Post subject: [2017-03-31] Uriah Heep "Look At Yourself", "Demons And Wizards", "The Magician's Birthday" 2CD expanded remasters (BMG)
Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 6:42 pm
Joined:
13 Aug 2012
Posts:
3116
Location:
Minnesota
I am sooooo in for these. I followed Pete's advice and bought the first two releases. They do sound damn good. My only gripe on those is the music itself. Their first two albums weren't the cream of the crop. They were the stepping stones of what was to come. Good songs, but hit and miss at the same time. Of course, this is my personal opinion. For example, Genesis is my fave band of all time and their first 3 (that means Revelations included) aren't as strong as the last 3 with Gabriel.
I look forward to hearing what Demons sounds like compared to the Japan release/remaster I've spoken about. I find it hard to believe that could be improved upon. Either way, I'll get it, if nothing for the extra tracks.
And yes..... the Live 1972 will be glorious. The remasters of the first two will prove that. Rick will love it. That remaster I bought a few years ago was damn good to the ears.
Post subject: [2017-03-31] Uriah Heep "Look At Yourself", "Demons And Wizards", "The Magician's Birthday" 2CD expanded remasters (BMG)
Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2017 8:11 pm
Joined:
23 Jul 2006
Posts:
17632
Location:
Florida
Mark MN wrote:
I am sooooo in for these. I followed Pete's advice and bought the first two releases. They do sound damn good. My only gripe on those is the music itself. Their first two albums weren't the cream of the crop. They were the stepping stones of what was to come. Good songs, but hit and miss at the same time. Of course, this is my personal opinion. For example, Genesis is my fave band of all time and their first 3 (that means Revelations included) aren't as strong as the last 3 with Gabriel.
I look forward to hearing what Demons sounds like compared to the Japan release/remaster I've spoken about. I find it hard to believe that could be improved upon. Either way, I'll get it, if nothing for the extra tracks.
And yes..... the Live 1972 will be glorious. The remasters of the first two will prove that. Rick will love it. That remaster I bought a few years ago was damn good to the ears.
You were right the "Live 1972" was even better than I remembered. Finding the Deluxe used I pounced on that.
As for the next three as Pete states and we all agree this where they are entering their sweet spot. Man, I hope Andy Pearce continues his great work. I will be getting all 3 for sure.
Post subject: [2017-03-31] Uriah Heep "Look At Yourself", "Demons And Wizards", "The Magician's Birthday" 2CD expanded remasters (BMG)
Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2017 12:41 am
Joined:
24 Sep 2006
Posts:
26163
Not to nitpick...but it's live 1973 lol.
And yes, Andy Pearce did a wonderful job.
I thought the 2004 remasters were very good, but these are so much better and cleaner sounding with more definition.
Also, I do not have to lower the volume.
Honestly, I'm not sure about Geff's comments on the 2nd discs being "awful", but the sources for those tracks is not the same as the albums themselves, and these are alternates takes and mixes never intended for release.
These were thought to have been discarded in the early 70s. As far back as the late 80s they were discovered in the vaults, many on reel to reel.
I do agree with Geff that they don't sound as good as the album, but why would they and how could they.
I also agree with Mark that the first two albums were just a stepping stone.
My fave eras of Heep are of course the big years from 1971-75, as well as the revivals of 1982-85 and 1995 to the present. I also love Firefly, but that's the only goo Lawton-era album IMO and the one Sloman-era album Conquest sucks out loud, but of course I will buy every remaster they do!
_________________ "We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors."—College Basketball player Weldon Drew
Post subject: [2017-03-31] Uriah Heep "Look At Yourself", "Demons And Wizards", "The Magician's Birthday" 2CD expanded remasters (BMG)
Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2017 1:37 am
I love Music & hate brickwalled audio
Joined:
27 Sep 2006
Posts:
37646
Location:
The Pasture
My complaint about the 2 bonus discs so far is the excessive compression. Odd that the main albums are really pretty well done & they felt the need to brickwall the bonus discs.
I guess since the bonus trax on Magicians & Demons are just remixes, I probably don't care all that much about disc 2. I already have the very good Japan SACD of Look At Yourself.
I do agree with someone who wrote earlier that these & Live 1973 are the cream of the crop.
_________________ Putty Cats are God's gift to the universe.
Post subject: [2017-03-31] Uriah Heep "Look At Yourself", "Demons And Wizards", "The Magician's Birthday" 2CD expanded remasters (BMG)
Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2017 12:39 pm
Joined:
24 Sep 2006
Posts:
26163
Geff R. wrote:
My complaint about the 2 bonus discs so far is the excessive compression. Odd that the main albums are really pretty well done & they felt the need to brickwall the bonus discs.
I guess since the bonus trax on Magicians & Demons are just remixes, I probably don't care all that much about disc 2. I already have the very good Japan SACD of Look At Yourself.
I do agree with someone who wrote earlier that these & Live 1973 are the cream of the crop.
These are remixes of songs that didn't make the album and alternate takes, so they aren't just remixes of existing material.
Foe example, the famous outtake "Why" is as good as anything Heep ever recorded and most versions are in the 8-12 minute range.
They will also detail which number takes these are and from when.
I'm not hearing what you are on these second discs, but maybe others are?
My main concern is always the original album with any reissue/remaster/remix with the additional material secondary, and here the original albums have really been given an excellent run-through by Andy Pearce.
_________________ "We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors."—College Basketball player Weldon Drew
Post subject: [2017-03-31] Uriah Heep "Look At Yourself", "Demons And Wizards", "The Magician's Birthday" 2CD expanded remasters (BMG)
Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2017 1:26 pm
Joined:
13 Aug 2012
Posts:
3116
Location:
Minnesota
Invisible Pedestrian wrote:
I'm not hearing what you are on these second discs, but maybe others are?
I don't hear any compression. That's not to say it isn't there, but the demos/alternate takes sound fine to me. They're a little rough around the edges, but that's due to those takes not being properly mastered/mixed back in the day.... probably because they weren't obviously intended on being used. Pearce did what he could with what he had to work with. The guy that did the last round of Rush remasters said the same exact thing about All The World's A Stage. There were a few spots in that recording that he couldn't fix. Source tapes have limitations. That's what it all comes down to. That's why Sabbath's Born Again sounds abysmal after 2 or 3 remasters. You can't fix a bad tape when you don't have the original masters.
Post subject: [2017-03-31] Uriah Heep "Look At Yourself", "Demons And Wizards", "The Magician's Birthday" 2CD expanded remasters (BMG)
Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2017 1:49 pm
Joined:
24 Sep 2006
Posts:
26163
Mark MN wrote:
Invisible Pedestrian wrote:
I'm not hearing what you are on these second discs, but maybe others are?
I don't hear any compression. That's not to say it isn't there, but the demos/alternate takes sound fine to me. They're a little rough around the edges, but that's due to those takes not being properly mastered/mixed back in the day.... probably because they weren't obviously intended on being used. Pearce did what he could with what he had to work with. The guy that did the last round of Rush remasters said the same exact thing about All The World's A Stage. There were a few spots in that recording that he couldn't fix. Source tapes have limitations. That's what it all comes down to. That's why Sabbath's Born Again sounds abysmal after 2 or 3 remasters. You can't fix a bad tape when you don't have the original masters.
Exactly what I was saying.
Glad we agree-two geniuses! Ha Ha
_________________ "We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors."—College Basketball player Weldon Drew
Post subject: [2017-03-31] Uriah Heep "Look At Yourself", "Demons And Wizards", "The Magician's Birthday" 2CD expanded remasters (BMG)
Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 6:13 pm
I love Music & hate brickwalled audio
Joined:
27 Sep 2006
Posts:
37646
Location:
The Pasture
Inexplicably, these follow the pattern of the first 2 re: compression:
The main cd's are an almost acceptable Dr10 (your 2003 DE's will sound better), & the bonus discs are an AWFUL DR4-DR5 which is 3 steps away from Pink Noise.
_________________ Putty Cats are God's gift to the universe.
Post subject: [2017-03-31] Uriah Heep "Look At Yourself", "Demons And Wizards", "The Magician's Birthday" 2CD expanded remasters (BMG)
Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 6:44 pm
Joined:
23 Jul 2006
Posts:
17632
Location:
Florida
I have these on tap for tonight. I was happy with the previous efforts and with Andy Pearce at the board I have high expectation due to his previous work.
Post subject: [2017-03-31] Uriah Heep "Look At Yourself", "Demons And Wizards", "The Magician's Birthday" 2CD expanded remasters (BMG)
Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 8:29 pm
Joined:
13 Aug 2012
Posts:
3116
Location:
Minnesota
I don't know what you're listening to, Geff. These sound fine to me. I'm actually listening to Disc 2 of Look At Yourself as I type. Sounds fine to me. But then again, I didn't yank out my Foobar app to check the DR levels.
Post subject: [2017-03-31] Uriah Heep "Look At Yourself", "Demons And Wizards", "The Magician's Birthday" 2CD expanded remasters (BMG)
Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 10:30 pm
Joined:
01 Feb 2008
Posts:
1278
Location:
Long Island , NY
I preordered all 3 from Amazon about a month ago and they have not shipped yet. Usually when I've preordered CDs I would get them they day they came out.
Post subject: [2017-03-31] Uriah Heep "Look At Yourself", "Demons And Wizards", "The Magician's Birthday" 2CD expanded remasters (BMG)
Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 10:44 pm
Joined:
23 Jul 2006
Posts:
17632
Location:
Florida
Don57 wrote:
I preordered all 3 from Amazon about a month ago and they have not shipped yet. Usually when I've preordered CDs I would get them they day they came out.
Something definitely not right about this Don. Mark and I have received ours. What does your the Amazon order page say? Did you order from U.S or UK?
Rick A.
_________________ Rick A.
Last edited by Rick A on Sat Apr 01, 2017 11:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot], Google [Bot] and 10 guests
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot post attachments in this forum