level 42 "something about you"

pat

the 45 actually runs 3:42 while the 45's face states the run time as 3:48

this should be noted in the db...

I pulled the 45 version of Level 42's "Something About You" from the following CD sources in my music library, and I don't hear an audio dropout during the intro on either one of them:

Level 42 Very Best of (UK import) (Polydor 559373) (run time: 3:45)
VA Rock of the 80's Volume 10 (Priority)(run time: 3:42)

As for sound quality, I find that the Very Best of CD is mastered somewhat on the "hot" side with added compression (though none of the audio wave peaks appear to be "clipped" beyond 0 dB), boosted treble, and runs several seconds longer than the actual 45 length. On the other hand, the sound on the Rock of the 80's Volume 10 disc is quite good, with a nice EQ, and has a nearly fully intact dynamic range and very bare minimal clipping, though the volume level could perhaps have ideally been mastered one or two dbs lower to prevent any wave peaks from being clipped at all. Considering the Priority label's reputation for sometimes using suspect source tapes (i.e. its Mega Hits Dance Classics series), I suspect most collectors would be quite satisfied with the sound quality of "Something Without You" on the Rock of the 80's Volume 10 CD, though I'm sure someone else on the message board could possibly recommend an even better source.

Out of curiosity, Dave, at exactly which point on the 45 version are you hearing the dropout?

Todd Ireland wrote: I pulled the 45 version of Level 42's "Something About You" from the following CD sources in my music library, and I don't hear an audio dropout during the intro on either one of them: Level 42 Very Best of (UK import) (Polydor 559373) (run time: 3:45) VA Rock of the 80's Volume 10 (Priority)(run time: 3:42) As for sound quality, I find that the Very Best of CD is mastered somewhat on the "hot" side with added compression (though none of the audio wave peaks appear to be "clipped" beyond 0 dB), boosted treble, and runs several seconds longer than the actual 45 length. On the other hand, the sound on the Rock of the 80's Volume 10 disc is quite good, with a nice EQ, and has a nearly fully intact dynamic range and very bare minimal clipping, though the volume level could perhaps have ideally been mastered one or two dbs lower to prevent any wave peaks from being clipped at all. Considering the Priority label's reputation for sometimes using suspect source tapes (i.e. its Mega Hits Dance Classics series), I suspect most collectors would be quite satisfied with the sound quality of "Something Without You" on the Rock of the 80's Volume 10 CD, though I'm sure someone else on the message board could possibly recommend an even better source. Out of curiosity, Dave, at exactly which point on the 45 version are you hearing the dropout?

The first second on the introduction, it always stood out to me. Perhaps not a dropout, almost like a click or a tick, it's very brief. Perhaps Ron G can give us give us a mastering
history cause I know he's a Level 42 fan! I can't be the only one that hears it, cause the short versions supplied on TM Century GoldDiscs never had this anomaly. I can't vouch for
the accuracy of the TM discs, but those were the one's we dubbed into my station library back in 1999.