Your Worst CD Recordings ...

fas42 · Aug 9, 2011

I've been leading with my chin for a while now, claiming that even "bad" recordings can sound good if a system is brought up to a certain of performance. And this is without "dumbing" down or softening the playback.

In that context, I'm wondering what CDs people have which they consider to be the worst of the worst, the most execrable, not because of the quality of musicianship or "value" of the music in itself, but because of sloppy, poorly executed, indifferent, or just downright lousy recording techniques and equipment, or terrible transfers from another medium. And, most importantly, why? Why do you consider them to be really, really bad?

As well as anything else, this will give me some more yardsticks, some other material to play with to know that I'm on the right track in sorting out playback issues ...

Frank

MylesBAstor · Aug 9, 2011

fas42 said:
I've been leading with my chin for a while now, claiming that even "bad" recordings can sound good if a system is brought up to a certain of performance. And this is without "dumbing" down or softening the playback.

In that context, I'm wondering what CDs people have which they consider to be the worst of the worst, the most execrable, not because of the quality of musicianship or "value" of the music in itself, but because of sloppy, poorly executed, indifferent, or just downright lousy recording techniques and equipment, or terrible transfers from another medium. And, most importantly, why? Why do you consider them to be really, really bad?

As well as anything else, this will give me some more yardsticks, some other material to play with to know that I'm on the right track in sorting out playback issues ...

Frank

Shostakovitch's 5th with Bernstein on CBS. Atrocious both on the LP and CD. In fact when playing the LP, had to check the turntable speed since it sounded like it was turning at the wrong speed. Turned out had no harmonic overtones. Too bad since Bernstein owns Shostakovitch

fas42 · Aug 9, 2011

MylesBAstor said:
Shostakovitch's 5th with Bernstein on CBS. Atrocious both on the LP and CD. In fact when playing the LP, had to check the turntable speed since it sounded like it was turning at the wrong speed. Turned out had no harmonic overtones. Too bad since Bernstein owns Shostakovitch

Is that the 1979, Tokyo with the New York Philharmonic account?

Frank

KeithR · Aug 9, 2011

Boston "Boston"

audioguy · Aug 9, 2011

KeithR said:
Boston "Boston"

Sure do love the music though!

lasercd · Aug 9, 2011

This is a wide open question. Through our distribution service we offer 1,000s of different metal titles. The vast majority present beyond awful, brickwalled to death sound. It would be too hard to pick the worst - there are too many to choose from.

Ken Golden

MylesBAstor · Aug 10, 2011

fas42 said:
Is that the 1979, Tokyo with the New York Philharmonic account?

Frank

Is with the NY Philharmonic but not the Tokyo concert.

KeithR · Aug 10, 2011

audioguy said:
Sure do love the music though!

that's the shame---one of the best rock albums ever, but the recording is total shite. all mids, no low end, etc. designed for tape players i guess.

Van Halen "Van Halen" sucks too from a similar day and age---and the remasters still can't do it justice either.

JasonI · Aug 10, 2011

If by worst, you mean the most disappointing because the music is otherwise extremely enjoyable, I'll say most of Beck's stuff. It's pretty hard to enjoy his one of a kind music clipped and cut off as it is.

Phelonious Ponk · Aug 10, 2011

JasonI said:
If by worst, you mean the most disappointing because the music is otherwise extremely enjoyable, I'll say most of Beck's stuff. It's pretty hard to enjoy his one of a kind music clipped and cut off as it is.

I get so confused these days. Are you referring to Beck, period, or Beck, Jeff?

Tim

JasonI · Aug 10, 2011

Phelonious Ponk said:
I get so confused these days. Are you referring to Beck, period, or Beck, Jeff?

Tim

Beck of Loser fame. The Scientologist.

See how out of touch I am? I thought he was pretty popular. And a keyboard player.

Tim

Lee · Aug 10, 2011

Magic by Bruce Springsteen. Horrible.

Lee · Aug 10, 2011

JasonI said:
If by worst, you mean the most disappointing because the music is otherwise extremely enjoyable, I'll say most of Beck's stuff. It's pretty hard to enjoy his one of a kind music clipped and cut off as it is.

Sea Change is terrific.

NorthStar · Aug 10, 2011

I found it on the highway quite a while back. I played it and then tossed it back on the highway!

I don't remember what it was, I just got rid of it (it was that bad!).

c1ferrari · Aug 10, 2011

MylesBAstor said:
Shostakovitch's 5th with Bernstein on CBS. Atrocious both on the LP and CD. In fact when playing the LP, had to check the turntable speed since it sounded like it was turning at the wrong speed.

Man, that IS bad

c1ferrari · Aug 10, 2011

audioguy said:
sure do love the music though!

+1

JasonI · Aug 11, 2011

JasonI said:
Beck of Loser fame. The Scientologist.

See how out of touch I am? I thought he was pretty popular. And a keyboard player.

Tim

Last edited by Phelonious Ponk; Yesterday at 08:19 PM.

How did this happen?

Edit: Oh, I see. You're a mod.

jazdoc · Aug 11, 2011

One of my favorite releases of 2010 was Phosphorscent's "Taking It Easy". A really bad sounding CD but they managed to make it sound even worse on the vinyl release. Really a superhuman effort on someone's part.

fas42 · Aug 11, 2011

JasonI said:
How did this happen?

Edit: Oh, I see. You're a mod.

Now wasn't there a song way back when along those lines, hmmm ...???

Frank

Phelonious Ponk · Aug 12, 2011

fas42 said:
Now wasn't there a song way back when along those lines, hmmm ...???

Frank

"I'm not a mod, or a rocker. I'm a mocker." -- paraphrased by poor memory, no doubt, but can anyone tell me the source?

Tim

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