Why do I keep torturing myself with remasters?

Hey oleschool...you'll have to forgive me indulging an occasional need to get in a little "jab".  Wasn't necessarily targeting you.  Which Bel Canto?  Post your system sometime.  I do enjoy seeing the gear people are running.  It can help give a context for their comments.  I'm probably more like 90% digital and 10% vinyl.  Have you tried ripping any CDs to hard drive and playing through your DAC?  A nice improvement in SQ; a more relaxed, smoother sound (and not due to hi end roll off I don't believe).  
  

ghost- you can listen to the James Gang on 8 track player and it’s all good. Those albums with Joe W. were great- I play them as often as I play anything. They rock.

"you can listen to the James Gang on 8 track player and it's all good."  Let's not get crazy now!  :-)

Glad you are a fan, whart.  What surprises me is how good the sonics are on that first album.  On the other hand, listened to JW's Barnstorm (not a remaster but uncertain what "CD issue" it was) and the sonics were kind of painful.  Good dynamics, not compressed but "loud" vocals had an edge to them and that's from CD ripped to hard drive.  

Analogue Productions & Speakers Corner are quality reissues.  other wise, stick to originals or at the very least, reissues by the same company that pressed the original (though that is a bit risky).  Sometimes you have no choice on hard to find original from the 50s or 60s, let alone trying to find some in Near Mint condition.

Thats was the point, remasters was to make them brighter; louder and powerful to the extend of over exaggeration..
Try Japanese remasters or stick to the priginal !