|
Post by maddogfagin on Mar 11, 2010 18:46:08 GMT
Probably a fair few of us here, and also in other internet places, began our Jethro Tull odyssey by purchasing “This Was” on glorious vinyl. It was originally issued 25 October 1968 and reached a respectable number 10 in the UK lp charts and number 67 in the US charts. Initially it was issued both in both mono and stereo but the mono issue was withdrawn after about two to three weeks and has become a collector’s item and quite valuable in pristine condition. The album in its stereo form was reissued many times in the UK on vinyl appearing allegedly on all three designs of the famous pink Island label and the green Chrysalis label and possibly the blue/white one as well, until it was finally phased out with the advent of the early CD issues. Legend, research and anecdotal evidence has it that the recording sessions were financed by Terry Ellis by borrowing £1000+ from his father and it took about two months to complete as the studio time had to be fitted around the band’s live performances. The mono edition was issued with two slightly different label variations here in the UK. This is my copy with Made In England at the bottom of the label, bought from a small dusty record shop somewhere in south London in '68. The BIEM below the Island logo normally denotes records manufactured in or for France but I don't think the album was ever issued there so copies pressed up for France were probably re-directed to UK shops ahead of the switch to stereo. With no Made in England on the label Later stereo label variants
|
|
|
Post by maddogfagin on Mar 12, 2010 8:53:48 GMT
Incidentaly after posting my vinyl bit on This Was I thought "so what about the CD versions?". Over to you Tootull and other Forum members with an appreciation of this recording - I'd like to read your thoughts about the recording quality of this album.
Cheers
Maddog
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2010 13:23:06 GMT
This Was on compact disc: www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=146525&highlight=this+was&page=14This Was (Mono only) Jethro Tull Disc one: UK The mono sound of this recording is new to my ears. (2008) I knew Mick Abrahams was great here...but sounding this good for the era, surprise wow. EMITed...some may want to tame the top end a bit. Listening on a few too many systems - for me the mono sound is killer perfect for the era...even at low levels...from a distance you can tell the quality of this mono sound. (great background music) Thank you to Peter Mew for the CD transfer. Because of the the glorious mono sound...this easily surpasses the first Peter Mew stereo remaster for me. I have not listened to the stereo remix to date...maybe some day. This was back to mono. I've heard "A Song for Jeffrey" a zillion times, no, two zillion times. My caution was lame. heh - I find the voice effect on track 9 (disc 1) to be torture as it is turned up, on this CD for the first time to these ears. I fear for my ears here. - tootull Agreed.
The mono disc sounds good, but the vocals on "A Song for Jeffrey" are real ear-blasters... in a bad way! Very hard to have a volume level that lets you enjoy the instrumentation, that doesn't blow your brains out when the vocals come in. per john lennonist *** EMIT = Electro Magnetic Induction Tweeter www.bobbyshred.com/emit.htmlUpdated...and in the end I prefer The 2008 mono remaster & the 2001 stereo remaster. I did not like the original UK CD. It was OK, but it was too dull/flat for my taste. The new stereo remix is brighter than I would like it to be. - tootull today
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2010 15:52:31 GMT
When I say "great background music" here, I mean that you can move around and not worry about sitting between the speakers with mono sound. Plus you can stand or wobble ;D in front of one speaker, crank This Was up and feel the power of the guitars. The guitar sound benefits greatly with This Was mono. "The studio was under the control of one Victor Gamm, who was a splendid chap and very professional to a fault." - Mick Abrahams ( 2008 This Was 2CD notes) www.discogs.com/artist/Vic+Gamm?anv=Victor+GammThis Was in mono is the way to go. Don't ever be afraid to embrace mono.
|
|
|
Post by maddogfagin on Mar 12, 2010 18:42:00 GMT
This Was in mono is the way to go. Don't ever be afraid to embrace mono. Think I'll have that on my tombstone. Two observations re. This Was. Re-reading "Flying Colours", Greg Russo indicates that there were two stereo mixes, the first only lasted until the initial vinyl pressings were finished and then a second mix, slightly different, was used for all subsequent pressings. My mono copy of This Was has seen better days. Obviously down to actually playing it constantly when I first bought it and pissing off annoying parents and siblings. However I did play it when the remastered edition was issued on CD and to my ears the vinyl copy has a "warmth" about it that is difficult to put into words and a greater depth to the music which you don't seem to get on the shiny discs. I also have a sneaking suspicion that the remasterd mono recording has been slightly "doctored" here and there to enhance the master tapes where there may have been drop-outs etc on the master tape. That's as may be I reckon but I agree with your statement about the mono version being the one - A Song For Jeffrey stands out and certainly makes that point imo. German Island label variant - stereo edition
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2010 19:33:03 GMT
Think I'll have that on my tombstone. >>I thank you for dinner<< This game that we animals play is a winner... maddogfagin - Wow! An adoring audience awaits you if you post like this on SHtv. Shine on. Warning: Danger: ;D I hate vinyl noise, always have. I do know what you mean about warmth in vinyl. I hate crackle, pop. Static pop is nuts in the Great White North's winter. Kellogg's Rice Krispies abound. Besides, stuff like the Steve Hoffman mastered "Bad Company" CD is one proof to me that all the warmth in the world can be captured by the CD medium. Hey! I've been warned about my negative views of vinyl at SHtv. You could balance my bad vinyl karma over there. (laugh) as play is resumed...strike up the tune
|
|
|
Post by maddogfagin on Mar 12, 2010 19:37:12 GMT
Think I'll have that on my tombstone. >>I thank you for dinner<< This game that we animals play is a winner... maddogfagin - Wow! An adoring audience awaits you if you post like this on SHtv. Shine on. Warning: Danger: ;D I hate vinyl noise, always have. I do know what you mean about warmth in vinyl. I hate crackle, pop. Static pop is nuts in the Great White North's winter. Kellogg's Rice Krispies abound. Besides, stuff like the Steve Hoffman mastered "Bad Company" CD is one proof to me that all the warmth in the world can be captured by the CD medium. Hey! I've been warned about my negative views of vinyl at SHtv. You could balance my bad vinyl karma over there. (laugh) as play is resumed...strike up the tune I love a challenge Tootull. Vinyl reigns, well in pristine condition of course.
|
|
|
Post by maddogfagin on Mar 13, 2010 9:22:34 GMT
This Was 8 track. (From ebay)
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2010 13:57:49 GMT
I love a challenge Tootull. Vinyl reigns, well in pristine condition of course. Going all prissy err pristine on me. Pristine condition of course. = I can only wish for pristine. ;D Maddog, as you are coming from a vinyl point of view, I'd like to know the CD's that you are most impressed with? There's a compact disc thread around here, somewhere. Nice to see the 8-track. My Sunday best tea cheers
|
|
|
Post by maddogfagin on Mar 14, 2010 18:13:33 GMT
I love a challenge Tootull. Vinyl reigns, well in pristine condition of course. Going all prissy err pristine on me. Pristine condition of course. = I can only wish for pristine. ;D Maddog, as you are coming from a vinyl point of view, I'd like to know the CD's that you are most impressed with? There's a compact disc thread around here, somewhere. Nice to see the 8-track. My Sunday best tea cheers As for This Was, the mono remaster is, for me, a revelation. I'll be posting some more scans of labels etc from this most underated of Tull albums in the future. I'll attempt to find the thread you're talking about re CDs - if not I'll just start a new one ;D
|
|
|
Post by maddogfagin on Mar 15, 2010 11:06:39 GMT
A few more scans of various This Was releases from around the world. Italian issue without Mick Abrahams on the cover French cassette Canadian and US labels UK stereo Island labels, styles 1 and 3. Style 2, the so called "block" design is hard to find.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2010 15:03:31 GMT
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2010 17:07:03 GMT
|
|
|
Post by conundrum on Apr 14, 2010 5:51:38 GMT
I just listened to the remastered version of This Was last week. It is even better than ever. I should have gotten the Collector's Edition, but it seems to have been discontinued. I see Amazon has it though. I will get it one day.
|
|
|
Post by conundrum on Apr 14, 2010 6:38:33 GMT
I listened to remastered This Was last week. It is even better than ever. I love One For John Gee.
|
|