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Remasters: which are the good ones?

I have had mixed luck with CD remasters; could others post their experiences with various ones? Some are great, some overly compressed, others just terrible.

Opinions appreciated as I consider which albums to repurchase (some for the 3rd time, starting with vinyl...)

PS: I suggest this thread be (roughly) limited to rock/R&B/soul type stuff.

My experiences:

Good / Worth getting the remasters:
- Bob Marley remasters (excellent!)
- Steely Dan (Gaucho, CD layer off hybrid SACD; Aja CD remaster OK)
- Grateful Dead (HDCD, but I refer to the "regular" CD playback of these. All very nice but Terrapin Station, where I don't appreciate some of the mix changes, though sound quality is good)

OK:
- Fleetwood Mac (Fleetwood Mac)

Poor/bad:
- Baron von Tollbooth and the Chrome Nun (terrible)
- Jefferson Airplane remasters
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shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,467 posts
 
Bob Marley remasters (excellent!)

This is off topic but if anyone is on the hunt for Bob Marley then get Rebelution "Courage to Grow" - great sound and great reggae with a modern energetic twist.

As for masters - check out Doug Sax at Artists direct - he generally does not overcompress albums although like everyone today he does use some mild compression in mastering.

For example the Aerosmith Collection - it has better sound than previous releases.
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
The problem is that many of these re-masters are not done for audiophiles. They are made to sound better in the car or on portable devices. In a high resolution system, they sound worse.
bongofury
1,160 posts
 
I agree with Shadorne on the Aerosmith. I was never a fan but I think the remaster on Toys in the Attic is sterling.

As you tastes are more classic rock, I can recommend the extended live set for The Who's "Live at Leeds", Jimi Hendrix's "First Rays of the New Rising Sun", and the Jamaican sessions of Bob Marley's "Catch a Fire". The 25th Aniversary Clash remaster of "London Calling" has better bass extension. Bob Dylan's "Slow Train" and "Street Legal" sound remarkably better--the originals are a pale comparison.
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