White Album Deluxe Anniversary edition

The album that I purchased that is skipping on sides 1 and 2 of the Esher Demos also came from Amazon. I have not returned or notified them yet, but I plan to. 

I can't speak to the LP version, but the CD version sounds spectacular--previous masterings sound like you're listening through a tin-can phone. What you miss on Tidal (and no, I haven't done a sonic comparison yet), is the spectacular printed material that accompanies the set. Every song is thoroughly annotated in a highly engaging fashion and while maybe not for everyone, seeing reproductions of the original hand-written lyrics and magnetic tape boxes is, to me at least, fascinating. Definitely check it out if you're a big fan, but one way or another, listen to the new version. I actually teared up listening to "Julia" and I hadn't even had a glass of wine at the time.

I have found that the physical quality of new vinyl, across the board, is hit and miss. About 1 in 7 pressings, even on on 180 grams, will begin to pop and crackle after just a few plays. I have a quality cartridge, but it makes no difference. Why does this problem occur when back in the day, vinyl was pretty much 100% reliable? I have read on Audiogon and other sites that some of today’s vinyl may be recycled from older records. Hope that is just a rumor, but something is causing these defective copies. . . .

A second version from Amazon also skips in the same spot on sides 1 and 2. Goners beware. The deadwax info refers to Miles 1/2 speed Abbey Road Room 30. Maybe time for a shot at Quality Records pressing.