New Wave Remastered CD's

[Sean]

Maybe this topic has been discussed before but just thought I bring it up again. Are you guys finding yourself making tough decisions everytime you go to a cd store now and see a reissue of a New Wave cd you already have? The ones with the bonus tracks, I don't mind too much and I will pick them up. The ones that are just remastered with the same exact tracks, those drive me nuts. I don't know whether to pick them up for the better audio or not. Sometimes, the audio is not actually better than the original release. What's even worse is the ones with the really nice packaging or album style packaging. They are so alluring and you want to pick them up but your wallet is saying "no no no". I'm just flat out poor cause of these remastered cd's, but I love them! [^]

[tiger_mn]

While not New Wave, I'm more than a little pissed that Rush didn't add anything to their remasters.

But I agree, unless there is something really valuable on the remasters, I usually avoid them.

And one more note: Just because Robert Smith was in someone's living room with his guitar and strummed a few notes doesn't mean it's worthy to be included as a fucking BONUS TRACK!!!

[Sean]

And what do you guys do with your original cd's?

[WolverineSyr]

I'm sort of torn on it. I have some of the original Blondie cd issues & the quality isn't great. But, I really don't want to re-buy anything, and I already have all the extra cuts that appear on the remasters.
I suppose when I become rich I'll indulge myself.

[schwenko]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Sean[/i]
<br>And what do you guys do with your original cd's?
[/quote]

Give them away to friends, colleagues....

[tomfin2000]

For me, it's the difference between being a collector and a listener.

I used to be an avid collector, so I always had to have the latest upgrade with the best sound quality and the best packaging.

Now I'm just a listener, so I don't pay that much attention to sound quality and packaging.

I do have a few discs that I would love to have remastered versions of though. One of my favorites, Fashion's "Height of Fashion" (aka "Fabrique") is so full of hiss it isn't even funny. Both the Arista reissue and the Cherry Red reissue suffer from this problem.

At least Cherry Red used the right version of "Something in Your Picture" though!

[hubcity]

[quote][i]Originally posted by tomfin2000[/i]
<br>I do have a few discs that I would love to have remastered versions of though. One of my favorites, Fashion's "Height of Fashion" (aka "Fabrique") is so full of hiss it isn't even funny. Both the Arista reissue and the Cherry Red reissue suffer from this problem.

At least Cherry Red used the right version of "Something in Your Picture" though!
[/quote]

Actually, what I've noticed is that the "remasters" don't sound as good as the originals. Old CDs let the quiet parts be quiet, and the loud parts be loud. Now everything's turned up as loud as possible in a desperate attempt to make sure any particular CD isn't the quietest one in the changer. Bleh.

-Sean
<a href="http://www.altrokradio.com">Altrok Radio</a>

[getyourbootson]

Yeah, I agree with hubcity. They were recoreded a certain way for a reason! I would only buy the remasters if they have extra tracks that you don’t have. However, you need to be careful. I bought Duran Duran’s "Rio" and there are at least two songs on there (maybe more) that sound completely different from the original. It really pissed me off, since I was a big Duranie, and new all the words and little change ups and riffs and notes, etc. and it’s not even the same. The song is completely changed up. So, yeah, that made me weary of buying remastered CDs. It’s just up to you, what your preference is I guess. Maybe if it is a favorite band of yours, then you should buy both the original recordings and the remastered recordings.

[Surly]

I always buy the remasters - I like good sound quality. True, some remasters are just "louder" versions of the original, but not always. There are some great mastering engineers out there. I'm also a big collector of SACDs and DVD-Audio. I only have an iPod for convenience - I hate the sound of MP3s.

If a reissue has bonus tracks, then great, but a lack of bonus tracks won't stop me from buying a reissue. Sometimes there just aren't any bonus tracks to add. Other times, if a band has a contractual stipulation, then tracks can't be added. The only time I don't get reissues is when it is just a re-release. A lot of the companies out there specializing in reissues don't always remaster (it's not that they don't care; it's more of a budgetary thing). They have to guarantee the original label a lot of units if they add bonus tracks; therefore, doing a straight reissue is much cheaper and less risky.

I sell off my old CDs. Plenty of places to do that - used stores, eBay, etc. I keep an eye on what's coming out as many used stores will give you less for an old CD if they know of a reissue coming out. If a reissue is completely different, I'll keep the original as well, but that is rare. One instance I can think of - I have the SACD Hybrid (import) of Talk Talk "The Colour Of Spring." I kept the last reissue though (from 1999 or so) because all 4 CDs spell out "Talk Talk" on the spines when on the shelf together. I just couldn't bear to have one missing! [8D]

What can I say? I'm a collector! I love packaging and great sound. I'll usually buy a greatest hits package as well, even if I have everything from the band, if they contain single mixes or new tracks.

"Words like conviction can turn into a sentence"

[birdmadgirl]

[quote][i]Originally posted by tiger_mn[/i]
<br>
And one more note: Just because Robert Smith was in someone's living room with his guitar and strummed a few notes doesn't mean it's worthy to be included as a fucking BONUS TRACK!!!
[/quote]

Coming from someone who is more than slightly obsessed with The Cure, I agree. I haven't bought any of the remastered discs yet--and I doubt I will. I think I probably got all the good stuff, relatively hard-to-find stuff when I bought their box set. I'm not coughing up $30 for crap.


[:p]

[Sean]

Would you guys buy the remasters of Depeche Mode's first five albums if there were no bonus tracks?

Speak & Spell
A Broken Frame
Construction Time Again
Some Great Reward
Black Celebration

Also, that is very interesting on the Duran Duran "Rio" Remastered. I was going to buy that. What exactly is different on there? Are they the radio versions? Are they the Night versions?

[IWantMyMTV]

[quote][i]Originally posted by getyourbootson[/i]
<br>Yeah, However, you need to be careful. I bought Duran Duran’s "Rio" and there are at least two songs on there (maybe more) that sound completely different from the original. It really pissed me off, since I was a big Duranie, and new all the words and little change ups and riffs and notes, etc. and it’s not even the same. The song is completely changed up. So, yeah, that made me weary of buying remastered CDs. It’s just up to you, what your preference is I guess.
[/quote]

I've heard that it's the UK mix of the album on the remaster.
I've never compared them side by side.
You could just get the original US issue, although not remastered it should be the mix you grew up with.

[tomfin2000]

As far as I know, there has never been an official CD release of Rio that uses the U.S. mixes that appeared on the LP and cassette.

The CD version uses the original mixes which is how the album was actually released in most countries outside of the U.S. For some reason, EMI wanted the CD releases to be more or less uniform throughout the world.

I still can't believe that EMI has never released the first two albums as they originally appeared in the U.S. because the demand is certainly there.

[Borneojimy]

I'll pick up a reissue if there are enough bonus tracks, but otherwise no. I can hardly ever tell the difference between a remastered disc & the original anyway.

[crystal]

same here - remastered with bonustracks a yes - just remasterd mostly a 'no', only if I just have them on vinyl + that one has been played to death - for me a remaster is the perfect chance to add some nice little extras - as someone mentioned the cure, love the idea, as some of their early cds really sound way better on vinyl + the cd-sound is so thin, so it made sense, but all the bonus stuff, well, even the hardest fan could've lived without certain songs that are of horrible quality.