THE BEATLES - THE BEATLES (1968 Apple Records, Mispress, Numbered, Stereo, Scranton Pressing)

 

1968 Apple Records, Mispress

From Discogs:

"A mispressing from the original rejected Capitol master. When mastering the White Album for the U.S., Capitol Records had applied much more dynamic limiting in the mastering process than the U.K. release. When George Harrison (who was in the U.S. at the time) heard this unreleased version, he demanded Capitol remaster the album to reflect the U.K. mastering before the album's official U.S. release. However, stampers taken from the original rejected Capitol master did make it out to the Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Scranton by mistake and were used in pressings at Scranton before being retired and replaced with George Harrison's approved U.S. master.

First pressing has "MFD. BY CAPITOL...." in white rim text on sides 2 and 4, with various title mistakes and unique number on the front cover.

This pressing has minor spelling variations on the labels: A4: "OBLADI OBLADA", A6: "BUNGALOW BILL", B7: "WHY DON'T WE DO IT IN THE ROAD" (without question mark) , D1: "REVOLUTION NO. 1", D5: "REVOLUTION NO. 9" and D6: "GOODNIGHT".

Cover has "The BEATLES" embossed, located towards the lower right corner, and sequentially numbered.

Pressed at Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Scranton, as identified by the "IAM" in a triangle stamp in the run-outs.

Comes with fold-out lyric poster and 4 glossy portrait photos on card stock."

Clarity: 3

Dynamics: 3

Tonality/Balance: 3

Soundstage/Image: 4

Pressing: 3

Found a copy yesterday in Harrisburg PA (two hours from Scranton) from an antique vendor who had a small box of records. I noticed the low number A1600042 so had to check out the deadwax, and that's when my jaw hit the floor. I was looking for a nice stereo pressing as a companion to my 2014 Mono which is sublime. I didn't expect to find this rare version! Matrix confirmed and it includes the 4 photos and poster/lyrics. Vinyl in VG.

So how does this cut sound?

WOW!! This is fucking hot and loud. Believe it or not, this reminds me of the RL Zeppelin II cut. This is intense and aggressive with HUGE bass and guitars that may melt your tweeters. I would bet that many contemporary record players would jump right out of the groove (like the RL Zep). Detail and clarity are perfect and vocals crystal clear and pushed hot. Yet midrange has a deep 3D image, and it just sounds gigantic. I can understand why George Harrison wanted these lacquers destroyed as this is a sledgehammer of sound, but I'm glad it exists. I fucking love this pressing!! 

Final Grade: 3.2

LED ZEPPELIN - LED ZEPPELIN (1969 Atlantic Records)

 

1969 Atlantic Records, First Pressing

Clarity: 3.5

Dynamics: 3.5

Tonality/Balance: 3.5

Soundstage/Image: 4

Pressing: 3

This is a great sounding pressing! Wide soundstage and well-balanced midrange and bass. My copy has some age-related surface noise but the sonics are so well EQ’d that it shines through. Better than any digital remaster I’ve ever heard! 

Final Grade: 3.5

THE STOOGES - THE STOOGES (1969 Elektra, Corrected Label)

 

1969 Elektra Records

“First” Pressing, Corrected label

Cut at Sterling by Lee Hulko

Clarity: 5

Dynamics: 5

Tonality/Balance: 5

Soundstage/Image: 5

Pressing: 5

This is one of the best sounding albums I’ve ever heard! WOW! Cut at Sterling by Lee Hulko, HUGE crunchy guitars and tight bass with detail in the midrange that is intimidating. This thing fucking shreds your cochlea! Vocals are crystal clear and powerful. This doesn’t just crush my Deluxe CD, it vaporizes it! Incredible pressing. Highest recommendation. 

Final Grade: 5

PORNO FOR PYROS - PORNO FOR PYROS (2025 Rhino Reserve Series, 180g)

 

2025 Rhino, Warner, 180g

Rhino Reserves Series

Cut at Sterling by Joe Nino-Hernes 

Clarity: 4.5

Dynamics: 4.5

Tonality/Balance: 4.5

Soundstage/Image: 4.5

Pressing: 4.5

WOW!! HUGE sound cut loud and intense with pumping bass, yet perfectly balanced midrange to create a nice 3D image. I don’t have an OG to compare but this sounds like a vintage album, meaning that so many modern remasters boost the bottom and trim the hot aggressive high end. Not here! This attacks from the tweeters and gives your woofers/sub a nice workout.

Final Grade: 4.5

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE - THE BATTLE OF MEXICO CITY (2021 Epic, Legacy, 2 x LP, Red & Green Vinyl, RSD)

 

2 x LP Red & Green

2021 Epic, Legacy, RSD Released

Clarity: 1.5

Dynamics: 1.5

Tonality/Balance: 1.5

Soundstage/Image: 1.5

Pressing: 3

Was this recorded on a Ronco portable cassette player? There are powerful raw and imperfect live albums that capture a band at their best and most aggressive...and this ain't one. How about MC5 Kick Out the Jams? The Replacements Live at Maxwell's? Elvis Costello Live at the El Mocambo? Here, bottom end is boosted to sound punchy but flattens the soundstage: louder is not better!! And it's FUCKING CENSORED in multiple places but not Killing in the Name Of!! WTF? Just avoid this.

Final Grade: 1.8

WARREN ZEVON - WARREN ZEVON (1976 Asylum Records)

 

1976 Asylum Records, First Pressing

Clarity: 3.5

Dynamics: 3.5

Tonality/Balance: 3.5

Soundstage/Image: 3.5

Pressing: 4

Nice deep soundstage, 3D harmonics so at times it sounds like you’re live in the studio while it’s being recorded. Nice rocking basslines supporting the piano flourishes and vocals. Nice twang to the guitar and snap on the drums. This sounds great! And you can hear fingers squeak on the strings! Some reviews report sibilance on this pressing but my pressing plays fine. 

Final Grade: 3.6

EDIE BRICKELL & THE NEW BOHEMIANS - SHOOTING RUBBERBANDS AT THE STARS (1988 Geffen Records)

 

1988 Geffen Records

DMM (Direct Metal Master)

Mastered at Sterling by George Marino

Clarity: 3.8

Dynamics: 4

Tonality/Balance: 3.5

Soundstage/Image: 4

Pressing: 3.5

I've spun this twice back-to-back to get a solid feel for the fidelity here, especially after reading the other reviews. Others experience brightness and sibilance, but I can only state that on my gear this sounds fucking fantastic! From the needle drop, you hear the tight fluid bass and spacious soundstage with vocals crystal clear. The detail is extraordinary! Now, Edie's voice is warm like a fuzzy blanket one moment then strident the next, so a setup that leans towards brightness may seem harsh. My old NAD amp was like that, a bit harsh on the top end! I also hear no distortion on the acoustic guitar on Circle (but it is hot and pushed forward in the mix, which I love) or IGD, just a great mastered and pressed album. But mileage may vary depending on gear! It's not an expensive OG to take a chance on. I almost passed this by in my local shop's used section after reading these reviews but glad I didn't. 

Final Grade: 3.76

ELVIS COSTELLO - LIVE AT THE EL MOCAMBO (1978 Unofficial Release)

 

1978 Unofficial Released

Clarity: 3.3

Dynamics: 3.3

Tonality/Balance: 3

Soundstage/Image: 3.5

Pressing: 3.5

Though the broadcast suffers (a bit) from lack of low end which was inherent to the recording (I suspect), this is a perfect live album. It captures the intense energy from Mr. MacManus and his band who rock the shit out of the place! This fidelity is hot and aggressive yet crowd noise never overpowers the music. The crowd actually has a nice 3D depth. You can crank the volume without distortion or shrillness, just well-balanced mastering for a live radio-play only album. 

Final Grade: 3.3

GANG OF FOUR - SOLID GOLD (1981 Warner Bros. Records)

 

1981 Warner Bros. Records, First Pressing

Clarity: 4.5

Dynamics: 4.5

Tonality/Balance: 5

Soundstage/Image: 4.5

Pressing: 4

HUGE funky bass sound, hot guitars and deep 3D soundstage. Detail, separation and clarity just about perfect. WOW! Highest recommendation!

Final Grade: 4.5

THE BAND - MUSIC FROM BIG PINK (1969 Capitol Records, Gatefold)

 

1969 Capitol Records, Gatefold, Repress

Clarity: 3.5

Dynamics: 3.5

Tonality/Balance: 3.5

Soundstage/Image: 3.5

Pressing: 3

Wonderful fidelity! Guitars are brash and intense yet well balanced in a huge 3D soundstage. Detail and clarity superb. Damn this sounds so much more organic than my SACD remaster. Love it!

Final Grade: 3.4