I do have the original US Elektra vinyl of A Night at the Opera, A Day at the Races, News of the World and The Game. I had to go look and hard to find excellent condition copies and made sure they were first year or so issues (the butterfly label for Opera and Races which were replaced by the red Elekta sometime in the early 1980s plus have the retali list price at the bottom of spine but I don't know about News through The Game as they had custom labels).
I played them recently and they sound crisp and warm though Warner Elektra Atlantic in the US and Canada were known for pressing flimsy vinyl in the 1980s (these copies aren't flimsy).
I also have the Capitol vinyl of The Miracle and it sounds excellent. Anyone have the originals and remasters and can tell if there is a dynamic and sonic quality difference.
I can't help you finding the answer to your question, but I have a question about the labels. By red Elektra labels, do you mean red/black labels or all red labels? I ask, because I thought only some Canadian pressings have all red labels. If you are able to provide scans that would be excellent. Thanks.
Walter B. wrote: I can't help you finding the answer to your question, but I have a question about the labels. By red Elektra labels, do you mean red/black labels or all red labels? I ask, because I thought only some Canadian pressings have all red labels. If you are able to provide scans that would be excellent. Thanks.
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The butterfly label for Elektra was on albums from 1970-1978. I have the butterfly Elektra label Opera and Races albums which were all first issues (the late 1970s/early 1980s reissues which are easy to spot as the price code of 0698 and 0798 are no longer on the bottom of the spine of the sleeves).
The red Elektra labels which were common on all US Elektra 1979-83 albums before they switched to the red and black Elektra labels.
NOTWMEDDLE wrote: Walter B. wrote: I can't help you finding the answer to your question, but I have a question about the labels. By red Elektra labels, do you mean red/black labels or all red labels? I ask, because I thought only some Canadian pressings have all red labels. If you are able to provide scans that would be excellent. Thanks.
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The butterfly label for Elektra was on albums from 1970-1978. I have the butterfly Elektra label Opera and Races albums which were all first issues (the late 1970s/early 1980s reissues which are easy to spot as the price code of 0698 and 0798 are no longer on the bottom of the spine of the sleeves).
The red Elektra labels which were common on all US Elektra 1979-83 albums before they switched to the red and black Elektra labels.
Thanks! I never knew that about the price codes So, the time line should be as follows?
1. 1970-1978: butterfly labels
2. late 1970s/early 1980 reissue: butterlfy labels without price codes 0698 and 0798
3. 1979-1983: red Elektra labels
4. 1984?: red and black Elektra labels
Do you mean by "all US Elektra 1979-83 albums" with red Elektra labels only the albums Queen, Queen II, SHA, ANATO and Greatest Hits? I ask, because I have never seen a ADATR, NOTW, Jazz, Live Killers, Game, Flash or Hot Space with red Elektra or red/black Elektra labels.
Anyone have the originals and remasters and can tell if there is a dynamic and sonic quality difference.
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I have checked several of those vinyl "remasters" and they make no sense to me.
I compared them to my original (and quite often played) original EMI albums and there is no audible difference that could be noticed as an improvement .
And what I found really bad is the quality of the covers. The print looks like a scan of the original albums, very grainy and a poor quality in contrast.
So keep the originals or if you need new ones because of damage or crackles buy second hand.