The most improved remasterings

Let's have a look at cds or lps where the sound is transformed from what went before by the new remastering.

We all know that Steve Hoffman's remasterings are excellent (probably won't have much argument here). The dozen I own are all significant improvements over other versions I've owned. Macca's first, for example, is much improved and the cymbal sound is among the best I've heard on cd. BUT, my original British lp was pretty good so there are no revelations to be had.

The Simon and Garfunkel remixes are a big step forward over all previous cds (though early lp pressings were pretty good). Have to admit I like Hey Bulldog and All You Need is Love in the YSS stereo remix.

Has anyone heard staggering sonic improvments from a new remaster/remix???

Thanks folks......

 

not lately though but I gotta say the Anthology by the Beatles

 

Hang On Sloopy

I've heard there is a new remaster of Hang On Sloopy which leaves the original in the dust. Has anyone heard it?

 

Kudos for John B spelling "Garfunkel" correctly!

The most recent one I can think of is the Madonna CDs.

 

BB King Live at the Regal (MoFi)
The Clash remasters
Led Zeppelin remasters
Cyndi Lauper She's So Unusual
Santana (George Marino remasters)
Go-Go's VH1 Collection
Rolling Stones remasters (Virgin)

Lots more, can't think of them now.

 

America the Complete Greatest Hits, mastered by Bill Inglot really opens up the sound compared to the old Greatest Hits.

 

America the Beautiful

Thanks for your reply Tangent.
Also, thanks for the info from another site fellow Torontonian. I had actually wondered about that America cd. Time to get it.

 

Yes, as I've said before, the Gavin Lurssen remaster is excellent (I understand the 94 slipboxed edition and 98 remaster are the same), and if I've read these pages correctly, so is the Kevin Reeves deluxe double.

 

Re: America the Beautiful

Your welcome John,

By the way the first cut, A Horse With No Name, sounds OK but from track two (Sandman) on the sound is excellent.

 

Two Rhino discs I have been impressed by are:
Johnny Rivers Anthology
Beau Brummels
They're early cds but the sound quality was a huge improvement over previous stuff. I'm sure remixing had a lot to do with it.

 

Just listened to the Rivers Anthology the other week and was pleasantly surprised by the sound quality.

 

The current series of King Crimson CDs are fabulous. Listen to "LARKS' TONGUEs IN ASPEC" and you'll be amazed.

 

The Warners Rod Stewart remasters of 2000, particularly his first two albums.

 

Not sure which Santana George Marino remastered. THe most recent remasters are by Vic Anesini and Kevin Boutote and they are excellent.

 

My vote for the best current would be the Classic LP's of the Zepplin catalogue, also their S&G Bridge over Troubled Waters
On CD, they best I have heard have been DCC Bob Dylan Highway 61..
MoFi Santana Abraxas
I could have a long list of the DCC and MoFi, they both have many excellent remasters, with the percent of better over all going to DCC, but MoFi has done so many more that they have more over all good ones. Just shear numbers and length of operation on the numbers.

 

"Islands" by King Crimson.
At last count this is the fourth go at a good CD version. There was the original version on Polydor/EG that I never heard, 2 Definitive Editions versions and the 30th Anniversary Edition. The original vinyl version on Island UK was a wonderful recording. After Polydor took over the E.G. catalogue, everything turned to poo. The tape used for the Polydor versions was full of odd grumbling noises, for want of a better term. I don't know about the Atlantic US versions - someone may be able to enlighten us.
The Definitive Edition (DE)versions used the same tape as the Polydor vinyl, and are to be avoided at all costs. The first DE version used so much NoNoise to remove these noises, that the result reduced the sound from near refence quality to a badly aligned early 60's casette tape. The second version used the same tapes, but deleted the NoNoise to reveal the tape grumbles in all their glory. The 30th Anniversary version uncovered the original Command studios master tape, which had no extraneous tape noises, and sounds very good.
Incidentally, the stereo master of side 1 of In the Court of the Crimson King was found recently, so we may hear a better version of that album at some stage.

 

The James Gang remasters of a couple years ago are a revelation. No doubt Szymczyk did some EQ-ing, but the end results are well worth it, IMO.

 

Where'd you find all this information? This truly is good news to me.

 

Steve's DCC HW61 stereo CD and Sundazed's mono vinyl disk, and Sony Music's Blond on Blond SACD.

Steve's DCC Buddy Holly from the master tapes collection.

 

Regarding ITCOTCK, I think it was in RF's diary before DGM's website was truncated so seriously. They were unearthing the USA and Earthbound master tapes and found it.
Regarding Islands, most of this is from what my ears tell me....... (can I hear the melody of "I talk to the trees, that's why they certified me"?)

 

The Holly Original Master Tapes CD is on MCA.

 

Some great remasters I've heard:

The Byrds Greatest Hits
Elvis Costello (several Rykos--haven't heard the Rhinos)
Tina Turner: Private Dancer
English Beat: Just Can't Stop It and Special Beat Service
Gene Vincent: The Living End (Razor & Tie)
Billy Joel Greatest Hits I & II
Ramones (Rhino)
Atlantic soul (Aretha, Otis, Sam & Dave) on Rhino
John Mayall's Bluesbreakers with E.C. (U.K.)
Graham Parker: Squeezing Out Sparks & Live Sparks
Hitsville U.S.A.

Hope you all agree!

 

Ken, I too have the Best of Santana and I agree. The bass on the early tracks is tremendous!