Hard To Find 45s On CD Vol. 8: Seventies

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   Indeed, many thanks for your detailed explanation, Mark.

I'd say the vast majority of us don't quite understand many of the logistics involved with getting the source material for compilations.  Over on the stevehoffman.tv forum, we hear stories about baking tapes that have been sitting in vaults for 30 years, and trying to use equipment similar to what the tapes were originally recorded on, and so forth.  But at the end of the day, when we buy a fine collection from Eric or Rhino or Time-Life, we really have no idea where the actual 0's and 1's come from.

For instance, it's fascinating to me to hear that your CD is the first place to get the Boney M single version, and how the 2-track mixdown tape probably hadn't been touched in over 25 years.  Same as for the UA Chris Rea tape (you'd think UA would have done a better job with that edit!) - nice to hear the details.  And great story about the tape sent straight from Terry Jacks himself!

It's too bad that those little stories never seem to find their way into liner notes (with the exception of the four Rock Artifacts CDs).  I, for one, would really like to know when a CD features a fresh transfer from an analog tape, or if any NR or (heavens, no!) additional compression is used.  I'd also like to know who did the original transfer from analog - probably Bill Inglot for a lot of those?  No way to tell at this point, I'd guess...

If you ever feel like sharing more details from any of the other CDs you worked on, I'm sure there will be others like me waiting to soak in every detail!

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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: 78	Post Options Post Reply Quote crapfromthepast Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 January 2009 at 9:53pm
	Indeed, many thanks for your detailed explanation, Mark. I'd say the vast majority of us don't quite understand many of the logistics involved with getting the source material for compilations. Over on the stevehoffman.tv forum, we hear stories about baking tapes that have been sitting in vaults for 30 years, and trying to use equipment similar to what the tapes were originally recorded on, and so forth. But at the end of the day, when we buy a fine collection from Eric or Rhino or Time-Life, we really have no idea where the actual 0's and 1's come from. For instance, it's fascinating to me to hear that your CD is the first place to get the Boney M single version, and how the 2-track mixdown tape probably hadn't been touched in over 25 years. Same as for the UA Chris Rea tape (you'd think UA would have done a better job with that edit!) - nice to hear the details. And great story about the tape sent straight from Terry Jacks himself! It's too bad that those little stories never seem to find their way into liner notes (with the exception of the four Rock Artifacts CDs). I, for one, would really like to know when a CD features a fresh transfer from an analog tape, or if any NR or (heavens, no!) additional compression is used. I'd also like to know who did the original transfer from analog - probably Bill Inglot for a lot of those? No way to tell at this point, I'd guess... If you ever feel like sharing more details from any of the other CDs you worked on, I'm sure there will be others like me waiting to soak in every detail!

MMathews Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 18 August 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote MMathews Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08 January 2009 at 4:39pm
	Hi again all, No problem, my pleasure. I don't get to to the forum as often as i like, but on rare occasion i can offer an actual answer or help I'm ready to hop-to. I'll tell you right now I do not have the professional industry background as some folks here do, or others who do professional mastering like Tom Daly. He's the one with the massive studio full of analog equipment, digital equipment, reel decks of various types, different turntables, special ones for 78's.. you name it. Very cool. I myself have this PC, and behind me 2 rooms with about 13,000 cd's. I just happen to know my way around some pro mastering software blindfolded, and i consider my ears to be my golden asset. I ended up working with Tom on some Eric projects because of my friendship with him. Over the years I now consider Bill a good friend too, so i still help out sometimes when asked. One might say i have good ears and some big opinions on how i think things should sound. But i am in no way affiliated with long-time industry pro's like Bill Inglot. (i just love his ears! LOL). But believe me, as for the stories and details on how this stuff actually gets done, I could sit and absorb it like air. The only stories i can personally tell would relate to the several Eric cd's i've had the pleasure of co-mastering with Tom, like this one. I've heard lots of other stories but that would only be hearsay. But, yes, Ron, i am the same way...I LOVE hearing or reading every detail of how some things come about and the behind-the-scenes stuff of just how these things end up on our shelves. It's always a case of, "you'd be surprised". Just for my own tastes, i have no time for anyone who has a mammoth ego about it, as i have chatted with a few old-timers who are like that. (note that i am outspoken about my "opinions" because mastering and sound are subjective!) This is why i have great respect for Tom Daly, because he has taken a lot of heat for how Eric cd's sound as well as good, but he has always consulted with many for input on tracks and getting as much feedback from those around him as to tweaking things to make the most folks happy. Many engineers just assume their own way is the "right" way. I guess that's why, in my opinion (ahem) some cd's from major labels sound like crap. I guess this was my entry i never had time to add to the old thread about "who are we??" That, by the way, was my favorite thread of all time. Even tho i am terrible at remembering who everyone is, it was awesome reading. So, anytime i spot a Q about an Eric disc, if i can chime in, i certainly will. Happy listening! -Mark M