As previously reported, ‘the Sony four’, as we like to call Alison Moyet‘s long-players issued between 1984 and 1994, are being reissued as two-CD deluxe editions. These are now available to pre-order…
Blue (Playing The Field Edit) Previously unreleased.
There Are Worse Things I Could Do
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Thanks to the comments on this forum about the compressed & distorted sound quality, I’m not going to buy these remasters & will instead stick with my originals. I’m very disappointed & find it hard to believe that that they are still remastering older titles as badly as this. I hope the record labels take note of lost sales…sound quality matters!
Stephen E Cohen
4 years ago
I did get one bit of good music news today. My order of “Raindancing” which has been on backorder from Amazon (US) since Dec 05, is finally being delivered on Thursday, Dec 29. I am ordering each deluxe edition of Alison Moyet’s first four reissues individually. I received “ALF” right on time, but since I did not order “Raindancing” right away, I was put in the backorder pile. So, apparently Amazon (US) has received another shipment of this album, in case anyone is interested.
Neil Young
4 years ago
I’m glad others have noticed and commented on the distortion. I thought it was my ears. It really is disappointing. I’ve waited years to hear some of these 12 inch mixes. Such a shame.
Steen Hansen
4 years ago
I ordered both Alf & Raindancing. Packaging, liner notes etc is perfect, but I must say that the remastering is absolutely awful. More so with Alf than Raindancing, but Alf didn’t sound that good to begin with. I have listened to all 4 cds once and it was a pain throughout because of distortion etc. Got my old cd versions from the 80’s out and they sound just great with the dynamics intact – not something you can say about these new editions. What a shame :(
Yes Charlie the original sound was alway harsch. The new remaster has a well done EQ, but with the heavy limiter they destroyed everything. So there is a highres 24/96 file availabe, but is it without the limiter ? Has anyone asked BMG what has happened ? There are two engineers listed in the booklet, maybe the second engineer has applied aditional limiter ?
Charlie D
4 years ago
Would love to see an interview with the folks who remastered these.
I know “Alf” was one of the earliest all digital recordings and to my ears, was always rather harsh sounding. I also felt the keyboard sounds didn’t hold up well and it made it feel dated even 10-15 years ago.
From only having heard the streaming remasters on Spotify they do sound a bit warmer but I haven’t gotten a physical disc yet.
It wasn’t a digital recording. Says that on the cover…
SimonP
4 years ago
I’ve only ripped these to my PC and listened to them on there through the averagely good speakers attached to it. Alf is MUCH LOUDER, but it doesn’t sound awful to my ears. Will try again back to back on the proper stereo at some point, probably with headphones, as I went all AV years ago and don’t have proper speakers any more…
WHY!WHY!WHY! They know that these cds are more for collectors than anyone else. It is never going to be a chart hit, so why do they have to “update” these deluxe editions with the horrible standards of today’s masterings?
Hmm… any other views? Tried to listen to mine but my CD player is knackered :(
David Mcintyre
4 years ago
I’m actually looking forward to getting my hands on alf. Fond memories if that album when I was young.
Neil
4 years ago
I’m very glad i preordered Alf when i did because it’s went up 2 pence lol.
Neil
4 years ago
The release date for Alf is the 25th Nov the same as the rest Amazon are mistaken.
Stephen E. Cohen
4 years ago
I see that the pre-order for “ALF” is finally available from Amazon’s USA site, but none of the others.
Alex
4 years ago
Available at Pledgemusic for £44.42 including shipping: all four albums together with a 12 cm x 12 cm bonus collectors card. (Or £ 12,50 each, including shipping).
I’ll stick to Amazon US. I have Prime and already get free shipping + the price may drop more. Don’t need a collectors card. It would end up in the Collectors pile.
Thank you for this Information! Great deal for people in Germany!
SimonP
4 years ago
Because these have been so long coming and I’ve long digitally ripped all my 12″ singles I’m not feeling any real excitement about these. I’ll probably still buy them, though, as quite often I leave it too long and end up paying inflated prices for second hand stuff!
Craig
4 years ago
Alf is up on Amazon US and it also lists 12/2 as release date.
Andrew Edwards
4 years ago
Amazon UK has Dec 2nd listed as release date for Alf
Lanny
4 years ago
These come out the week of my birthday!!! If anyone needs any gift ideas, hint hint. :)
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Thanks to the comments on this forum about the compressed & distorted sound quality, I’m not going to buy these remasters & will instead stick with my originals. I’m very disappointed & find it hard to believe that that they are still remastering older titles as badly as this. I hope the record labels take note of lost sales…sound quality matters!
I did get one bit of good music news today. My order of “Raindancing” which has been on backorder from Amazon (US) since Dec 05, is finally being delivered on Thursday, Dec 29. I am ordering each deluxe edition of Alison Moyet’s first four reissues individually. I received “ALF” right on time, but since I did not order “Raindancing” right away, I was put in the backorder pile. So, apparently Amazon (US) has received another shipment of this album, in case anyone is interested.
I’m glad others have noticed and commented on the distortion. I thought it was my ears. It really is disappointing. I’ve waited years to hear some of these 12 inch mixes. Such a shame.
I ordered both Alf & Raindancing. Packaging, liner notes etc is perfect, but I must say that the remastering is absolutely awful. More so with Alf than Raindancing, but Alf didn’t sound that good to begin with. I have listened to all 4 cds once and it was a pain throughout because of distortion etc. Got my old cd versions from the 80’s out and they sound just great with the dynamics intact – not something you can say about these new editions. What a shame :(
My ‘Alf’ won’t play anywhere. Faulty, it seems…
Yes Charlie the original sound was alway harsch. The new remaster has a well done EQ, but with the heavy limiter they destroyed everything. So there is a highres 24/96 file availabe, but is it without the limiter ? Has anyone asked BMG what has happened ? There are two engineers listed in the booklet, maybe the second engineer has applied aditional limiter ?
Would love to see an interview with the folks who remastered these.
I know “Alf” was one of the earliest all digital recordings and to my ears, was always rather harsh sounding. I also felt the keyboard sounds didn’t hold up well and it made it feel dated even 10-15 years ago.
From only having heard the streaming remasters on Spotify they do sound a bit warmer but I haven’t gotten a physical disc yet.
It wasn’t a digital recording. Says that on the cover…
I’ve only ripped these to my PC and listened to them on there through the averagely good speakers attached to it. Alf is MUCH LOUDER, but it doesn’t sound awful to my ears. Will try again back to back on the proper stereo at some point, probably with headphones, as I went all AV years ago and don’t have proper speakers any more…
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BxtiVLSgkFISSDRyRjNBRGs4Zm8
All cried out – distorted to hell :(
WHY!WHY!WHY! They know that these cds are more for collectors than anyone else. It is never going to be a chart hit, so why do they have to “update” these deluxe editions with the horrible standards of today’s masterings?
La mix of “Is This Love”
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BxtiVLSgkFISdW5Ua1ExMG80aEU
Got my Alf and Raindancing editions. Horrible brickwalled, loud and distorted. What a disappointment !!!
Hmm… any other views? Tried to listen to mine but my CD player is knackered :(
I’m actually looking forward to getting my hands on alf. Fond memories if that album when I was young.
I’m very glad i preordered Alf when i did because it’s went up 2 pence lol.
The release date for Alf is the 25th Nov the same as the rest Amazon are mistaken.
I see that the pre-order for “ALF” is finally available from Amazon’s USA site, but none of the others.
Available at Pledgemusic for £44.42 including shipping: all four albums together with a 12 cm x 12 cm bonus collectors card. (Or £ 12,50 each, including shipping).
I’ll stick to Amazon US. I have Prime and already get free shipping + the price may drop more. Don’t need a collectors card. It would end up in the Collectors pile.
Thank you for this Information! Great deal for people in Germany!
Because these have been so long coming and I’ve long digitally ripped all my 12″ singles I’m not feeling any real excitement about these. I’ll probably still buy them, though, as quite often I leave it too long and end up paying inflated prices for second hand stuff!
Alf is up on Amazon US and it also lists 12/2 as release date.
Amazon UK has Dec 2nd listed as release date for Alf
These come out the week of my birthday!!! If anyone needs any gift ideas, hint hint. :)