Expensive reissues? Analogue Productions single LP’s are $35. So are those from MoFi, Speaker’s Corner, Intervention Records, and many more audiophile reissue labels.
Try and find a "white hot stamper" copy of Pet Sounds, Smiley Smile, or Wild Honey. You wont, ’cause there aren’t any. The Capitol Records’ issues of those three albums are about the worst sounding LP’s in my collection (which is a cryin’ shame; the music is beyond wonderful.). AP has DRASTICALLY reduced the extreme veiling present in Capitol pressings, as well as restore some semblance of full-range frequency response (the Capitol LP’s sound like a car radio. Seriously.). The AP reissue of those three Beach Boys’ albums (and about a dozen more), $35 each.
As for MoFi, no matter how many times it’s said, it just gets ignored (’cause it contradicts the narrative?): Yes, the MoFi LP’s from the Brad Miller/Herb Belkin (MoFi owners/producers.) era (ending in 1999) are mostly not good. Everybody knows that, it’s not news (to those who have been buying LP’s long enough, and paying attention.). Stan Ricker and Jack Hunt were not masters of the art and science of mastering.
The LP’s and SACD’s released since Music Direct relaunched the label in 2001 are a very different story. Many really good reissues, major improvements over original-label copies, as well as first-era MoFi LP’s. The Band’s Music From Big Pink was issued twice by MoFi---originally during the first-era, then again in the 20teens. If you are on the hunt for the out-of print MFBP, look for one with catalog number MFSL 1-346 (the second version.). Though the original MoFi is decidedly better than any Capitol Records pressing (the bass was for some reason noticeably missing. Rick Danko was not happy!), the second version is substantially better.
If someone has a white stamper and a modern-era MoFi of the same title, let’s hear about the shoot-out!
Try and find a "white hot stamper" copy of Pet Sounds, Smiley Smile, or Wild Honey. You wont, ’cause there aren’t any. The Capitol Records’ issues of those three albums are about the worst sounding LP’s in my collection (which is a cryin’ shame; the music is beyond wonderful.). AP has DRASTICALLY reduced the extreme veiling present in Capitol pressings, as well as restore some semblance of full-range frequency response (the Capitol LP’s sound like a car radio. Seriously.). The AP reissue of those three Beach Boys’ albums (and about a dozen more), $35 each.
As for MoFi, no matter how many times it’s said, it just gets ignored (’cause it contradicts the narrative?): Yes, the MoFi LP’s from the Brad Miller/Herb Belkin (MoFi owners/producers.) era (ending in 1999) are mostly not good. Everybody knows that, it’s not news (to those who have been buying LP’s long enough, and paying attention.). Stan Ricker and Jack Hunt were not masters of the art and science of mastering.
The LP’s and SACD’s released since Music Direct relaunched the label in 2001 are a very different story. Many really good reissues, major improvements over original-label copies, as well as first-era MoFi LP’s. The Band’s Music From Big Pink was issued twice by MoFi---originally during the first-era, then again in the 20teens. If you are on the hunt for the out-of print MFBP, look for one with catalog number MFSL 1-346 (the second version.). Though the original MoFi is decidedly better than any Capitol Records pressing (the bass was for some reason noticeably missing. Rick Danko was not happy!), the second version is substantially better.
If someone has a white stamper and a modern-era MoFi of the same title, let’s hear about the shoot-out!