The Smiths - CD comparison thread

I notice that the same tracklisting I found on morrissey-solo is up on rateyourmusic.com, stating February 2007. Sounds like a Miserable Lie, yes.

 

I guess we need this guy's collection if we're going to get a handle on the japanese smiths' rerleases.


I told this person that I posted his collection, gave him a link to the thread, and asked him if he felt like contributing to please do so.

 

WHOA...

 

Okay, some more samples up on http://www.semidetached.net/smithsremasters/

First off, Randy contributed a needledrop sample of "Stop Me" from a Portugese 3-LP set. Thanks, Randy!

Secondly (and thirdly), "I Won't Share You" and "William, It Was Really Nothing" (HATFUL) have been upped - again from UK RT, US Sire/RT, and 2006 Japan reissue. If anyone has the WEA and can contribute, please let me know.

 

Thanks for the work Craig. I know this is a cd thread, but the Strangeways vinyl, as I mentioned earlier, has rough-106 a1 and b1 in the deadwax. I think it will be a good barometer for sound quality of the CD issues.

 

Agreed, and you're quite welcome.

 

There is a problem with the US Sire William clip.

All others work fine.

 

I re-uploaded the US clips. Should be okay now.

 

Still not working for me.

 

Grab it this way -

http://www.semidetached.net/smithsremasters/William, It Was Really Nothing [1993 US Sire-RT].wav

Probably a file naming issue. Will take care of that.

 

Thanks!

 

No problem.

If there are any specific tracks that you think may help the comparison, let me know.

 

Hey semidetached, if it's not too much trouble, would you mind posting the peak levels for your Rough Trade Hatful of Hollow? Thanks!

 

I wish I could, and it's not for lack of trying. There's a pretty nasty scratch on the disc that renders tracks 14-16 unreadable.

Aside from that, this is what we have:
HATFUL OF HOLLOW
matrix - ROUGH CD 76 MPO 02 @@
01 William, It Was Really Nothing.wav 86.8 %
02 What Difference Does It Make .wav 90.2 %
03 These Things Take Time.wav 79.3 %
04 This Charming Man.wav 99.0 %
05 How Soon Is Now .wav 98.4 %
06 Handsome Devil.wav 84.3 %
07 Hand In Glove.wav 99.9 %
08 Still Ill.wav 89.9 %
09 Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now.wav 89.9 %
10 This Night Has Opened My Eyes.wav 97.1 %
11 You've Got Everything Now.wav 79.5 %
12 Accept Yourself.wav 85.7 %
13 Girl Afraid.wav 92.7 %
14 Back To The Old House.wav error
15 Reel Around The Fountain.wav error
16 Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want.wav error

 

Thanks again Craig! From listening to the clips, I like the UK Rough Trades the best, except for William. For that one, I like the '93 Sire version.

I'd like to hear some clips from The Queen is Dead, if possible.

 

Would do, but I only have the Sire/RT and the Japanese reissue for that one. Only have original Rough Trades for HATFUL and STRANGEWAYS unfortunately.

However, if you want to compare the Japanese version to the Sire, I'll be happy to post some tomorrow. Or the next day if the hangover is too bad.

Happy New Year, guys!

 

Don't worry about it... I'm probably just going to track down the Rough Trades.

That Hatful of Hollow 93 version is nice. I wish all the remasters were like that one... not too loud and sensible EQ.

 

Much obliged for the peak levels. So it would appear that there are three different masterings for Hatful on the Rough Trade label alone...

 

Apparently so, to confuse things even more.

 

OK, I picked up the Meat is Murder mini-vinyl and did a comparison with both WEA and Rough Trade/Sire. Now WEA came a distant third, a truly lousy sounding disc while US Rough Trade and mini were almost a draw this time. They are very slightly different in volume with japanese being a bit louder (but far from being loud). Rough Trade US is indeed a good sounding disc. It is a bit more dynamic but the japanese one had more details, wider soundstage and more natural tonality throughout the hole frequency spectrum. The intruments were better separated and the vocals stood out from the intsruments (hope I'm using the right words). I somehow got the idea that these japanese remasters are mastered very much like recent japanese Bruce Springsteen and Boz Scaggs mini-vinyls. Plus tha packaging is gorgeous. I'm sure that UK Rough Trades are excellent but I guess they cost more, are much harder to find so my choice is still mini's. NOw if only the japanese would be able to upgrade the lousy sounding Morrissey solo records!

 

Well, soon I will have the UK Rough Trades of The Smiths and Meat Is Murder. So then, more clips in a few days...

 

I just received a copy of the UK copy of The Queen Is Dead on Rough Trade. Do we need EAC peak values for that? How about samples for Craig's site?

 

Nevermind on the peak values... I read the first page again!

I'd still be happy to post samples of both the RT/UK and Sire/US if needed.

 

I would appreciate those, for one.

 

I just Picked up The Japanese "The Queen is Dead"
This sounds really good. Doesn't sound loud on my home stereo. Will have to try in my car.
But so far, I highly recommend getting this.