J. Geils Band - Centerfold

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   The good news is that it's really difficult to find a version of this song that doesn't sound good on CD.  (There's no bad news.)

The EMI version of the Freeze-Frame sounds very nice.  The song runs 114.3 BPM (it uses a live drummer playing with a click track.)  The same analog transfer is used for these CDs:Razor & Tie's 2-CD Totally '80s (1993)
JCI's Only Rock 'N Roll 1980-1984 (1994)
Warner Special Products' 2-CD Rock This Way (1995)
Disky's 8-CD Greatest Hits Of The '80s (1998)
Disky's 8-CD Greatest Hits Of The '80s (2002)
EMI's 2-CD Best Of 1982-1983
There's a version on EMI-Manhattan's Flashback (1985) that runs 114.5 BPM.  The Flashback is a little quiet, but otherwise sounds very nice.  The same analog transfer is used for:Madacy's Rock On 1981 (1996; digitally exactly 4.5 dB louder)
EMI's Rock 'N Roll Relix 1980-1981 (1998; digitally exactly 4.4 dB louder)
There's a version on Priority's Eighties Greatest Rock Hits Vol. 4 Party On (1992), whichruns 114.4 BPM, is too loud and clips a bit.  The same analog transfer is used for:Swaitek's promo A List Disc 13 (1994; has noise reduction - avoid)
Cema's Greatest Hits Of The 80's Vol. 6 The Decade Of Excess (1994)
Universal's Pure '80s (1999)
Bill Inglot did a new analog transfer for Billboard Top Hits 1982 (1992), where it runs 114.2 BPM.  It doesn't sound that much different than the two EMI single-artist discs, but it's EQ'd with a little more high end, which I prefer.  This same analog transfer is used on:Time-Life's Guitar Rock Vol. 13 The Early '80s (1994; digitally exactly 0.1 dB quieter)
Time-Life's Sounds Of The Eighties Vol. 25 Rolling Stone 1980-1981 (1995)
EMI UK's CDCard/Time To Remember 1982 (1997; has added compression)
Time-Life's Sounds Of The Eighties Essential '80s (1998; digitally exactly 0.6 dB quieter)
Rhino's 8-CD Like Omigod (2002; a little loud and clips a bit)
There's one outlier running 115.0 BPM on Australia's 5-CD Eighties Complete Vol. 1 (1997), which fades early before the cold ending - avoid.

Aside from the too-loud and NR'd discs, just about all of the above sound good.  If I had to rate them based on sound quality, I'd vote for Rhino's Billboard Top Hits 1982 (1992).

Edited by crapfromthepast

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crapfromthepast Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 14 September 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 43	Post Options Post Reply Quote crapfromthepast Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: J. Geils Band - Centerfold Posted: 17 March 2013 at 11:50am
	The good news is that it's really difficult to find a version of this song that doesn't sound good on CD. (There's no bad news.) The EMI version of the Freeze-Frame sounds very nice. The song runs 114.3 BPM (it uses a live drummer playing with a click track.) The same analog transfer is used for these CDs: Razor & Tie's 2-CD Totally '80s (1993) JCI's Only Rock 'N Roll 1980-1984 (1994) Warner Special Products' 2-CD Rock This Way (1995) Disky's 8-CD Greatest Hits Of The '80s (1998) Disky's 8-CD Greatest Hits Of The '80s (2002) EMI's 2-CD Best Of 1982-1983 There's a version on EMI-Manhattan's Flashback (1985) that runs 114.5 BPM. The Flashback is a little quiet, but otherwise sounds very nice. The same analog transfer is used for: Madacy's Rock On 1981 (1996; digitally exactly 4.5 dB louder) EMI's Rock 'N Roll Relix 1980-1981 (1998; digitally exactly 4.4 dB louder) There's a version on Priority's Eighties Greatest Rock Hits Vol. 4 Party On (1992), whichruns 114.4 BPM, is too loud and clips a bit. The same analog transfer is used for: Swaitek's promo A List Disc 13 (1994; has noise reduction - avoid) Cema's Greatest Hits Of The 80's Vol. 6 The Decade Of Excess (1994) Universal's Pure '80s (1999) Bill Inglot did a new analog transfer for Billboard Top Hits 1982 (1992), where it runs 114.2 BPM. It doesn't sound that much different than the two EMI single-artist discs, but it's EQ'd with a little more high end, which I prefer. This same analog transfer is used on: Time-Life's Guitar Rock Vol. 13 The Early '80s (1994; digitally exactly 0.1 dB quieter) Time-Life's Sounds Of The Eighties Vol. 25 Rolling Stone 1980-1981 (1995) EMI UK's CDCard/Time To Remember 1982 (1997; has added compression) Time-Life's Sounds Of The Eighties Essential '80s (1998; digitally exactly 0.6 dB quieter) Rhino's 8-CD Like Omigod (2002; a little loud and clips a bit) There's one outlier running 115.0 BPM on Australia's 5-CD Eighties Complete Vol. 1 (1997), which fades early before the cold ending - avoid. Aside from the too-loud and NR'd discs, just about all of the above sound good. If I had to rate them based on sound quality, I'd vote for Rhino's *Billboard Top Hits 1982* (1992). Edited by crapfromthepast
	There's a lot of crap on the radio, but there's only one Crap From The Past.

aaronk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 16 January 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 157	Post Options Post Reply Quote aaronk Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 March 2013 at 9:55pm
	Ron, there are a number of discs that have a very slight glitch or drop out in the opening note. I found at least one copy that does not have the slight drop out, but I don't remember which disc is on. I think it might be the full-length Freeze-Frame cd. Maybe you can confirm this.
	Aaron Kannowski Uptown Sound 91.9 The Peak - Classic Hip Hop

crapfromthepast Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 14 September 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 43	Post Options Post Reply Quote crapfromthepast Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 March 2013 at 7:22am
	Interesting! I'll go back and re-listen. Details to follow...
	There's a lot of crap on the radio, but there's only one Crap From The Past.

aaronk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 16 January 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 157	Post Options Post Reply Quote aaronk Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 March 2013 at 9:35am
	Ron, I just checked, and the discs that seem to be problematic are all on Rhino. I hear the glitch on these discs: Like Omigod box set Entertainment Weekly presents 80s Explosion VH1 The Big 80s The Billboard 1982 disc actually sounds fine, though.
	Aaron Kannowski Uptown Sound 91.9 The Peak - Classic Hip Hop

crapfromthepast Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 14 September 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 43	Post Options Post Reply Quote crapfromthepast Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 March 2013 at 5:55pm
	Good catch, Aaron. I only have the Like Omigod set, but it's a painfully obvious glitch in the opening note.
	There's a lot of crap on the radio, but there's only one Crap From The Past.