Johnny Nash - I Can See Clearly Now

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   I found one CD that sounds significantly better than all the others I have for this song.  Columbia/Legacy's Rock Artifacts Vol. 2 (1991) seems to use a lower-generation source tape than all the others, and has much more high-end detail than all the others.

These Rock Artifacts collections are truly extraordinary, and I highly recommend all four volumes.  All were released in 1991, and were repackaged in 1998 without the informative booklet.  Kudos to digital producer Bob Irwin and mastering engineer Vic Anesini, both of whom did an exceptional job with these compilation CDs.

The oldest CD I have with the song is Rhino's Billboard Top R&R Hits 1972 (1989), which uses a higher-generation tape source than Artifacts.  The same analog transfer is used on:Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 3 1972 (1989) - digitally identical
Time-Life's 2-CD Seventies Music Explosion Vol. 3 Miracles (2005) - digitally exactly 1.1 dB louder
Time-Life's 2-CD Classic Soft Rock Vol. 5 California Dreamin' (2006) - differently-EQ'd digital clone
Time-Life's Superhits Vol. 11 1972 (1991) uses the same analog transfer as Billboard, but flips the left and right channels.  I believe that all the tracks on this disc have their left and right channels swapped; that was the case with the 1973 disc.  Superhits was later repackaged as AM Gold Vol. 7 1972, which had the same mastering and retained the left/right error.  There's a digitally identical clone on Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 1 1972-1973 (2000), which also has the left/right error.

Other discs:Rhino's Didn't It Blow Your Mind Vol. 9 (1991) seems to use a different analog transfer of the same source tape used on Billboard.
Time-Life's Solid Gold Soul Vol. 28 Inspiration (2000) is a differently-EQ'd digital clone of Didn't I.
Sony's Seems Like Yesterday Vol. 1 (1989) fades a little more quickly than the other discs.
Razor & Tie's 2-CD Super '70s (1995) has a severe channel imbalance that makes the left channel way too quiet - avoid.
My recommendation: Get Columbia/Legacy's Rock Artifacts Vol. 2 (1991) for "I Can See Clearly Now", and enjoy the many other terrific-sounding tracks on that fine collection.

(I am in no way affiliated with Columbia/Legacy, Bob Irwin, or Vic Anesini.  Just fans of their work.)

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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: 163	Post Options Post Reply Quote crapfromthepast Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Johnny Nash - I Can See Clearly Now Posted: 03 March 2018 at 1:24pm
	I found one CD that sounds significantly better than all the others I have for this song. *Columbia/Legacy's Rock Artifacts Vol. 2* (1991)** seems to use a lower-generation source tape than all the others, and has much more high-end detail than all the others. These Rock Artifacts collections are truly extraordinary, and I highly recommend all four volumes. All were released in 1991, and were repackaged in 1998 without the informative booklet. Kudos to digital producer Bob Irwin and mastering engineer Vic Anesini, both of whom did an exceptional job with these compilation CDs. The oldest CD I have with the song is Rhino's Billboard Top R&R Hits 1972 (1989), which uses a higher-generation tape source than Artifacts. The same analog transfer is used on: Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 3 1972 (1989) - digitally identical Time-Life's 2-CD Seventies Music Explosion Vol. 3 Miracles (2005) - digitally exactly 1.1 dB louder Time-Life's 2-CD Classic Soft Rock Vol. 5 California Dreamin' (2006) - differently-EQ'd digital clone Time-Life's Superhits Vol. 11 1972 (1991) uses the same analog transfer as Billboard, but flips the left and right channels. I believe that all the tracks on this disc have their left and right channels swapped; that was the case with the 1973 disc. Superhits was later repackaged as AM Gold Vol. 7 1972, which had the same mastering and retained the left/right error. There's a digitally identical clone on Time-Life's 2-CD Singers And Songwriters Vol. 1 1972-1973 (2000), which also has the left/right error. Other discs: Rhino's Didn't It Blow Your Mind Vol. 9 (1991) seems to use a different analog transfer of the same source tape used on Billboard. Time-Life's Solid Gold Soul Vol. 28 Inspiration (2000) is a differently-EQ'd digital clone of Didn't I. Sony's Seems Like Yesterday Vol. 1 (1989) fades a little more quickly than the other discs. Razor & Tie's 2-CD Super '70s (1995) has a severe channel imbalance that makes the left channel way too quiet - avoid. My recommendation: Get *Columbia/Legacy's Rock Artifacts Vol. 2* (1991)** for "I Can See Clearly Now", and enjoy the many other terrific-sounding tracks on that fine collection. (I am in no way affiliated with Columbia/Legacy, Bob Irwin, or Vic Anesini. Just fans of their work.)
	There's a lot of crap on the radio, but there's only one Crap From The Past.

eriejwg Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 10 June 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 123	Post Options Post Reply Quote eriejwg Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 March 2018 at 2:14pm
	I have the song on The Best Of, and after listening to some 45s on YouTuibe, the channels on my copy also had the left/right error.
	John Gallagher Erie, PA Celebrating 28 years as a full-time wedding & special event DJ!

davidclark Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 17 November 2004 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 46	Post Options Post Reply Quote davidclark Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 March 2018 at 11:01pm
	I notice that Rock Artifacts runs 2:42 while the 45 runs 2:45. Yeah, I know, it's that 3-second thing, but does it run faster, or does it fade earlier?
	dc1