Tom Petty Box Sets

@slaw 
Yes, I don't have this LP, but the original US pressing in 1978 was on Shelter, ABC, DA-52029. I'm still researching info on both box sets, volume 1 and volume 2. If and when I get some info regarding mastering, etc, I will post it. The info found so far for volume 1, doesn't state the source; volume 2 (all but Mojo and Hypnotic Eye) seems to be remastered from original analogue tapes by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Studios. It also appears that the new Geffen remasters are sold in box sets only.   

Didn't mean to make anyone mad with this post just wanted to know if anyone else had these and what they thought of them. I've listen to all of box 1 and the first 4 of the second box.  And as I said all the LP's are very flat no wrap at all the covers are bright glossy and have all the original inserts. Sound Stage Direct say's the first three have been Remastered since 2010. All of the LP's are very quite very little if any surface noise. The only album I've compared to these to an original is Damn The Torpedoes and the 180 gram Lp has richer fuller bass. The vocals are clean and up front. The originals are on Leon Russell's Shelter label Vol. 1 is on   Reprise Records. Most of these are long out of print and hard to find. I just checked on ebay and a sealed copy of Wildflowers is going for $400.00. What can I say It's Top Petty on 180 gram vinyl. I also have the new Stones Mono set and these are just as good if not better. There was no book in either set giving details of the recordings. Vol. 2   contains seven albums on twelve pieces of vinyl. - Includes Wildflowers (2-LP); She's The One (1-LP); Echo (2-LP; three sides of music plus laser art etching on side four); The Last DJ (2-LP; three sides of music plus laser art etching on side four); Highway Companion (2-LP); Mojo (2-LP); and Hypnotic Eye (1-LP).  The following titles have been re-mastered for this release: Wildflowers, Echo, The Last DJ, She's the One, and Highway Companion. Mojo and Hypnotic Eye. I play my music very loud between 12 and 1 o'clock on the vol knob. The sound great very clean and crisp at max volume. I still say if your a Tom Petty fan you'll want these and not be disappointed. 

lenmc2964:

Thanks for expanding somewhat on your listening impressions.

My passion gets the best of me quite often so forgive me.

I always appreciate members here who have hands on experience that share that for all of us to come to a more knowledgeable conclusion on , in this case, music purchases.

If I remember correctly, Fremer said Box 1 was (all) from the original MCA masters? My question is, some of these were originally on Shelter. I assume Shelter maybe an offshoot of MCA?

Box 1 would be THE one I have more interest in if I had to choose. I own most of box 2 as 1st pressings.

FWIW: Popmarket has offered these sets, off and on, in the past for $219.00 each.

As an aside,

Soundstage Direct is my favorite lp seller. Why? Because when I have an issue with the pressing's quality, if I send a picture and an explanation, they step up to the plate and will send a brand new, inspected copy and include a pre-paid address label for the return. NO one else does this IME.

This could be enough of an incentive for one to pay $30.00 more for this box set?

Here's my evaluation of my "Damn The Torpedoes" mastered at BG by CB, on ORG.

I really don't have anything for direct comparison but my decades old "gold stamped" MCA re-issue/with barcode.

My best way to compare is my love of Petty and my long history in listening to him and thousands of other artists.

Listening today was done at 12 o'clock through my system as follows:

Townshend Rock 7, Funk Firm FXR 11 arm, Dynavector Karat D3, EAR 834P w/ volume through it's mm mode into a Bob's Devices 3440 SUT into a McCormack/SMC 225 with current updates(Ultra-15), Usher Mini Diamonds, Martin Logan Depth i (2), a well treated room.

Refugee: SQ= nice well developed frequency range, overall balance feels right, no complaints. Bass is integrated into the mix very nicely, not overemphasized, Sound is analog, all the way.

Here Comes My Girl: (the start)= Mid-bass is punchy, controlled and musical.

Even The Loser: Nice, expansive staging, not overly wide, no issues.

....."and the beat goes on" throughout this re-mastering...

It is very consistent. No feeling of songs recorded in different places/studios. And the entire lp is just like this, consistent and nice! Nothing over-emphasized.

On my re-issue= the sound is in your face, hard, brittle, artificial by comparison. The soundstage is compressed by comparison as well.

The Rolling Stones set is not really an equal comparison by many standards IMO.

Cheers!