Just wanted to check in with my thoughts on how this compares with the obvious next best comparison - the Classic Records 45RPM
Firstly the overall issue with this recording as it stands is that it’s a bit of a mess from the get go. Pushing the available technology of the time it can tend to overloading and stridency especially on the busier tracks. The best you can hope for is that the pressing sorts things out and gives an attractive presentation.
In a nutshell then this is what distinguishes the MoFi and Classic 45s. The latter does a better job of "sorting things out" while the former gives a more "attractive" presentation.
I’ll take two tracks for comparison -- Bridge itself and Only living boy.
On the Classic the impression is of dynamics and an extremely wide and layered soundstage. The bass guitar on both tracks is super (maybe too) rich and bouncy while the cymbals are clear if a little strident. Simon’s voice is small but in scale and tilted slightly to the higher ranges.
On the MoFi Simon’s voice has more body and weight and a lower tone but the bass guitar is much diminished, frankly now rather mundane in the mix and the higher percussion well integrated but less dynamic. Overall the soundstage is substantially reduced in all dimensions but the individual elements are pleasingly integrated.
The same broad comparisons hold on "The Only Living Boy in New York". On the Classic Simon’s voice is pulled far off to the right, on the MoFi it’s more right of center. The layered backing strings and vocals are more distinct in the Classic, more integrated in the MoFi.
There also seem to be some strange mix differences between the two. In "Bridge" on the Classic in the intro section Simon's voice moves clearly from center to right of center as he moves between the first and second part - when the echo effect changes -- he then moves back to center. On the MoFi he stays center all along ... not sure what to make of the decisions on how to change the mix -- but clearly someone has been editorializing on at least one of these two versions.
The Classic being one sided suffers from endemic and unavoidable bowl warp but the MoFi wasn’t perfect -- having some surface noise and an audible scratch in "Bridge".
Overall they both have pluses and minuses -- personally I prefer the Classic because I’ve gotten used to how it sounds and because I believe it gets me closer to the mixing desk. Arguably the MoFi is nicer to listen to however.
My impression based on two of these MoFi’s (this and the Evans) is that while they present a valid version of the original tapes they are by no means the "best" version -- I prefer my AP 45s of the Evans for example. I’m not sure I’ll be anteing up for any more, especially if it’s a disc I already own in a version I like.
Firstly the overall issue with this recording as it stands is that it’s a bit of a mess from the get go. Pushing the available technology of the time it can tend to overloading and stridency especially on the busier tracks. The best you can hope for is that the pressing sorts things out and gives an attractive presentation.
In a nutshell then this is what distinguishes the MoFi and Classic 45s. The latter does a better job of "sorting things out" while the former gives a more "attractive" presentation.
I’ll take two tracks for comparison -- Bridge itself and Only living boy.
On the Classic the impression is of dynamics and an extremely wide and layered soundstage. The bass guitar on both tracks is super (maybe too) rich and bouncy while the cymbals are clear if a little strident. Simon’s voice is small but in scale and tilted slightly to the higher ranges.
On the MoFi Simon’s voice has more body and weight and a lower tone but the bass guitar is much diminished, frankly now rather mundane in the mix and the higher percussion well integrated but less dynamic. Overall the soundstage is substantially reduced in all dimensions but the individual elements are pleasingly integrated.
The same broad comparisons hold on "The Only Living Boy in New York". On the Classic Simon’s voice is pulled far off to the right, on the MoFi it’s more right of center. The layered backing strings and vocals are more distinct in the Classic, more integrated in the MoFi.
There also seem to be some strange mix differences between the two. In "Bridge" on the Classic in the intro section Simon's voice moves clearly from center to right of center as he moves between the first and second part - when the echo effect changes -- he then moves back to center. On the MoFi he stays center all along ... not sure what to make of the decisions on how to change the mix -- but clearly someone has been editorializing on at least one of these two versions.
The Classic being one sided suffers from endemic and unavoidable bowl warp but the MoFi wasn’t perfect -- having some surface noise and an audible scratch in "Bridge".
Overall they both have pluses and minuses -- personally I prefer the Classic because I’ve gotten used to how it sounds and because I believe it gets me closer to the mixing desk. Arguably the MoFi is nicer to listen to however.
My impression based on two of these MoFi’s (this and the Evans) is that while they present a valid version of the original tapes they are by no means the "best" version -- I prefer my AP 45s of the Evans for example. I’m not sure I’ll be anteing up for any more, especially if it’s a disc I already own in a version I like.