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Why do my rolling stones albums sound bad?

When I first got into vinyl a few years ago, I purchased a few stones albums. I thought they sounded good at the time but now that I have collected quite a few more records the stones albums sound bad in comparison. A few that stand out to me are the sticky fingers re-issue by mobile fidelity and let it bleed by abkco circa 2003.I am really disappointed with both of those.
The MoFi pressing sounds like the vocals are in the background and it sounds overall muddy. This surprised me because of all the MoFi pressing I own of various artist, this stones album is the only one I was not satisfied with. Really sub par compared to the rest of their work I have. I don't own the original so I can't compare the two. I would hope the original sounds much better.
The abkco pressing is a DSD. I didn't know this at the time of purchase or I might have avoided it. I do own a few other DSD pressings of other artist and they sound pretty good. Let it bleed from abkco (2003) sounds like mick is singing underwater. The instruments sound really flat in this one as well.
I also own hot rocks from abkco (2003) which is also a DSD. It sounds a bit better than the let it bleed album but still nothing to be impressed with.
I thought the MoFi pressing would sound better because it is mastered from the original tapes and done AAA. In my opinion it has the worst sound quality of the pressings mentioned here.
I would love to have some stones albums that sound great but, I have been reluctant to purchase any more of them for fear of getting the same sound quality of the other pressings. Are there stones albums out there that sound really good? I want something I can be impressed with. What would you guys and gals suggest. What stones albums do I need to be on the lookout for. Thanks in advance.

Andy
andyprice44
davidsss
43 posts
 
I love the Stones music. The truth is they have not been well recorded over the years, but there are some good pressings.

I've always liked the sound of Exile (great album too). I bought the big box set reissue and it's not good. Very dry, it just doesn't work. The best pressing I found was an original US pressing (although the Australian pressing is surprisingly close).

Sticky Fingers was a hard nut to crack. I have an Australian pressing, it isn't good, quite muddy. The MFSL pressing I also have just sounds anemic and from memory lacks bass. However, I got a 70s Japanese pressing which is good, it rocks and also has detail without either muddiness or anemia.

For their early records I tend to go for the mono pressings, they are fine. Not the best recorded albums out there but they sound good.

My advice is to avoid the digital re-issues and go for early mono pressings and Japanese pressings. I also have a Japanese pressing of Let it Bleed which is my best copy.

DS
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
They as many other artists evolved their best in 80's musicwise and so with recording quality.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,590 posts
 
Emotional Rescue ( I have both vinyl and CD) has a lot of good mainstream type sound on it.

Sticky Fingers and Exile are the two most problematic soundwise as I recall.

The older more blues-centric stuff can sound quite nice. The original master "Hot ROcks" and "More Hot ROcks" collections on CD are not bad. I never cared much for my vinyl copies of these back in the day. There may even be more recently digitally remastered versions of those collections or other albums that could be better. I have not done enough comparison to say, other than most Stones stuff I listen to these days sounds quite good enough for me.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
tdaudio
201 posts
 
"Undercover" from 1983 just might edge out any other Stones lp that I have on the over all sound quality. It is not their best stuff but it is a clean recording that I enjoy. Used, one might find this cheap.

While checking my other RS lps I saw that my Emotional Rescue lp is a canadian pressing. Pretty good sound but I wonder if a US pressing could have a cleaner top end?
andyprice44 OP
133 posts
 
I got a few new stones albums today. The first one is some girls live in texas '78. It is a double LP with an included DVD pressed on red vinyl. This is a new release on the eagle rock label. It is a remaster from the original multi channel tapes done by Bob Clearmountain. I have to say this is the best sounding stones pressing I have personally listened to. Mick's voice is front and center and not in the background. He doesn't sound like he is underwater. All the instruments are well defined and the soundstage is WIDE. Good dynamics. Some may say this is not the stones "sound". All I know is that I am really enjoying this pressing.

The second record isn't really a stones album. It is Muddy Waters and Rolling stones live from the checkerboard lounge, which was Muddy's club in chicago. This was recorded in 1981 while the stones were on their U.S. some girls tour. It is all Muddy's songs with mick singing alongside Muddy and Keith playing guitar. For fans of muddy and stones, you will really like this one. It is also on the eagle rock label and is a great pressing. All voices are clear and distinct. Kieth's guitar sounds really good. I am finally impressed with a stones album. I would highly recommend these two new pressings from eagle rock.

Andy
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