Definitive Audiophile pressings

Turbo said:
So an update on the original Damn The Torpedoes I ordered.

I had ordered an original Pinckneyville STERLING pressing, but it unfortunately got cancelled on me. No biggie. Since @Jbraswell mentioned that the Canadian pressing was good too, I ended up getting an original Canadian STERLING pressing instead. And saved a few bucks over the Pinckneyville.

I really lucked out on this copy. There isn't a single pop to be heard throughout. Completely clean. Sounds fantastic too.

I did some quick A/B comparisons with my Bellman reissue and here are a couple observations. The Bellman is damn good. Really doesn't need to be updraded. The Canadian STERLING is better I think. Pressing is definitely hotter and feels slightly more dynamic. Really shines at the high end where it seems crisper and detailed.

Some food for thought though - this original pressing cost me $33 canadian and it's pristine. So if you don't already own a Damn The Torpedoes, it's probably in the same price range as the reissue.
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Congrats! It's difficult to make TP sound any better than this IMO. That's a classic record to have in the collection.
 
Turbo said:
So an update on the original Damn The Torpedoes I ordered.

I had ordered an original Pinckneyville STERLING pressing, but it unfortunately got cancelled on me. No biggie. Since @Jbraswell mentioned that the Canadian pressing was good too, I ended up getting an original Canadian STERLING pressing instead. And saved a few bucks over the Pinckneyville.

I really lucked out on this copy. There isn't a single pop to be heard throughout. Completely clean. Sounds fantastic too.

I did some quick A/B comparisons with my Bellman reissue and here are a couple observations. The Bellman is damn good. Really doesn't need to be updraded. The Canadian STERLING is better I think. Pressing is definitely hotter and feels slightly more dynamic. Really shines at the high end where it seems crisper and detailed.

Some food for thought though - this original pressing cost me $33 canadian and it's pristine. So if you don't already own a Damn The Torpedoes, it's probably in the same price range as the reissue.
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Good to here, I got an OG Pickneyville/Sterling pressing that is in great condition and never felt like I needed to upgrade even with CB in the dead wax.

If you now want a nice older pressing of Hard Promises you should check out this one…
www.discogs.com

Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers - Hard Promises

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1981 Vinyl release of "Hard Promises" on Discogs.
www.discogs.com www.discogs.com
It’s part of a MCA “Masterphile Series” cut at half speed. I am not familiar with the series (doesn’t look like they released too many titles under it, I wouldn’t mind coming across a copy of Gaucho though) but I think it sounds quite good and best of all I think it’s Canadian too.
 
Selaws said:
I wonder if this is just a repackaged version of their 2018 box set, but with the addition of the "Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders" and a booklet?

For what it's worth, I have the 2018 set, and its fantastic. I have since acquired an original 1958 UK pressing (which also sounds great) and there's little between them, so I personally think Craft did a great job!

www.discogs.com

Sonny Rollins - Way Out West

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2018 Vinyl release of "Way Out West" on Discogs.
www.discogs.com www.discogs.com
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Responded in the jazz thread too but it’s not a repackaged version of the Craft box. The craft one from 2018 is digital. Bernie cut it AAA for Chad at AP and then Craft pulled the license and did their own digital cut for the 2018 box. This one’s AAA, pressed at RTI
 
Yeah in the email from Craft about the new Rollins box it says "Newly cut from the original analog tapes by GRAMMY®-winning engineer (and former Contemporary Records studio employee) Bernie Grundman"
 
MikeH said:
Responded in the jazz thread too but it’s not a repackaged version of the Craft box. The craft one from 2018 is digital. Bernie cut it AAA for Chad at AP and then Craft pulled the license and did their own digital cut for the 2018 box. This one’s AAA, pressed at RTI
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Cheers, this has jogged some memories!

I will be interested to hear what the quality is like in comparison. I think at the time it was unknown whether it was AAA until Fremer wrote a piece in Analog Planet, which goes to show how good it sounds.
 
Selaws said:
Cheers, this has jogged some memories!

I will be interested to hear what the quality is like in comparison. I think at the time it was unknown whether it was AAA until Fremer wrote a piece in Analog Planet, which goes to show how good it sounds.
Click to expand...
I have an 70’s era reissue on dynaflex type vinyl and a Japanese reissue from the 70’s for Way Out West. The Japanese issue sounds better to me and has a super quiet surface too. I never got around to picking up the 2018 issue but would be very interested in getting an AAA reissue if it wasn’t $125 for the box… choices. Thinking I’ll stick with what I have. I must say, the recording is phenomenal and I love the sound on the stereo lp. Sonny’s Solitude on this album might be my favorite interpretation. Anyone interested in jazz and hasn’t heard this album should do so asap. It’s a bit unusual with only having sax, bass and drums.
 
TenderLovingKiller® said:
Good to here, I got an OG Pickneyville/Sterling pressing that is in great condition and never felt like I needed to upgrade even with CB in the dead wax.

If you now want a nice older pressing of Hard Promises you should check out this one…
www.discogs.com

Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers - Hard Promises

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1981 Vinyl release of "Hard Promises" on Discogs.
www.discogs.com www.discogs.com
It’s part of a MCA “Masterphile Series” cut at half speed. I am not familiar with the series (doesn’t look like they released too many titles under it, I wouldn’t mind coming across a copy of Gaucho though) but I think it sounds quite good and best of all I think it’s Canadian too.
Click to expand...
I stuck with the Calbi Sterling cut again. Every bit as badass as the Sterling Damn The Torpedoes.
20230119_172625.jpg
 
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