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crapfromthepast
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| Posted: 20 December 2015 at 7:01pm | IP Logged
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I've had the US CD version of Thriller since around 1989. I never gave it much thought until I compared it to another '80s-era pressing of the CD to make sure they were the same. They were not, despite the Epic catalog numbers of EK 38112.
In a nutshell: the early Japan-for-US disc sounds better than the later "Now Made In The U.S.A." disc that came later.
The earlier Japan-for-US disc shows a time of 42:27 when you first put it in the CD player, has a matrix number of DIDP 20022, says "Made In Japan" at the bottom of the CD, has a big empty white space on the left side of the rear artwork above the bar code.
One convenient way to identify a particular pressing is using the peak levels, which you can get from a program like EAC. The peak levels for the Japan-for-US are 100.0% / 100.0% / 100.0% / 100.0% / 94.4% / 100.0% / 78.4% / 96.0% / 95.5%.
The later US-for-US disc shows a time of 42:24 when you first put it in a CD player, has a matrix number of 2A EK38112 06 A, mentions no country on the CD itself, and says "Now Made In The U.S.A." on the rear artwork above the bar code.
The peak levels for the US-for-US are 94.6% / 99.4% / 97.6% / 96.7% / 98.7% / 96.7% / 90.5% / 99.3% / 98.1%. This seems to be a different analog transfer than the Japan-for-US.
Compared to the Japan-for-US, the US-for-US seems to have a little added compression/limiting, and a more bass-heavy EQ. If the Japan-for-US sounds "relaxed", then the US-for-US sounds "aggressive", for lack of a better term. The US-for-US starts its fades earlier than the Japan-for-US on all tracks. The US-for-US has some digitization artifacts on the
fades, which are not present at all on the Japan-for-US.
Basically, I think the Japan-for-US sounds closer to what I'd expect from a 1982 recording. I think it sounds significantly better than the US-for-US. Both sound much better than the 2001 "Special Edition" or 2008 "25th Anniversary Edition".
Your results may vary.
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Brian W.
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| Posted: 21 December 2015 at 1:32am | IP Logged
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I agree. I have the original Japan pressing. It has pre-
emphasis, which needs to be "de-emphasized" or it will
sound too trebly. It sounds very warm and "analogue" when
properly deemphasized in my old Philips CD-R console
recorder. (Which you do by copying it at 2X onto a CD-R or
CD-RW -- the resulting copy will sound the way it's
supposed to sound.) And surprisingly bassy! It's much
bassier than the original US-for-US pressing.
Edited by Brian W. on 21 December 2015 at 1:33am
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KentT
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| Posted: 23 December 2015 at 9:43pm | IP Logged
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And also, I think the Japan (For US and Europe) has the
original LP mix.
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crapfromthepast
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| Posted: 24 December 2015 at 6:35am | IP Logged
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Kent - What are the differences between the original LP mix and what's on the common '80s-era US CD?
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aaronk
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| Posted: 24 December 2015 at 7:10am | IP Logged
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Billie Jean is a slightly different mix for sure. I don't remember if any
other tracks are different.
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Aaron Kannowski
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KentT
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| Posted: 23 January 2016 at 12:59pm | IP Logged
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Yes, the early Japan for USA sale CD has the different mix of "Billie Jean" which is the different track.
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Top 40 Music on Compact Disc : Chat Board
Topic: Michael Jackson - ’80s-era Thriller CD
