Copper Blue mastering

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Mike Melville

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Feb 24, 2026, 12:01:17 PMFeb 24
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Hi folks

Would be interested to know the views of people who know more about mastering than I do.

Article suggest 92 > 2012 CD > 2026 CD.

No mention of a 1992 record though.


Cheers 
Mike 

Joseph Zibell

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Feb 24, 2026, 3:23:06 PMFeb 24
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Hey Mike,


In the 2nd paragraph of the 2012 remaster section, this line jumped out at me: “There’s been talk of a technical issue with the original recording equipment being corrected during the remastering process …”


Has anyone ever heard this before, and what this issue might have been?


I’ve listened to the original CD issue almost exclusively since the 2012 remasters came out on Merge and Edsel. And although I’m not familiar with details on the remasters on a track-by-track basis, I have never picked up “genuine improvements from the original tapes,” as the article suggests, or more clarity.


They sound like standard, brick-walled, modern CD masterings to me. FU:EL, in particular, sounds like it’s on steroids compared to the original CD. Looking at WAV forms bears the squashed dynamics out 100%. 


I wish he pointed out some of the spots he was referring to when he writes, “Bass lines that were previously buried in the mix now have definition, and drum hits carry more texture.”


I don’t listen to vinyl with regularity, so can’t comment as much on that format. I break out the original Copper Blue and FU:EL pressings from time to time and think they sound great. I’m not even sure I’ve played all of the 2012 pressings… 


He makes an interesting point in the article that maybe the vinyl format is alleviating some of the issues of the remastered CDs.


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Jeff Yutzler

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Feb 24, 2026, 4:08:35 PMFeb 24
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All I know is I thankfully kept my original Sugar (and Pavement) CDs during the remaster era. The remasters never quite felt right. I regret not keeping my original Sugar singles, or at least ripping them first.

rap...@dds.nl

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Feb 26, 2026, 4:35:22 PMFeb 26
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This site clearly shows the dynamic range difference between the originals and the rebutchers, I mean remasters:

https://dr.loudness-war.info/?artist=sugar&album=copper+blue
https://dr.loudness-war.info/?artist=sugar&album=file+under

Can't speak for the Pavement reissues (I was never the biggest fan), but Dinosaur Jr.'s Bug suffered a similar fate. I remember how disappointed I was with the remaster.

And yes, the vinyl format doesn't lend itself to brickwalling.

As for the original Creation/Rykodisc CD singles: working on a compilation, keep watching the list.

--Martin


john.l...@gmail.com

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Feb 26, 2026, 5:10:14 PMFeb 26
to rap...@dds.nl, Jeff Yutzler, sugarlist
After 3 Sugar concerts, half dozen My Bloody Valentine shows, dozen Dinosaur Jr shows, dozen Ministry shows ... are you sure I could hear the difference???

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/sugarlist/CACpHt-sVEfkXg3ROyTtNy2btxXHR5B0OsJjc0UwZv1OS8WrO2w%40mail.gmail.com.

Drew Domecq

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Feb 26, 2026, 5:10:41 PMFeb 26
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I gravitate to the Sugar CD remasters only because I can hear the bass lines clearly without jacking up the volume (like I used to when young/stupid related to hearing defense). I don't feel the space suffers on them, either.

Same goes for the Beatles and Smith CD remasters.

Mint Condish

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Feb 26, 2026, 5:33:25 PMFeb 26
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'The Sound Of The Smiths' anthology was criticized by some who found the bass and drums too punchy. Then came the 'Complete' box, which is apparently a different remaster, and I think most people dug it. I remember this quote from a reviewer: "The Smiths' 'Complete' really is The Beatles Remastered, but with better songs".

From: 'Drew Domecq' via sugarlist <suga...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2026 7:10:32 PM
To: sugarlist <suga...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: Copper Blue mastering
 

Mint Condish

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Feb 26, 2026, 5:35:55 PMFeb 26
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Neil Young can!


From: suga...@googlegroups.com <suga...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of john.l...@gmail.com <john.l...@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2026 7:31:07 PM
To: rap...@dds.nl <rap...@dds.nl>
Cc: Jeff Yutzler <jyut...@yahoo.com>; sugarlist <suga...@googlegroups.com>

Subject: Re: Copper Blue mastering
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