What are your go to LP's for evaluating new gear or new tubes?

@billpete

Interesting! So this problem was widespread throughout the world! So we seem to know this much.

1) The original Pink Label UK releases were done correctly. Which would explain why Cat Stevens and the producer, Paul Samwell-Smith didn't catch the issue. They would have heard the initial UK releases. Which were fine. I doubt that they would have been concerned about worldwide distribution, and would have left that up to Island Records. They moved onto other projects.

2) The original A&M releases were faulty. A&M would have handled all of North America distribution and also the original Japanese pressings were distributed through A&M and released with A&M labels. So there is a good chance that they are faulty.

3) The problem in the UK seems to have began with the reissues on Pink Rim Island recordings. They would have more than likely made new pressing plates for the reissue. Which seems to be the standard for reissues.

4) We now know that the German Blue label suffered the same fate. It appears to be one of a plethora of German reissues with varying labels throughout the years. It does not have a date for the reissue. But it appears that it was a much later reissue. The original German 1970  release was issued with the Pink Label. The same as the UK release. It would be interesting to know if that first German release was done correctly.

5) In 1980, Mobile Fidelity released a 1/2 speed remaster, and in 1982 released it as a more expensive MFQR release. We haven't any information as to whether those remasters were done correctly. However, they definitely would have used the original master tape. They would have been purely analog remasters. Since digital did not exist in the technology at that time.

6) Then we jump ahead to The 2008 Island "Back to Black" Remasters. They would most likely have been remastered from the original master tape. There is no way of knowing if digital processing was used. However, they do not suffer from the same problem. And sound great when compared to my A&M first pressing.

7) And then of course. There is the 2011 Analog Productions. Which is when this issue was brought to light. At the time. Analog Productions had just built a brand new state-of-art analog remastering facility. Especially designed for remastering analog from the original masters without the use of any digital processing. To launch their new product and label. They chose TFTT as their first remaster. Since it was such a well recorded and beloved classic. They made a deal with Island Records for a limited release distribution. And were supplied with the original master tape. They even have a photo of the tape included with a description of the process as an included insert. Needless to say. They discovered the improperly decoded issue that plagued other recordings. And chose to do it correctly. They even decided to use the original Pink Island Label. And they sound fantastic!

8) Then we come to the 2020 remasters that Yusuf/Cat Stevens was personally involved in. They do not suffer from the issue.

This improper decoding issue seems to have been on an enormous scale. And have had an enormous impact worldwide. It was a colossal F%#%Up, to put it mildly.

I am curious if you have an original release Island copy of "Mona Bone Jakon"? It didn't do well at the time of its release. But riding on the heals of the enormous success of TFTT. The demand increased. And a reissue of the album was released. I believe that my A&M release of MBJ suffers from the same issues that my A&M TFTT does. I have nothing but the 2020 remasters that are streaming on Qobuz to compare it to. And they are being streamed at 44.1k/16 bit. 

If you should have a couple of different pressings of MBJ. Would be willing to take a listen and see if you can hear the same issues with those pressings? I am curious. And if, by any wild chance, you should have access to the 1980 Mobile Fidelity remasters of TFTT. I would like to know how they compare.

What an interesting discovery. Thanks for all of the information that you have provided.

Some great info. Thanks. Now, I have more to look for. I do not have Mona Bone Jakon. I think I had it on 8 track or possibly cassette ages ago but it is no longer in my collection. It was not a favorite of mine, as I recall or I would have replaced it long ago. My other favorites would be Catch Bull at Four and Buddha and the Chocolate Box. I just picked up an Island copy of Catch Bull at Four and look forward to comparing it to my A&M copy. 

Others that I have are The World of Cat Stevens on Decca.

Very Young and Early Songs on Deram/London

Matthew & Son two album set on Deram/London

Cat Stevens Greatest Hits on red vinyl A&M

Teaser and The Firecat on Island, two copies

Catch Bull at Four A&M and now an Island copy

Back to Earth promotional copy A&M

Buddha And The Chocolate Box A&M

Izitso on A&M

Numbers on A&M

7 copies of TFTT, Island original pink label, Island pink rim, Island German blue label, two A&M copies and the off-center re-issue from Universal and the A&M dbx copy. 

I think that's it but often adding more. I'm going to have to check the other albums to see if I find any similar issues. Most are A&M but I always thought they were well done. Have more to compare now so will be interesting. I've certainly learned a great deal on this subject. Thanks for all the info.

@billpete 

I totally get what you are saying about Mona Bone Jakon. But since you are obviously a huge Cat Steven's fan. I would encourage you to give it another listen.

After being near death from tuberculosis when he was admitted to the hospital and his two year absence from the music scene, while struggling to recover. What we see is a new Cat Stevens appear. The "spiritual" Cat Stevens. He had spent that time contemplating his life and death and what was the important things in life. And what emerged from that experience was the birth of the Cat Stevens that was to come. He managed to get released from his current record label, and also managed to get signed by Island. Who promised to let him do whatever he wanted in whatever manner that he wanted. Mona Bone Jakon, was the first album of that rebirth. He no longer desired to be a teenage pop star. The songs on MBJ are sometimes not developed totally. But, there are some great songs. "Trouble", "My Lady D'Abanville", "Maybe You're Right", "Fill My Eyes".

As Joni Mitchell said about her album "Blue". I must say about MBJ.  I don't believe that there is an insincere note on the album. He was gaining his footing as a serious songwriter with serious things to say. And he would go on to release TFTT within the same year. MBJ represents a rebirth of the Cat Stevens that would take the world by storm. I encourage you, as a serious Cat Stevens fan. Invest in a CD at least, and give it another listen. There is some gold to be found in its simplicity. And it should be given a spot in your collection. If for no other reason than to make his transition complete. From one Cat Steven's fan to another. Just my humble opinion.

This has been a pleasure for me. Thank you.

@flash56 

I recently read about the TB and the hospital stay. It said that he wrote over 40 songs while there. I don't know why I didn't know any of this stuff way back when. You'd think it would have been big news but it was also a time when my life was moving very quickly and I didn't pay much attention to things around me. 

I do plan to give MBJ another chance. I hope to have all of his different original albums at some point.  I often find that things I used to like, I now wonder why and things that I didn't like seem OK or good. Funny how that goes. Kind of like the Joni Mitchell albums. I probably had them for over 50 years and don't remember listening to them before recently. Two of them were really good.

This has been an adventure and a big pleasure for me as well. Many thanks to you and all who had input. Great stuff. 

Another recommendation for an album with great sound is Suzanne Vega "Solitude Standing" (A&M SP 5136). I bought it on cassette in 1987 and hadn't heard it for many years. Since finding a vinyl copy on discogs it has become a regular wife-annoyer (she objects if she hears the same thing twice in a month). Remarkable sound.