I agree with Keith on the S/T SACD. I recently received the Japanese 1st CD pressing of Third Stage and this is truely the best I've ever heard of this album. A keeper guys. Now to get the Japanese 1st CD pressing of Don't Look Back.
Woops, missed that after my post... Is this one Keith mentions a Japan release, or a mfg in Japan for the US market release?
I haven't compared the 32XD version of Third Stage to the Japanese pressing made for the U.S. market, but the 32XD disc did not overwhelm me on its own.
If the DIDP number has a zero in front, then it's a U.S. pressing. For Boston Boston, the original Japanese pressing made for the U.S. market sounds better than U.S. pressings. The Japanese pressing (Denon pressing) sounds balanced, while U.S. pressings are too bassy and muddy, in my opinion. I have never seen a Japanese CBS/Sony plant pressing of Boston made for the U.S. market, and I do not believe that one exists. Steve once went on the record stating a preference for the Japanese Denon pressing over the U.S. pressing. Another version of Boston that is excellent is the original Japanese release with catalog number 32 8P-192. It's a bit louder than the Japanese Denon pressing made for the U.S. market, but these two discs share a similar sonic character. I honestly do not have a preference for one over the other.
Last night I listened to an original lp of the debut album. I hadn't listened to Boston on vinyl for about 20 years. It sounded fantastic. It's a "wally" pressing, but I only have it etched on side two.
The CBS half-speed of Boston's debut was one of the titles that was recut and given a new catalog number (HE-34188 vs HE-44188). I'm pretty sure they caught on to their mistake after a while and adjusted their approach to cutting at half speed. I totally agree about the Wally cuts. Cheap, easy to find and nice-sounding. Same goes for Don't Look Back.
I think there was more going on then just the fights with the label. Wasn't Tom being sued by guitarist Barry Goudreau who says that he, not Tom, played all the guitar parts with Scholtz just adding the keyboard stuff? I have a Musician magazine that came out before Third Stage and it details the various litigations...fascinating stuff if you're a lawyer.
Without reading through all 4 pages of responses to date in this thread, has anyone heard the "half-speed masters" of the original album (LP)? I don't even have the slightest clue what the hell that means, but I've seen a used copy for $30.00 and thought that was high? What's the deal? Thanks!
Bru, That looks like an early USA pressing. I do believe I can see the DIGITAL AUDIO DISC CORP inscription around the inner ring. I'd say that's from 1987 - 1989. Keith, please feel free to correct me if the dates are wrong. Keith will also know if it's the same master as the Japanese issue (although I do not believe it is)???
For the LPs... The CBS 1/2 speed and the Mofi 1/2 speed LPs were mentioned earlier. The Mofi is apparently not bad. The CBS is apparently very bright sounding. However, it seems best to find an early orange Epic label LP mastered by Wally Traugott (with "Wally" or "Wly" signed in the dead-wax). Or better yet, a white-labeled promo copy. I just won an orange label this weekend and hope to get it in another day or so. I'll find out if it's a Wally cut or not then. The copy I have now is a later blue-label Epic bought in the early 80's. It's not bad on side 1, but all of side 2 is terribly noisy - always was from the day I bought it. I would just never play side 2.
I believe that is the standard US pressing. They added an extra layer of bass to it for the US market. Bottom line, this is the only version most people have ever heard anyway. So it is not that it is a bad version, it is just different than the early pressings. Some of us have scored the first and/or second Japanese pressings, so we have heard the Boston songs without the extra bass added. The Japanese pressings sound great and are very smooth. I believe most of that have heard both versions prefer the Japanese pressings over the US pressings. The Japanese pressings are pretty tough to find, but do show up on eBay from time-to-time. You can also buy the Boston SACD, which also is excellent and does not have the extra bass. Some of the other members here have recommended the "Wally" pressings on vinyl. I recently acquired them, but have not had a chance to listen to them yet.
its listed on this site as a first pressing. http://www.keithhirsch.freeservers.com/custom4.html from what I hear if it doesnt have the zero in front it is. wish I could get a def answer. thanks for helping. so far I have conficting info.
I just picked up a Dont Look Back with DI8P 50007 but I notcied at the center ring on the silver part it says DI8P 050007. what does this mean ? is it japan or US ? so confusing.
bru87tr, here is a synopsis of early Japanese pressings for the U.S. releases of Boston and Don't Look Back. * Boston: There is an early Japanese Denon plant pressing with the same inserts as are found with all U.S. pressings. This Japanese pressing says "MADE IN JAPAN" along the perimeter and has the catalog number ("EK 34188") in the matrix code. The mastering on this disc is different than what is found on U.S. pressings. As Jorge said, U.S. pressings are more bass-heavy. I prefer the Japanese pressing. Your disc is a U.S. pressing, as evidenced by "Made in USA - Digital Audio Disc Corp." stamped on the clear plastic ring at the center. * Don't Look Back: There is an early Japanese CBS/Sony plant pressing with catalog number CK 35050 that is very rare. This disc has "35 8P-7" in the matrix code and says "MADE IN JAPAN" along the perimeter. The inserts with this copy are different than what are found with subsequent pressings. Specifically, these inserts state "Record manufactured in Japan by CBS/Sony...". There is a Japanese Denon pressing with the same inserts as are found with U.S. pressings. This disc says "MADE IN JAPAN" along the perimeter and has "EK 35050" in the matrix code. Your Don't Look Back disc is a U.S. pressing. Note that it does not say "MADE IN JAPAN" along the perimeter. The Japanese CBS/Sony pressing says "DI8P 50007" (no leading zero), and the Japanese Denon pressing does not show the DI8P number.
so my DI8P 50007 is a Japan CBS/Sony Pressing ? cause it says that on the disc under the EK# but on the inner ring along the silver part it says DI8P 050007. so it confused me. still lost on this DLB disc.
No, it is a U.S. pressing. The original Japanese pressing has "DI8P 50007" beneath the catalog number, not "DI8P 050007". The leading zero was only added to certain U.S. pressings.
bru87tr, maybe some scans will clear things up. Shown here is a scan of the original Japanese CBS/Sony pressing of Don't Look Back. This disc has "35 8P-7" in the matrix code. I know the scan is a bit fuzzy, but note that the disc has "DI8P 50007" beneath the catalog number. This particular copy also has "MANUFACTURED BY CBS/SONY RECORDS. INC." stamped on the clear plastic ring. The mastering on this disc is unique, meaning that it is different than what is found on the Japanese Denon pressing and U.S. pressings. I prefer the mastering on the Japanese CBS/Sony pressing. By the way, I was wrong about one thing in an earlier post. The Japanese CBS/Sony pressing of Don't Look Back does not state "MADE IN JAPAN" along the perimeter. This is one of the few Japanese CBS/Sony pressings that does not actually state where it was pressed.
