The Caroline label is distributing the following Quicksilver Messenger Service Japanese remastered CDs (packaged in mini LP replica sleeves) in the States as export editions. They're identical to the original imports but now available at lower "domestic but collectible" prices:

Quicksilver Messenger Service
Shady Grove
Just For Love
Happy Trails
What About Me

Quicksilver Messenger Service Japanese export edition mini LP sleeve remasters at Amazon

Except, like the recent Steve Miller Band Japanese mini LP CDs, there's no indication that these were remastered.

The mini sleeve editions that Caroline is bringing into the States have the same remastering (and the same bonus tracks where those were added) from the USA or UK editions which had most recently come out at the time these versions were originally pressed in Japan ~ most are from the '00s, I think a couple date back to the late-'90s ~ so they're not necessary the latest or "best" remasters, but they are all remasters. You don't see an indication of that on the covers because they're recreations of the original LP sleeves, not copies of the USA and UK CD artwork.

I have the Japanese box set, and the sound is a vast improvement over the BGO versions that were out there of the later LP's.
One thing that always bothered me, though, is why they sequenced the first LP so all the songs basically segue into one another; the original LP was not like this.
(All the discs are like this, actually, but it's much more noticeable on the first LP.)

I can't see any extra tracks on any of these releases. Just looks like the original LPs.

8 years later...

I was listening to 'Happy Trails' yesterday and was shocked at how bad the mastering was on this.
The 'Who Do You Love Suite' jumps levels when segueing into each track.
The original LP's intensity from when 'Where You Love' segues into 'How You Love' loses all it's power, due to the former being mastered too loud, and the latter too softly.
Also, 'Calvary' seems to suffer the same fate (mastered too loud.)
Are the last remasters any different?

The recent hi-res remasters of QMS & Happy Trails were brickwalled. Hopefully not the case here. Whoever is controlling the old EMI & Chrysalis titles seems to be in love with brickwalling the last year or 2.

OK I realize I may be throwing gasoline on the fire, but I've been a QMS fan since the first album and have many versions of the complete catalog.

I agree that Shady Grove has always sounded muddy and muffled, even in the vinyl days.

I believe that SG and Volunteers were both the first wave of the 'thinner' vinyl releases, on Capitol and RCA respectively.

Both likely recorded at Wally Heiders' in San Francisco - not sure if that plays into that mastering or not...

IMO the best sounding SG and whole QMS Capitol catalog for that matter sounded much better than prior versions in the CultureFactory HD remasters (sorry Geff). But the best versions I've heard are the SHM Japanese remasters from 2014. I can't find a date on the CultureFactory remasters but it seems like it was longer ago than 2014. Possibly those remasters were used for the SHM versions..

SG and almost all the SHM titles sound clearer with much more detail across the whole mix, but especially on Nicky Hopkins' piano.

Now if someone would SHM remaster Solid Silver from 1975...just a great rocking album with all the original members.

An overlooked classic IMO.

Of course your mileage may vary....

No apology needed; I also think the Culture Factory release are terrible! I did think even the One Way cd of Shady Grove was a big upgrade from the vinyl; I agree it was muddy. There is (was?) a UK remaster of Solid Silver. I've never heard it.