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Hook - 30th Anniversary Double Vinyl from Mondo Records 2021


Jay

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48 minutes ago, Jay said:

 

I think the only reason to use something from a fan is when it truly cannot be found anywhere else, and the fan's material is the only known source.  But that can't be the case with Hook.  There is no reason whatsoever to think that Sony Pictures doesn't have all of the original 1st gen tapes in their vaults.  I think we simply have a case where Didier did not get them, and just stuck with the material they had at Sony Music.  If the project could had been done by Mike instead of Didier, I'm sure more usual procedures would have been followed and he would have gotten everything Sony Pictures has and used that.  And the only reason we'd be talking about the leak was for its clean openings and endings and that's about it.

 

 

Right there with you buddy.  It's kinda funny, that for me, even though expansions of the Star Wars scores, Indiana Jones scores, and Hook already exist, I personally would love to have proper MM versions of all of those more than all the JW scores that have never been expanded.  Don't get me wrong, I absolutely want all those too, but I've been dreaming of truly definitive Hook, SW, and IJ since I was a kid and know I will play them all a heck of a lot when they finally happen

Oh 100%. I agree. I just meant that I would not let the fact that fan was the source stop me from using it. Of course if I had the legitimate source material, that's what I would use. I only meant that the (to me) it would be silly to not consider using material from a fan simply because it was from a fan, leak, etc.

 

As for your second paragraph, I agree wholeheartedly. I obviously want all of JW's unreleased/unexpanded work too, but if I had to choose, I'd take proper, MM-produced versions of Star Wars, Indy, and Hook. It might not get a ton of attention (outside of a place like this) in the public consciousness, but Hook is a top-tier film score for me and a personal favorite with so much sentimental value to me. I really hope I can add a proper presentation to my library someday.  And for the record, I of course have the LLL and OST. I'm not depriving myself of "good" while holding out for "perfect."

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1 hour ago, Jay said:

It's kinda funny, that for me, even though expansions of the Star Wars scores, Indiana Jones scores, and Hook already exist, I personally would love to have proper MM versions of all of those more than all the JW scores that have never been expanded.  Don't get me wrong, I absolutely want all those too, but I've been dreaming of truly definitive Hook, SW, and IJ since I was a kid and know I will play them all a heck of a lot when they finally happen.


I feel the exact same way.

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Wow, impressive! One thing in this entire strategy makes no sense to me, though: Is it me, or do labels over-estimate the importance of OSTs? What I mean is, the only people I know who have ever bought OSTs did it for the songs, not for the score. Am I completely misjudging the market, or are OST albums only for people who love scores and who would therefore happily wait a few extra days for a better assembly?

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The people in charge of these giant labels don't care about us or what makes a better album.  They know they'll make the most money if its in stores before the film, regardless of what's on it, so the composers adhered to that.  That's really all there is to it

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57 minutes ago, bollemanneke said:

Wow, impressive! One thing in this entire strategy makes no sense to me, though: Is it me, or do labels over-estimate the importance of OSTs? What I mean is, the only people I know who have ever bought OSTs did it for the songs, not for the score. Am I completely misjudging the market, or are OST albums only for people who love scores and who would therefore happily wait a few extra days for a better assembly?

 

I think you overestimate the importance of OSTs. Business-wise, they're rarely important for the music. But they are important as tie-ins for the film's release. In that regard, the timing is probably far more important than the content.

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1 hour ago, Jay said:

This is the reason the Hook OST album doesn't have the track titles on the back cover, as well.  The booklets were likely printed up ahead of time, before the program was even ready!  The track titles are only on the discs themselves.

Similar to The Curse of the Black Pearl, where there are track titleson the back cover, however, those are just some random titles losely referring to the movie's content and pirate stuff.

 

8 minutes ago, Marian Schedenig said:

In that regard, the timing is probably far more important than the content.

Moreover, no one refuses to buy these if the content is not perfect.

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3 minutes ago, Brundlefly said:

Similar to The Curse of the Black Pearl, where there are track titleson the back cover, however, those are just some random titles losely referring to the movie's content and pirate stuff.

 

Ha!  I never knew that, that's hilarious

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So really only Fog Bound refers well to its contents. Near the end you can see the climax is represented pretty well and in order (though very much not always the film versions)... and then Underwater March, the iconic cue that starts it all, is just thrown there after it resolves, because the track name "Underwater March" was there at the end and for some reason they suddenly started caring about the track titles. They don't even match in expected tone, "Will & Elizabeth" implies gentle love stuff and you get an action cue instead, etc.

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Since I've never ordered anything from Mondo before, does anybody here know how they usually do pre-orders?

 

In other words, will they show off the new artwork and reveal the price ahead of time, or reveal both suddenly the same time it can be ordered for the first time (which will probably sell out in minutes)

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Sorry I can't answer your question, Jay, but is it really likely this will sell out quickly? It's just a re-do of the 1991 content rather than offering anything musically new.

 

Unless you're thinking that the obsessive vinyl collectors will get unhealthily excited about it, irrespective of the content.

 

Mark

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I dunno, I don't care about vinyl so don't really follow things much, but I thought lots of Mondo's vinyl releases sell out instantly? Is that not true? 

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On 12/10/2021 at 4:27 PM, Jay said:

Since I've never ordered anything from Mondo before, does anybody here know how they usually do pre-orders?

 

In other words, will they show off the new artwork and reveal the price ahead of time, or reveal both suddenly the same time it can be ordered for the first time (which will probably sell out in minutes)

They typically announce the release a few days ahead and show off the artwork and the records. I’m signed up for their email list so I get it by email but they usually follow it by posting to Facebook and Twitter. They usually say if it’s limited or not and I don’t think they usually tell you the price but it’s usually $35 for a double LP.  They have been doing their announcements on Monday and the releases always happen on Wednesday. 
 

As for selling out quickly, it just depends really. Today’s release for Dune sold out in less than 10 minutes and was limited to 3000. The UP and Superman releases lasted for a few hours. I’d say most of their releases are available for days or months. Things like Tron and nightmare before Christmas sold out quickly. 
 

here is an example of their announcement from Monday for Dune. You can expect something similar each release.  

https://mondoshop.com/blogs/news/the-dune-sketchbook-music-from-the-soundtrack-3xlp-vinyl-on-sale-info

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Re using lossy sources, do we know what the bitrates were for the lossy tracks included (intentionally or otherwise) on LLL's Schindler's List and POA?

 

Has anyone here tried to even out the volume fluctuations on TUW cues that were sourced from the stems?

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5 minutes ago, JTWfan77 said:

Has anyone here tried to even out the volume fluctuations on TUW cues that were sourced from the stems?

 

I'm sure people tried, but once the bootleg leaked there was no need to keep the film stem versions from the LLL. 

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5 hours ago, JTWfan77 said:

Re using lossy sources, do we know what the bitrates were for the lossy tracks included (intentionally or otherwise) on LLL's Schindler's List and POA?

 

They weren't lossy in the traditional, sense, they just had their high frequencies missing. This only affected early pressing of both titles, the current pressings of both are fixed. 

 

5 hours ago, JTWfan77 said:

Has anyone here tried to even out the volume fluctuations on TUW cues that were sourced from the stems?

 

I honestly don't think I ever saw anyone so that, due to the leak existing. 

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22 hours ago, Jay said:

They weren't lossy in the traditional, sense, they just had their high frequencies missing. This only affected early pressing of both titles, the current pressings of both are fixed. 

 

Interesting, didn't know about this!

 

So the film version of I Could Have Done More was fixed? I got that set from MBR a few months back but haven't opened it yet...

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4 hours ago, crumbs said:

 

Interesting, didn't know about this!

 

So the film version of I Could Have Done More was fixed? I got that set from MBR a few months back but haven't opened it yet...

 

Your copy should be the fixed one then, unless MBR was sitting on old stock I guess

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On 16/10/2021 at 1:13 PM, Jay said:

 

They weren't lossy in the traditional, sense, they just had their high frequencies missing. This only affected early pressing of both titles, the current pressings of both are fixed. 

 

You

are

kidding

 

So how do I know which versions I have? I got HP quite early on, think I waited a bit with Schindler.

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I don't like your chances of getting fixed Azkaban discs anytime soon. That set comes back into stock about twice a year and it usually sells out in a few days.

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On 16/10/2021 at 7:52 AM, crumbs said:

 

I'm sure people tried, but once the bootleg leaked there was no need to keep the film stem versions from the LLL. 

 

I took a stab at it myself and it certainly improved the listenability of those cues. Would be nice if I had the leak but I don't have access to those kinds of things.

 

6 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:

That doesn't mean they don't have extra discs.

 

I e-mailed LLL to enquire about both, along with JP dentures (if they still have any left).

 

Which disc on POA is affected?

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Both, since it's a small amount of tracks spread throughout that are affected (which likely is why such a thing wasn't announced or even mentioned, since multiple discs presumably would be costlier to openly offer replacements for).

 

Do tell if they get back to you, since it certainly surprises me to hear they went to the effort with how much I remembered being told it wasn't considered a big deal back then. It'd be nice to have fixed discs, given how easy it could be to lose ripped files.

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22 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Have anybody done a comparison between early pressings and fixed ones?

 

For Prisoner of Azkaban, here is the CUETools report I had when comparing my early pressing to the fixed one in their database:

 

CD 1:

image.png

 

CD 2:

image.png

 

These reports make sense since only the tracks with the altered frequencies are different ("No match").

 

Track 33 from Disc 1 and track 27 from Disc 2 are also different but these ones must be false positives (no real changes in the contents).

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23 hours ago, Jay said:

 

Your copy should be the fixed one then, unless MBR was sitting on old stock I guess

 

Can confirm I received the fixed version -- and the difference is audible! The oboe solo around :45 in track 6 is noticeably improved. Volume differences across disc 2 as well.

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6 hours ago, crumbs said:

 

Can confirm I received the fixed version -- and the difference is audible! The oboe solo around :45 in track 6 is noticeably improved. Volume differences across disc 2 as well.

Are there any markings on the physical discs to indicate which pressing is which?

 

LLL has not replied to my query. Seems i need to stop buying 1st pressings of speciality label releases.

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La La Land did not officially comment on or roll out a replacement program for any issues with the Potter box or Schindler release.


Fans simply discovered on their own that a revised master was used on later pressings.

 

Inquiring with them about this will be unlikely to result in you getting mailed free replacement discs, because there is no official replacement program for these titles.

 

 

I am not speaking for anyone at LLL or who worked on these titles, just making some observations.

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Thanks @Jayvery disappointing to hear though, would have thought with MM involved there would have been better QA over the final master used. I spent a fortune on that HP box.

 

I certainly am going to wait a good few months before buying any speciality releases in future, to ensure I don't get stuck like this again. If the stuff sells out then tough I guess.

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There's nothing wrong with the initial pressings of the Potter box.  The human ear can't hear the frequencies that are missing on the first pressing.  It was only discovered because people decided to look at the music instead of listen to it.

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28 minutes ago, Jay said:

There's nothing wrong with the initial pressings of the Potter box.  The human ear can't hear the frequencies that are missing on the first pressing.  It was only discovered because people decided to look at the music instead of listen to it.

That's good news. Thanks Jay.

27 minutes ago, Holko said:

The Schindler differences are definitely noticeable though.

So I guess I have to rebuy this. Now would probably be a good time to listen to this release to see if I can hear the issues.

 

Suddenly the Hook volume fluctuations seem trivial.

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I now wait a JW review before buying an expanded release. That's life.

 

PS I still wait for two replacement CDs... it will never happen to me again. It's a bit heavy to manage for me.

 

6 hours ago, Holko said:

The Schindler differences are definitely noticeable though.

 

We have to ask for a replacement CD for this one too???

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Damn, specially if the difference is audible in schindlers.

 

i may wait for the next batch in subsequent releases too.

 

toothless rex was one thing, but faulty masters…and surreptitiously fixing it without ackownledging the original error (or saying its fine) is a little mean for customers who willingly jump as fast as they can to buy their new releases.

 

By the least, potter should have fixed cds because it is a very expensive limited box set.

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36 minutes ago, Luke Skywalker said:

Damn, specially if the difference is audible in schindlers.

 

The other notable difference is the volume. Disc 2 tracks are quieter on the new master than the earlier pressing. 

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6 hours ago, crumbs said:

 

The other notable difference is the volume. Disc 2 tracks are quieter on the new master than the earlier pressing. 

Disc 2 was always quieter than Disc 1, but even moreso now? Wow.

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18 hours ago, Chewy said:

PoA has always been fine, the inferior source (to not call it lossy) hasn't all the frequencies but it sounds great. However, if a fixed, lossless, superior master exists, anyone that bought the set should have the right to get it without buying it again.

 

The same can be said for Schindler's List, even if it's a cheaper release and that one could afford to buy it again. Especially because the issues on this one ARE noticeable by ear, in comparison to Azkaban. There's no doubt that the initial master of that release had lossy material on it.

 

Fully with you on the SL front, if it's audibly inferior.

 

Frequency, or inaudible issues are where it gets muddier for me, because it's harder to place the point at which a product is defective. If some audio-techy person (I'm techy, but not in audio) hadn't looked at the music in an editor and seen that frequencies were missing, no one would be discussing this, because to our ears it sounds fine.

 

And again it comes down to this being a highly speciality product where we're literally trying to find flaws, or anything that makes it 'imperfect', even if it doesn't in any way affect our enjoyment. I just wonder how minor or unnoticeable these flaws have to be with someone deep down still wanting a replacement.

 

Apparently Varese's recent Dante's Peak release came from a new tape scan as it has a higher frequency range than a DAT contained. Quite what this means .... I have no idea. Had they used the DAT and not mentioned it, I'd be none the wiser. Hence my point that if it takes a specialist to point out some theoretical technical issue... does it really matter?

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22 hours ago, Chewy said:

I've sent an email to LLL as well and I hope they'll be able to send replacements, especially for Schindler's List!

 

I sent my e-mail request from their website form days ago and have not received a response.

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