MFSL CDs: Dumb Questions


Researching an artist named Ted Hawkins. Looking at CDs on eBay. Noticed that one of his CDs was released as MSFL. Don't know much about that except that the quality is supposed to be high. (I actually thought it was only a vinyl thing). It is listed as MFSL UDCD 702 Ultradisc II 24kt Gold CD. They are going for around $35.

The regular CD is about $8.

So my question are: Is the MSFL quality on CD worth it? Will it play on a regular CD player? I'm assuming it is not a SACD.

Thanks for any assistance.

George


n80
I can’t say if this title was released as a Redbook/SACD or not. But I have purchased a number of MFSL CDs and always found them to sound better. Obviously the seller is hoping to cash in on the collector status of this title, which I am sure is long out of print.
The Ted Hawkins releases that were on MSFL were gold cd releases, not SACD releases.  

There were 3 key Ted Hawkins' releases prior to his passing:

  1. Watch Your Step - the one that got him noticed by Rolling Stone
  2. Happy Hour
  3. The Next Hundred Years - the one I like best

I was fortunate to see him perform at the Bottom Line in NYC almost 25 years ago.  He played on stage the same way he played as street performer in Venice Beach for all those years, using a milk crate and a home made contraption to keep time.

The MFSL will probably get you the best sound.  There were not any vinyl releases at the time that I remember.  $35 and a good system  to play Ted Hawkins on ... I would go for it.


Rich 
The MFSL cds are limited edition remasters. The dynamic range was probably not compressed as is done with many regular cd remasters these days.

This does not ensure that they will sound better than another release of these cds though. Some MFSL gold cds, or any other type of remaster, sound great and others miss the mark. Check out the Steve Hoffman Music Forums. There are always discussions about the sound quality of various versions of albums going on there. Nobody, it seems, bats 1,000. Every reissue label has its gems and clunkers, and people usually disagree about which is which.
Thanks guys. Rich, I would have loved to see him play.

Well, I found a basic Redbook CD of The Next Hundred Years for $5 so I bought it. If I really get into it I'll go for an MFSL copy....and compare them!

I was surprised to see an MSFL CD for someone who is not particularly well known like Hawkins. I almost never see them for anyone else.