The Who - My Generation Japanese CD box set *

Yeah, beyond the peak-limiting (which varies from track to track, and generally isn't too bad), I don't think there's any new compression.

I may have libelled the MCA "The Good's Gone" just now, though. On another listen, both versions sound wonky — the intro kind of speeds up as it goes along. Maybe just the original performance.

 

I've been listening to the mono disc a bit. A few thoughts:

- It seems Astley didn't mangle this. I haven't noticed *any* noise reduction, and the mastering seems fine. I haven't compared waveforms, but it doesn't seem horribly compressed, and the EQ seems ok. The previously unreleased tracks sound very good, IMO.

- That said, I'd say the original album sounds quite underwhelming. I don't know if that is Astley's fault or the tapes or what, but it really doesn't sound much different from the old MCA CD. That isn't to say it sounds *bad*, but it just doesn't sound much better than anything else I've heard.

Does anyone also have the Classic LP? I would be curious to see how that compares.

 

I think it's just the tapes. People have complained about the old MCA disc for years, but the gritty bits you can hear on "Out in the Street" or "Circles" are right there on the master too.

I'm walking a fine line trying to describe this thing — I don't want to claim there's a night-and-day difference between the sourcing, because there isn't, but at the same time the difference is real. The best thing might be to let people judge for themselves. Here are a few more samples from the new Japanese disc and three other CDs, adjusted to the same volume level for convenient comparison. Two masterings of "The Ox" and three of "I Can't Explain." I won't identify which discs they come from just yet.

 

The stereo version of the album makes it clear that some of the noises on the album are simply the high volume of Entwistle & Townshend's guitar amps rattling the snares of Moon's snare drum at moments when Moon's not playing it.

 

That's certainly the case for, say, Leaving Here. But what prompted your comment?

BTW, I was apparently wrong - I've been told there *is* noise reduction. Astley must be getting better and/or using it less, though, as I haven't yet detected any obvious artifacts.

 

Listen to the intro of "Out in The Street".

 

What about it? I don't notice any artifacts.

 

I'm refering to the stereo remix, specifically the noises on the right side during the intro.

 

Ah, I see, thanks. So that's what it's from.

As to the noise reduction, I'd really like to know where Astley used it on this disc — he had me fooled completely. In times past he would have slathered it over the fade-outs with a trowel, but I'm hearing natural tape hiss on this one.

 

Oh ok, I think we were talking about different things.

 

I have the Classic, and am waiting for the new Japanese reissue to arrive in a few days. When it does, I'll do a comparison and post my thoughts.

 

I am in the same boat as sberger. Unfortunately I was not as wise as the rest of you and went with the box set (normally I don't do that sort of thing, but this is one of my fave WHO albums). The Classic sounds wonderful (as best as it can be based on the recording itself), so I will do a comparison when it arrives. They promised 4 - 11 days. The last order cdjapan sent took only four days to arrive to Canada - phenomenal!

 

I'm in the same situation as you - I normally don't go after large sets unless there's something musically unique to them but I did in this case; there's been too many instances in the past where I thouht I wouldn't need something but then find out later that I did and - if the other SHN CDs are any indication - this one will disappear pretty fast so I didn't want to take the chance.

 

Let me know what you think of the set when it arrives, Shawn!

 

Got my mono disc last night from HMV.co.jp

Astley has exceeded my expectations by a mile

Here's what I noticed on first listen:

- it's not super loud
- there's no noticeable NR (or at least no NR artifacts)
- "Circles" is still as wonky as ever (maybe that's just what the mix sounds like?)
- "Anytime You Want Me" has a tiny tape drag on the 3rd note of the intro (it's not on Steve's Who's Missing)
- "Daddy Rolling Stone" rocks in Mono
- the 'new' Mono mixes are awesome, especially "Motoring" and the alternate "Circles"



Here's an updated 1964-1965 best sources list from The Who Discography/Listening Guide 1964-68 (Pre-Tommy) thread:

(Songs not checked against the 2008 Japanese My Generation yet are in bold)

I'm the Face (Mono Mix) - Original Quadraphenia Soundtrack CD
I'm the Face (Stereo Mix) - Original Odds And Sods CD
I'm the Face (Stereo Remix) - Quadraphenia Soundtrack Remaster
Zoot Suit (Mono Mix) - Original Quadraphenia Soundtrack CD
Zoot Suit (Stereo Remix) - Quadraphenia Soundtrack Remaster
Here Tis (Stereo Mix) - 30 Years Of Maximum R&B Box

Leaving Here (Mono Pye Acetate Version) - Odds And Sods Remaster
Baby Don't You Do It (Mono Pye Acetate Version) - Odds And Sods Remaster

I Can't Explain (Mono Mix) - MCA Meaty, Beaty, Big And Bouncy
I Can't Explain (Stereo Remix) - My Generation Deluxe Edition
Bald Headed Woman (Mono Mix) - MCA Two's Missing
Bald Headed Woman (Stereo Remix) - My Generation Deluxe Edition

Leaving Here (Mono Mix) - 2008 Japanese My Generation Mono Remaster
Leaving Here (Stereo Mix) - MCA Who's Missing
Leaving Here (Alternate Version - Stereo Remix) - My Generation Deluxe Edition
Motoring (Mono Mix) - 2008 Japanese My Generation Mono Remaster
Motoring (Stereo Mix) - MCA Two's Missing
Motoring (Stereo Remix) - My Generation Deluxe Edition
Lubie (Come Back Home) (Mono Mix) - 2008 Japanese My Generation Mono Remaster
Lubie (Come Back Home) (Stereo Mix) - MCA Who's Missing
Lubie (Come Back Home) (Stereo Remix) - My Generation Deluxe Edition
Heatwave (Mono Mix) - 2008 Japanese My Generation Mono Remaster
Heatwave (Stereo Mix) - MCA Two's Missing
Heatwave (Stereo Remix) - My Generation Deluxe Edition

Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere (Mono Mix) - MCA Who's Better, Who's Best
Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere (Alternate Vocal - Stereo Remix) - My Generation Deluxe Edition

Daddy Rolling Stone (Mono Mix) - - 2008 Japanese My Generation Mono Remaster
Daddy Rolling Stone (Stereo Mix) - 30 Years Of Maximum R&B Box
Daddy Rolling Stone (Stereo Remix) - My Generation Deluxe Edition
Anytime You Want Me (Mono Mix) - MCA Who's Missing (no tape drag)
Anytime You Want Me (Stereo Remix) - My Generation Deluxe Edition
Anytime You Want Me (A Cappella Version) - My Generation Deluxe Edition
Shout And Shimmy (Mono Mix) - MCA Who's Missing
Shout And Shimmy (Stereo Remix) - My Generation Deluxe Edition

Out In The Street (Mono Mix) - 2008 Japanese My Generation Mono Remaster
Out In The Street (Stereo Remix) - My Generation Deluxe Edition
I Don't Mind (Mono Mix) - 2008 Japanese My Generation Mono Remaster
I Don't Mind (Stereo Remix) - My Generation Deluxe Edition
I Don't Mind (Extended Stereo Remix) - My Generation Deluxe Edition
The Good's Gone (Mono Mix) - 2008 Japanese My Generation Mono Remaster
The Good's Gone (Stereo Remix) - My Generation Deluxe Edition
The Good's Gone (Extended Stereo Remix) - My Generation Deluxe Edition
La La La Lies (Mono Mix) - 2008 Japanese My Generation Mono Remaster
La La La Lies (Stereo Remix) - My Generation Deluxe Edition
Much Too Much (Mono Mix) - 2008 Japanese My Generation Mono Remaster
Much Too Much (Stereo Remix) - My Generation Deluxe Edition
My Generation (Mono Mix) - 2008 Japanese My Generation Mono Remaster
My Generation (Stereo Remix) - My Generation Deluxe Edition
My Generation (Instrumental Version) - My Generation Deluxe Edition
The Kids Are Alright (Full Mono Mix) - 2008 Japanese My Generation Mono Remaster
The Kids Are Alright (Edited Mono Mix) - MCA Meaty, Beaty, Big And Bouncy
The Kids Are Alright (Stereo Remix) - My Generation Deluxe Edition
Please, Please, Please (Mono Mix) - 2008 Japanese My Generation Mono Remaster
Please, Please, Please (Stereo Remix) - My Generation Deluxe Edition
It's Not True (Mono Mix) - 2008 Japanese My Generation Mono Remaster
It's Not True (Stereo Remix) - My Generation Deluxe Edition
I'm A Man (Mono Mix) - 2008 Japanese My Generation Mono Remaster
I'm A Man (Edited Stereo Mix) - MCA Two's Missing
I'm A Man (Stereo Remix) - My Generation Deluxe Edition
A Legal Matter (Mono Mix) - 2008 Japanese My Generation Mono Remaster
A Legal Matter (Stereo Remix) - My Generation Deluxe Edition
The Ox (Mono Mix) - 2008 Japanese My Generation Mono Remaster
The Ox (Stereo Remix) - My Generation Deluxe Edition

Circles (Mono Mix) - 2008 Japanese My Generation Mono Remaster
Circles (Alternate Mono Mix) - 2008 Japanese My Generation Mono Remaster
Circles (Stereo Remix) - My Generation Deluxe Edition

Instant Party Mixture - My Generation Deluxe Edition


Any additions or corrections are welcome

 

From memory, the first Can't Explain sounded to me like it might be the one from My Gen Deluxe, regardless, that first sample, and the second sample, both of those samples, I prefer to the third.

The Ox...I prefer the first sample to the second.

Thanks much for posting these samples, .

Listened to at work, via ACS41 (Altec Lansing Multimedia Computer Speaker System) Speaker headphone jack earbuds, , soundcard unknown, .

 

I think I've figured out the why and how of those 6 wide stereo tracks. What was unique about them was that they were the only 6 Talmy produced tracks not to have been released in the US in 1965-66.

Steve mentions the origin of the tape here:

"Leaving Here", "Motoring", "Lubie" and "Heatwave" were all unreleased tracks.

"I'm A Man" wasn't deemed fit for release on the US album because of the 'sexual nature' of a particular line in the song, so it was replaced on the US version of the album by "Circles". This explains why a line is cut out of the Two's Missing version, because that mix was destined for the American market.

Daddy Rolling Stone was a UK only B-side so it recieved a Stereo mix too.


It would be great if Steve could chime in as to whether there was anything else on the tape

 

Shout and Shimmy wasn't released in the US either.

And of course, regardless of whether they were released in the US or not (or at all), it still isn't clear why those 6 were mixed to stereo. I mean, it seems likely they were probably prepared for the first version of the LP, but why only 6 songs? Were the rest of the tracks on another tape that has gone missing? Where are the stereo mixes of (for example) Out In The Street and Anyway Anyhow Anywhere?

 

Curse you Ben! <presses "Buy" button for single disc edition>.



I'm now very much looking forward to this.

 

Good point about "Shout And Shimmy", I forgot that one.

"Shout and Shimmy" brings up a point though, Steve said in one of his old posts that most of the tapes used for Who's Missing were from what MCA had...

It's a pretty awesome reissue, I'm listening to it right now

 

Yeah, I kind of doubt Decca ever went back to Talmy and said "hey, give us a stereo tape of the songs we haven't released". If they wanted stereo mixes, and it was that easy, surely they would have asked for stereo mixes of what *was* released, no?

The "one side of the original LP" is my best guess at this point. That of course begs the question - where is the tape for the other side?

 

can someone post a link to buy this single disc version. i've been looking around amazon and amazon japan but i'm not finding it...thanks...i'm ready to get me one of these.

 

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=UICY-6988

 

thanks man, I'm gonna order one now.

 

Thanks, Dee. I'll give people another couple days or so to compare them before revealing the sourcing.