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 Post subject: Hollies best sounding shopping list
PostPosted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 3:31 pm 
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Start point. Everyone's preference are what they are - individual - so we may not necessary agree but the idea behind this list is to help steer people toward the better sounding versions of the Hollies output a fair chunk of which is out of print following Peter Mew's controversial remastering during the late 1990's of the bands entire catalog using such things as noise reduction and limiting that many audio fans find objectionable.
Comments and suggestions are welcome.

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Last edited by kajafan on Thu Aug 30, 2012 2:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Hollies best sounding shopping list
PostPosted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 3:52 pm 
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Overviews: The are two very good sounding compilations Twenty Golden Greats which is a UK single cd mastered in 1987 has many of their 1963 thru 1974 hits and is in print.
I prefer for having all the UK hit singles the wider period covered the out of print All The Hits and More double cd from 1988 that sounds if anything a bit better. You'll need to scout Ebay and amazon to find a used copy though.

Studio albums:
Most of the first UK Stay With the Hollies album is available new sounding very good on the Here I Go Again portion of the BGO CD with Hear Here issued 2011 in mono
I found this recent BGO release better sounding even than the separate UK Stay with the Hollies CD from the early 90's
Hollies (Self titled) - most of this is on Hear Here sounding very good
For Certain Because: Available in very good stereo as Stop Stop Stop on the 2011 BGO cd with Bus stop a usable hodgepodge of tracks mostly in stereo.
Butterfly: I'd recommend the Sundazed US cd from the late 90's of Dear Eloise/King Midas as the cd uses the UK running order and then adds the stray tracks from the US version so it's the same listening experience. Bob Irwin did a great job of mastering it.
Confessions of the Mind: The Sundazed version titled as Moving Finger from the late 90's gets my approval
Distant Light: Was issued in the early 90's by BGO but is out of print but does sound good.

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 Post subject: Hollies best sounding shopping list
PostPosted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:30 pm 
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While I have not yet found a copy of "All The Hits & More", I do have the "20 Golden Greats" comp you mentioned, along with the "Epic Anthology" - both sound very good to me. In addition, I have 2 older comps that were released in the US on the short-lived label called "EMI Manhattan". The are named simply "The Best, Vol 1" & "The Best, Vol. 2". One nice thing about them is that they are US comps & as such, Vol. 1 has "Pay You Back With Interest" on it. That song was not released as a single in the UK & thus is not on "20 Golden Greats".

When I compared the EMI Manhattan comps to "20 Golden Greats", I was hard-pressed to hear a difference. (I'd love for someone who has "20 Golden Greats" & the equipment to compare with to test a couple of tracks from these 2 comps and see if they are digitally identical. If you can do this, let me know!)

I've never been a fan of the US "Greatest Hits" album on Epic. The original CD release doesn't sound very good - but I have never heard the remaster.

I'll also mention the 3-disc "30th Anniversary" set. Yes, all the tracks were remixed by Ron Furmaek, but he did a great job with those 60s tracks that didn't have the best stereo mixes tobegin with!

What is really needed is for a label to do a comprehensive comp of their original mono singles - A & B sides...


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 Post subject: Hollies best sounding shopping list
PostPosted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:47 pm 
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DBinMD wrote:
What is really needed is for a label to do a comprehensive comp of their original mono singles - A & B sides...

This was part of a '60s series that EMI UK released in 2004. It only covers Hollies 45s and EPs through 1967:

Image

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http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000WSTBU/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0000WSTBU/?tag=imwan-21

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 Post subject: Hollies best sounding shopping list
PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 2:08 am 
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Linda wrote:
DBinMD wrote:
What is really needed is for a label to do a comprehensive comp of their original mono singles - A & B sides...

This was part of a '60s series that EMI UK released in 2004. It only covers Hollies 45s and EPs through 1967:

Image

Amazon USA
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000WSTBU/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0000WSTBU/?tag=imwan-21

That's also got a copyguard on it (or at least every title I've carried in that series did). The small circle with the "c:" in it on the bottom right also usually indicates copyguard.

They do not play on a computer, but they WILL play on most regular players.

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 Post subject: Hollies best sounding shopping list
PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 2:26 pm 
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That came out during 2004-2006 when EMI decided to issue cds that didn't meet cd quality standards with deliberate errors rely on the error correction in regular players to render them playable. The trouble was apart from not being copyable easily on computers they didn't play on a number portable and in car players either!
From recollection that one was a loud and bright although the track selection was nice.
BGO did issue around 1989/1990 "The other side of the Hollies" in a expanded cd form (the original was a 1978 UK EMI lp) that had many of the b sides.
It's a better listen than most in print sources but the resolution isn't particular good even though I find it a useful disc to have around.

I have a list of mono mixes featured on the Music Club Deluxe release "The very best of the Hollies" as there a number here not otherwise easy to find on cd and all sound good.
(Ain't That) Just Like Me
Searchin'
Here I Go Again
Yes I Will
Look Thru Any Window
If I Needed Someone
The Very Last Day (From Hear Here (US)/ "Hollies" (UK 1965) )
Pay You Back With Interest
After The Fox (with Peter Sellars)
Stop Stop Stop
On A Carousel
Carrie Anne
Dear Eloise
Clown (From Butterfly album)
Honey and Wine
Butterfly (From album of same name)
Listen To Me
Sorry Suzanne
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother

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Last edited by kajafan on Thu Aug 30, 2012 2:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Hollies best sounding shopping list
PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 2:43 pm 
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DBinMD wrote:
While I have not yet found a copy of "All The Hits & More", I do have the "20 Golden Greats" comp you mentioned, along with the "Epic Anthology" - both sound very good to me. In addition, I have 2 older comps that were released in the US on the short-lived label called "EMI Manhattan". The are named simply "The Best, Vol 1" & "The Best, Vol. 2". One nice thing about them is that they are US comps & as such, Vol. 1 has "Pay You Back With Interest" on it. That song was not released as a single in the UK & thus is not on "20 Golden Greats".

When I compared the EMI Manhattan comps to "20 Golden Greats", I was hard-pressed to hear a difference. (I'd love for someone who has "20 Golden Greats" & the equipment to compare with to test a couple of tracks from these 2 comps and see if they are digitally identical. If you can do this, let me know!)

I've never been a fan of the US "Greatest Hits" album on Epic. The original CD release doesn't sound very good - but I have never heard the remaster.

I'll also mention the 3-disc "30th Anniversary" set. Yes, all the tracks were remixed by Ron Furmaek, but he did a great job with those 60s tracks that didn't have the best stereo mixes tobegin with!

What is really needed is for a label to do a comprehensive comp of their original mono singles - A & B sides...

Yes and from scratch as they (EMI) have flat transferred high resolution files stored that can be used to master this right as both Sundazed and BGO recently have issued better sounding product on both lp and cd.

Ron's stereo remixes divides people with some getting close to a full blown rant about the integrity of the original mixes including stereo.
Personally, I follow Ron's idea as many of those stereo versions were quickly done suffering extreme separation not really being really intended to be put out and do belong in a box set form where you might expect very close stereo approximations of the original mono mixes to be preferred.Those tracks I heard sneaking out on the UK 30th Anniversary CD "The Air that I breathe" in remixed stereo were more agreeable as mixes although some think they can hear some clipping.

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 Post subject: Hollies best sounding shopping list
PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 11:55 pm 
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Geff R. wrote:
Linda wrote:
DBinMD wrote:
What is really needed is for a label to do a comprehensive comp of their original mono singles - A & B sides...

This was part of a '60s series that EMI UK released in 2004. It only covers Hollies 45s and EPs through 1967:

Image

Amazon USA
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000WSTBU/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0000WSTBU/?tag=imwan-21

That's also got a copyguard on it (or at least every title I've carried in that series did). The small circle with the "c:" in it on the bottom right also usually indicates copyguard.

They DO impact play on a computer, but not on a regular player.

Yep - I read that on the SH forum awhile back - in a couple of threads - I steered away from it.


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 Post subject: Hollies best sounding shopping list
PostPosted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 11:59 pm 
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kajafan wrote:
DBinMD wrote:
While I have not yet found a copy of "All The Hits & More", I do have the "20 Golden Greats" comp you mentioned, along with the "Epic Anthology" - both sound very good to me. In addition, I have 2 older comps that were released in the US on the short-lived label called "EMI Manhattan". The are named simply "The Best, Vol 1" & "The Best, Vol. 2". One nice thing about them is that they are US comps & as such, Vol. 1 has "Pay You Back With Interest" on it. That song was not released as a single in the UK & thus is not on "20 Golden Greats".

When I compared the EMI Manhattan comps to "20 Golden Greats", I was hard-pressed to hear a difference. (I'd love for someone who has "20 Golden Greats" & the equipment to compare with to test a couple of tracks from these 2 comps and see if they are digitally identical. If you can do this, let me know!)

I've never been a fan of the US "Greatest Hits" album on Epic. The original CD release doesn't sound very good - but I have never heard the remaster.

I'll also mention the 3-disc "30th Anniversary" set. Yes, all the tracks were remixed by Ron Furmaek, but he did a great job with those 60s tracks that didn't have the best stereo mixes tobegin with!

What is really needed is for a label to do a comprehensive comp of their original mono singles - A & B sides...

Yes and from scratch as they (EMI) have flat transferred high resolution files stored that can be used to master this right as both Sundazed and BGO recently have issued better sounding product on both lp and cd.

Ron's stereo remixes divides people with some getting close to a full blown rant about the integrity of the original mixes including stereo.
Personally, I follow Ron's idea as many of those stereo versions were quickly done suffering extreme separation not really being really intended to be put out and do belong in a box set form where you might expect very close stereo approximations of the original mono mixes to be preferred.Those tracks I heard sneaking out on the UK 30th Anniversary CD "The Air that I breathe" in remixed stereo were more agreeable as mixes although some think they can hear some clipping.


I'm not sure why Ron re-mixed everything - the later stuff was OK in their original mixes - IMO. I'm pretty fond of his "Bus Stop" remix.


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 Post subject: Hollies best sounding shopping list
PostPosted: Fri Aug 31, 2012 12:02 am 
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You know who would do a great job with a singles collection on the Hollies? Now Sounds! (I was REAL impressed by their Association set - a Hollies set from them would be awesome!!)


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 Post subject: Hollies best sounding shopping list
PostPosted: Mon Dec 23, 2013 2:03 am 
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FYI, I just noticed these at CDJapan. 12 Hollies titles.

On 1/22/14:
Cardboard sleeve (mini LP) reissue from The Hollies features the high-fidelity SHM-CD format (compatible with standard CD players) and the latest remastering. Includes 20 additional tracks (subject to change). Features a mini LP faithfully replicating the original UK LP artwork. Features Japanese original edit on included tracks. Comes with lyrics and a description. Part of a 7-album The Hollies cardboard sleeve reissue series features the albums "Stay With The Hollies," "In The Hollies Style," "Hollies," "Would You Believe?," "For Certain Because," "Evolution," and "Butterfly."

Already released:
Cardboard sleeve reissue from The Hollies features the high-fidelity SHM-CD format (compatible with standard CD players) and the latest remaster. Features newly edited versions in Japan. Cardboard sleeve faithfully replicates UK original art work. Includes bonus tracks. Comes with a description and lyrics. Part of five-album The Hollies cardboard sleeve reissue series features the albums, "The Hollies Sing The Hollies," "The Hollies Sing Dylan," "Confessions Of The Mind," "Distant Light," and "Romany."


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 Post subject: Hollies best sounding shopping list
PostPosted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 11:06 am 
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An addition two more collections are coming out in Japan, expanded double sets. To date these releases have been very good, a comparison to the earlier EMI remasters show these to be different masterings. I splurged on all of them so far so I will add the mini LP collections in April.

http://wmg.jp/artist/hollies/


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