45rpm pressing of Fleetwood Mac Rumours

I have a question for those folks who have gone this route. As I mentioned in another post, I "discovered" a great record store near my house that sells vintage vinyl, which for the most part is in terrific shape. While surveying the collection, I distinctly recall seeing a few original Rumors pressings from the 70s. As an aside, I own the same pressing and it is one of the best recorded records out there.

So, the question is, if one can get their hands on one of the old pressings from the 70s, is that a better way to go?? Of course, if the answer is NO, then I totally understand going this route.

Stick with the original. I have 2 copies and they are excellent. I can't believe i bought these in the 1970's for $6 or $8 bucks. And now they want you to pay $25 or $45 for a re-master that may or may not sound as good.

I ask you this, if the original could be made for $2 or $3 in 1977 and they made hundreds of thousands at a time, why don't the new issues cost $15-$20 and sound as good??? Why pay a premium for inferior sonics?

There are plenty available if you look around.

I got my 45 RPM copy two days ago. I also have an original pressing I bought in 1977 that is in great shape. IMO, the new album blows away the original in every way - dynamics, sound stage, warmth, detail, etc. Psycho-acoustics? Am I hearing what I want to hear? Maybe but that perception is my reality. I don't regret the purchase for a second. Obviously, YMMV.

Thanks Onemalt for that info. Knowing how good my original pressing is, based on your comment, I am impressed and stand corrected. Obviously, you and the OP share different opinions. I'll continue to follow this thread for a while to see what others report. I'll make a decision to buy or pass based on what the consensus says.

I haven't heard the new 45 version of this album, but I do have the original LP. It's a pretty good recording for 70s rock.

One needs to consider the recording style, or fads of the day if you prefer. On rock records in the 70s, drums for example, were recorded with a a rather distant, muffled quality. This contrasts sharply with other periods when drums often had a more live room sound.

Remastering and digital enhancement can somewhat change the quality of a recording, but it is often difficult to change the underlying mix.

When one is listening to records from another period, it is helpful to understand the "sound" that was popular at a given period in time. No record from the 70s is going to have the in-your-face, over-compressed and bass-heavy sound of a modern release.

I have both copies (original release and the remaster) the 45 rpm remaster is better.

would have been much better if they released a bluray. I have a number of reissues on blueray (Neil Young) and when I compare to the original vinyl I have, bluray wins. You figure.

I am disappointed with the 45 rpm version. After reading all of the glowing reports, I was really looking forward to this. I also find it to be dull and rolled off at the top. My setup - Garrard 301 in Steve Dobbens plinth, Triplanar arm with Dynavecto xv-1s into Dartzeel preamp/phono is extremely open and airy. Makes me wonder what other people are hearing. As they say, YMMV.

IMO the 45 is definitely better. my 0.02

the early pressings can be great but you have to find a good one. interesting reading from tom port on this subject:

http://www.dccblowout.com/product.aspx?pf_id=fleetrumou_1210

Love this album and I have several versions of it. Original, japanese pressing, nautilus 1/2 speed and the 45rpm. All of it sounds great I would have to rate the 45 a bit ahead of the japanese pressing.... a bit more air and separation I think Hoffman did a great job

I heard the 45 rpm version on a great system and was not impressed with it.

I like the sound of the chain box cd set better

I have both the original and the Steve Hoffman pressings and actually listened to both versions yesterday, back to back. The Hoffman pressing has a more robust bass and perhaps a bit more seperation bewtween the musical elements. The original pressing has much more presence and punch in the upper-midrange. The original is a great, great sounding recording.

On balance I will take the original as I assume it consitutes the sound the band wanted. And it is a great sound. The Hoffman pressing is a fun variant but I miss the punch and presence of the original (I assume this is a function of the master-tape deterioration, and not any choice that Steve made).

I have the new 45rpm version and I think that it sounds very good. I also have an original copy from the 70's. I haven't actually compared the two versions yet but once I do I will post my impressions...

I'll have listen to my original to compare, but I played the 45 rpm last night.

Overall, I think the new version is the one to have. There's no question that it's got much more bottom end going on. That being said, I think the improvements are much more prominent on certain songs, like "Secondhand News" and "The Chain".

And from what I can tell, there are many varying levels of quality on an "original", so one dude's 1977 pressing could sound like garbage compared to the Hoffman version.

Thank you for your response, I think I was expecting to much out of the 45 rpm pressing. Greg

The albums that I have purchased(three to date), that Steve Hoffman and Kevin Gray have had their hands on, have been a MAJOR disappointment. I'll never buy another production of theirs. The pressing and vinyl quality were excellent. It's the mix & EQ that stank on all three.

To my ears the original palm tree label(I got 5 copies including a promo) or even the later WB shield label(Robert Ludwig mastered) has much better music flow and tonal balance than the 45rpm reissue. The 45rpm reissue to me sounded like the stylus is stuck in the mud while dragging the music with it(a bit of exaggeration but you get my drift). Bass is its biggest offender, due to the unnatural boost that I'm hearing.

If you REALLY want to hear the Fleetwood Mac Rumours album, at it's BEST; find a copy of the Nautilus SuperDisc pressing. It's a shame that early 1980's technology sounds so much better than what's available today, and that Nautilus is not still in business.

If the 45 version is 200 or 180 grams you might want to adjust your VTA on your tone arm and then listen to it again.

No amount of adjustment can correct a poorly mastered album. This one(two LP, 45rpm version) sounds as though it were mixed, using a pair of Radio Shack Minimus 7's for monitors.

I have the 33rpm edition. It, in my opinion is so much better than the original, that it isn't even close.