Remastered albums

[Jthomp81]

If you already own an album do you buy new remastered versions or seek out the best remaster? If so, what albums must you have the best version of?

[davidhuret]

If I think the album deserved to be remastered, yes.

[Robert Anton Wilson]

The old classic prog era albums remastered by Steven Wilson (King Crimson, Jethro Tull ... ) are highly worth it.

So far the one that impressed me the most is Lizard by King Crimson. Listening to the remastered CD really felt like listening to it for the first time again. I cannot wait to hear the remastered Lark's Tongues in Aspic. These are albums that were released in an age when audio technology wasn't yet able to properly render such music.

[davidhuret]

Sounds interesting. I may give them a go then.

[RoundTheBend]

The only ones I have bought are the special releases of Boy, October, War, Under A Blood Red Sky, and The Joshua Tree.

I downloaded the Beatles remasters, and loved the remaster of those into stereo.

I also go Sgt. Peppers on vinyl, remastered...

Sometimes the remaster's ruin the work because they end up compressing it almost to the point of distortion, but if it is done right, it makes a sweet experience.

[Mother Nature's Son]

[RFNAPLES]

Yes
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[paladisiac]

the RIAA has taken enough of my money converting tapes to CDs... i'm good with the albums i have. anything new i generally buy on MP3.
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[JMan]

I just look for the remastered version instead of buying the original. Besides, I can still just go on YT. I don't see the point of starting a big collection unless you were to sell it one day with some classics on vinyl.

[purple]

I've only heard the original and remastered versions of two albums (to my knowledge): Stooges' Raw Power and Rolling Stones' Exile On Main Street. The versions of Raw Power (Iggy mix v. Bowie mix) were quite noticeably different; a lot of people prefer the Bowie mix but I grew up with the Iggy mix so I prefer that because it's what I'm used to I suppose. The Exile mixes were much less different, but still noticeably so; I don't really prefer one version to another.

However, when it comes to mixes of New Order singles, I almost always prefer the version that appears on Substance 1987. I can't even keep track of all the different mixes they have for their singles, and am pretty positive I haven't even heard every mix released, but I think the versions that appear on Substance are more refined. Especially tracks like Temptation and Bizarre Love Triangle.

Anyways, I think that generally mixing can improve or worsen the sound of a song or album drastically, but the effects of mixing are far outweighed by the content of the lyrics and musicianship.