New reissue of Exile on Main Street

Have to revise my initial impression of the CDs. Last night I played them on my just-assembled main system, which is MUCH more resolving than the system I initially played them on. The other posters are right: they ARE overly compressed and bright, much like the other Universal Stones remasters. What a disappointment, since I love the packaging and it probably will become a collector’s item in future years. I toyed with the idea of returning it, but then I got the bright idea of popping the 1994 Ludwig remaster into the deluxe packaging—and, voila, I’ve got the best of both worlds: a collectible deluxe box set AND a better remaster!

As a side note, with the Universal remaster, details pop out more, but they come at the expense of musicality and the ability to turn the music up with minimal compression. I’ll take the latter any old day.

I love it. This is by far the best version I have heard (I do not have vinyl). I have had the SACD and hated it, too bright. Narcotic ears certainly a bonus Bfury but no Pacific Coast here...just Ohio rain...

One of my favorite Stones albums and roughly the birth of Alt country/ Americana.

"Exile" wasn't issued on SACD—just the Stones' pre–“Sticky Fingers” ABKO catalog.

My mistake Hooper, I thought I remembered that but guess i am thinking of another title. Always good to have knowledgeable folks here to check our heads!

Good NY Times Piece today, particularly Don Was's comments at end about Loving Cup:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/arts/music/23stones.html

"But back to the alternate take of “Loving Cup,” which still seems like the star of the whole enterprise.

I asked Don Was what he thought. “There’s a sound that’s identified with ‘Exile’ that’s become part of the vocabulary for every rock ‘n’ roll musician subsequently,” he said. “And this is the ultimate track of the style that characterizes ‘Exile.’ It’s not sloppiness; it’s width, in terms of where everyone feels the beat. You’ve got five individuals feeling the beat in a different place. At some point, the centrifugal force of the rhythm no longer holds the band together. That ‘Loving Cup’ is about the widest area you can have without the song falling apart.”"