Thanks Michael. Unfortunately I also bought these editions and you are absolutely right about them. They're atrocious. I'll never touch another Abbey Road remaster.
abbey road is doing a disservice not only to the consumer, but it is an insult to the band, the mixing engineer, the mastering engineer from the original release, and time itself to butcher what the artist originally intended and to alter the sonic foundation of classics we are intimately familiar with. the reason we want a clean copy of the original recording is a positive emotional imprinting on our psyche that we relate to fond memories of the first listen and it brings us back to that moment in time.... unless it fails to invoke that response, and this is where Remastering fails, when they are not making the product better... unlike the Kevin Gray remasters.
Michael, I enjoy watching your channel but with all due respect I just watched an 8 minute video hearing you say it’s not good, it’s bad etc and saying that the Sundazed versions sound good but I still don’t know what the real issue is here. It would be good if you would explain in detail why you think these records sound bad. Surface noise? EQ? Or is it something else? And what is the difference with the Sundazed editions that make them sound so much better? once again I enjoy watching your channnel and love your enthusiasm and I look forward seeing more future videos.
Michael. Well done. Very well done. To add to it. Not sure if you saw but Michael Fremer reviewed the Let it be box and in the video told a story that comes straight from you. He was chatting with someone from Abbey and told them they should share thr tapes with the Electric Recording Company. His stupid response? The Beatles don’t want to be seen as “bourgeois” by releasing audiophile versions. WHAT???? ‘The most commercialized band in history!’ was my thought? Total arrogance on their part which is why it’s so important you used your channel and it’s visibility to complain. Well done.
My pleasure. You should watch his video just to hear exactly what this Abbey exec said. I swear, sometimes I think they lost the tapes and just won’t admit it. Just as plausible an excuse as what they make up. New ERC recording just announced, White Stripes
@@floogee The Beatles are accused of money grabs often enough. Can you imagine if they put out albums that were $150 a piece? That's not to say they can't do better.
Michael, Thanks for you opion. I think you are too hard on the Abbey Road pressing of the Velvet Underground albums. I have compared the "The Velvet Underground & Nico" in 3 pressings; This new Abbey Road, a 1972 US pressing (Full Analog) and a 2008 "4 Men With Beards" (probably digital and also with a bad reputation). I do not think that the pressing from Abbey Road is so bad sounding. Actually it is the best sounding of these 3 pressings. I do not have the box from Sundaze. Normally, I think you are right in your reviews and therefore I am a little puzzled about this. Are there differens in production quality? or in sound systems? I have many - to me - very good sounding Abbey Road half speed matering releases like: John Martyn, Paul McCartney, Japan, Queen (A Night at the Opera), Chic, Cream, Blind Faith and CCR. You can not in generelt say that all Abbey Road half speed mastering releases are bad sounding !
Michael - thanks. This is a very useful video. I know it must be better (for you) to make videos when the records are great and something to recommend. BUT it is also very important that someone tells the truth when big companies try to sell us crap products (in this case records). Again: Thanks for taking "a bullet" for the rest of us - and for sharing your opinion!
Good for you! These companies who do lackluster pressings of legendary records should be called out for their incompetence--especially at prices they're charging. You've made me feel very relieved that I still have my VU original pressings. Keep up the great work!
Please don’t feel bad making videos like this. It is very necessary, I loved your video just as much as I love your positive reviews. It’s part of the territory and we always appreciate your honesty. Take solace in the fact that you probably saved a bunch of people hundreds of dollars, thank you for everything you do!
I understand how you found it difficult to make this video, Michael. However, please do not apologies for it… Your frank and honest response to these cuts is very much appreciated and respected. What the hell are Abbey Road Studios playing at? Their time honoured status and reputation is clearly being damaged by these and previous half-speed masters. Very sad and I agree with you… they need to halt further production and review their full process and fix systemic production failures and implement stringent QC before releasing any more.
I love that "try listening to it at regular speed"!! You are right on. I have been frustrated with the quality of the latest Abbey Road pressings. It's almost as if "half-speed mastering" means "half-way- into- it -mastering". From what I have heard so far ( Marley, Stones) they are not so good at all. I have a copy of Goats Head Soup - Stones on the way and I am kind of mad at myself for pulling the trigger on it. I have not heard it yet but I cross my fingers.... btw Michael were you able to order the White Stripes White Blood Cells from ERC? Did they change the ordering process?
Sadly their recording engineers seem unable to do their job with any pride or skill. I won't be buying any of them and will continue to pass on your passionate message.
Hi Michael ! Great video as always ! Have listen to the 2 Serge Gainsbourg boxes half speed mastering issued from Abbey Road studios ? I am a big fan of Gainsbourg and before buying thes expavsive boxsets i prefer asking this question.... excuse me for my poor english ..i am a french guy 😉! Thanks for your honesty .. Jean-Michel
I wish you would have gone into more detail as to what’s actually wrong with these… you just said that they’re bad and atrocious, but what does that actually mean? Is it full of noise/static/clicks/pops, or is it just that it sounds compressed? I’ve seen decent reviews on Discogs and in forums for the Velvet Underground & Nico release, so I’m just trying to figure out what the supposed problem actually is.
Great video, thank you. They should go to their rooms and think about taking people's money unfairly. I saw this coming. To be honest, VU & Nico and White Light are not audiophile recordings in the first place. I had no idea how these would benefit from 1/2 speed mastering. Note that all those Sundaze version records (except the unreleased one) are in mono. Abbey Road seems to be just a brand these days, they're doing way too much. Real mastering engineers know what was necessary to do.
Hi Michael, took a gamble and bought the first Velvet Underground & Nico and WLWH half speeds. I was expecting bad things after watching your review, but they are great. Quality quiet, flat pressings, sonically lively not flat, good soundstage with a lot of detail and air. Obviously they're still low-fi recordings as they originally were. Maybe the 2021 repress has fixed something since the 2019 ones?
Excellent Michael and please continue as this was your best video so far! Why? Because it was brutually honest which is why I watch you! I don't muppets telling me that everything is wonderful etc etc too many of them on YT- We need sincerity and honesty and calling Abbey road out for bad work is the right thing to do...so please please do NOT change or I will switch off! 👍👍
Hi Michael. Another great video. Quick question. On the new albums you buy, that are not boxset (which protect he vinyl). For value as a collector, is it bst to leave the "shrink wrap" on or take it off to prevent warpage? Your advice would be appreciated. Thx, Evan
I appreciate that you call out labels that put out crappy pressings/masterings of records that collectors are going to want to purchase. Please continue to call them all out until they stop. I have the budget Polygram pressings of the Velvet Underground Verve catalog. They're not stellar but it's interesting to know that I don't have the worst pressings of those albums.
please DO these videos more often when needed. Cause this is exactly why i watch videos about re-releases, to find out if it's worth buying. Very informative thanks!
The Sundazed box is mono versions (except the '1969' LP)... Not sure about the 2012 box, but the 2019 box I have is with lacquers cut by Kevin Gray and pressed at RTI instead of Rainbo. To my ears, whether mono adds something over stereo varies song to song, but in general this boxset is unquestionably my preferred way to hear these recordings. But then, I'm a huge fan of Kevin Gray's work (Sparklehorse "It's A Wonderful Life" and Cat Power "Moon Pix" as exemplars).
Have you listened to the 2008 Back to Black pressing? Just wondering what your opinion is on the quality of that one. Seems to have mixed reviews on discogs.
I was going to order the Abbey Road version a couple of weeks back when I happened upon a new copy of the B2B release at a local shop I frequent. Didn't realize it at the time... Heard the LP plenty of times, but never owned a copy. Opted to buy local rather than order online - seems I lucked out. Playing it as I type this - clean copy, one small pop, sounds digitally sourced - nice job on the artwork.
@@Michael45RPM I've had mixed luck with Sundazed. The QC of their pressings can be abysmal and you don't find out about the titles that are out of stock until your order arrives with only half the albums (at least one of which you will have to return due to defects).
Michael, although clearly you are not comfortable with your honest negative review of the Abbey Rd releases, I applaud you for your honesty. It sends a clear message to the manufacturer to lift their game and it’s up to them if they take constructive criticism as an opportunity to do better. Regardless, for me it is a strong message that your reviews are driven by your passion for excellence in sound quality and reinforces that I can trust you to provide honest insight to those of us with the same values and help us avoid costly disappointing investments. Well done and keep it up.
Nothing wrong with an honest review. I was going to buy a few of the Bob Marley half speed masters from Abbey Road since i don't own any Marley albums on vinyl, but after watching your review on them i decided not to so thank you for your honest constructive criticism you saved me money. Keep the honest reviews coming.
Hallo Michael, I am following your channel since a good while. You and I have a good lot in common, not only cause of our strong passion for Music Matters jazz Reissues. Why not do a female voices edition? Macy’s edition talks a lot about Ella F. What about Patricia Barber, Anne Bisson, Etta Cameron, Jacintha, Melody Gardot, …. Lyn Stanley … those great jazz vocalists with great audiophile pressing Releases? Happy to share an video conferencing with you. Thomas
Most of these companies cashing in on the vinyl craze aren't making a product you actually listen to.... they are making a collectable that you hang on your wall so you look like a cool kid.
Thanks for posting! Maybe they should buy a few days of Bernie Grundmans time and figure out if this is due to a technical problem or simply the down to the craftmanship. Whatever reason the real problem is in the management team, this will damage their brand,. I hope they fix this quickely and stop wasting vinyl and pressingplant time. ❤️from🇸🇪
Michael, don’t be sorry for delivering the truth. This Abbey Road thing seems like it’s just becoming some kind of sick joke at this point. I mean, how can you get it so wrong so many times? Their track record seems to keeps getting worse, and they’ve got to know about the problem. Thanks, Michael.
Michael, your sincerity and rigor is admirable. It is difficult to give a negative opinion and to show your face when doing it. Congratulations on your honesty. Do you know what happened to the video for "A love Supreme live in Seattle '...? It has disappeared, I can't find it on your channel. Thanks
Michael, outstanding video very well said. Please, please, please continue to review and tell us what "audiophile" albums we in the community need to avoid. Maybe, just maybe the way to stop them is to hit them where it hurts the most, their bottom line. As for the Abbey Road Studios, I am pretty sure they will not release the Beatles mastertapes to Mo-Fi, Analogue Productions or anyone else again, I hope I am wrong. Same goes for Page, all the Led Zepplen reissues I have purchased sound terrible compared to my old copies. Keep up the great work...
@@Michael45RPM Thanks for the reply. I can not tell you just how much I really enjoy your videos. We really need you to keep the pressure on these labels and studios.
@@Michael45RPM I am doing my part now, I bought the Let It Be, box, but other than that I am trying to find older pressings that are in decent shape. My best find so far is a Delaney & Bonnie & Friends On Tour that was still in shrink, opened it up Richmond Pressing. Go figure...
You should try and do a chat with him. I had an exchange with him online and he stood by his half speed mastering 🙄 I personally think the half speed process adds next to nothing….I think they do it so they can market it as being ‘audiophile’ or a premium product. The most important things are the source and a decent mastering engineer…which is why I love `Kevin Gray’s work.
sorry but you are a little to negative here.. i have the box and this set and there isn't that big of a difference to warrant 'Abbey Road Butchered' it.. a little to strong.. is someone paying you to say things... :) love the channel, usually..
You should ABSOLUTELY call out reissues that are substandard. This is the only way that there will be any hope for improvement. The only Abbey Road Half Speed Masters that I own are Japan's "Tin Drum" and "Gentlemen Take Polaroids" 45rpm X 2 disks and they sound really, really, really GOOD. But I did not buy them until I had gotten feedback saying that these remasters had been done well. Anyway thanks for the heads up and please maintain the rage! ✊
Michael, being Honest, having your integrity is always better. Appreciate your honest review. Abbey Road truly does seem to be just in it for the money and not the quality of the music. Very unfortunate
Michael, never heard a "half speed mastering" vinyl myself, but I trust you. Then what's the point of this mastering technique, I really don't get it. Lucky me, I followed the advice of my brother in law a decade ago and got myself a copy from UMG Japan (2007) for around 40 Euro back then (and some other releases from UMG Japan at the time). My copy is still in mint condition and I just looked up the actual prices. It's insane how they skyrocked! But for me of course, the musical experience comes first. Abbey Road how dare you??
Michael, I couldn't echo your sentiment any more on the topic of the Velvets needing a high quality reissue campaign. I would love to see Speakers Corner or Pure Pleasure get the license to the masters. Those two labels have been really consistently doing great stuff, and seem like they would be a great fit for a group like them.
A year ago before I really anything much about new audiophile pressings I bought the abbey road press of VU & nico and holy crap I was so dissapointed. I actually compared it to spotify streaming and it actually sounded better! The streaming DAC I have is not even close in quality to my analog setup, but even spotify managed to sound better than what abbey road did. VU is one of my favourite bands of all time, so now I guess ill go hunting for a good price of the sundazed box.
I really believe that at some point a label will step up and do this correctly. Hopefully with the documentary that just came out (which is quite good) there will be some renewed interest and fan base. Maybe with a little momentum there will be a higher demand for a quality reissue and mastering. VU fans seem like the type that will demand it more vehemently than most. Thanks for another fantastic video. Also sorry to comment off topic, but will you be looking at those new AAA My Bloody Valentine reissues that are shipping here soon?
@@Michael45RPM Oh that might be and I'm probably wrong, but I thought "Loveless" and "Isn't Anything" are getting new AAA remasters. The album "MBV" was always fully analog though. Again I may be mistaken on this.
Hi Michael. Great channel. The VU and Nico is my favourite album and I would appreciate a little more explanation on what it is you hear that is so bad about this pressing . I’ve just listened to it for the first time and my first impressions are quite positive. I’ve never heard an early all-analogue copy but I have several copies, including a Japanese edition, the B2B reissue (highly regarded, btw) and the budget-priced 80s UK, which I believe is also all-analogue. I’ve also got your mono box, which is likely to be digitally sourced. I’ve not done a shoot-out but nothing stuck out as being particularly awful . ‘Butchered’ is a strong word, so could you give some detail on what you find so objectionable about this particular pressing, especially in comparison with other stereo pressings. I respect the passion in this review but it lacks specifics. Thank you.
Still waiting for DJ Shadows Endtroducing. Also a half speed master from Abbey Road Studios. Reading some positive comments on Discogs. Did you heard that one? Hope it’s the exception to the rule. Just recently discovered your channel. Love it!
Michael curious if you got the Mark Knopfler box set and if so your opinion on the quality of the recordings (ignoring the QC issues with the pressing plant as they are well publicized elsewhere).
@@Michael45RPM Miles Showell did a video where he said he didn't have to do too much to the mixes. May be a blessing! And there is no mention I can find about half-speed mastering though that might be default at Abbey. To me they sound good - not as superb as the Mofi 45rpm Dire Strait albums, of course, but good. And the music is wonderful. My copies were of good pressing quality - a few small imperfections that don't affect playback - which might put me in the minority based on some online comments I have seen. If you decide to buy, I'd love to see the review.
Michael do you have any idea if these half speed masters are selling well or not? I am hoping they are not selling well so that Abbey Road starts changing things.
After seeing this as well as the Rolling stone box review. I will not buy an Abby Road Release until it gets rave reviews. And with a name like Abbey Road its easy to remember to steer clear.
Oh dear, did you mention Queen as well? I just purchased the Queen Studio Collection boxset remastered by Bod Ludwig, half-speed mastered at Abbey Road, I'm a little nervous now...
Why nervous ? Only a few months ago Michael in a video said the Bob Ludwig Abbey Road ‘A night at the opera’ was a ‘beautiful & very good sounding pressing’ …so i assume the same would potentially hold for the others in the set (?)
@@nathanthomas5133 I sure hope so. There was a lot of complaining when the boxset was released because the original analog tapes were not used but Bob Ludwig issued a statement explaining the process. I'm confident that the mastering is excellent, but the issue around Abbey Road's 'lack of talent' seems to be expended to other half-speed releases. @5:10 Michael put the releases for the Stones, Queen, The Police, Marley, etc. into the same shameful category, or perhaps I misinterpreted the message (?)
So glad someone is speaking up about the overhyped methods employed by some companies. Sorry you wasted your $ buy you've likely saved many people from wasting theirs.
I wish you would d e s c r i b e the bad sound. All you sad was "flat", but what does that mean? No reverb? Distortion? The wrong balance between different instruments? Etc. Instead of being emotional, you'd better be factual. By the way, you're sporting a classic 1940 German hair style. It's hard to forget that listening to your German accent for eight minutes.
That's too bad. I got a couple of their Brian Eno 45 RPM half speed masters and really like them, then I got one of the Bob Marley albums they did and was so disappointed I haven't bought anything from them since.
I have the mid 80's box and it's nice sounding......I have a East Coast o.g. VU Nico too, $50 a few years back. You're correct about non audiophile. Loaded really does it for me. The Loaded outtakes boot lp is great too. FYI the Japan (UK) 2007/8 pressing is nice and quiet and great sounding.
Michael, I haven't heard these releases yet (and it looks like I probably won't bother) but your videos are an inspiration. I value everything that you, Fremer and Mike Esposito (The In groove) say. I learn a lot from you guys. I'm a huge Velvet Underground fan, and from this video i've learned one thing.... Seek out the Sundaze box. I didn't even know that existed!
Thanks Michael. I appreciate you make these videos. You are saving us from falling into a trap and that's great. It also makes your other videos more valuable. Because it shows that you have a criteria and you know the difference between good pressings and bad ones. I encourage you to keep these type of videos coming. Not everything can be good always and there is no shame on that.
Thank you for your forthright video. 1) it’s a shame these 3 albums don’t feature in the Acoustic Sounds Verve Reissue series 2) the Sundazed box used the mono mixes if I am correct and there are two versions with the 2019 set cut by Kevin Gray and pressed by RTI 3) I was disappointed with the 45th anniversary cuts too. IMO UME missed another opportunity there. 4) UME are also quiet on the mix used for the third album and missed to opportunity to release both mixes on vinyl when they did the 45th anniversary in a single lp
Sir, I think that you should stop being polite and holding back. Tell us what you really feel about these pressings. You are doing a great job of keeping my wallet closed.
I returned the recent DJ Shadow half speed master. The left channel was completely blown out and sounded appalling (no, it wasn’t the cartridge or anti-skate)
I guess it’s not the half speed mastering process as such that is an issue, considering that the MoFI releases are also half speed and these are constantly praised. I haven’t heard neither the Sundazed mono box or these new releases, but I think it is hard to compare mono vs stereo.
Yeah I wouldn’t blame it on the half speed mastering itself - I have heard many fine results of half speed mastering. Abbey Road’s remasterings of The Rolling Stones were weak - they even had to redo Exile on Main Street due to the backlash on their first attempt. I have their reissues of Brian Eno (I found those to be good) and Japan (ok). Even ok to good isn’t what I expect in a hyped reissue. - I expect excellence. Thanks for the review - I’ll definitely avoid these!
Thank you Michael. You just saved me $50, and possibly more important, saved me from the frustration that comes with receiving a garbage product that I would of otherwise had very high hopes for.
VU is probably top 3 favorite group for me. I would have been tempted to buy those remasters so good to know to stay away. I use to have that box set, I will bring that back again. Sad to charge that much and get poor quality. Abbey Road won’t be sending you a Christmas card.
I bought the box set that came out in '85 on Polydore which has the first w/ Nico, White Light, self title as well as "Another View" and "VU." And those pressings still sound good to me, after years. But I would love better versions on vinyl. Thank you for warning me about these pressings.
Thanks for your opinion here... But they sound fine to me. They came from digital, through an analogue desk to the cutter I think. So they're as good as they can get IMO (apart from if they came from the master tapes, unlikely) And regarding the Sundazed set, it was good but cheaply made and for example, The Gift sounded so wrong to me. I like some of the Sundazed stuff and they get it right sometimes. And for sure, the VU and Nico album sounded fine. But I found the Abbey Road version just as good as my 1985 pressing (which sounds pretty much identical to my original copy) if not with a little more clarity and less crackle. Let's rewind... None of these albums were recorded in an audiophile air-tight capsule of love. They were always rough at the edges, hit and miss. The Abbey Road versions are pretty much as they intended to be, mastering-wise. Remember the old computer adage, rubbish in, rubbish out. You simply can't improve on a bad recording. You can use A.I. to filter out the chaff. But then, where would we be? I hate to think. My only gripe was that the pressings were a little on the noisy side so a better pressing house should have been used and only the VU and Nico album was gatefold. In my view, all of the VU albums are just as important as their debut album and all deserve gatefold, tip-on sleeves at least. I'm not an Abbey Road nut, some stuff just isn't worth the half-speed logo. Nobody gets it right 100% of the time. So, yes... could be better but not a total disaster. Obviously, you have a different opinion but I respect that. (please don't question my system, it's bloody good un', lol :)
Thanks you Michael for this video. It is important that you make them because they represent what most of us think. How in the world can these realese be so bad with the resources available at AR. When I see what the gentleman at SAM Records is able to do on his own. Not all vinyl lovers have the budget for high end hifi but the still deserve a quality reissue on a mainstream product!! Enough ranting 😉😀
Michael why are you apologizing? There is no need. You’re helping people avoid bad pressings of great lps. That is a service we collectors appreciate. We thank you. There are enough shills out there accepting freebies and glossing over bad releases. We need as much honesty as we can get. So thank you for being honest. Say the truth and no apology is needed. Your channel is one of the few I take seriously.
Im new to this world of collecting records and so far I'm loving it. I think you should do more videos like this to help folks such as myself and also call these companies out who expect us to pay premiums for their lackluster products. Keep up the great work! 👍
I just have to say this, anyone who listens to one persons or other peoples opinion on sound quality is doing a disservice to themselves. If you base your buying and acquisition of records on someone else's opinion without listening for yourself your missing out. Michael's opinion on records is so predictable it's funny to watch. I would love to put him through a listening session of records where he hasn't been able to predetermine a bias by reading first before listening to the records. I do understand how people new to records try to find the fast track to a good pressing, or the best as they can be expensive. But the journey is part of learning and knowing what sounds good. No one else can tell you this, reading can't tell you this, preconceive bias and internet myths can't tell you this. The only way to truly know what sounds good to you is listening to multiple copies of the same tile, in your system with your own ears.
