Jackson 5 - I’ll Be There

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   Just mastering info here.  No real surprises.

Stereo LP version (3:56)

I encountered four different analog transfers of the stereo LP version.  

The oldest CD with the song is undoubtedly Motown's Michael Jackson and Jackson 5 collection Compact Command Performances 18 Greatest Hits (1983), which is part of Motown's very first batch of CD releases.  It sounds OK here, with OK dynamic range, decent EQ, and an untruncated fade that runs out to the full length of the song.  The same analog transfer is used on:Motown's Twelve #1 Hits From The 70's (copyright 1982) - differently-EQ'd digital clone
Motown's Jackson 5 collection Great Songs And Performances (1983) - digital clone; forgot to check level, though
Motown's Twenty-Five #1 Hits From 25 Years Vol. 1 (1985) - digitally exactly 1.78 dB louder
Motown's Motown's Biggest Pop Hits (1986) - digitally exactly 1.18 dB louder
Motown's Motown 9000 Series (1987) - digitally exactly 1.58 dB louder
Next, Bill Inglot did a new analog transfer for Rhino's Billboard Top R&B Hits 1970 (1990).  I think it's an improvement, with a little more dynamic range, plenty of high end (which I prefer), and also running out to the full length of the song.  The same analog transfer is used on:Time-Life's Superhits Vol. 4 1970 (1990) - hastens fade; avoid if possible
Time-Life's AM Gold Vol. 2 1970 (1990) - this disc is a repackaging of Superhits Vol. 4 1970, which hastens fade; avoid if possible
Time-Life's 2-CD Body Talk Vol. 13 Just The Two Of Us (1997) - digitally exactly 4 dB louder than Superhits,which hastens fade; avoid if possible
Time-Life's Solid Gold Soul #1 Love Songs Of The '70s (2000) - digitally exactly 6.13 dB louder than Superhits,which hastens fade; avoid if possible
Next, there's a new analog transfer on Motown's 2-CD Jackson 5 anthology Anthology (1995), which sounds just fine.  The same analog transfer is used on:Reader's Digest's 4-CD Time In A Bottle Disc (2006)
Finally, there's a new analog transfer on Motown's Jackson 5 collection Soulsation! 25th Anniversary Collection (1995), where it's mastered a little too loud, and clips a lot.  It also runs a second or two shorter than the above discs.  There's a digital clone on:Motown's Jackson 5 collection Ultimate Collection (1996)
Mono 45 version (3:43)

I have the mono 45 version on just one disc, and it's one of the very best collections of pop that's ever been released:

Motown's 4-CD Hitsville USA Vol. 1 (1992)

Heartily recommended.  I doubt that there are any other analog transfers out there, and I doubt that anything could sound better than Hitsville.

My recommendations

For the stereo LP version, I (predictably) chose Rhino's Billboard Top R&B Hits 1970 (1990).  The sound on the Rhino Billboard discs just can't be beat.

For the mono 45 version, go with Motown's Hitsville USA Vol. 1 (1992), which really has no peer in the world of label-centric compilations.  This CD set is the gold standard for all future box sets.

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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: Jackson 5 - I’ll Be There Posted: 29 August 2020 at 4:31pm
	Just mastering info here. No real surprises. Stereo LP version (3:56) I encountered four different analog transfers of the stereo LP version. The oldest CD with the song is undoubtedly Motown's Michael Jackson and Jackson 5 collection Compact Command Performances 18 Greatest Hits (1983), which is part of Motown's very first batch of CD releases. It sounds OK here, with OK dynamic range, decent EQ, and an untruncated fade that runs out to the full length of the song. The same analog transfer is used on: Motown's Twelve #1 Hits From The 70's (copyright 1982) - differently-EQ'd digital clone Motown's Jackson 5 collection Great Songs And Performances (1983) - digital clone; forgot to check level, though Motown's Twenty-Five #1 Hits From 25 Years Vol. 1 (1985) - digitally exactly 1.78 dB louder Motown's Motown's Biggest Pop Hits (1986) - digitally exactly 1.18 dB louder Motown's Motown 9000 Series (1987) - digitally exactly 1.58 dB louder Next, Bill Inglot did a new analog transfer for Rhino's Billboard Top R&B Hits 1970 (1990). I think it's an improvement, with a little more dynamic range, plenty of high end (which I prefer), and also running out to the full length of the song. The same analog transfer is used on: Time-Life's Superhits Vol. 4 1970 (1990) - hastens fade; avoid if possible Time-Life's AM Gold Vol. 2 1970 (1990) - this disc is a repackaging of Superhits Vol. 4 1970, which hastens fade; avoid if possible Time-Life's 2-CD Body Talk Vol. 13 Just The Two Of Us (1997) - digitally exactly 4 dB louder than Superhits,which hastens fade; avoid if possible Time-Life's Solid Gold Soul #1 Love Songs Of The '70s (2000) - digitally exactly 6.13 dB louder than Superhits,which hastens fade; avoid if possible Next, there's a new analog transfer on Motown's 2-CD Jackson 5 anthology Anthology (1995), which sounds just fine. The same analog transfer is used on: Reader's Digest's 4-CD Time In A Bottle Disc (2006) Finally, there's a new analog transfer on Motown's Jackson 5 collection Soulsation! 25th Anniversary Collection (1995), where it's mastered a little too loud, and clips a lot. It also runs a second or two shorter than the above discs. There's a digital clone on: Motown's Jackson 5 collection Ultimate Collection (1996) Mono 45 version (3:43) I have the mono 45 version on just one disc, and it's one of the very best collections of pop that's ever been released: Motown's 4-CD Hitsville USA Vol. 1 (1992) Heartily recommended. I doubt that there are any other analog transfers out there, and I doubt that anything could sound better than Hitsville. My recommendations For the stereo LP version, I (predictably) chose *Rhino's Billboard Top R&B Hits 1970* (1990)*. The sound on the Rhino Billboard* discs just can't be beat. For the mono 45 version, go with *Motown's Hitsville USA Vol. 1* (1992)**, which really has no peer in the world of label-centric compilations. This CD set is the gold standard for all future box sets.
	There's a lot of crap on the radio, but there's only one Crap From The Past.

PopArchivist Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 30 June 2018 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 17	Post Options Post Reply Quote PopArchivist Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 August 2020 at 4:53pm
	Ron, A classic in it's own right. I personally go with the mono, as you correctly pointed out off the superior Motown Hitsville USA set.
	Favorite two expressions to live by on this board: "You can't download vinyl" and "Not everything is available on CD."

LunarLaugh Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 13 February 2020 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote LunarLaugh Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 July 2023 at 7:47pm
	The mono fade can't be exactly duplicated using the stereo LP mix since the lead vocal is noticeably different on the mono fade. If you line up the two mixes and attempt to copy the fadeout, Michael sings "...if you should ever, I'll be there..." on the mono but on the stereo mix the line is still "...just call my name, I'll Be there...".
	Listen to The Lunar Laugh!