Listening now to this stereo/mono CD.

[Uncle Obscure]

Pound per pound, there was no better value in artist collections or reissues than one of these classic compilations from RHINO. Has it really been going on 30 years since they unleashed this beauty? Great track list and spectacular (non-brickwalled) sound...the premature death of the CD and other physical media for the "convenience" of streaming is an absolute shame. I pulled this one off the shelf the other day to give it a spin and it completely blew me away! Oh yeah, and check out the promise!

 

[somethingcleveridunno]

A good friend finally turned me on to Starcastle. Loaned me his Rock Candy CDs. Loved the music, but it sounded compressed... Threw "Lady of the Lake" into Audacity and it's brickwalled to death.
Grabbed the 1992 Epic US CD (EK 33914) to compare, and it's a night-and-day difference in dynamic range.

CANDY089 above, EK 33914 below:

AIRAC-1637, SICP 31460, and the current downloadable versions all seem to use the same brickwalled version.

Unforgivably bad since from all I can find out, Rock Candy didn't even go back to the original tapes for their "remaster," they just EQ'd and compressed the heck out of the Epic CD for the Rock Candy.

 

[Mr. Afternoon]

SICP 31460, and the current downloadable versions all seem to use the same brickwalled version.

On a related note, I've been noticing that Sony, even in the modern day, really does not like putting uncompressed masters on anything that isn't an SACD...I have numerous SACDs now where the CD layer and streaming service versions are all bricked to death but the SACD layer is completely devoid of any compression!

 

[The Rang]

A good friend finally turned me on to Starcastle. Loaned me his Rock Candy CDs. Loved the music, but it sounded compressed... Threw "Lady of the Lake" into Audacity and it's brickwalled to death.
Grabbed the 1992 Epic US CD (EK 33914) to compare, and it's a night-and-day difference in dynamic range.

CANDY089 above, EK 33914 below:
View attachment 111600

AIRAC-1637, SICP 31460, and the current downloadable versions all seem to use the same brickwalled version.

Unforgivably bad since from all I can find out, Rock Candy didn't even go back to the original tapes for their "remaster," they just EQ'd and compressed the heck out of the Epic CD for the Rock Candy.

I love this album, luckily I have it on vinyl and Epic CD, really proves you can’t trust Rock Candy

 

[4-earredwonder]

A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS ... VARIOUS ARTISTS [A&M RECORDS] YEP, IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN. STILL A GREAT ALBUM FOR ROCKERS OF ALL AGES

 

[4-earredwonder]

Frank SINATRA Count BASIE The Complete Reprise Studio Recordings [Concord Music] Gorgeous uncompressed remaster of two incomparable titans!

 

[somethingcleveridunno]

I love this album, luckily on vinyl and Epic CD, really proves you can’t trust Rock Candy

You definitely can't. "Fountains of Light" with CANDY090 above, RMED00128 below.

 

[The Rang]

Grant Green - I Want To Hold Your Hand

I like Grant Green but consider this to be in the lower tier of the GG albums I’ve heard.
Sound is OK but nothing special, many of my other BN85’s are better in that regard.

 

[Rstaylor]

Pound per pound, there was no better value in artist collections or reissues than one of these classic compilations from RHINO. Has it really been going on 30 years since they unleashed this beauty? Great track list and spectacular (non-brickwalled) sound...the premature death of the CD and other physical media for the "convenience" of streaming is an absolute shame. I pulled this one off the shelf the other day to give it a spin and it completely blew me away! Oh yeah, and check out the promise!

View attachment 111595View attachment 111596View attachment 111597

What a coincidence! I have also been listening to my Rhino Cars compilation.
Rhino was the first record label that actually cared about getting the best sound quality for their releases.
There have been numerous stories about how they went to great lengths to find the absolute first generation tapes.
And they never used any processing for noise reduction if it was going to negatively affect the music.
IMHO, Rhino has always been synonymous with great quality and value.
I'm so glad they are still around and helping to keep those quad releases coming!

 

[Uncle Obscure]

More RHINO goodness! The first two Simpsons CDs... There's tons of great music jam-packed on these discs. If Rhino is still involved with the licensing, a commemorative box set with all 4 (or 5?) of the original Simpsons soundtrack albums would make for a nifty keepsake for generations of Simpsons fans.

 

[jefe1]

Joni Mitchell Blue
Japanese MQA CD

 

[madscot]

One of my desert island discs, what i’d do for an atmos mix of this

 

[Perp]

I remember owning this album back in 1986 because I was interested in Wall Of Voodoo in the early eighties. I never did acquire nor hear any of his follow up albums. Lately, I’ve been catching up with his catalog off YouTube Music and really like it. So far, I’ve only acquired his first album off Amazon due to availability. He’s a talented artist with a very unique voice.

 

[The Rang]

Slow Children - Slow Children

One of the more obscure bands (IMO) to get the Rubellan treatment. Kinda quirky, the cadence of the vocals are unusual at times, like the lyrics don’t fit the pace of the song.
Regardless, a good album with a bunch of worthwhile bonus tracks.
And as usual great sound and packaging from Rubellan Remasters.

This is the North American cover:

 

[The Rang]

Slow Children - Mad About Town

First album was good, this sophomore release is excellent with better songs and production.
Good on Rubellan for highlighting this band 40 years later.

 

[JohnN]

The Beatles Help! 2009 mono box (Japan) ​

 

[JohnN]

Jethro Tull - Living With The Past

 

[Quad Linda]

Rarities & Live - Laura Nyro from 19 CD UK Hear My Song
also Nyro Live at Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco 2 concerts on 2 CD's

Live at the Empire 1998 Pete Townshend 2 CD
Sadler's Wheel 2000 2 CD
both from 14 CD Live in Concert 1998 - 2001

The World is a Ghetto - War 4 CD anniversary box

Diving Deep Live - Tori Amos EU 2 CD

Live 1974 - Dylan/The Band CD 8-14 from 27 CD box

 

[Quad Linda]

A Very Special Christmas MoFi Gold
Jethro Tull Christmas Album 4 CD/BD
Apostrophe super deluxe - Frank Zappa 6 CD/BD
New Arrangements & Duets - Van Morrison
Mother's Spiritual & Gonna Take a Miracle - Laura Nyro from Hear My Song box
High - Keith Urban
Living in the Material World - George Harrison super deluxe
AD2022 - The Damned
The Christmas Record - Little Big Town

 

[jefe1]

Bryan Ferry Bete Noire
Before that Purple Made In Japan and Bad Company 10 from 6