A24 4,338 Posted April 4, 2004 Share Posted April 4, 2004 Close Encounters/Star Wars. At last! The Charles Gerhardt version.How to Steal a Million, John Williams.Spacecamp (LP), John Williams. Now I have the CD and the LP (looks new).The Eiger Sanction, John Williams. Thank you, Andreas.Attack of the Clones, John Williams. I finally gave in but at this price it was hard to resist and you never know if an extended version ever will see the light of day. The Classic Scores of Bernard Herrmann, Citizen Kane. From the Charles Gerhardt series. Supposedly THE version.THX 1138, Lalo Schifrin.Medea Ballet Suite/Third Essay/Fadograph of a Yestern Scene, Samuel Barber. No film music but hey!Concerto for Violin and Orchestra/Concerto for String Orchestra/Adante for Strings, Miklós Rózsa. Again no film music but hey! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted April 4, 2004 Share Posted April 4, 2004 Close Encounters/Star Wars. At last! The Charles Gerhardt version.Dunno how much you payed, but it's worth every cent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,338 Posted April 4, 2004 Author Share Posted April 4, 2004 Cheap! It bought it used. I know this version almost as long as the original one but never bought the CD before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted April 4, 2004 Share Posted April 4, 2004 Is this the RCA Victor CD or the earlier one?Stefancos- looking for the earlier version... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker 5 Posted April 4, 2004 Share Posted April 4, 2004 Is this the RCA Victor CD or the earlier one?Stefancos- looking for the earlier version...Yeah, rumor has it that there was a non-Dolby CD released only in England.Neil - who has the non-Dolby Return of the Jedi Gerhardt album Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,338 Posted April 4, 2004 Author Share Posted April 4, 2004 Mmmm, it's the RCA Red Seal version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted April 4, 2004 Share Posted April 4, 2004 Does the cover look like this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker 5 Posted April 4, 2004 Share Posted April 4, 2004 Mmmm, it's the RCA Red Seal version.If there is no Dolby logo on this, I'd be very interested in a trade.Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted April 4, 2004 Share Posted April 4, 2004 So would I. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,338 Posted April 4, 2004 Author Share Posted April 4, 2004 No. It's without the grey celluloid and with a few little spaceships around Devils Tower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,338 Posted April 4, 2004 Author Share Posted April 4, 2004 No Dolby logo either. I can't find a picture on the net! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted April 4, 2004 Share Posted April 4, 2004 Just send you a private message. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,200 Posted April 5, 2004 Share Posted April 5, 2004 Dunno how much you payed, but it's worth every cent.To this date, it's still my only recording of the outstanding concert version of the Yavin battle.The Herrmann album is outstanding. The sound (I only know the Dolby version, but I always play those in stereo) is fantastic, and the Kane aria is unbelievable. Shame I'm unable to find the CD in stores, both my CDR copies are faulty.Marian - still hoping for multichannel DVD-A/SACD releases of the Gerhardt recordings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,338 Posted April 5, 2004 Author Share Posted April 5, 2004 The Herrmann/Kane sounds amazing indeed. And to think that it's originally recorded in 1974! That's almost impossible. Just listen to other orchestral recordings of that period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted April 5, 2004 Share Posted April 5, 2004 That's almost impossible. Just listen to other orchestral recordings of that period.Anything Williams recorded in that period sound like crap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,200 Posted April 5, 2004 Share Posted April 5, 2004 The Herrmann/Kane sounds amazing indeed. And to think that it's originally recorded in 1974! That's almost impossible. Just listen to other orchestral recordings of that period.Many of them sound great. The DG Originals for example, or EMI's Great Recordings of the Century. (Though the Herrmann does still qualify as one of the really really good ones from that time)It's the film score recordings of that era that sound like shit. The question being whether it is just horrible preservation, or if they already sounded bad in those days.Marian - Total Recall (Jerry Goldsmith) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted April 5, 2004 Share Posted April 5, 2004 I own LP's of Star Wars and Jaws.They already sounded like shit in those days.There's no reason why Alien should sound so bad either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,200 Posted April 5, 2004 Share Posted April 5, 2004 Anything Williams recorded in that period sound like crap.The remastered CE3K sounds stunning.Marian - wishing SW sounded like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morn 8 Posted April 5, 2004 Share Posted April 5, 2004 LP's, 70's mastering.... ehh, well I suppose it's still useful to judge the sound quality..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted April 5, 2004 Share Posted April 5, 2004 So, you are an expert on 70's mixing and mastering techniques now also? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker 5 Posted April 5, 2004 Share Posted April 5, 2004 The Herrmann/Kane sounds amazing indeed. And to think that it's originally recorded in 1974! That's almost impossible. Just listen to other orchestral recordings of that period.Gerhardt was an audiophile and you can be assured of a high quality recording anytime you see Kenneth Wilkinson's name on an album.Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrScratch 294 Posted April 5, 2004 Share Posted April 5, 2004 Close Encounters/Star Wars. At last! The Charles Gerhardt version.Dunno how much you payed, but it's worth every cent.I absolutely abhor the Main Title on this album. This is my least favorite Gerhardt Star Wars disc, I only keep it around to have all three... Gerhardts Return of the Jedi, however, is stunning, and my only complaint is the choice of cues... Why have Ewok Battle AND Forest Battle, Parade of the Ewoks AND Heroic Ewok? If you're going for unreleased cues, why be so repetitive with whats already available? I would like to have seen Gerhardts tracklist look something like this...1. Main Title2. Jabba The Hutt3. Return of the Jedi (sounds even better than Williams/LSO version)4. Into the Trap/Fight In The Dungeon (I love the combo of these 2 cues)5. The Rebel Fleet (when they make the jump into Hyperspace)6. Parade of the Ewoks7. Luke and Leia8. Battle In The Forest9. Final Duel/The Emperor/Through The Flames (where in the film it segues from the Emperors Theme to where Han blows up the bunker, have it instead segue into Through The Flames)10. Finale...wishful thinking... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted April 5, 2004 Share Posted April 5, 2004 I absolutely abhor the Main Title on this album. Really, I still think it is the best version that was ever recorded, including all Williams versions.Why have Ewok Battle AND Forest Battle, Parade of the Ewoks AND Heroic Ewok? I agree, this is a weakness of this otherwise splendid release.The TESB recording had a more varied selection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrScratch 294 Posted April 5, 2004 Share Posted April 5, 2004 Anything Williams recorded in that period sound like crap.The remastered CE3K sounds stunning.Marian - wishing SW sounded like that.I wonder what the chances are of someone rerecording the Star Wars scores...? It would be great if Williams would but he'd probably think of it as a waste of time, despite his dozens of recordings of 'Flying' from E.T. Or someone reputable, like McNeely, recording either the whole score or at least 70+ minutes from each one. I'd love to hear a fresh recording of, say, Land of the Sandpeople. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morn 8 Posted April 6, 2004 Share Posted April 6, 2004 So, you are an expert on 70's mixing and mastering techniques now also?No, I've just heard some old LP's, and jeeze man. Modern re-masters sounded way better... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted April 6, 2004 Share Posted April 6, 2004 Nevertheless it's a good indication of the overall recording quality.The LP of Star Wars does not sound very different then any of the remastered CD releases.Same with Raiders, same with The Fury, Damien: Omen II...etc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,338 Posted April 6, 2004 Author Share Posted April 6, 2004 So, you are an expert on 70's mixing and mastering techniques now also?No, I've just heard some old LP's, and jeeze man. Modern re-masters sounded way better...You're not an expert, Morn. Pleeeze! BTW, how are those new computer cans of yours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morn 8 Posted April 6, 2004 Share Posted April 6, 2004 Maybe, I'm just saying, reason to question it's use as a judgement of the affect of age on the masters... Maybe not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morn 8 Posted April 6, 2004 Share Posted April 6, 2004 Alexcremers, who said anything about expert? And cans, that's not fair, I can't afford more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,338 Posted April 6, 2004 Author Share Posted April 6, 2004 All the SE's sound unnatural, cold, digital and brittle (just compared it with modern recordings and notice that it suffers from exaggerated sizzle and treble) . The standard SW CD with its harsh mid tones sounds terrible too. The LP may sound not as piercing as many other recordings but at least the sound is more natural. It's the only one besides the Gerhardt I can listen to.----------------Alex Cremers - grand expert in such matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morn 8 Posted April 6, 2004 Share Posted April 6, 2004 I don't know about those, and have only low qual mp3's of the older CD's and can give only partal judgement of them, and yes they are terrible. But I can say that the SE doesn't sound so bad, nice and clear with a nice smooth pleasant tone, although not perfect, mixing..... sounds a bit aged/poor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,338 Posted April 6, 2004 Author Share Posted April 6, 2004 Play SW SE on a quality set-up and you'll be eating your own words. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morn 8 Posted April 6, 2004 Share Posted April 6, 2004 My headphones aren't as shabby as my speakers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted April 6, 2004 Share Posted April 6, 2004 Alex Cremers - grand expert in such matters.Self proclaimed, naturally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker 5 Posted April 6, 2004 Share Posted April 6, 2004 Same with RaidersThe start of "The Well of the Souls" has a much fuller sound on the original Raiders LP compared to the re-master. I should really do an in-depth comparison at some point. I'm just too lazy.Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted April 6, 2004 Share Posted April 6, 2004 Play SW SE on a quality set-up and you'll be eating your own words.It sounds fine on a "regular" audio set up that costs somewere under 1000 Euro's instead of over 100 Euro's.Stefancos- still trying to decise if "audiophilia" is a disease or a disorder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,338 Posted April 6, 2004 Author Share Posted April 6, 2004 It's a habit. I've been raised by an audiophilic parent. With seperate quality components 1000 Euros can be enough to build an interesting set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted April 6, 2004 Share Posted April 6, 2004 It's a habit. I've been raised by an audiophilic parent. With seperate quality components 1000 Euros can be enough to build an interesting set.Of course, you gotta have seperate components.Stefancos- who just come to the realisation that his audio set up cost him more then 1000 Euro's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker 5 Posted April 6, 2004 Share Posted April 6, 2004 It's a habit. I've been raised by an audiophilic parent.Me too.Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,200 Posted April 6, 2004 Share Posted April 6, 2004 What's wrong with enjoying music that sounds good?I can say that the SE doesn't sound so bad, nice and clear with a nice smooth pleasant tone, although not perfect, mixing..... sounds a bit aged/poor.The only SW SE that sounds smooth and pleasant is ROTJ, and that is so smooth it sounds like a cloud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265 Posted April 6, 2004 Share Posted April 6, 2004 What's wrong with enjoying music that sounds good?My dear boy, i never said that there was anything wrong with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrScratch 294 Posted April 6, 2004 Share Posted April 6, 2004 The only SW SE that sounds smooth and pleasant is ROTJ, and that is so smooth it sounds like a cloud.ROTJ:SE sounds like a decent-quality bootleg to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollie 1,059 Posted April 7, 2004 Share Posted April 7, 2004 ROTJ is the worst sounding of the three. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morn 8 Posted April 7, 2004 Share Posted April 7, 2004 The only SW SE that sounds smooth and pleasant is ROTJ, and that is so smooth it sounds like a cloud. What? With the over powered bass and high frequencies and the tinny sound of it..... It sounds anything but smooth. TESB is smooth. ROTJ sounds more modern and I guess more clear, but the EQ's or something is utterly messed up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,338 Posted April 7, 2004 Author Share Posted April 7, 2004 I don't have the SE of Return of the Jedi but the SE of The Empire strikes Back doesn't sound smooth at all. There's too much noise and sizzle going on. It would require a more polished and airy sound for that description. I find it unlistenable altogether. At least the standard CD don't have all those annoying artifacts that come with the SE mastering.Edit: Althought I do admit that some parts sound better than others. ----------------Alex Cremers- extreme expert in sonic matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morn 8 Posted April 7, 2004 Share Posted April 7, 2004 Hiss is easily ignorable.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,338 Posted April 7, 2004 Author Share Posted April 7, 2004 You're right, but a little background noise is not really the issue here. It's the pumping hiss! Crescendo-like noise is another thing not wanted. The most annoyingly are the sizzles on the flute parts (also heard on new recordings made by Shawn Murphy) and sometimes the string parts, especially the fast parts (which is bow noise but it's been screwed up). There's nothing smooth about the ESB SE recording. Pure sonically, the ESB recording by Gerhardt sounds significantly better.----------------Alex Cremers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morn 8 Posted April 7, 2004 Share Posted April 7, 2004 Yes, they do sound wonderfully clear and amazing, however not perfect the brass is too blaring and the strings sound... bad. TESB does not have those flaws, as I said it has a really lovely smooth tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A24 4,338 Posted April 7, 2004 Author Share Posted April 7, 2004 Morn, you're not making any sense. You are saying a severely flawed sound is flawless. Please buy some real speakers and a real CD player and then we'll talk again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morn 8 Posted April 7, 2004 Share Posted April 7, 2004 No, I say it has a very very nice tone and balancing but poor hiss, stereo and clearity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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