Hotel California sounds good on the radio.

jsbail

Your ears do not deceive. Dark Side of the Moon and Hotel California are expertly crafted recordings.

Happy Listening!

Who can even stand to listen to that song anymore? It is so dated and boring.

Not necessarily because there dated and boring but we’ve heard them a million times, ya maybe boring.

I am not commenting on the music. I am observing that recordings known to be of high quality sound on our audiophile systems sound as good or better than recordings that sound terrible on revealing systems. It is often said the bad recordings sound that way because they are "mixed to sound good on the radio". 

In the early days of CD technology, some record companies (accidentally?) used master tapes that had the RIAA equalization curve (used to cut LPs) to make CDs. 

If it's boring it doesn't matter how well it's recorded.

Not the eagles, come on. I actually had a guy who auditioned some speakers I was selling and requested that song. I told him no. 

Listen to the original HC maybe once a month (always skipping 2 of the songs).

I've not tried the CD decks in any of our Honda's (first one with a CD deck was a 1991 Accord Wagon).

I also watch this video clip 2-3 times a month.

DeKay

I suspect those recordings were recorded and mixed for home systems because back in that day most cars only had AM radio. The idea of recording for radio really came about in the 80s with the Advent of commuting and FM radio widespread.

I couldn't stand it the first time and I don't get it, still.

As I said, I was not commenting on the music. My post is about the quality of the recording. I like the music on my old Rolling Stones records. They sound like crap on my audiophile system. It has been explained to me it is because they are "mixed for radio". So why does well recorded music sound as good or better on the radio then the poor sounding ones "mixed for radio"

@jsbail

So why does well recorded music sound as good or better on the radio then the poor sounding ones "mixed for radio"

Radio audio processing basically magnifies audio, as it is compressed, EQ’d and limited. I’m sure you’ve heard the expression garbage in, garbage out. The same can be said for audio processing on radio. Feed the radio station audio processor some well recorded audio (I personally *do* think most Eagles music qualifies), and most times it will sound very good to excellent once played out over the air (OTA). Depending on your idea of what "better" sounds like (many music enthusiasts prefer re-mastered recordings to the original recordings), radio (audio processing) can make recordings sometimes sound better, and sometimes worse. Most 60’s and 70’s 45’s were definitely mixed for Top 40 AM radio, and jukebox playing.

Mixed for radio would be for a small 2" transistor radio or 3" car speaker. They focused more on the mids as speakers that size wouldn't produce useful bass anyway and would also make a record skip on old turntables.

I like hearing a great recording but also enjoy my old records too though I find most of the remastered LPs sound better to me due to the restored bottom and top end.