Hi!
A time ago i started to buy all the queen discography in vinyl. For some reason i stoped to buy them when i only needed "A Kind of Magic", "Innuendo" and "Made in Heaven" to complete the collection.
Now i'm decided to finish what i have started. And i have a question about A Kind Of Magic LP:
Since it has been originaly recorded and mastering in digital (16/44 i guess), there is some difference between the 1986 editions and the new re-edition?? I'm careful about the autentic vinyl sound, so i don't know wich edition is better to get. Or since both are digitally mastered (different to all the pre AKOM vinyls) is the same??
The same with Innuendo. Thanks in advance!
Cheers!
Interesting... yesterday, I was at a vinyl shop and they finally carried one of the newer reissues of AKOM (2008 i believe)... I picked it up and then remembered it was digitally recorded. I also remembered the sound of the Innuendo vinyl reissue...2011 remastered CD is better as a comparison. I put it back.
Of the 2008 reissues, I have NOTW and Innuendo. Innuendo, I picked up because it's impossible to find a used original 1991 copy in Montreal.... same goes for AKOM for some reason. However, for whatever reason, I see The Miracle pop up every once in a while. Probably sold better.
To compare, I only have NOTW - I have 3 copies... first edition, Canada (on Elektra), an 80s reissue (on Elektra) and the 2008 reissue... First edition, and 80s reissue both sound slightly better... for some reason the 2008 reissue has a restrained sound... it's as if the grooves aren't as deep or as fully etched into the vinyl matrix. I was hoping the Innuendo reissue was different, but it had the same type of sound. For that reason, I'm not running out to buy each of the 2008 reissues. I think I'd prefer the original pressings or any 80s reissue.
I'm not the best person to rely on for vinyl quality - but could it be the matrix used in the 2008s aren't of the same high quality used in the 70s and 80s? If that's the culprit then we should probably stay away from the 2008 reissues.
So my question also goes out to anyone who has any of the pre-2008 AKOM pressings and is able to compare it with the 2008/2009 (can't remember the release year).
Original vinyl pressing (86' - UK) of the AKOM album sounds better than 2011 cd remaster - in my opinion. Some time ago, on some site, there was shared a torrent of all Queen albums till AKOM (including that one) ripped from vinyls in FLAC 24/92 khz format. The mentioned torrent included US promo-only Jazz Hi-res vinyl which sounds tremendous and is on par with 2011 remaster. I'd describe vinyl sound as warm as compared to the cd's but that's my opinion. The torrent in question is still popular so there shouldn't be any problem downloading it. Although as a person who's got all the official albums I'd recommend buying 86' pressing (support the artist!) if it's still available.
Many thanks for the response! :D Where i live (Argentina) i have the chance to buy the First press UK1986 version of AKOM... Aprox. U$D 35,3 i guess the prize is very reasonable. Jimmy Deam I will try to get Innuendo 1991 pressing, i can buy the national (it means from Argentina, in some cases like HS the pressing sounds faboulous, but in others it sounds awful) press, but i'd love to get a USA or UK 1991 press. With Made in Heaven, i will buy the 2011 remaster, because the 1995 one is very expensive (U$D 221, in Argentine market) to my economy and the reissue cost "only" U$D 30. When i have all the LP's i'd want to make my own 24/96 transfer! all the Lp's i have are in MINT condition so it will be a great deal. Thanks for your help, it was very useful!!
This is my post nº 666, i'm scary (?)
The Made In Heaven 1995 is not costly because of your economy... it's the market price... and because it's colored white... so people want it even more and are willing to pay for it. I'm not one of those people!
The 2008 vinyl reissues are universally shit. Do not buy them. Much better off tracking down good copies of the original issues if you want nice sounding LPs.
I'm no audiophile, but the lack of top end on Queen I for instance is very easily discernable even to an amateur such as myself, it sounds absolutely fucking horrible.