Remember how i complained that the 33.3 version (at least on Analogue Productions, I don't have an original early Contemporary pressing) was over-rated, largely because of the hard panning? Myles (and Mep, I think) urged me to try it on the 45, which is OOP. I found a sealed test pressing. It is unbelievable. I was wrong.
And glad I was.
The AP 33 rpm version also had added reverb. I can't remember if this was done in mastering at the time of release, or just present on the non-master tape.
What is interesting- I haven't compared the two, let alone an early pressing- is that on the 45 the 'hard pan' seems less objectionable. Either that, or my head got wider?
I have a bunch of Fantasy era (pre-Chad) copies of the record, but none that really qualify as 'early' pressings. Anybody got one of those?
I only have one copy of Way Out West and it is a reissue. If the 45 version sounds better, that has to be a real treat. I find this to be an outstanding recording and it puzzles me when someone says there is nothing special about it. The person who made that statement was referring to a digital version of the album which I haven't heard. Maybe the magic didn't translate over to the digits.
I only have one copy of Way Out West and it is a reissue. If the 45 version sounds better, that has to be a real treat. I find this to be an outstanding recording and it puzzles me when someone says there is nothing special about it. The person who made that statement was referring to a digital version of the album which I haven't heard. Maybe the magic didn't translate over to the digits.
What is interesting- I haven't compared the two, let alone an early pressing- is that on the 45 the 'hard pan' seems less objectionable. Either that, or my head got wider?
I have a bunch of Fantasy era (pre-Chad) copies of the record, but none that really qualify as 'early' pressings. Anybody got one of those?
What is interesting- I haven't compared the two, let alone an early pressing- is that on the 45 the 'hard pan' seems less objectionable. Either that, or my head got wider?
I have a bunch of Fantasy era (pre-Chad) copies of the record, but none that really qualify as 'early' pressings. Anybody got one of those?
I don't have any on Fantasy, I have a 60s yellow label Contemporary pressing with machine stamped matrix (D and some number) that sounds damn good. But doesn't measure up to the AP 45 rpm; it lacks the density and dynamics. I was never bothered by the panning on the 45 rpm version, though it's been way too long since I've heard the AP 33.
