Doug's Picks - CD's
dkg999
Posts: 5,647
I've been on a little bit of a CD acquisition binge lately. Some of the ones I really like, and some I don't. Thoughts/recommendations are:
Ray Sings/Basie Swings - Concord Music CCD 30026-2 - very nicely done! I saw several recommendations on the LP version of this, and a couple of those also mentioned this CD version. A little laid back on the mastering, but very clear, detailed, and nice soundstage.
Little Feat - MFSL UltraDiscII -UDCD 770 - having grown up around Ames IA where a couple of members of this band originated from, they were always playing at different venues around town. I don't have the regular CD version to compare to, but this is a very nicely done remastering of this classic album. On my system I thought it sounded reminiscent of the LP version I used to have.
Tina Turner - Private Dancer - JVC XRDC - JVCXR-0044-2 - as Monty Python once said "run away"!!!!!!!! I am not sure what JVC did to Tina's voice, but it sounds like she is singing through her nose! I have had great luck with the XRCD recordings, but I guess there is always a bad one. I have played this on several different systems, and her voice just isn't right. I had this on LP and I remember the great room shaking voice the LP produced. Save your money on this one!
Miles Davis - the new Columbia/Legacy masters - I have so far **** Brew, Kind of Blue, and Sketches of Spain. These are very nicely mastered. I have some of the CD's I bought back in the late 80's as comparison, and there is really no comparison. Very clear, nicely defined, forward soundstage. I really enjoy listening to these CD's. Now if I could just find Siesta in this series, all would be good.
Cowboy Junkies - MFSL - Whites Off Earth Now - UDSACD 4010 - this has both a 2 ch CD version and a multi-channel version on the disc. The 2 ch version is really nice, a very haunting laid back re-mix that just draws you in and keeps you there. I don't have an SACD player, but when played in my Cambridge 540 DVD player my B&K decodes it as PLXII, and this is the only really enjoyable multi-channel mix I have found. I'm not a big fan of multi-channel music, but this one is really sublte and eye-opening.
Natalie Merchant - TigerLilly - MFSL - UDCD 771 - I have the regular CD version to compare to, and the differences are not significant, but the MFSL mastering does move the soundstage up, better defines where the peformers are at, and is much wider than the original. IMO, a nice improvement even considering the $15 extra in price over the regular CD.
Jennifer Warnes - Famous Blue Raincoat - as noted in another thread here, this is a great remaster.
Allan Parson's Project - I Robot/Tales of Mystery and Imagination remasters - I Robot is a recently relased Arista Legacy remaster - 82876 81524 2, Tales is a recently released Universal Music remaster - 22402. These were the LP's that made me decide to buy Dahlquist DQ10's years ago, the rest of my LP's made me get rid of the DQ10's! The mastering is still a little technical for me, but does bring these up to current standards, versus the older CD versions I had. Makes these very listenable!
Remember we 1) listen to music, 2) on the hifi! Only the best electrical cord was used for speaker cables when reviewing these CD's :eek:
Ray Sings/Basie Swings - Concord Music CCD 30026-2 - very nicely done! I saw several recommendations on the LP version of this, and a couple of those also mentioned this CD version. A little laid back on the mastering, but very clear, detailed, and nice soundstage.
Little Feat - MFSL UltraDiscII -UDCD 770 - having grown up around Ames IA where a couple of members of this band originated from, they were always playing at different venues around town. I don't have the regular CD version to compare to, but this is a very nicely done remastering of this classic album. On my system I thought it sounded reminiscent of the LP version I used to have.
Tina Turner - Private Dancer - JVC XRDC - JVCXR-0044-2 - as Monty Python once said "run away"!!!!!!!! I am not sure what JVC did to Tina's voice, but it sounds like she is singing through her nose! I have had great luck with the XRCD recordings, but I guess there is always a bad one. I have played this on several different systems, and her voice just isn't right. I had this on LP and I remember the great room shaking voice the LP produced. Save your money on this one!
Miles Davis - the new Columbia/Legacy masters - I have so far **** Brew, Kind of Blue, and Sketches of Spain. These are very nicely mastered. I have some of the CD's I bought back in the late 80's as comparison, and there is really no comparison. Very clear, nicely defined, forward soundstage. I really enjoy listening to these CD's. Now if I could just find Siesta in this series, all would be good.
Cowboy Junkies - MFSL - Whites Off Earth Now - UDSACD 4010 - this has both a 2 ch CD version and a multi-channel version on the disc. The 2 ch version is really nice, a very haunting laid back re-mix that just draws you in and keeps you there. I don't have an SACD player, but when played in my Cambridge 540 DVD player my B&K decodes it as PLXII, and this is the only really enjoyable multi-channel mix I have found. I'm not a big fan of multi-channel music, but this one is really sublte and eye-opening.
Natalie Merchant - TigerLilly - MFSL - UDCD 771 - I have the regular CD version to compare to, and the differences are not significant, but the MFSL mastering does move the soundstage up, better defines where the peformers are at, and is much wider than the original. IMO, a nice improvement even considering the $15 extra in price over the regular CD.
Jennifer Warnes - Famous Blue Raincoat - as noted in another thread here, this is a great remaster.
Allan Parson's Project - I Robot/Tales of Mystery and Imagination remasters - I Robot is a recently relased Arista Legacy remaster - 82876 81524 2, Tales is a recently released Universal Music remaster - 22402. These were the LP's that made me decide to buy Dahlquist DQ10's years ago, the rest of my LP's made me get rid of the DQ10's! The mastering is still a little technical for me, but does bring these up to current standards, versus the older CD versions I had. Makes these very listenable!
Remember we 1) listen to music, 2) on the hifi! Only the best electrical cord was used for speaker cables when reviewing these CD's :eek:
DKG999
HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED
Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED
Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
Post edited by dkg999 on
Comments
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There are some really great pick's Doug!!:) I have the new "Famous Blue Raincoat" and it sounds great!
I'm going to get Mile's "**** Brew",this is a great classic and I'm dying to hear it on SACD. I've also been waiting for that the Cowboy Junkies to release the SACD of "White Off Earth Now".
Great stuff!
I've been listening to a MFSL SACD of Blood, Sweat and Tear's 2nd album. Nice sounding, great jazz! This was their masterpiece!Carl
