\Desktop\Track06.wav

    Peak level 97.7 %
    Test CRC 43008E6A
    Accurately ripped (confidence 15) [139F2AC6]
    Copy OK

    Track 7

    Filename C:\Users\Darren\Desktop\Track07.wav

    Peak level 97.7 %
    Test CRC 379F9FA5
    Accurately ripped (confidence 15) [BD87F520]
    Copy OK

    Track 8

    Filename C:\Users\Darren\Desktop\Track08.wav

    Peak level 97.7 %
    Test CRC FCA60F49
    Accurately ripped (confidence 15) [11C24055]
    Copy OK

    Track 9

    Filename C:\Users\Darren\Desktop\Track09.wav

    Peak level 75.5 %
    Test CRC 882F50CF
    Accurately ripped (confidence 15) [5C5AEF4F]
    Copy OK

    Track 10

    Filename C:\Users\Darren\Desktop\Track10.wav

    Peak level 96.4 %
    Test CRC EE4DA083
    Accurately ripped (confidence 15) [FD5A6FBA]
    Copy OK


    All tracks accurately ripped

    No errors occurred

    End of status report
     
  25. beavy

    beavy Forum Resident

    Location:
    Germany
    @dbz

    Thank you very much for the info.
    I'm somehow surprised that the "original" has so high peaks; I'd expect this more from most recent remasters.
    So the CD offered to me is definitely no first mastering, but can someone tell me what it is? The 1993 remaster?

    Anyway, thanks again :righton:
     

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