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Yes remasters/ HDCD

A number of times on here people have asked about the best sound quality of various Yes albums available on CD.

I have previously reviewed the complete Rhino remasters set on Lugs http://lugsmusicreviews.com.

Last week I at last tracked down a copy of a Japanese import HDCD version of Close To The Edge.
I have to say I was very impressed by the sound quality,it is louder and clearer than the Rhino version-of course I can't state if this is true for every release but I have to say the HDCD versions (remastered by a Japanese gent whose name I don't have at hand) seem the way to go.
These versions unlike the Rhino ones only contain the original track listing.
ben_campbell
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,077 posts
 
Some of the early posts to this thread mention Close to the Edge; for those of you still playing LPs, the trick is to somehow find the original British press, K50012 on Atlantic. The label has the green and red colors similar to the American press (*not* the orange color found on the later UK pressings). Its really hard to find!!

Plan B is the Mobile Fidelity which is slightly easier to find... In both cases, the pipe organ on side one plays out OK, whereas on every other pressing I have heard the organ is distorted, probably due to tape saturation.
jsujo
348 posts
 
maybe after I get the plum label Fragile, i will look for one,,,thanks for the tip!
joeb
121 posts
 
this is a little off topic but, 2weeks ago I found a new HDCD by Yes; "Magnification" on a Beyond label. Though not my favorite Yes album, there are some tremendous tracks and the sound quality was/is phenomenal. I love these guys spirit and ability. They are a wonderful creative inspiration.
jb
jsujo
348 posts
 
oh yeah...the Orchestra thing...it has some strong moments, but it boggles down sometimes, but I still listen to it.
davetherave
95 posts
 
Of the Jaqpanese HDCD remasters, I've found Topographic Oceans and Relayer to be the most worthwhile; good instrument/vocal separation and an ability to "hear/look into the music" more than on lp or atlantic remasters. I have to disagree about the CTTE HDCD— mine has that oversaturation on the organ that Atmasphere refers to; I prefer the Rhino versions of CTTE and Fragile.

If anyone likes Yes but has been out of the loop for a while, there is some excellent "new" material on 'Keystudio,' which appeared originally of 'Keys to Ascension' I and II. I've seen Yes live seven times from 1974 - 1980, and 12 times from 1997 to 2004. I'd like to see one more new album and tour.
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