This is valuable information. Thank you! I'm growing very frustraded with reissues and new releases, because of the low quality of the pressings. There is a huge problem with quality control (scratched and warped records), but also with the mastering. I'm turning to old vinyl again, but I know that an industry can't rely on used items alone. We need to start a movement for better new pressing. Cause prices are getting higher, but quality isn't.
These negative reviews are vary useful and can save people like me a ton of money. I wish more reviewers were honest, had the equipment and willing to call out bad pressings. Thanks again
Glad to hear your honest views on these releases.... Such a shame that much smaller companies put so much effort and care into what they release, knowing how important it is for the fans. There really isn't any excuse for them not to do something of quality for such an important Band.
Thank you for your honesty in these reviews and the extra work to listen again to confirm your findings. I think it is important if we share both the good and the bad. I have the originals of some of these pressings and you are correct they are so much more dynamic and alive but it is difficult for the community to find clean original pressings. This is such an important opportunity for the record companies to use today's technology and deliver a finer analog product for a new generation of music lovers. The finest example of this is the work Blue Note is doing with the Tone Poets, Classics and previously with the Music Matters series. Many of these originals are difficult if not impossible to find. It is an absolute joy each month to hear an audiophile pressing of these Blue Note treasures and the artists that created them.
I own Sticky Fingers” Abbey Road 1/2 speed master lp. IT SUCKS!!! Michael, I couldn’t agree with you more on your assessment of these poorly done lp’s, they’re truly horrible...
Thank you for this video. Unfortunately, we need the negative reviews as well. I recently started a record collection and this potentially saved me a lot of money that I probably shouldn't have spent to begin with. And you are right, if they listened to this and heard how terrible it sounded and still put it out, for the money shame on them. Again, thank you
Appreciate the upload Michael we need to hear the good and the bad sometimes I have three early pressings of the rolling Stones let it bleed /beggars banquet & goat's head soup all US pressings and was thinking about putting the extra money out for the newer pressing now I think I'll just stick with the early pressings and maybe even save a little money Thanks again!
Great video. Oh, and they do have a turntable in Abbey Road. From their website: "During the mastering of these albums I was also loaned a set of original pressings for every album. This was an excellent reference point as I could play these on the calibrated system on the lathe while also listening to the files. My goal was to make these new cuts at least as good as the originals and hopefully better." But this is what i ask myself.... Why would you want to copy something that's already there when you have the chance (and freedom from management) to make something new and exciting? Why take the safe road? Giles Martin took the adventurous one. We need more of these kind of people! Music is not delicate museum stuff... It's only rock' n roll for god's sake. Mick's own words. Master it like it was recorded yesterday!
Yes Michael I agree I almost bought the Half speed remastered Tattoo You but gave my ORiginal German copy cut by Bob Ludwig a spin man it sounded so good I glad I didn’t pull the trigger on the Half speed mastering thanks for the this video Michael . I will stick with my Originals . Michael well said take care brother. Lovellandrew
Your voice is authentic & honest. It is much appreciated. I’m very much looking forward to the Intervention Records interview. Their Flying Burrito Bros reissues are phenomenal. Or as you might say, “top notch!” All the very best.
Not everybody will go back and see if their opinion was initially wrong. It is to your credit that you did that, even though a second listen confirmed your first impression.
Michael, thank you for your great many videos. I have watched a lot of them, but only just subscribed. I will not replace my original U.S. pressings (Entire catalog other than latest 3 albums) and U.K. Decca pressings (1st five albums). I assumed they were superior and your video confirms that. I appreciate your honesty. I will admit without regret, I bought the Half-Speed Masters of Voodoo Lounge, Bridges To Babylon, and A Bigger Bang only because finding originals of those three albums can be daunting and expensive.
You are so right these record companies are taking advantage of record music fans.Michael Framer was in Air studios to see a record cutting and they were using a cheap dj cartridge,Michael commented about the poor choice and the engineer said it what people have at home.
I considered buying a few of these Rolling Stones new vinyl remasters but will seek out a few older copies. Thank you for this video Micheal you are a life saver.
I bought the half speed masters box set when it came out mainly on the basis of the positive reception it received in The Absolute Sound. Thank you for offering an opposing view. I will listen with this in mind - and be more careful with magazine reviews.
Very interesting ! |WOW I'm a sucker for sound quality so this channel is right up my alley. I'll put my traditionalist views aside because this is something else :)
Just a few days ago I compared the new Pink Floyd vinyl remasters of Animals and Momentary Lapse with vintage german/european pressings. The old LPs sound much better. Today I compared a vintage japanese pressing of Springsteen's Darkness... with a new remastered LP. The new one sounds way better. So it always pays to compare originals and remasters yourself.
Michael, you are a true gem! Must check the recent stones box set on my shelf - they are AR HSr's as I recall. Will AB check against my riginal UK sticky fingers... the box may have to go if more than 50% are not good quality 😬
Absolutely love your channel. However, I save your videos for watching on my TV. I never get around to commenting or giving a thumbs up like I might usually on videos that I don’t enjoy so much from other people. What I’m trying to say is you are too good! 🍺
I have original Canadian Pressings of the Early London albums, Sticky Fingers, Exile, etc. They aren't the more highly desired UK Pressings but they all sound fantastic.
9:11 You're right... I have actually been in touch with Abbey Road, and a number of other major labels -- and they're not interested, not bothered, and couldn't care less. :0/
Love your passion!! I have old copies of Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street..... both excellent! Glad I stayed away from these remasters.... I just had a feeling.... my gut was right:)
Great video. The U.S. Presswell pressings Sticky Fingers are cheap, easy to find and sound great!! Edit: maybe not that cheap anymore (in near mint condition), but probably cheapier than the 1/2 speed.
Great video Michael. I guess I’ll keep my Canadian early pressing of Sticky Fingers... It’s pretty shocking to find out that a remastering that’s suppose to be ‘’audiophile’’ sounds that terrible... These Abbey Road reissues are not cheap... I was thinking of getting the Amy Winehouse Abbey Road reissue of her album Frank but now forget it! Thanks for sharing 😊
Sticky Fingers was the especially terrible sounding Abbey Road half speed remastered LP to me. I ended up picking up a 2015 European reissue of the album which sounds excellent, especially in comparison. It has all the missing dynamics, detail, clarity, etc. Excellent point regarding younger people getting into vinyl. Heaven forbid one of the bad Stones Abbey Road half speed mastered releases were their introduction to the medium. For shame, Abbey Road. For shame...
Top honest video as always Michael however as a huge Stones fan i have all the stones albums and in my experience i have always considered Sticky Fingers to sound veiled on some tracks especially Brown Sugar ' fun fact I have a Spanish Decca copy of let It Bleed which sounds amazing superior to the British copy so the mastering is the key thing take care
For stones albums, all the SACD versions sound better than Vinyl but of course those Early original pressings are good..👍👍👍 the bad boys never paid attention to any audiophile quality of their recordings, cause their music is raw, imperfect, the real stones sound👍
Yes I compared my copies of Exile on Main Street and I did not see where the 1/2 speed master was better. The very first record I ever purchased was The Rolling Stones Now! With my mom at Thriftway (like Safeway) when I was a kid. It was mono because I didn't have a stereo player. From then on I was hooked.
Thx for the public service announcement on these DMM Stones releases. Has Abby Road ever made any DMM releases that have quality sound. Very disappointing.
Great follow-up Michael, thank you. I recently compared the original Mono UK pressings of 12 x 5 and Out of Our Heads to the remastered editions from the Rolling Stones in Mono box. While the new versions were quieter and more controlled, they lacked the overall dynamic range and raw power of the originals. Both have their merits I suppose, but I prefer the originals as they are pure analog.
I have the MoFi version of Sticky Fingers and it doesn't sound any good at all. I also have a second pressing of Exile From Main Street and there is no contest when compared to the MoFi version of Sticky Fingers. The original pressing sounds way better! Great video. It is unfortunate that they didn't do a good job with these albums.
I thought it was just me. I recently bought a copy of sticky fingers as mine was played to death and I have to agree especially brown sugar sounded horrible. Couldnt even hear Bobby Keys solo on it it was that fr back in the mix. Also recently i got a free 3 month subscription to Tidal music with my new Nura headphones and their Master quality sound is for me comparable to vinyl mint pressings. I think the vinyl revival is finished.
My local record store has a 50th anniversary version of Beggars Banquet. I don’t think it is part of the half speed masters. I doubt if it very good though.
I never enjoyed Brown Sugar more than hearing it at 40% distortion in a loud bar between two terrible songs! I think, along with my now dead friend Joe, that Jagger's most soulful vocal was on "I don't know why" which they were recording when they were notified of Brian's death.
You are doing a public service. I purchased the box because I managed to find it for $120 on Amazon. I listened to a couple of them, and put the beautiful box back in to the cardboard mailer, where it remains.
Unfortunately I bought Abbey Road´s Exile on Main Street two weeks ago, anyway it sounds better than my 90´sCD, good to know that there are sound improvements on the horizon. thanks
Michael fully agreed. I bought Steel Wheels end Emotional Rescue and I'm very disappointed for the poor poor quality. Spotify or CD are better. Meanwhile I love the tone poet series. Do you know how is Smoke Stack of Andrew Hill? Thanks for your feedback
The original 1971 Sticky Fingers LP inner liner notes include Muscle Shoals Sound Studio as one of the studios in which the album was recorded. More resent vinyl release liner notes do not mention Muscle Shoals. Does anyone know why or was this just an unintentional omission? I have read that Brown Sugar, Wild Horses and You Gotta Move were recorded in Muscle Shoals.
Bought it when it came out and thought it sounded pretty good but I didn't have an earlier pressing to compare with. Well, I've been engulfed by Discogs lately anyways so let's add another one to the shopping cart!
@@TheMrMoosy I have a 1986 reissue that I found sealed, and it sounds good, but the 2015 pressing has better dynamics and more punch. The 2015 pressing wins for me, but I would like to get an earlier pressing just for comparison's sake.
Hello Michael, have a question in regards the same topic about the Remaster Abbey road Half Speed from the newly Sade Box Set release, is the same Abbey road Half Speed as well the same Remastered engineer By - Miles Showell, do you have any feedback in regards the Sade Box Set just released?? Thank you
The source is vital. Without the original analogue masters and then somebody with old time experience cutting the master wax, the whole exercise is a waste of time. Done correctly the results can be spectacular. But it needs people who really care and know what they are doing.
HI, MICHAEL, KEEP FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT! ARE THE STONES (ACTUALLY, MICK; I AM SURE THE OTHERS DON'T CARE) AWARE OF WHAT IS BEING DONE TO THEIR CLASSIC RECORDINGS?
This reminds me of the anger I had when they phased out the great 1994 Rolling Stones CD remasters and replaced them with worse sounding versions in 2009 which is extra annoying because during 2005 - 2006 and again in 2011 Japan got excellent CD remasters of Stones albums.
Hello! Thanks for sharing! Nobody mentioning / experiencing distorted voice and strings by the end of Moonlight Mile? Generally, on many of these half speed remasters? Is it just me? Isn't that even worse than a flat dull sounding record?
Danke Gott I have my original Japanese pressing of Goats Head Soup and original Sticky Fingers both in superb condition.....I have read that BROWN SUGAR was written by Mick Jagger while he was filming NED KELLY down here in OZ.....I suspect he might have stolen the riff and guitar tone from HOT GULLY WIND, an original written and recorded by The MASTERS APPRENTICES here in OZ back in67/68.
Thanks for the warning! 😁 Speaking of rock album reissues: I would be interested what you think about the MOFI version of Weezer‘s blue album and of the reissue of Tom Petty‘s Wildflowers. Although it‘s just a „simple“ Warner record, I think the Petty reissue sounds amazing - best sounding Petty record ever.
Wildflowers has never sounded better. I'm a die-hard Petty and Wildflowers fan. Don't hesitate to grab it. Weezer is the best selling MoFi release ever, according to the video when Michael Fremer took a tour of their facility. (apparently it's a hit at Urban Outfitters with the hipster crowd)....I haven't played it yet but looking forward to it. (just arrived last week).
I don't have any of the half speed masters but the 50th Anniversary 'Let it Bleed' is also not too impressive. The one Abbey Road hsm I have that is worth a lsiten is John Martyn's 'Solid Air'.
I dont know about the half speed masters but i think the latest GHS release was pretty good. I own three copies and the 2020 release was superior to the earlier releases.
Hello Michael, did you compare the 90s albums Voodoo Lounge and Bridges To Babylon and if so what did you think of it? I'm curious to know because I'm especially interested in those as originals are quite costly. Greetings to Düsseldorf from upper franconia Marius
I'm not saying any of them are phenomenal, but, they are not all equally bad in my opinion. Sticky Fingers is a shame, it's dull and the vocals are recessed. On some of the others, its more of a song by song evaluation and I liked aspects of them. There were worse reissues of Exile on vinyl about 10 yrs. ago. I can't wait till someone gives a few of them the ultimate audiophile treatment. Love the videos.
I thought I had just been unlucky and got a bad version of Sticky Fingers. This explains it. It sounds like Mick Jagger didn't bother going to the studio and recorded by telephone instead.
Thanks for the video! I mean it. I have the sticky fingers which is my favorite album and I bought the half Speed and that pressing really turned me off. At first I thought that was something wrong with my pressing. I just listened to the new Showell McCartney half Speed and it sounded really good and punchy over the disappointing remaster archive releases which are horrible sounding. The depth and bottom end of sticky fingers is gone. I decided to compare to 1994 remaster CD and the deluxe CD Release a few years ago and honestly the CD sounded much better. I wonder if the 2010-15 vinyl release sounds any better? Also looking for a Mofi issue as well. At my local shop I was wondering why all the remasters are just sitting with no movement. You did mention the box set was different. Is it worth sourcing out one of these? Or do you recommend I just stick to early pressings? Thank you
Thanks for your feedback. My experience with Abbey Road 1/2 speed it is limited just to Ghost on the machine - The Police and it sounds pretty good to me. Lookblike Miles was able to get access to the original master tape and to do a digital transfer himself. Maybe that is the difference? Anyways great video and I will stay away from these Stone releases.
I recently got back into vinyl and got both the new Exile and Goat's Head Soup this week (before seeing this video). I have to agree how lifeless Exile sounds compared to my Virgin CD remaster. But I think Goat's Head is required because of the second LP with alternate and bonus tracks.
Now that vinyl is becoming popular the cd effect is coming. Expensive records but bad quality. I wanted to know if those differences can be picked up with a regular turntable ?
I bought the German pressing of Sticky Fingers that came out in the early 70s I think and it sounds fantastic. Are these lousy re-issues from the Box Set? Love your videos.
I'm confused: are these the same Abbey-Road-half-speed pressings released in the recent box set (1971 - 2016), sold separately?. If not... are these these ones remastered by Stephen Marcussen?. By the way... I never owned a vinyl, but I like your content.
Cheers , I don't get it I am one who enjoys the original Release or early Reissues . A lot of VC Are into this analogue Productions Or Mofi They rant and Rave and get so excited , why because they have better sound quality? I don't mind of 180-gram reissue of a hard-to-find group Or an upgrade to a favorite album . But to dish it out big Bucks for reissues of classic vinyl Such as the Rolling Stones Where's the fun in that ? The thrill in collecting is the search for an original copy... Cleaning it up and playing it on an upgraded TT and stereo system. It'll sound just as good if not better....
most the time i buy origionals but when i buy origionals for cheap always something wrong or they are 50$ us dollars way too much i agree with you 95% of the tim but i dont think the zepplin ones are bad at all maybe caused there remastered by jimmy page but i will take your advice on the stones i agree most the time get the origionals but for me theres a cost line im picky have to be vg rating on up usually vg+ very good show good advice
Hello Michael! Thanks again for sharing your honest thoughts about these remasters. I love your style and appreciate your videos. I do not know if you are familiar with the Dynamic Range Database, but it is a good resource. I have been using it for a long time to avoid buying badly mastered recordings...Here is a link: dr.loudness-war.info Viele Grüße aus Montréal, Kanada
It's quite simple. There isn't access to the tapes. It's the Stones and their people who control this. Miles Showell at Abbey Road is provided with digital copies on a hard disc. Suggest you obtain Abbey Road 'A Solid Air' and do a review. Would be interested in your observations. Some of the Abbey Road reissues are good and some not so good.
There's no reason why any vinyl should sound so bad that the listener immediately recognises it's trash...that's unacceptable...there are other Stones remasters and modern pressings that sound fantastic..
@@Michael45RPM Are we talking about the same thing? Are these Stones reissues cut by Miles or not? The 1971 to 2016 box set was and would say they are well above average if not near the best.
Michael, what do you think is the best thing to do when you get a bad album? Do you inform the distributer or just ignore it and take your loss? If it's a bad pressing with defects or lots of surface noise I will just return it. But what if the recording or mastering are not good?
Acoustic Sounds has Creedence Clearwater Revival half masters from Abbey Road in stock. Are you planning to review those. It wouldn’t surprise me if they’re not very good.
![[UNCUT]"ตุลามรณะ"ย้อนฟังคำทำนาย หมอดูทุกสาย ดวงเมืองร้อน (หมอปลาย ฟองสนาน อ.โอเล่)I คนดังนั่งเคลียร์](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/lE5az5VvT9M/mqdefault.jpg)
At least someone who likes "Goat's Head Soup", thanks
Nicely done. People like you are the only chance we have to keep these people honest.👍
Again, your honesty and passion regarding these remasters is most appreciated. Keep up the great work in pursuit of our hobby. Take care!
Always love your passion and enthusiasm, Michael. Exactly what everybody needs. Please don’t ever change your format. Cheers!
This is valuable information. Thank you! I'm growing very frustraded with reissues and new releases, because of the low quality of the pressings. There is a huge problem with quality control (scratched and warped records), but also with the mastering. I'm turning to old vinyl again, but I know that an industry can't rely on used items alone. We need to start a movement for better new pressing. Cause prices are getting higher, but quality isn't.
Thanks for making another video on this. You're right, these recordings deserve respect and care❤
These negative reviews are vary useful and can save people like me a ton of money. I wish more reviewers were honest, had the equipment and willing to call out bad pressings. Thanks again
Ty so much for this update your videos are always amazing I look forward to them so much
Glad to hear your honest views on these releases.... Such a shame that much smaller companies put so much effort and care into what they release, knowing how important it is for the fans. There really isn't any excuse for them not to do something of quality for such an important Band.
Thank you for your honesty in these reviews and the extra work to listen again to confirm your findings. I think it is important if we share both the good and the bad. I have the originals of some of these pressings and you are correct they are so much more dynamic and alive but it is difficult for the community to find clean original pressings. This is such an important opportunity for the record companies to use today's technology and deliver a finer analog product for a new generation of music lovers. The finest example of this is the work Blue Note is doing with the Tone Poets, Classics and previously with the Music Matters series. Many of these originals are difficult if not impossible to find. It is an absolute joy each month to hear an audiophile pressing of these Blue Note treasures and the artists that created them.
Thank you for your passion Michael you speak for us all..!
I own Sticky Fingers” Abbey Road 1/2 speed master lp. IT SUCKS!!!
Michael, I couldn’t agree with you more on your assessment of these poorly done lp’s,
they’re truly horrible...
Hi Michael, we would love to see a vid on your acoustic room treatment changes and what helped improve your listening room environment. Thanks
Thank you for this video. Unfortunately, we need the negative reviews as well. I recently started a record collection and this potentially saved me a lot of money that I probably shouldn't have spent to begin with. And you are right, if they listened to this and heard how terrible it sounded and still put it out, for the money shame on them. Again, thank you
Thank you for sharing your experiences and honest opinions about these bad pressings. Cheers! Looking forward to the Intervention records video!
Appreciate the upload Michael we need to hear the good and the bad sometimes I have three early pressings of the rolling Stones let it bleed /beggars banquet & goat's head soup all US pressings and was thinking about putting the extra money out for the newer pressing now I think I'll just stick with the early pressings and maybe even save a little money Thanks again!
Save the money for sure, you will not like them i am sure
Great video. Oh, and they do have a turntable in Abbey Road. From their website: "During the mastering of these albums I was also loaned a set of original pressings for every album. This was an excellent reference point as I could play these on the calibrated system on the lathe while also listening to the files. My goal was to make these new cuts at least as good as the originals and hopefully better." But this is what i ask myself.... Why would you want to copy something that's already there when you have the chance (and freedom from management) to make something new and exciting? Why take the safe road? Giles Martin took the adventurous one. We need more of these kind of people! Music is not delicate museum stuff... It's only rock' n roll for god's sake. Mick's own words. Master it like it was recorded yesterday!
Thank you for this video and your passion for the importance of quality of this medium
Yes Michael I agree I almost bought the Half speed remastered Tattoo You but gave my ORiginal German copy cut by Bob Ludwig a spin man it sounded so good I glad I didn’t pull the trigger on the Half speed mastering thanks for the this video Michael . I will stick with my Originals . Michael well said take care brother. Lovellandrew
Your voice is authentic & honest. It is much appreciated. I’m very much looking forward to the Intervention Records interview. Their Flying Burrito Bros reissues are phenomenal. Or as you might say, “top notch!” All the very best.
Not everybody will go back and see if their opinion was initially wrong. It is to your credit that you did that, even though a second listen confirmed your first impression.
Thank you Jazzeum
Michael, thank you for your great many videos. I have watched a lot of them, but only just subscribed. I will not replace my original U.S. pressings (Entire catalog other than latest 3 albums) and U.K. Decca pressings (1st five albums). I assumed they were superior and your video confirms that. I appreciate your honesty. I will admit without regret, I bought the Half-Speed Masters of Voodoo Lounge, Bridges To Babylon, and A Bigger Bang only because finding originals of those three albums can be daunting and expensive.
You are so right these record companies are taking advantage of record music fans.Michael Framer was in Air studios to see a record cutting and they were using a cheap dj cartridge,Michael commented about the poor choice and the engineer said it what people have at home.
Looking forward to the new video on Intervention Records! Love the interviews you are doing with some of the great record companies. - Russ
I considered buying a few of these Rolling Stones new vinyl remasters but will seek out a few older copies. Thank you for this video Micheal you are a life saver.
I bought the half speed masters box set when it came out mainly on the basis of the positive reception it received in The Absolute Sound. Thank you for offering an opposing view. I will listen with this in mind - and be more careful with magazine reviews.
Very interesting ! |WOW I'm a sucker for sound quality so this channel is right up my alley. I'll put my traditionalist views aside because this is something else :)
Just a few days ago I compared the new Pink Floyd vinyl remasters of Animals and Momentary Lapse with vintage german/european pressings. The old LPs sound much better. Today I compared a vintage japanese pressing of Springsteen's Darkness... with a new remastered LP. The new one sounds way better. So it always pays to compare originals and remasters yourself.
Michael, you are a true gem! Must check the recent stones box set on my shelf - they are AR HSr's as I recall. Will AB check against my riginal UK sticky fingers... the box may have to go if more than 50% are not good quality 😬
Absolutely love your channel. However, I save your videos for watching on my TV. I never get around to commenting or giving a thumbs up like I might usually on videos that I don’t enjoy so much from other people. What I’m trying to say is you are too good! 🍺
Thanks a lot :-)
I have original Canadian Pressings of the Early London albums, Sticky Fingers, Exile, etc. They aren't the more highly desired UK Pressings but they all sound fantastic.
And certainly not their best album, but the U.S. early pressings of Black and Blue are outstanding! demo quality!
9:11 You're right... I have actually been in touch with Abbey Road, and a number of other major labels -- and they're not interested, not bothered, and couldn't care less. :0/
You are so right. The abbey road 1/2 speed Sicky Fingers is unlistenable. Its flat out bad.
Thank you for saving me some serious $$$! Great video per usual.
Love your passion!! I have old copies of Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street..... both excellent! Glad I stayed away from these remasters.... I just had a feeling.... my gut was right:)
Great video. The U.S. Presswell pressings Sticky Fingers are cheap, easy to find and sound great!!
Edit: maybe not that cheap anymore (in near mint condition), but probably cheapier than the 1/2 speed.
Great video Michael. I guess I’ll keep my Canadian early pressing of Sticky Fingers... It’s pretty shocking to find out that a remastering that’s suppose to be ‘’audiophile’’ sounds that terrible... These Abbey Road reissues are not cheap... I was thinking of getting the Amy Winehouse Abbey Road reissue of her album Frank but now forget it! Thanks for sharing 😊
Not buying them is the best punishment we can give them!
Sticky Fingers was the especially terrible sounding Abbey Road half speed remastered LP to me. I ended up picking up a 2015 European reissue of the album which sounds excellent, especially in comparison. It has all the missing dynamics, detail, clarity, etc. Excellent point regarding younger people getting into vinyl. Heaven forbid one of the bad Stones Abbey Road half speed mastered releases were their introduction to the medium. For shame, Abbey Road. For shame...
True Words Nick
I purchased the box set heavily discounted from the Stones website, I guess they knew there was problems with it.
Top honest video as always Michael however as a huge Stones fan i have all the stones albums and in my experience i have always considered Sticky Fingers to sound veiled on some tracks especially Brown Sugar ' fun fact I have a Spanish Decca copy of let It Bleed which sounds amazing superior to the British copy so the mastering is the key thing take care
For stones albums, all the SACD versions sound better than Vinyl but of course those Early original pressings are good..👍👍👍 the bad boys never paid attention to any audiophile quality of their recordings, cause their music is raw, imperfect, the real stones sound👍
Agreed 100%
@Nicholas thats true👍
so digital is taking the heart & soul out of our beloved old music ......
I still own my original Goats head soup.
Yes I compared my copies of Exile on Main Street and I did not see where the 1/2 speed master was better. The very first record I ever purchased was The Rolling Stones Now! With my mom at Thriftway (like Safeway) when I was a kid. It was mono because I didn't have a stereo player. From then on I was hooked.
Thank you for this very brave review. You have my utmost respect.
Thank You Johnny
The newest Decca reissues sound great, btw.
Thx for the public service announcement on these DMM Stones releases. Has Abby Road ever made any DMM releases that have quality sound. Very disappointing.
Only the Beatles Mono Box
Great follow-up Michael, thank you. I recently compared the original Mono UK pressings of 12 x 5 and Out of Our Heads to the remastered editions from the Rolling Stones in Mono box. While the new versions were quieter and more controlled, they lacked the overall dynamic range and raw power of the originals. Both have their merits I suppose, but I prefer the originals as they are pure analog.
thx for this info John are the og´s also sharper?
@@Michael45RPM It’s hard to put into words, but the remasters are cleaner, more subdued, whereas the OGs have more brightness, more sparkle.
Maybe, of course it would be very difficult to find a decent original mono UK pressing at a reasonable price..
@@Matasky2010 True, but the Mono box is now upwards of £800, so it’s all relative.
@@john-lamarca 'Different'
Thank you sir!
I have the MoFi version of Sticky Fingers and it doesn't sound any good at all. I also have a second pressing of Exile From Main Street and there is no contest when compared to the MoFi version of Sticky Fingers. The original pressing sounds way better!
Great video. It is unfortunate that they didn't do a good job with these albums.
If you haven't heard Art Blakey's 'Drum Suit' on Impex, give it a listen. (off-topic, sorry)
Your the best. Just stay claim. Always great
I thought it was just me. I recently bought a copy of sticky fingers as mine was played to death and I have to agree especially brown sugar sounded horrible. Couldnt even hear Bobby Keys solo on it it was that fr back in the mix. Also recently i got a free 3 month subscription to Tidal music with my new Nura headphones and their Master quality sound is for me comparable to vinyl mint pressings. I think the vinyl revival is finished.
My local record store has a 50th anniversary version of Beggars Banquet. I don’t think it is part of the half speed masters. I doubt if it very good though.
I never enjoyed Brown Sugar more than hearing it at 40% distortion in a loud bar between two terrible songs! I think, along with my now dead friend Joe, that Jagger's most soulful vocal was on "I don't know why" which they were recording when they were notified of Brian's death.
Let It Bleed from Vinyl Me, Please. .....A much better reissue, and a good choice among the recent releases of classic Stones.
Just picked up a clean Monarch pressing of Goats Head for $12.50. Head and shoulders above remastered.
You are doing a public service. I purchased the box because I managed to find it for $120 on Amazon. I listened to a couple of them, and put the beautiful box back in to the cardboard mailer, where it remains.
Unfortunately I bought Abbey Road´s Exile on Main Street two weeks ago, anyway it sounds better than my 90´sCD, good to know that there are sound improvements on the horizon. thanks
Can you do a quick session on what’s in your collection behind you in your videos I’m curious and luv your mofi collection ?
Will do a room tour eventually
Michael fully agreed. I bought Steel Wheels end Emotional Rescue and I'm very disappointed for the poor poor quality. Spotify or CD are better. Meanwhile I love the tone poet series. Do you know how is Smoke Stack of Andrew Hill? Thanks for your feedback
The original 1971 Sticky Fingers LP inner liner notes include Muscle Shoals Sound Studio as one of the studios in which the album was recorded. More resent vinyl release liner notes do not mention Muscle Shoals. Does anyone know why or was this just an unintentional omission? I have read that Brown Sugar, Wild Horses and You Gotta Move were recorded in Muscle Shoals.
People seem to like the 2015 remaster of Sticky Fingers quite a bit. I think it sounds great.
Bought it when it came out and thought it sounded pretty good but I didn't have an earlier pressing to compare with. Well, I've been engulfed by Discogs lately anyways so let's add another one to the shopping cart!
@@TheMrMoosy I have a 1986 reissue that I found sealed, and it sounds good, but the 2015 pressing has better dynamics and more punch. The 2015 pressing wins for me, but I would like to get an earlier pressing just for comparison's sake.
It's a bit compressed. The version in the 2018 box set is much better.
@@classicrock7890 is that a mono version?
Hello Michael, have a question in regards the same topic about the Remaster Abbey road Half Speed from the newly Sade Box Set release, is the same Abbey road Half Speed as well the same Remastered engineer By - Miles Showell, do you have any feedback in regards the Sade Box Set just released?? Thank you
The source is vital. Without the original analogue masters and then somebody with old time experience cutting the master wax, the whole exercise is a waste of time. Done correctly the results can be spectacular. But it needs people who really care and know what they are doing.
HI, MICHAEL, KEEP FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT! ARE THE STONES (ACTUALLY, MICK; I AM SURE THE OTHERS DON'T CARE) AWARE OF WHAT IS BEING DONE TO THEIR CLASSIC RECORDINGS?
This reminds me of the anger I had when they phased out the great 1994 Rolling Stones CD remasters and replaced them with worse sounding versions in 2009 which is extra annoying because during 2005 - 2006 and again in 2011 Japan got excellent CD remasters of Stones albums.
Such a great band too☹️☹️
Hello! Thanks for sharing! Nobody mentioning / experiencing distorted voice and strings by the end of Moonlight Mile? Generally, on many of these half speed remasters? Is it just me? Isn't that even worse than a flat dull sounding record?
Danke Gott I have my original Japanese pressing of Goats Head Soup and original Sticky Fingers both in superb condition.....I have read that BROWN SUGAR was written by Mick Jagger while he was filming NED KELLY down here in OZ.....I suspect he might have stolen the riff and guitar tone from HOT GULLY WIND, an original written and recorded by The MASTERS APPRENTICES here in OZ back in67/68.
Ugh, I bought a few of these but not listened to them yet... Never again.
Thanks for the warning! 😁 Speaking of rock album reissues: I would be interested what you think about the MOFI version of Weezer‘s blue album and of the reissue of Tom Petty‘s Wildflowers. Although it‘s just a „simple“ Warner record, I think the Petty reissue sounds amazing - best sounding Petty record ever.
I do not have the blue weezer. I like the Petty and they did a good jop, but the initial recording has some flaws in my opinion
Wildflowers has never sounded better. I'm a die-hard Petty and Wildflowers fan. Don't hesitate to grab it. Weezer is the best selling MoFi release ever, according to the video when Michael Fremer took a tour of their facility. (apparently it's a hit at Urban Outfitters with the hipster crowd)....I haven't played it yet but looking forward to it. (just arrived last week).
I don't have any of the half speed masters but the 50th Anniversary 'Let it Bleed' is also not too impressive. The one Abbey Road hsm I have that is worth a lsiten is John Martyn's 'Solid Air'.
I dont know about the half speed masters but i think the latest GHS release was pretty good. I own three copies and the 2020 release was superior to the earlier releases.
Hello Michael,
did you compare the 90s albums Voodoo Lounge and Bridges To Babylon and if so what did you think of it? I'm curious to know because I'm especially interested in those as originals are quite costly.
Greetings to Düsseldorf from upper franconia
Marius
I'm not saying any of them are phenomenal, but, they are not all equally bad in my opinion. Sticky Fingers is a shame, it's dull and the vocals are recessed. On some of the others, its more of a song by song evaluation and I liked aspects of them. There were worse reissues of Exile on vinyl about 10 yrs. ago. I can't wait till someone gives a few of them the ultimate audiophile treatment. Love the videos.
You are right the level of insult differs
I thought I had just been unlucky and got a bad version of Sticky Fingers. This explains it. It sounds like Mick Jagger didn't bother going to the studio and recorded by telephone instead.
you gave me a Good laugh
Thanks for the video! I mean it. I have the sticky fingers which is my favorite album and I bought the half Speed and that pressing really turned me off. At first I thought that was something wrong with my pressing. I just listened to the new Showell McCartney half Speed and it sounded really good and punchy over the disappointing remaster archive releases which are horrible sounding. The depth and bottom end of sticky fingers is gone. I decided to compare to 1994 remaster CD and the deluxe CD Release a few years ago and honestly the CD sounded much better. I wonder if the 2010-15 vinyl release sounds any better? Also looking for a Mofi issue as well. At my local shop I was wondering why all the remasters are just sitting with no movement. You did mention the box set was different. Is it worth sourcing out one of these? Or do you recommend I just stick to early pressings? Thank you
The Stones Abko mono box sounds nice
Thanks for your feedback. My experience with Abbey Road 1/2 speed it is limited just to Ghost on the machine - The Police and it sounds pretty good to me. Lookblike Miles was able to get access to the original master tape and to do a digital transfer himself. Maybe that is the difference? Anyways great video and I will stay away from these Stone releases.
I recently got back into vinyl and got both the new Exile and Goat's Head Soup this week (before seeing this video). I have to agree how lifeless Exile sounds compared to my Virgin CD remaster. But I think Goat's Head is required because of the second LP with alternate and bonus tracks.
Now that vinyl is becoming popular the cd effect is coming. Expensive records but bad quality.
I wanted to know if those differences can be picked up with a regular turntable ?
of course they can... no doubt
@@Michael45RPM I'll stay away from those realeses 👍🏾
I have them on Canadian Pressings, Would they better?
Miles Shovel who did the remastering has not watched ur video yet, if yes, there will be a dislike 👍.. Thanks as always Michael.
Best copy of Sticky Fingers I have is one I picked up in Germany
I have Sticky Finger released 2015. Is this the same that is mentioned in this video?
I bought the German pressing of Sticky Fingers that came out in the early 70s I think and it sounds fantastic. Are these lousy re-issues from the Box Set? Love your videos.
No those are the new single releases
@@Michael45RPM So the new single releases aren't the same mastering as the box set?
I'm confused: are these the same Abbey-Road-half-speed pressings released in the recent box set (1971 - 2016), sold separately?. If not... are these these ones remastered by Stephen Marcussen?. By the way... I never owned a vinyl, but I like your content.
I think they are different
Hi Michael can you confirm cafe blue is a ada release. Digital mastering.or daa
Cheers , I don't get it I am one who enjoys the original Release or early Reissues . A lot of VC Are into this analogue Productions Or Mofi They rant and Rave and get so excited , why because they have better sound quality? I don't mind of 180-gram reissue of a hard-to-find group Or an upgrade to a favorite album . But to dish it out big Bucks for reissues of classic vinyl Such as the Rolling Stones Where's the fun in that ? The thrill in collecting is the search for an original copy... Cleaning it up and playing it on an upgraded TT and stereo system. It'll sound just as good if not better....
most the time i buy origionals but when i buy origionals for cheap always something wrong or they are 50$ us dollars way too much i agree with you 95% of the tim but i dont think the zepplin ones are bad at all maybe caused there remastered by jimmy page but i will take your advice on the stones i agree most the time get the origionals but for me theres a cost line im picky have to be vg rating on up usually vg+ very good show good advice
Hello Michael! Thanks again for sharing your honest thoughts about these remasters. I love your style and appreciate your videos.
I do not know if you are familiar with the Dynamic Range Database, but it is a good resource. I have been using it for a long time to avoid buying badly mastered recordings...Here is a link:
dr.loudness-war.info
Viele Grüße aus Montréal, Kanada
THX for sharing this Donald
It's quite simple. There isn't access to the tapes. It's the Stones and their people who control this. Miles Showell at Abbey Road is provided with digital copies on a hard disc. Suggest you obtain Abbey Road 'A Solid Air' and do a review. Would be interested in your observations. Some of the Abbey Road reissues are good and some not so good.
Then don´t do them!
There's no reason why any vinyl should sound so bad that the listener immediately recognises it's trash...that's unacceptable...there are other Stones remasters and modern pressings that sound fantastic..
@@Michael45RPM Are we talking about the same thing? Are these Stones reissues cut by Miles or not? The 1971 to 2016 box set was and would say they are well above average if not near the best.
I also have the Genesis Seconds Out 1/2 speed 180gm Abbey Road version and I think it sounds amazing.
Michael, what do you think is the best thing to do when you get a bad album? Do you inform the distributer or just ignore it and take your loss? If it's a bad pressing with defects or lots of surface noise I will just return it. But what if the recording or mastering are not good?
Good question! There is not much you can do, other than talk about it an spread the word
But how they compare with tidal or other hifi streaming?
Would the Canadian pressings sound better?
Acoustic Sounds has Creedence Clearwater Revival half masters from Abbey Road in stock. Are you planning to review those. It wouldn’t surprise me if they’re not very good.
Honestly i am threw with the HSM from Abbey Road for the upcoming month at least.....
We had to pay extra when classic vinyl Albums were first released on CD, and now the record companies do the same in reverse. How greedy can you be?
do all of the abbey half speeds sound bad i dont own any but was considering a couple