Sinatra / Reprise Sound Quality & General Discussion: "Swing Along With Me" (1961)*

There really is no reason for them not to exist. I can't believe they would have stopped production of this album in mono in 1963/64, when Reprise got into business with Warners. At the same time, I wonder if - around the time the change was made - they still had a lot of original "R" pressings out there of some of these albums - with distributors, etc. When I bought my "F" RING-A-DING DING! years ago, it took some searching.

Confusing matters when looking for a copy is making sure the prefix is checked on the label (and/or at least recognizing the different pressing/mastering).

 

My guess is, if no one here on this board know about it, it probably doesn't exist.

 

FWIW, the WOW database lists an F1002 issue in the USA (for both titles). It's not infallible but seldom wrong.

 

http://www.whereorwhen.nl

 

I should mention that they stopped updating the database a few years ago. I don't know if it's still available for purchase, but Version 3.6 was the final update and that "February 26th" date shown on the website I linked is not this year.

[ADDED] Sorry, Mac users: It's Windows only. It may not even run on the latest Windows 8; I haven't tried it yet.

 

After listening to all of those original stereo mix clips (including the original CD mastering), plus my own 1B Columbia mastered "FS" prefix stereo LP (my R9 copy is also an A4), I don't think there's much that can be done with that mix to make it sound good. It seems like everyone that's mastered it has tried something different with it, but none end up sounding that great overall. There's too much compression in the mix, and besides making it sound a little too relentless, I'm guessing it's thrown the tone off (beyond the sound of the 3 tracks) enough that I'd imagine it might make an engineer trying to master it go nuts.

 

Wow! Thanks for these, Matt. I look forward to your summary as well.

 

They show the difference in the balances on the mono version vs. the stereo mixes pretty well.

 

Yes, Matt. Thanks as always for your hard work. The samples confirm my (marginal) preference for the mono version. I suppose that the EOTC is my go-to stereo version.

Looking forward to your Winners page!

 

What title does it have? A mixture, possibly?

Now you need to find an "F"...

 

Still a Columbia mastering & pressing? What cuts? Or a later one pressed by Capitol? Columbia pressings have a relatively large (but not deep) impression in the label area. Capitol ones have one around the size of a large holed 7" record.

 

That looks like it might even be an 80's copy. It'll be interesting to hear what it's like...

I'll read the "Mixed Up Confusion" now.

 

I've read page 1 so far. My impressions:

Mono LP: I like A6 best.

Stereo LP: prefer the new MFSL.

CD: prefer the 1989.

So far what I'd do: comp it from the suitcase.