Why don't we make a list of best pressings ?


I didn't compare many but here are a few. When I say Japanese original I mean Japanese first release, same mastering as the original in the country where it was recorded. In descending order.
A. Miles Davis - Bitches Brew
1. Japanese original promo stereo
2 -3. Japanese original stereo
2 -3. US original 360 sound.
US and Japanese sound slightly different, I listen to both.
B. Miles Davis - Pangaea
1. Japanese original promo
2. Japanese original
C. Mahavishnu Orchestra - The Inner Mounting Flame
1. Japanese original.
2. Canadian original 360 sound.
 D.Mahavishnu Orchestra - Birds of Fire
1. Japanese original promo
2. Japanese original
E. Mahavishnu Orchestra - Visions Of The Emerald Beyond
1. US original White Label Promo.
F. Al Di Meola - Cielo e Terra
1. Japanese original promo
2. Japanese original

I have or had other pressings of all these albums, they are worse to various degree. Canadian original 360 Sound  Bitches Brew also sounds good but I preferred the US and Japanese. Japanese first release of the "Visions..' by Mahavishnu Orchestra is something that I don't like. This is rare in my experience when it comes to records from 70s.




inna

Showing 4 responses by inna

Japanese vinyl from 70s itself is of very high quality, very quiet, but it doesn’t always sound best.
Say, I didn’t compare Pink Floyd’s WYWH pressings, I only have original Japanese and it does sound very acceptable. Not very good recording, though. Oops, I did compare it to original German, Japanese was better.
There are people here who did compare multiple pressings. Often you don't even need high end equipment, just a good one. 
And another one.
Tony Scott - Music for Zen meditation.
original German by far. Recorded in Japan.
Great and unusual album, by the way.
Also,
John McLaughlin with Shakti - A Handful of Beauty.
1. Japanese original promo
2. Japanese original.
By far better than anything else I heard, including US WLP.
John McLaughlin - Electric Guitarist
1. US WLP
2. Japanese original
Both sound good.