Cream (BEST versions on cd?)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Those_Were_the_Days_(Cream)

 

Thanks!
This place never sleeps!

 

Vinyl doesn't count, he said cd

Yes, I remember how good some of that old vinyl sounded...

 

True, and that's cool...anyway, the old Polydor cd of 'Disraeli' sounds good to me. However, you have to crank it up to get any grease out of it.

 

I actually just acquired it and still need to give it a listen. I expect it'll be interesting to hear different mixes of the live stuff.

 

That is mostly correct - Toad however is the old "Wheels Of Fire" version with a repetitive insert from another night added. NSU is a different version (as stated on US copies of TWTD) rather than an alternate mix (as stated on some non-US copies of TWTD).

 

The sound of the "Deluxe Edition" Disraeli Gears is superior to the standard remaster?

 

I would imagine they are pretty much the same. I believe it's the bonus cd that Chris champions. The one that lures me....

 

Were there multiple US issues? I believe my copy credits both Drake and Greg Calbi. I honestly don't think it sounds that great.

As others mentioned, if you can't find the DCC Wheels of Fire, I'd say the German RSO/Polydor (I don't think mine has any RSO markings) is better than the US Drake, which is kind of bright.

 

I was given Cream GOLD lasy year for Xmas and it sounds really good. I like the layout with studio tracks on disc one and the live material on disc two. It's all the Cream I need.

 

Chris,
Are there any mono mixes of the Disreali Gears tracks you prefer to their stereo counterparts?

 

Not really. The only one that is really different is Ulysses. I haven't played it in ages but it is a very different mix. IIRC the drums are much louder and drier? Not sure. When I want to hear Takes Of Brave Ulysses I play the '67 Cobo Hall show

 

Agreed.

Oddly, the US Drake seems to be the same for the live disc, however. Only disc 1 is different and IMO, inferior.

I think it's been said that Drake corrected a 1 second digital skip on "Crossroads," but that would hardly help solve having an entire disc 1 that is inferior.

 

Interesting. I don't know if I've played disc 2 on my German copy or not.

Listening now...

Hmm. I just got all the way through and didn't notice a skip. Judging by the matrix number it seems possible there may have been an earlier pressing:

825 414-2 02 +
825 415-2 02 #

This does seem to be a more recent issue - no RSO logos, "Made in Germany", newer pressing style (raised ridge near the inner ring on the playing side, and the aluminum doesn't go all the way to the center as with earlier PolyGram pressings).

I briefly checked out my US copy. Peak level on Crossroads is 100%, vs about 80% for the German. Interesting that the matrix info is *nearly* identical:

825 414-2 02%
825-415-2 01@

I'm curious to know what the significance of that is, if anything.

 

Thanks Chris, I got a line on this Deluxe set for $12 so I think I might make the leap.

 

I have the RSO and couldn't really hear any "digital skip" either. If it's on mine, it's pretty insignificant to my ears.

I recall having the US (Drake) Polydor at one time and being amazed at how much more top end boost was on disc 1, while disc 2 sounded about the same in a quick A/B. from what you found in EAC, I guess that was remastered (changed) by Drake as well, but sonically I didn't detect any difference in the tonality.

If he had the same tape source that was used in Germany, I have no idea what he was hearing to have made those changes on the studio tracks. The RSO is already a tad crispy as it is. The Drake mastered Polydor is borderline shrill, IMO.

 

The single digital skip was somewhere in Spoonful, and wouldn't have been that obvious to someone who hadn't heard Spoonful live less than a million times LOL. It was on an early WG release of Wheels Of Fire (the one with the different back cover - the 3 of them around some bongoes from memory). That is one of the reasons it was remastered according to some magazine article I read at the time (the label changed from RSO to Polydor, the cover was returned to a more authentic replica, the sound was equalised and the skip was corrected).

 

FYI, my later German Polydor (referenced above) has the back cover with them around the bongos. I'm not sure I can stomach listening to all of Spoonful on there

 

C'mon Luke - you know we want you to!

 

Yeah, but I don't want to!

 

The mono mix of Ulysses has always been my prefer version because of the drums being so much higher in the mix. I prefer to listen to the LP in mono but the CD in stereo. For some reason, mono never seems to translate as well on the CD medium, always sounds too flat, but on LP, mono sounds great.

 

How much do you think this will go for? I just picked up a DCC "Wheels of Fire" and was blown away. I hope to pay less than I did for that bad boy.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Cream-Disraeli-...goryZ307QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

Question on Fresh Cream versions.

I know DCC is the first choice, but the least expensive one offered by Amazon.com resellers is 99.94! That is out of my comfort zone for a single CD.

Can some comment on what next that is more affordable. E.g., how does the remaster sound vs. the "original" U.S. issue? Thanks.

These, along w/ others, are listed here at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_g...=popular&field-keywords=fresh+cream&x=13&y=15

 

What is the catalog number for the old "Fresh Cream" disc? Thanks Mr. Hoffman!