Amy Winehouse LP Sound Quality

I have not heard the US domestic pressing, so I can not comment on it. (Although I too have read that it is pretty bad, and in fact that is why I sought out the EU pressing.) I did buy, and have listened to, the EU pressing. It is extremely quiet, and a decent pressing.

However, notice I said a decent "pressing". The recording itself is, IMHO, pretty bad, as it is so compressed, and lacking in dynamics, that it sounds like you're listening to the music over the radio on a boom box. Very disappointing that the instruments behind the vocals are so poorly recorded, because her vocals sound pretty good.

If you listen mostly to vinyl, (like I do), get the EU version, otherwise sticking with the CD is probably just as good.

My two cents worth.

Koegz,

So, it seems that you and I have the same version of vinyl.

As I said, the pressing itself is fine. Nice and quiet, no problems there.

However, the dynamics are compressed (to a degree I honestly have rarely heard on vinyl in fact!)

You don't find that to be true?
(Listen again to the LP, only this time, tune out her voice, and just listen to the instruments, and then tell me that the cymbals sound, well, like cymbals. There is no decay to them at all, and they are severely compressed to the point that you can barely hear them. The bass is also compressed to the point of being barely there as well. Her voice comes through nicely though, as her voice is at neither of the frequency extremes. And, yes, she has an interesting voice that I like too.)

As I said, it is a good album, except for the recording quality. The songs are good, as is her voice. (And the pressing itself is excellent.)

IMHO, this is a perfect example of how to screw up a recording by compressing the heck out of it!