Kate Bush


I hesitated between posting this question in the Music forum rather than Analog, but since the question regards the quality of the vinyl pressing and sound rather than the quality of the music, I decided the question was more fitting in the Analog forum.

I own all of Kate's records with the exception of "Aerial," and all of her albums are exceptionally good sounding, even the recent reissues of "The Hounds of Love" and "The Sensual World." Her last release before "50 Words for Snow" was "Director's Cut," which she released under her own label Fish People. The quality is beyond reproach. I just purchased "50 Words for Snow" and cleaned it with the AIVS 3-step formulas before first play. I had to stop a few minutes into the first song as the sounds was being marred by the loud crackling noise every several seconds. Same with the second song. It pretty much continued throughout the entire two-record album. The album was mastered by Doug Sax and James Guthrie and the CD sounds spectacular so I know it's not the recording but the quality of the pressing. Does anyone who owns this release share my experience? As much as I'd want it to be the case, I find it hard to believe I just happened to buy a bad isolated pressing. I'm so bummed as the music is heavenly.
actusreus
Dear Actusreus: You don't have bad luck, problem was and is the very bad quality control on that LPs. As I told you: the dealer or the manufacturer must fix that problem change it your sample for a one in good shape or money return.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.
Seems to me that you got two albums from the same "batch" w a similar pressing defect. Maybe a bad batch of vinyl? Or a bad stamper (not sure that the pressing runs are long enough to have that be an issue).
Then I am at a loss to understand.

About 13 years ago I got the new Porcupine Tree LP Signify. Easily half of the pressings had defects. Unfortunately, this sort of thing happens...
I got a response from the record company today. Surprisingly informative:

Three different plates were cut trying to get it right at the factory, but the noise on the recording remained present because the recordings were mastered at a low volume; the version that was released was the best that they could get without having it completely remastered. It was approved by all parties involved and thus was released.

So it's not just a few bad pressings, but all pressings due to the quality of the source material. Raul and Atmasphere, would you like to retract your responses? :)