I've got two alBums in mind. Just don't have the resources to redo em.
1) Prince - Purple Rain.
Incredible songs, but since confined to crappy early cd release parameters, you'd be surprised that the bass levels sound better on the vinyl editions
In spite of being partially recorded LIVE none of the elements are aurally visible in the wb edition that's been available since whenever
Other albums mastered for digital (Love Sign and Diamonds And Pearls) sound fantastic compared to this classic. Although much of it was done on digital drums and synth there can't be a good reason why it's so flat.
Considering his last two album releases coincided with talk of a 30th anniversary edition of purple rain, It's embarrassing that they missed the mark. .
. Unless Prince will utilize it as promotion for Jesus and his 32/33 years. And instead release a 32nd anniversary album
... "the second coming of Purple Rain"
2) Michael Jackson - Invincible
A great and underappreciated album. Compression takes the dynamics away. And despite Bruce Swedien working on a few songs i don't get the natural elements of his mixes from the digital material.
Likely it was bounced around through various producers and in fact a whiwhole mythology brew out of the amount of mixes Michael liked or disliked, apparently leading to a delayed release.
Good mixes : butterflies, heaven can wait *(can be better at accenting credcendoes) you are my life.
In my opinion. . The rest of the ENTIRE album has been mixed badly. Maybe it was intentional to screw him out of his holdings.
It's a good album if you get rid of "the lost children" and "whatever happens" ( get a better guitar take and remix the entire bit)
Songs like THREATENED, BREAK OF DAWN and UNBREAKABLE, INVINCIBLE could have been dealt with better.. they're compressed till they lose their "air"
The inventiveness of using Rod Serling in THREATENED demands "fields of sound" something achieved by placement and recording techniques that any proper musician should hear. .
Anybody else have a similar view point about an albumthatdoesn't have all is elements working up properly in its big release?
Oh also
3) BLACK SABBATH - BORN AGAIN.
Great album. Absolutely horrible mix. Sounds like it was done all on an sm58 and as boom box.
matt z wrote:
Anybody else have a similar view point about an albumthatdoesn't have all is elements working up properly in its big release?
Metallica's And Justice For All. Great songs, maybe their most progressive, complex album...but holy crap, the production is just not good! The drums sound awful, and you can't even hear the bass guitar...
I suppose I shouldn't be typing new posts when after work burning off the influence. .. Oh well it's still a good topic.
I've read a recent interview with Lars that it was HIS intention to change the dynamics and virtually omit the bass guitar from the Mix.
His drum sound has always been sputteringly succinct and dry. Like a broken snare head.
I'm just talking about dynamic mixes. Not stuff like Jimi Hendrix' poor sounding catalogue.
It's a shame no contemporary quality mixes survive even in live form. The Beatles pulled off beautiful mixes but Jimi.m man I wish I couldve witnessed his music live.
Here's another more appropriate one for this site.
QUEEN - JAZZ .. talk about LARS sounding drums.
Terribly mixed album. I hope it's not from power failures which rendered the original mixes useless