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Remasters: which are the good ones?

I have had mixed luck with CD remasters; could others post their experiences with various ones? Some are great, some overly compressed, others just terrible.

Opinions appreciated as I consider which albums to repurchase (some for the 3rd time, starting with vinyl...)

PS: I suggest this thread be (roughly) limited to rock/R&B/soul type stuff.

My experiences:

Good / Worth getting the remasters:
- Bob Marley remasters (excellent!)
- Steely Dan (Gaucho, CD layer off hybrid SACD; Aja CD remaster OK)
- Grateful Dead (HDCD, but I refer to the "regular" CD playback of these. All very nice but Terrapin Station, where I don't appreciate some of the mix changes, though sound quality is good)

OK:
- Fleetwood Mac (Fleetwood Mac)

Poor/bad:
- Baron von Tollbooth and the Chrome Nun (terrible)
- Jefferson Airplane remasters
nas
reubent
6,935 posts
 
I have enjoyed the remastered version of Frampton Comes Alive and Who's Next. Both sound much better than the original CD releases. But then, they should sound better, right? The originals were released in the first days of CD when everything sounded like crap.

I have the remasters of most of the Steely Dan stuff and some remastered Supertramp. They are also better than the originals.

The remaster of Bob Marley's "Live!" is also very good....

Enjoy,

TIC
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,467 posts
 
The 25th Aniversary Clash remaster of "London Calling" has better bass extension.

I'll have to get that - thanks for the heads up - I always felt London Calling was a tad bass anemic.

BTW - there was nothing anemic about my 45 RPM 12" "Rock the Casbah" - I bought this as soon as it was released in 1982. I was just in total awe of that sound. I totally wore out the groove on that one. I remember my GF and dorm room mates would role their eyes as this blasted out onto the street and hallways for weeks on end.
ludimagis
128 posts
 
I agree with Sugarbrie, but there are many that sound very good. These are some pop & folk rock that I have noticed:

Almost any that are done as HDCD, even on a regular cdp.
The James Gang - the 1st 3
Van Morrison
Bob Dylan - Greatest Vol I II III
Steve Miller Band - Complete Greatest Hits
Moody Blues - OK, but wide soundstage
Spirit - 12 Dreams
Joni Mitchell
azmoon
126 posts
 
The Elton John remasters of his earlier work (and best, by far) are excellent. Especially the SACDs which blow away the originals - even the vinyl.
stubby
73 posts
 
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Dire Straits Warner Remaster series.
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