Aqualung 25th Anniv CD
The Prophet
I've never really listened to Tull until I stumbled across this
newsgroup several months ago.
I started with the 2-cd "Best of .. Anniversary Collection" to
see what I hadn't heard on the radio, and I was literally blown
away.
Following this I picked up SFTW. Of course, this was before I
knew that MoFi was going to be issuing a Gold edition . . . But,
this recording has encourage me to get more.
Then I went to TAAB (25th Anniv, Special Edition). I hadn't heard
it all the way through before. WOW! The sound quality is EXCELLENT
and I can't even describe how good the songwriting/performance is.
This is definitely not your basic 70's 3-chord rock. Why didn't I
get into TULL 20 years ago??
Sorry for rambling, but the next CD I purchased was the 25th Anniv,
Special Edition of Aqualung. What's going on? The sound quality
is very poor. I find it hard to appreciate the performance because
the sound is so muddy (flat? distorted?).
Are these the same folks who did the 25th anniv. TAAB?? Are the
original masters of Aqualung so poor that this is the best they could
do? Or, is the "Prism Sound Noise Shaping System" the problem? Why
in the world would a record company release such a poor sounding CD
and call it a "Special Edition"???
Is there a better CD version available?
Thanks,
The Prophet
Matthew DeSmith
Glad to have you on board!
There are a few version of Aqualung floating around. There is an original,
25th Anniversary and DCC put out a version. I don't know what is the best
choice as I only have the 25th and original but let's assume the DCC is the
best of the bunch. (It's the most $$) I believe it's still available. If not
just ask around here (I'm sure I'll be corrected here. People are very good
about that.) I have a feeling all versions of Aqualung are not going to be
able to be restored to the quality of others however, like the sensational
MoFi of A Passion Play. Let's only hope that Songs comes through with flying
colours... errr... Flying Colours (Broadsword and the Beast, '82) that is!
All the best!
Matt
Brikbat9
Prof writes:
>Although I have many CD's of music of the 60's thru the 90's,
>I've never really listened to Tull until I stumbled across this
>newsgroup several months ago.
>
>I started with the 2-cd "Best of .. Anniversary Collection" to
>see what I hadn't heard on the radio, and I was literally blown
>away.
Naturally.
>
>Following this I picked up SFTW. Of course, this was before I
>knew that MoFi was going to be issuing a Gold edition . . . But,
>this recording has encourage me to get more.
A totally appropriate response.
>
>Then I went to TAAB (25th Anniv, Special Edition). I hadn't heard
>it all the way through before. WOW! The sound quality is EXCELLENT
>and I can't even describe how good the songwriting/performance is.
>This is definitely not your basic 70's 3-chord rock. Why didn't I
>get into TULL 20 years ago??
Better late than never.
>Sorry for rambling,
Feel free to ramble all you want. It's great to hear how someone gets
"converted" to Tull.
Enjoy.
Jack
Hoodcrow
> Are the
>original masters of Aqualung so poor that this is the best they could
>do? Or, is the "Prism Sound Noise Shaping System" the problem?
Garbage in,Garbage out!I find the 25th anniv edition to be light years ahead of
previous releases,with the possible exception of the original Dolby Stereo reel
to reel release,which has a sound of its own.DCC did a hell of a lot more
processing of the Master on its way to vinyl and disc.But the Masters are of
uniform poor quality,something Mr.A addresses himself on the 25th edition.Even
the reel version shows how flawed the original recording was,and these got
duplicated BEFORE they went to the record cutting lathe,and compressed,and re
EQ'd,etc etc.
In 71,I found the original Reprise releases on vinyl and 8 track
unlistenable,it improved somewhat when the Chrysalis label took over,but theres
still a gap between even the early releases of TAAB and Aqualung.,TAAB made
Lung sound like it was recorded on a wire recorder.I see each new remaster of
Aqualung as another layer of grunge being peeled off a jewel.
Hooded Crow
Steven Sullivan
Ian Anderson has mentioned a number of times that Aqualung was poorly
recorded under rather rushed and disorganized conditions. THe best
sounding CD version was released by DCC on gold disc, after the 25th
Anniversay EMI edition.
--
____
"Really I Think Steven's opinions don't even justify responses! I think
he really hates all about life, and cannot even come to realize the
"Spirt" of Yes."
Steven Sullivan
Hoodcrow <hood...@aol.com> wrote:
>
>> Are the
>>original masters of Aqualung so poor that this is the best they could
>>do? Or, is the "Prism Sound Noise Shaping System" the problem?
>
>Garbage in,Garbage out!I find the 25th anniv edition to be light years ahead of
>previous releases,with the possible exception of the original Dolby Stereo reel
>to reel release,which has a sound of its own.DCC did a hell of a lot more
>processing of the Master on its way to vinyl and disc.
Where'd you read this? From what I can gather from press statements, DCC
did *less* -- no Prism sound shaping, that's for sure. THey did make a
point of passing the signal through tube (rather than solid state)
equipment at one stage, supposedly to impart 'analog warmth' equivalent to
circa 1971 mastering.
>But the Masters are of
>uniform poor quality,something Mr.A addresses himself on the 25th edition.Even
>the reel version shows how flawed the original recording was,and these got
>duplicated BEFORE they went to the record cutting lathe,and compressed,and re
>EQ'd,etc etc.
DCC claims to be the only CD version taht used teh *true* mixdown master
tape, from Ian's vaults. I recall also reading long ago that this was used
for the Mobile Fidelity LP -- Ian let them borrow it for one day or some
other ridiculously short time.
Papiav
I have Two 25th Anniv. CDs, does anybody remember the one in the Blue Box? w/
the blue Jewel case. I also have the DCC
Gold. I compared the 3 side by side and
I like the one in the Blue Box the best. I bought some new speakers &
interconnects
so I'll listen again & post what I think. Close
2nd was the DCC gold.
Vinny
Grand Court Jester
beginning. And years of wear and tear hasn't helped anything. But I
think to really appreciate the improvements in 25th Anniversary Edition
you would have to hear the regular CD issue. It's one of the muddiest
messes I've ever heard. But to answer your question, The DCC Gold
edition of "Aqualung" is better than the 25th Ann. But if your looking
for perfection, I think you'll be disappointed in all the versions, old
and new.
Jimi.
The Prophet wrote:
> Although I have many CD's of music of the 60's thru the 90's,
> I've never really listened to Tull until I stumbled across this
> newsgroup several months ago.
>
> I started with the 2-cd "Best of .. Anniversary Collection" to
> see what I hadn't heard on the radio, and I was literally blown
> away.
>
> Following this I picked up SFTW. Of course, this was before I
> knew that MoFi was going to be issuing a Gold edition . . . But,
> this recording has encourage me to get more.
>
> Then I went to TAAB (25th Anniv, Special Edition). I hadn't heard
> it all the way through before. WOW! The sound quality is EXCELLENT
> and I can't even describe how good the songwriting/performance is.
> This is definitely not your basic 70's 3-chord rock. Why didn't I
> get into TULL 20 years ago??
>
> Sorry for rambling, but the next CD I purchased was the 25th Anniv,
> Special Edition of Aqualung. What's going on? The sound quality
> is very poor. I find it hard to appreciate the performance because
> the sound is so muddy (flat? distorted?).
>
> Are these the same folks who did the 25th anniv. TAAB?? Are the
> original masters of Aqualung so poor that this is the best they could
Crowcawing
>Where'd you read this? From what I can gather from press statements, DCC
>did *less* -- no Prism sound shaping, that's for sure.
I tried locating the article,which I believe was in "Home Theatre"magazine.It
stands to reason they would have had to do something else to the Master just
for tape noise,and possibly adjust eq curves.Anyway,it states two-track
Master.The Quad reel to reel release,in Dolby,was much cleaner and punchier,not
to mention a diffent mix,meaning that a multi-track Master existed at one
time,the "Aqualung"songs on MU were taken from the Quad version,since MU was
originally slated forQuad release,however ,the 2 track mixdowns were pretty
tame.Possibly the multi-track Master has been lost in tiime,which is a shame.
Hooded Crow
The Prophet
I was curious as to why my own reaction to this CD was
so strong. So this evening, I did an A-B comparison
between the cuts that are on the Best Of JT The Anniv
Collection and on the Aqualung 25th Anniv Special Edition
CD.
The differences are remarkable. The Best Of is much brighter
and cleaner. There is a bit of tape hiss, but I find it
unoffensive.
The Aqualung CD, OTOH, has the hiss removed better, but it
loses the top end of the acoustic guitars and cymbals. I
can also hear extra "reverb" or echo that is not in the Best
Of version -- I bet that is the Prism Noise Shaping . . .
I'm not really "looking for perfection," but I find that
listening to the Aqualung CD is very tiring.
Do any of you have the DCC version of Aqualung and the Best
Of? Would you please do a comparison of the sound qualities
and post what you think? It would be most appreciated and
helpful.
Thanks!
The Prophet
> There is no doubt that "Aqualung" was mastered poorly from the
> beginning. And years of wear and tear hasn't helped anything. But I
> think to really appreciate the improvements in 25th Anniversary Edition
> you would have to hear the regular CD issue. It's one of the muddiest
> messes I've ever heard. But to answer your question, The DCC Gold
> edition of "Aqualung" is better than the 25th Ann. But if your looking
> for perfection, I think you'll be disappointed in all the versions, old
> and new.
> Jimi.
>
> [snip]
Kazz
the DCC version (although I would like to get ahold of it...if anyone
has an extra one, I have 2 copies of the MFSL Gold Thick as a Brick CD,
and I'd trade one for it...or any of the other gold CDs that aren't
available anymore...)...but anyway, I have read a couple of reviews of
both CDs by people who are...very picky and catch all the little
differences/etc...track by track even...heh...you can probably still
find them on the web, but I don't remember where...what they said
basically though (from what I remember) is that in each version some
songs sounded better than in the other, so neither one was clearly the
best...but they did mention the...obvious silence that slips in when the
music pauses or stops, and the "extra reverb" you mentioned...I don't
think the DCC had that...I hope that helps, if not then see if you can
find those reviews... :)
Kazz
Alex Lozupone
the Tull releases, please post the URL here! :)
ces...@my-dejanews.com
http://sstage.com/music/mus0997g.htm
Cesar.
In article <3623E091...@altavista.net>,
al...@xensei.com wrote:
> If anyone finds these reviews of the different audiophile versions of
> the Tull releases, please post the URL here! :)
>
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