Earth Wind And Fire - September

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   "September" may very well be the greatest song ever included as a new song on a Greatest Hits album.  (It certainly gives "Hot Fun In The Summertime" a run for its money.)

It first appeared on CD on Columbia's Best Of Vol. 1 (1986).  There's plenty of dynamic range and no noise reduction, and a very nice EQ.  The same analog transfer is used for:Priority's Mega-Hits Dance Classics Vol. 7 (1989; about 6 dB louder than Best Of and clips severely)
Cema's Reelin' In The Years Vol. 3 (1991; mastered by Steve Hoffman)
DCC's Groove On! Vol. 1 (1996; also mastered by Steve Hoffman)
Time-Life's Solid Gold Soul Vol. 17 1978 (1997; digitally exactly 0.803 dB louder)
Time-Life's 2-CD Body Talk Vol. 20 Heart And Soul (1998; digitally identical)
There's a new analog transfer on Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 20 1978 Take Two (1991).  Also superb dynamic range, no noise reduction, a differently-shaped fade and slightly longer tail to the fade, and a slight smiley-face EQ compared to Best Of.

There's a new analog transfer on the 3-CD Eternal Dance (1992).  Great dynamic range, no noise reduction, same length as 1978 Take Two, and a more mid-rangy EQ than 1978 Take Two.  The EQ is significantly brighter than Best Of.  The fade is shaped the same as 1978 Take Two.  There's a digitally identical clone on Time-Life's 2-CD Legends Of Soul Vol. 10 Earth Wind And Fire (2002).

I can't identify where the version on Sony's Forever Soul Vol. 2 (1995) came from, but it's EQ'd just a bit brighter than Best Of.

Two to avoid are UK collections.  Connoisseur Collection's 5-CD 100 Dance Hits Of The '70s (1988) is EQ'd way too bright, and a 4-CD set called Disco Fever (1993) fades a few seconds early.

Best Bet

Steve Hoffman's masterings sound just like Best Of Vol. 1, with no EQ adjustment.  So it appears that SH approves of the sound on Columbia's Best Of Vol. 1 (1986).

I'm going to agree, although all of the above US discs sound quite nice, and you won't be disappointed with any of them.

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: 9	Post Options Post Reply Quote crapfromthepast Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Earth Wind And Fire - September Posted: 19 November 2014 at 9:39pm
	"September" may very well be the greatest song ever included as a new song on a Greatest Hits album. (It certainly gives "Hot Fun In The Summertime" a run for its money.) It first appeared on CD on Columbia's Best Of Vol. 1 (1986). There's plenty of dynamic range and no noise reduction, and a very nice EQ. The same analog transfer is used for: Priority's Mega-Hits Dance Classics Vol. 7 (1989; about 6 dB louder than Best Of and clips severely) Cema's Reelin' In The Years Vol. 3 (1991; mastered by Steve Hoffman) DCC's Groove On! Vol. 1 (1996; also mastered by Steve Hoffman) Time-Life's Solid Gold Soul Vol. 17 1978 (1997; digitally exactly 0.803 dB louder) Time-Life's 2-CD Body Talk Vol. 20 Heart And Soul (1998; digitally identical) There's a new analog transfer on Time-Life's Sounds Of The Seventies Vol. 20 1978 Take Two (1991). Also superb dynamic range, no noise reduction, a differently-shaped fade and slightly longer tail to the fade, and a slight smiley-face EQ compared to Best Of. There's a new analog transfer on the 3-CD Eternal Dance (1992). Great dynamic range, no noise reduction, same length as 1978 Take Two, and a more mid-rangy EQ than 1978 Take Two. The EQ is significantly brighter than Best Of. The fade is shaped the same as 1978 Take Two. There's a digitally identical clone on Time-Life's 2-CD Legends Of Soul Vol. 10 Earth Wind And Fire (2002). I can't identify where the version on Sony's Forever Soul Vol. 2 (1995) came from, but it's EQ'd just a bit brighter than Best Of. Two to avoid are UK collections. Connoisseur Collection's 5-CD 100 Dance Hits Of The '70s (1988) is EQ'd way too bright, and a 4-CD set called Disco Fever (1993) fades a few seconds early. Best Bet Steve Hoffman's masterings sound just like Best Of Vol. 1, with no EQ adjustment. So it appears that SH approves of the sound on Columbia's Best Of Vol. 1 (1986). I'm going to agree, although all of the above US discs sound quite nice, and you won't be disappointed with any of them. Edited by crapfromthepast
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