Born to Run: Why the Poor Sound Quality?


I have always been disappointed with the sound quality of Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run. Even the CBS 1/2 Speed Master pressing is underwhelming. Is there a good explanation for this? As I recall, Jon Landau produced the album, and he is certainly no slouch, but the recording seems inferior.

It's really a shame that there doesn't seem to be a decent pressing of this classic album
jeffreybowman2k

Showing 1 response by stevecham

So many things go into why a record sounds good or doesn't. No tonly the rpoduction up to the master tape, but the quality of the tape made for the pressing plant, the source of lacquers, the source of the vinyl pellets, the metalworking... all of these variables are way outside the control of the artist and producer.

Even if they liked test pressings, that was no guarantee that would be what the public could buy. This is one of the things that CD was supposed to solve but not always did. Bottom line is that vinyl is as much art as process and there is good and bad art in the manufacture.