Who else has gone and re-bought old (re)issues ...

[neveronfriday]

I didn't think I would, but life's just too short to not admit to one's own stupidity and defeat.

I've only started, but I think it might be my (potential) downfall.

I was one of those people gullible enough (with a stereo shitty enough at the time to be so) to go out and buy those 90s and later remasters. It was only after a while that I really noticed how horrible some/many/most were. I'm not a "Hoffmanite" (and will never be one), but I do trust my own ears (only).

I think the one reissue that did it for me was that Verve "Complete Fitzgerald and Armstrong" package. That just sounded so thin and lifeless that I was hugely disappointed. Really, I'm still pissed off years later that I shelled out money for that crap. Unfortunately, I had gotten rid of the old Dennis Drake masters BEFORE the new package arrived.

Well, when I was in hospital etc. these past weeks/months, I decided to re-purchase what I once lost, hit the Amazon marketplaces around the globe (and some other shops) and re-bought all the Dennis Drake Ella Fitzgerald (and Fitzgerald/Armstrong) remasters. All of them. Although the postage is quite stiff at times, the CDs themselves are usually laughably cheap (all below $5). And, you don't need to be an audiophile or an expert or have an expensive stereo at home to hear how much better these original remasters are. They beat the crap out of that later Verve shit. It's depressing.

Life is just too short to put up with shitty sound.

So, I'm re-buying some material central to my collection.

I feel utterly stupid while doing so.

My question: Am I the only one stupid enough to have embarked on this road or am I in good company?

[neveronfriday]

Oops, this belongs into "Miscellaneous music".

Can someone move it, please (Hans)?

[J.A.W.]

Oops, this belongs into "Miscellaneous music".

Can someone move it, please (Hans)?

Done

[neveronfriday]

Thanks, Hans.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

I find that Jazz reissues seem less plagued by today's "Make it loud" mastering style. I have reverted many of my rock CDs back to the earlier CD versions. The worst offender by far was the Jimi Hendrix catalog. The Experience Hendrix remasters from the late 90s are so loud they actually fatigue me no matter how low I turn them down. It's like this wall of sound hitting me. It was these crappy CDs that got me to start hanging out at the Steve Hoffman forums in the first place.

Later,

Kevin

[neveronfriday]

Kevin,

yes, you are right, although I, personally, think that a lot of the jazz remasters are plagued by that "make it bright" (not make it loud) mastering style. In case of the Fitzgerald remasters, it was more the depth and natural sound of the Drake remasters that won me over (once again). But, I didn't really want to start a technology discussion.

I'm happy that I'm not the only one taking one or several (financial) steps back to get the better version of some of the music I love.

If I wanted to replace it all, I would need to sell just about everything else I have. That's not a viable solution, but I thought replacing some cornerstones of my collection will make me a lot happier.

Thanks for chiming in, Kevin.

P.S.: I shudder at the thought of what it would cost me to replace those crappy remasters in my rock/pop collection that I simply don't play much (unless it is on my PC) because the sound is just such a downer.

Edited May 28, 2010 by neveronfriday

[Dave James]

I thought the RVG remaster of Horace Silver's Song For My Father really sucked, It pissed me off that I'd already traded in the original thinking that the new one would be, so to speak, a sound investment. Another lesson learned. When you go to throw it out, don't mistake the bath water for the baby.

[riverrat]

I confess to having done this with some titles I picked up as JRVGs and RVGs. Went back to the older TOCJs for some titles, mostly on an opportunistic basis.

I've also been drinkin some of the Hoffman Koolaid, but I do try to keep things in perspective. I mainly try to determine what the wonks there have decided regarding best masterings for titles I have not yet purchased, then make my own decision about how much effort and $$ to expend on finding one of those. But jazz fans are a definite minority on SH, so much of the discussion is not relevant to my tastes- I have minimal interest in finding the "holy grail" non-TO, non-CDP, black triangle Harvest, 2-track, balls-to-the-wall 1st pressing 34 DP version of Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here and paying $125 for it, or reading a 7 page thread on which Monkees remasters sound the best....

[paul secor]

I confess to having done this with some titles I picked up as JRVGs and RVGs. Went back to the older TOCJs for some titles, mostly on an opportunistic basis.

I've also been drinkin some of the Hoffman Koolaid, but I do try to keep things in perspective. I mainly try to determine what the wonks there have decided regarding best masterings for titles I have not yet purchased, then make my own decision about how much effort and $$ to expend on finding one of those. But jazz fans are a definite minority on SH, so much of the discussion is not relevant to my tastes- I have minimal interest in finding the "holy grail" non-TO, non-CDP, black triangle Harvest, 2-track, balls-to-the-wall 1st pressing 34 DP version of Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here and paying $125 for it, or reading a 7 page thread on which Monkees remasters sound the best....

I'm sure they would feel the same way about us if they checked in here. Of course, we're right.

[Man with the Golden Arm]

I thought the RVG remaster of Horace Silver's Song For My Father really sucked, It pissed me off that I'd already traded in the original thinking that the new one would be, so to speak, a sound investment. Another lesson learned. When you go to throw it out, don't mistake the bath water for the baby.

I did exactly the same for some when the first RVG series landed - knew they were coming out and traded in discs to make them affordable ... thought 'Moanin'' was juat freeking fantastic - fooled in the initial hearing and thought the bombastics of the new re-masters sounding good for some reason. Same for 'Cool Struttin'' with the first issue having the great Japanese kissa liner notes and none of the hiss of the RVG. Happy I have the 'SFMF' before the tape stretch remasters.

[riverrat]

I'm sure they would feel the same way about us if they checked in here. Of course, we're right.

No doubt this is true...