What's going on at Classic Records?

I received an e-mail from Classic Records today containing their 2003 CES press releases. Among the news was the announcement that Classic Records will be releasing The Classic Roy Orbison Series. The following titles will see separate stereo and mono releases pressed on 200g Quiex Sv-P:

"Lonely and Blue"
"Crying"
"In Dreams"
"Greatest Hits"

According to Classic Records, the mono mixes were/are simply fold-downs of the stereo mixes per Bill Porter's original instructions. I wasn't aware of this. Classic states in the press release, "The stereo versions have historically been more sought after because of their relative scarcity but which is really better?" They can't be serious. As I've said before, I have some Classic pressings I'd never part with, but I'm beginning to think they'll release anything that weighs 200 grams.

http://www.classicrecs.com/frames/classicrecs_frames.cfm?page=/newsletter/newsletter/newsletter.cfm?Article=89

 

Steve?

 

I should point out I like the idea of releasing both mixes, but if one is a fold-down of the other, what's the point?

 

The difference?
Other than one was probably cut with their vintage mono Westrex head and the other with a stereo head, nothing. Weird stuff.
Dan C

 

If the mono is just a fold-down of the stereo, there's nothing different there in the mix. Why bother?

 

Like I have said before.....

WE ARE AT THEIR MERCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

$$$$$

 

First of all, that they're all 'fold-downs' is BS, plain and simple. "Oh Pretty Woman" has a line difference in the lyric on the 45 mono version that's different on the stereo mix("Come to me baby" instead of "Come with me baby" or something like that). I have most of that material in mono--45 and Lp--and while many Lp cuts could be simple reductions to mono--with some Eq adjustments--too many of those 45's sound too different in some fashion to be just straight reductions of the stereo mix. I've always suspected many 'pop' acts were recorded and mixed this way, but I don't consider Orbison one of them.

But even if a lot of the Lp cuts and some singles were 'fold-downs,' this in and of itself doesn't make them 'the same,' because there was certainly some significant Eq tweaking at work to make them sound sharp and clear over an AM signal. Minimal adjustments might be made for Lp cuts, but 45's were always another matter.

Yes, when Steve gets back we definitely need to hear from him on this.
But "Oh Pretty Woman" is Exhibit A that at least one 45 was not a reduction mix.

ED

 

Fascinating, Ed. Having only ever heard the big "O" in stereo, I did not know this. Hmmm. Why couldn't they take the extra effort to find the true mono mixes and issue those? Unless they don't exist anymore(as per the mono mixes for the first Doors album).

If they are fold-downs, then they are not for me!

 

Talk about two steps forward, three steps back.

Yeah, Classic Records has done great things, but what the heck is this?!?

With all due respect, I don't expect Steve to comment.

 

To be honest, I wish Classic Records would drop this "comparison" BS with all these titles and just issue more titles! I've been around the block once or twice so far and I think I understand the differences between mono/stereo or 33/45 or mono 33/mono 45 or stereo 33/stereo 45 or blue vinyl/black vinyl or 180g/200g or male/female or hot/cold or $1/$100 or whatever the heck they're trying to "educate" (edumacate) us about?!

Todd

P.S. When this whole process finally ends will they sell us a degree (offered in different types/grades of parchment)?

 

Money is the root of all evil.

ClassicRecs is starting to sound like the Diet Coke of evil.

 

Hope they did a mistake when they wrote that. Maybe someone could mail them and ask?
But I must say I REALLY look forward to the Procol Harum mono reissue of their first album! That could really be GREAT!

-Mattias-

 

Up, up, up!! See if Steve has something to say about the Roy Orbison mono issue?

 

I have a mono button....

 

So which ones are you going to get, Steve?

Todd

 

I was at CES and bought the mono pressing of "Lonely and Blue"(the only one they've released so far). I listen to it at the show and again last night and my take on it is: clean and smooth sound, Orbison's voice is a bit more upfront then I can remember(compares to my original), but it is missing some of the "airy" warm sound that I liked and the background instrument are quite hallow....

Classics was selling the Orbisons for $30 each or $50 for both mono and stereo instead of the show price $25 on all other titles????$$$$.
Ron is right, we are at their mercy(for now)!

Mike