Loudness War

Blindjim,

Why disparage the most successful album of all time?

Why not give credit where credit is due!

I feel back then quality played such a small part as to be inconsequential.

Hang on. Thriller was part of the 8O's - an era where, as far as I am concerned, music recording quality peaked. So many extended mixes from that period. Works by Trevor Horn and Alan Parson for example - these 80's productions were the pinnacle of what the recording industry has ever achieved. IMHO

I've no issue with the recording industry's upswing of quality being infused into their products begining back then in the 80s. None. I thought I said as much, though not as clearly as yourself.

My point is simple... the bulk of the MJ Thriller album sales was not based on it's quality, but it's hype.

Truth be told, I liked the thing back then and did not and do not care one wit about the artist. In fact I don't care for him then or now. he had severe issues and never addressed them sufficiently enough to prevent hurting others and worst of all, he hurt innocent children.

I'm unable to excuse such actions because of sheer notiriety or talent.

MJ's acclaim may have surpassed that of Elvis economically, but there's no fair comparison... that's like saying the vlockbuster flick of 2000 was out sold by the blockbuster flick of 2010... Tickets were cheaper in 2000... albums were cheaper and there were less people to buy them.

Elvis & The Beatles bodies of work will always out run MJ in my book... despite the $$$ signs.

had either of those promoted any album they produced in a likewise manner as was Thriller... a likewise result would have occured.

the notion of the presumed quality of the recording came purely as an aside in later years.. or now. Not back then.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

OK well it seems this thread has ended up more an argument of aesthetics than anything else. We'll see whether The Beatles or MJ are played in 200 years like Beethoven and Mozart. My pick would be The Beatles, heads and shoulders above MJ.

Anyway, not wanting to buy into this because it is a completely separate argument.

Anyone seen this site?
http://www.dr.loudness-war.info/

Fantastic database for the protagonists of the loudness war, but what software would give readings like this??

The software I mentioned above can tell you the dynamic range and peak for each track.

It appear that you can send your files to the website and presumably the software checks the dynamic range and then adds the file to the list.

Here is the upload form

http://www.dr.loudness-war.info/#

I have perused the database and based on my experience and specific albums that I have - it appears to be quit accurate.

Just scroll down and look at Metallica

No wonder their fans are upset about the recent crap quality.

Also note that the new release of MJ Thriller is a much worse than the original 1982 CD (which I have as I bought it in 1982, although I am not much of an MJ fan and do not want to prolong the discussion but lack of "dynamic range" on some verions might explain why there are different views on the quality of this particular album)