Anyone heard the latest Hendrix releases on vinyl?

Stu Pitt · « **on:** 17 Mar 2010, 10:20 pm »

The various online vinyl stores are selling a new generation of Hendrix LPs. I have some old Polydor LPs that sound better than the CDs, but that doesn't say much. The imaging is way off - voice sounds buried in one speaker and the guitar is pretty much in the other, drums sound like cardboard boxes, and so on.

Has anyone heard the new ones? Places like Music Direct are hyping them up. If I can get Hendrix that sounds like hifi, I'd be all over it. I guess things can be re-mastered right - The Doors' LA Woman on German Vinyl sounds phenominal. The other versions I have of it sound mediocre at best.

Here's a link to one of them -

http://www.musicdirect.com/product/86889

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

PS - I just ordered Valleys Of Neptune.

mjosef · « **Reply #1 on:** 17 Mar 2010, 11:02 pm »

Me wants to know too.

vinyl_guy · « **Reply #2 on:** 18 Mar 2010, 08:00 pm »

If you post this in the Vinyl Circle you might get more response. Just a suggestion.

Wayner · « **Reply #3 on:** 18 Mar 2010, 09:02 pm »

My buddy Dan, who works at the Electric Fetus (used and new record/CD shop) in St. Cloud said that they SUCK! They were re-issued by Capitol Records and sound very grating and unpleasant (according to him) and he also hates the sound of almost all of the Capitol re-issues. I picked up Depesche Mode, Sounds of the Universe on Capitol/Virgin/EMI and thought the pressing was good. I do respect Dan's comments, but I haven't heard any of them myself.

Someone needs to be the Ghini (spelling) pig on this one and go buy one or two and report back. I have the Greatest hits on Polydor #184138 in great condition and I thought I had Electric Lady Land somewhere, but am unable to find it

anywhere. Maybe I was dreaming. The wife just bought me the mail as I am writing this and my new copy of Stereophile came with a review mentioned on the front cover of Jimi Hendrix's new album "Undead". I wonder who dug him up?

Wayner

doug s. · « **Reply #4 on:** 18 Mar 2010, 09:07 pm »

wayner, try: guinea - go for it!

doug s.

Stu Pitt · « **Reply #5 on:** 19 Mar 2010, 03:31 pm »

I don't think these are by Capitol, Wayner. I can't find any reference to Capitol on Music Direct's link. I just see Legacy Recordings. If Legacy is part of Capitol, my bad!

I've got Valleys of Neptune on the way. Hopefully my Bryston B60 will be done being upgraded soon. When I hear Valleys, I'll report back.

Vinyl Lady - I was thinking the same thing. I think a lot of vinyl people hang out here though.

Edit: A Google search leads me to believe Legacy Recordings is part of Columbia, not Capitol.

kingdeezie · « **Reply #6 on:** 19 Mar 2010, 03:52 pm »

I just got three of these in last night...

Are you Experianced, Axis Bold as Love, and Electricladyland.

I haven't yet listened to them, they came in last night; Might get to it tommorow, I can post some impressions.

I do believe that they are NOT Capitol; but Sony/Columbia.

They are individually numbered which, to my obsessive compulsive collectors self, is a pretty neat bonus.

Lyndon · « **Reply #7 on:** 19 Mar 2010, 04:34 pm »

I don't have them, but there should be no excuse from the Hendrix Estate to allow poor pressings.
On a side note, I am not too pleased by the double price on new releases.
Just bought a new cd called 'Broken Bells' on Amazon. It was ten bucks
for the cd, and $20.00 for the vinyl. Guess which one I bought.

Wayner · « **Reply #8 on:** 19 Mar 2010, 06:00 pm »

My bad. I called the Electric Fetus and they are on Legacy records. Even worse then Capitol. They went thru 3 LPs and couldn't even get some to track, knocking the stylus out of the grooves. Sounded like they were dirty.

Wayner

Stu Pitt · « **Reply #9 on:** 19 Mar 2010, 06:35 pm »

Thanks for the info, Wayner.

Wayner · « **Reply #10 on:** 19 Mar 2010, 06:44 pm »

OK, Gophers NCAA game over

and I now have time to expound. They said the record pressings were so bad that they think there is close to 100% defect in the lot that they received. Again, I wonder how a pressing plant can let crap like this happen. It only takes one fool to screw up the work of many. Is the press too hot (I suspect) or what other things are going on. Does anyone in the world understand Quality Control anymore?

I guess If you want some classic Hendrix LPs, go find some used stuff, look at the vinyl before you buy and expect to buy 2 or 3 before you get a good one. If any record companies want to hire me, I'll bust some balls.

Wayner

Stu Pitt · « **Reply #11 on:** 19 Mar 2010, 07:31 pm »

I've got all his old stuff on Polydor and/or Reprise. I was just hoping that someone got it right for once.

I think QC has gone down since demand has gone up. No new plants were opened in a long time, and the old ones gotta pump out enough to satisfy the latest fad. With increased production should come increased QC, but that cuts into the bottom line. Its a shame.

ricmon · « **Reply #12 on:** 19 Mar 2010, 07:40 pm »

Quote from: Wayner on 18 Mar 2010, 09:02 pm

My buddy Dan, who works at the Electric Fetus (used and new record/CD shop) in St. Cloud said that they SUCK!

Wayner

I not sure of which pressing I have but I bought a new pressing of A Band of Gypsies on 180g vinyl and I think it sounds pretty good. The two things I like about the disk is that now it actually sounds like Buddy can sing....all the undulations and crackling in his voice is very discernible and the sound of Jimmy's guitar is pretty musical.

just my 2 cents
Ric

Wayner · « **Reply #13 on:** 19 Mar 2010, 07:56 pm »

I really want to buy the new releases of the Hendrix stuff, but every time I'm in the shop, Dan tells me his horror stories. I am becoming leery of brands. Hollywood records is on the top of the list, and Friday Music is slightly shaky, but their last couple of LPs seem good. I do have a couple of Capital re-dos and can't complain, but who knows. I do trust Dan. I don't have any Legacy.

Wayner

ricmon · « **Reply #14 on:** 19 Mar 2010, 08:02 pm »

I bought the Now Classic Records version on red vinyl.

Wayner · « **Reply #15 on:** 19 Mar 2010, 08:09 pm »

Is that the same as the Classic Records? If so, I think everything they put out is stellar quality. I have Roy Orbison, Crying, and it is a masterpiece!

Wayner

Stu Pitt · « **Reply #16 on:** 19 Mar 2010, 09:08 pm »

I've got a couple of Classic Records LPs. They've all been phenominal. Earmark did a fantastic job with Black Sabbath stuff as well.

I was hoping the Hendrix stuff would be similar.

ricmon · « **Reply #17 on:** 20 Mar 2010, 12:32 am »

Quote from: ricmon on 19 Mar 2010, 08:02 pm

I bought the Now Classic Records version on red vinyl.

OK I misspoke.............I have the new Capitol release. It's printed on red 180g vinyl. I'm listing to it now and yes it soundss prety good. Good enough to reccomend.

Ric

Toni Rambold · « **Reply #18 on:** 25 Mar 2010, 09:25 pm »

Hi,

the Sony/Legacy Recordings RTI pressings are considerable flat, no ticks, no pops or groove distortions. I refer
to AYE, AXIS and FROTNRS I have listened to lately. From "experience" ...

... try to get the lowest numbers
as possible.

I'm so glad the Camarillo Brillos sent the bad RTI pressings to the Gophers ...

If you can't get lucky with the american RTI pressings try the dutch Music On Vinyl pressings:

Music On Vinyl

They will release AYE as a double LP with 17 tracks and the UK cover in April:

Are You Experienced

These are immaculate 180g pressings and they use the same Sterling masters.

Regards Toni

jsaliga · « **Reply #19 on:** 26 Mar 2010, 05:17 pm »

I bought the following Hendrix reissue titles on vinyl and was quite happy with all of them:

Are You Experienced? (two 180g LPs from MCA)
Axis: Bold As Love (200g Classic Records mono)
Electric Ladyland (two 180g LPs from MCA)
Live at the Fillmore East (two 180g LPs from MCA)
Live at Woodstock (200g Classic Records)
Band of Gypsies (200g Classic Records)

The MCA pressings were originally sold through Experience Hendrix. Are You Experienced? and Electric Ladyland originally sold for $29.99 each and that is what I paid for them some years ago from the Experience Hendrix website. I am fairly certain that all of those are sold out by now, but it may be worth checking. I cannot comment on the newer reissues from Legacy because I haven't heard them, but I was disappointed with the Legacy reissue of Miles Davis' Bitches Brew (both LPs were warped on two orders).

--Jerome