I ordered a few more pre-remaster copies, both to get a handle on what mastering is on what pressings, and to see how some of the other masterings compare. At some point I can create some samples, but I'd like to wait until I have more variations.
when I first heard it on CD, I thought something was off and blamed the CD player because it sounded worse and muddier than my Ricordi cassette...then I had the chance to purchase two SS vinyl copies and despite my vintage Pioneer TT and shure cart (but with a new Jico stylus) the presentation became (to me) at least acceptable and this is the only way I can somewhat appreciate The Joshua Tree, soundwise. Since it seems all the Cd editions mirror- more or less- the same dull sound, I'm grateful to the unknown guys who tweaked the Ricordi cassette and LP and made them sound somewhat clearer and less boomy. On CD, I'm afraid that's the only way to listen to it
Here is a sample (wav) of the string slide intro to Running to Stand Still (Mastered by Nimbus disc) if of any use. 40 second duration approximately 7mb – available for 14 days; http://dropcanvas.com/nzdwf
Identical to what I'm calling the original mastering (pink), except exactly 0.4dB lower in level. It would appear the dark blue version is just level shifted down from the pink version (-0.4dB/95.5%), although it's hard to say with 100% certainty at this point which is the "source".
D'oh. Found in a box in the basement, an American Columbia House copy I totally forgot about..."Made in USA Digital Audio Disc Corp" embossed in the plastic hub. Matrix reads DIDX 1706 11A4 Maybe I do have too many CDs, can't remember why and when I purchased it. Yeah it's a mess indeed. Don't know if true story or not, but I read that some weeks after the original release, U2 demanded an upgrade because the then in print CD didn't sound right, so I wanted to buy one or two more early copies but despite all the pre-remaster variations, according to discogs, only a few barcodes were used, so the usual "let's look for the UPC on Amazon" trick won't work, eg 04228422982 1 is used for dozens of versions released all over the world, from some early pressings to the last pre-remaster ones (including those with different artwork in the 90s). It's a crapshoot. Just a guess: since they seem rarer, the "blue mastering" UK and "green mastering" MPO France might be the discontinued early mastering the band didn't like.
Probably a good bet Marcel on those early ones. Who knows, I'm thinking of giving up on this title as I have enough variants as it is. So I guess my advice would be, grab one that's the cheapest and call it good
ha ha, correct...and the Columbia House has the same mastering as the JPN P35D...and of course a zillion several cheap CDs...
Has anyone ever verified this? One would think the SRC pressing without RE-1 (pink mastering) was the original version in the US.
Don't know, since the "pink" mastering looks to be the one more commonly available, the "rejected" mastering should be a different one. I cannot remember Mr. Diament ever mentioning "The Joshua Tree", there are a couple previous U2 CDs he remembered working on, though.
But we already know that the light blue mastering came after the pink one. It was remastered *again*? And that would assume that SRC hadn't made a pressing at the time of release. Otherwise, the pink version would be RE-1 (and the light blue version RE-2). Does anyone know where this back cover came from? U2 - The Joshua Tree That's not the back of the LP, and I've never seen a CD with that artwork. The UPC is of the original US CD.
Never mind. I now see in the Discogs history that it's the front and back of the long box, together in one image.
yup U2 - THE JOSHUA TREE - CD LONGBOX CON ADESIVO ANTERIORE - USA SEALED MINT | eBay @c-eling ; you need that in your collection.
My very first CD, bought in Ireland around July 1987 (I had already bought the vinyl album around the first week of release): Discogs: U2 - The Joshua Tree Island CID U2 6, Barcode (Text): 5 014474 300066 Matrix / Runout (Inner Ring): CID U2 6 DISCTEC 01 EAC: 91.3 / 94.5 / 98.1 / 79.6 / 80.5 / 77.7 / 80.9 / 75.4 / 89.7 / 79.8 / 55.6 I guess that's the same as P35D-20034
I believe this may have also lead to someone being in charge of quality assurance from their next release onwards. I believe it was Cheryl Engels (sp?). It was her job to at least ensure that all editions all over the world used the same mastering. Now, this being SH.TV I'm sure some may find some different masterings (or at least different sounding editions) for the following albums, but it's likely not such a mess as this release.
Also: It's not the blue version, as that's identical to the pink version other than a 0.4dB level shift. I haven't heard the green version, but it seems unlikely that such a variation would thus far have only shown up in France.
ehm... clearly I have way too many CDs German Sonopress: cat.# 258 219 CID U2 6; barcode 4007192582198: another "pink" mastering: 91.3/94.5/98.1/79.6/80.5/77.7/80.9/75.4/89.7/79.8/55.6 Matrix reads SONOPRESS 258 219 A The discogs link to this specific version: U2 - The Joshua Tree
IIRC, only Rattle and hum has 2 slightly different masterings; possibly the same digital master just level- shifted. Then, they're all the same worldwide
More copies: Catalog: I2 42298 Matrix: ARC-2143 5 I2 42298-2 SRC+01 XM4 S4 Peaks: 97.0/94.9/99.9/80.3/80.3/86.0/89.6/76.5/99.8/86.2/56.6 Indexing: Correct Identical to 90581-2 SRC-05 except offset. U2 - The Joshua Tree Catalog: CID U2 6 Matrix: CID U2-6 DISCTEC 03 Peaks: 97.0/94.9/99.9/80.3/80.3/86.0/89.6/76.5/99.8/86.2/56.6 Indexing: Correct Identical to 90581-2 SRC-05 except offset. U2 - The Joshua Tree Catalog: 258 219/CID U26 Matrix: SONOPRESS 258 219 A Peaks: 97.0/94.9/99.9/80.3/80.3/86.0/89.6/76.5/99.8/86.2/56.6 Indexing: Correct Identical to 90581-2 SRC-05 except offset and: - 6,275 different samples between One Tree Hill and Exit - 7,383 fewer samples between Exit and Mothers of the Disappeared U2 - The Joshua Tree Odd about the Sonopress copy. The changes certainly seem to be deliberate, rather than some sort of random error, as they directly relate to the transitions before and after Exit.
