*Unidisc--Re-release Information*

[Rab]

I would like to start off saying that I think it is wonderful that some of this old, near impossible to find disco music gets released. I am grateful that Unidisc and other record companies re-release old, long discontinued records so those of us that didn't buy them the first time around can now buy them. OK, so now here's my question, are the re-releases on Unidisc just as high in quality as the originals? Is anyone amazed at what might be re-released and what has not been? I find it odd that an original record label might prevent this with a song that has been discontinued for over 23 years? Any thoughts...?

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Rab on 2002-04-05 14:45 ]</font>

[BrunoRepublic]

OK, so now here's my question, are the re-releases on Unidisc just as high in quality as the originals?

In a word, no.



Although some Unidisc releases are sonically good, particularly the Canadian disco reissues which they presumably have the master tapes to, many more are terrible. Some are clearly made from cassettes (Inner Life's "I'm Caught Up" album, "Le Spank" CD single), others from denoised vinyl (Salsoul compilations, Bumblebee Unlimited), and still others are heavily compressed (Cerrone's albums) or harshly EQ'd (Katmandu compilation).



I am always hesitant to purchase Unidisc CDs (and Hot Productions, for that matter) for these reasons. Which is a shame, because I'd really like to support these companies for keeping this music available in the first place. But in the examples above, the original vinyl is sonically far superior.

[ehuerta]

Graham is right, sound quality is not always good. But if you don't have the original vinyl records in good condition, Unidisc and Hot Records are good options for disco collectors like myself, they have the rights of many independent record companies that have gone forever like Prelude, O records, and De-lite, to name just a few.



Big record companies like Universal, Warner and many others took over small independent ones. And we'll have to wait until they find it profitable to digitally remaster those original tapes and release disco records with outstanding quality.



They have made some nice efforts, but most of them are compilations that have the same 10 edited disco hits everybody remembers and are found elsewhere.



I hope somebody into the record industry just take a look at these posts, (and especially the Costandinos-related posts) so record companies discover that there's a big comunity interested in hearing, collecting, preserving, reviewing, sharing and dancing to disco records.

[The Lord of Flatbush]

I agree with all of your opinions.



Unidisc provided an outlet for many of us to purchase 12" Singles of our favorite songs at a time when we weren't able to acquire the original version.



Due to the manufacturer malfunctions such as label pressing, omitted instrumentals and sound quality, the re-issues on Unidisc can only imitate but never duplicate an original version or an imported mix of a song.

[Mixmachine]

Does anybody know if the current Salsoul compilations editions available from Amazon (Original Salsoul Classics & Salsoul Classics 2 & 3/4) are Unidisc or Salsoul issues? I can’t tell by the description, because of the time required to transfer to CDR I placed an order, but if the sound quality is poor I will cancel.

[NickNack]

On 2002-04-06 19:21, Mixmachine wrote:

Does anybody know if the current Salsoul compilations editions available from Amazon (Original Salsoul Classics & Salsoul Classics 2 & 3/4) are Unidisc or Salsoul issues? I can’t tell by the description, because of the time required to transfer to CDR I placed an order, but if the sound quality is poor I will cancel.

These are Salsoul issues. The label reads as follows:



BETHLEHEM MUSIC COMPANY, INC. SALSOUL RECORDS OWNED AND OPERATED BY BETHLEHEM...

16 E. 40TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10016.



These are both digitally remastered by Tom Moulton from the original master tapes.

[Mixmachine]

Thanks NickNack, I’ll let the order stand, because of your recommendation I also ordered the rest of the “Give you body up” compilation.

A bit off topic but yesterday a test pressing copy of “changes” by Sharon Ridley sold for $232.50, I was going to bid $50.00 an extraordinary amount for me. hahahaha,

[Voyage]

I agree that sometimes compilations aren't very good b/c they either have the classic songs we all know, maybe they're based on someone's opinion, and sometimes they can also be not very good songs no one even knows.

[12incher]

excellent question...I have been told that there's a new wave of represses out right now, and I hear the quality has improved.

[Forrrce]

[quote="Graham_Start"]

Although some Unidisc releases are sonically good, particularly the Canadian disco reissues which they presumably have the master tapes to, many more are terrible. Some are clearly made from cassettes (Inner Life's "I'm Caught Up" album, "Le Spank" CD single), others from denoised vinyl (Salsoul compilations, Bumblebee Unlimited), and still others are heavily compressed (Cerrone's albums) or harshly EQ'd (Katmandu compilation).

Hadn't seen this thread before (pre my time here) but while I thought Unidisc a little more quality conscious than some, there are some dodgy issues. The Bumblebee and both Universal Robot Band LPs are certainly vinyl transfers (though the former is far worse than the latter two).

There are quite a few Unidiscs which have an overbright, thin, Dolby-B type sound and I never dreamed the label could be so crass as to master from cassettes. The previously promo-only remix of Brandi Wells' 'Watch Out' is a good case in point, as well as the instrumental of Tracey Weber's 'Sure Shot'. I simply imagined tinny, 'aurally excited' copies of masters were used, with little attention paid to any post-production. At least I'm not alone on the Hot issue. Some Unidisc 12"s are particularly impressive, though - I think Cerrone's 'Give Me Love' sounds excellent.

Throwaway mastering is particularly annoying, because I buy a lot of re-issue CDs from overseas (many UK retailers aren't too good with 'fringe' imports and now that Tower have gone, I have to get Japanese imports from the US and Japan at extra expense). Most of the CDs I buy, I have on vinyl already, but simply prefer CDs for cleaner sound (where applicable). If it's not from the master tape, I'm just not interested - I can do a better job than some of these 'engineers' myself - but there's no way to tell what you're getting 'til it's right there in your hands.

[Bernie]

It's amazing how many Disco reissue CDs are taken from vinyl-and bad vinyl at that. Even the wonderful "Funky Collector" CDs are mostly culled from vinyl. Where have all the masters gone?

Forrrce, Tower is now gone from the UK?

[Forrrce]

Sadly, Bernie,
Tower UK went earlier this year. They'd been here since 1986 and straightaway, were a source to be watched for interesting imports - they carried amazing (cheap) deletions and cut-outs like JBs and Pleasure LPs; and many such goodies. We couldn't believe our luck . Their Japanese selection was light years ahead of any other's (even though they didn't get it 100% right).
They were bought out by Virgin, who immediately dispensed with the specialist Jap. and independent jazz & soul imports (maybe so in other music departments, too) and it's now a sterile, chart-friendly wasteland - still called Tower, though that'll change soon enough.

[Nano]

Same thing happened with Tower in Argentina -they came in 1997-, further forced by the strong depreciation of our peso in January 2002. Some big locals still exist, but they have only local editions... whole racks consisting of 200 CDs of the same "album of the week" :cry: I was in one of them last week and you could spot from afar where the listening machines where because it were the only places where there were somebody at all. (I guess the MP3 thing has somebody to do with this too.) Really sad.

I used to go to Tower to listen to electronica because they had lotsa stuff and all the new things. Bought there things like Saint Etienne, Kid Loco, Alex Gopher, etc. Now they only have those cheap "chill out" compilations carbon-copying the Café del Mar trend.

About Unidisc: there was a CD compilation series called "Discoteque" consisting very much in Unidisc material. The sound is very good and some songs are cut off at minute 4:30 for space, but others are kept in full. I saw three discs and have a copy of the first one. Here's the full tracklist:

1-FIREFLY - Love is gonna be on your side
2-KAT MANDU - I wanna dance
3-RAY PARKER JR. & RAYDIO - Still in the groove
4-WEEKS AND CO. - Rock your world
5-FANTASY - You're too late
6-KLEEER - De Kleeer ting
7-SHOCK - Let's get crackin'
8-K.I.D. - Don't stop
9-THP - Good to me
10- RAY PARKER JR. & RAYDIO - It's time to party now
11-THE BROTHERS JOHNSON - Stomp
12-THE WHISPERS - And the beat goes on
13-EVELYN KING - I'm in love
14-FRANCE JOLI - Gonna get over you
15-SUZY Q - Get on up & do it again

Labeled SPLK-7488 by Unidisc Music Inc., 1997.

The cover work is pretty bad (a horrible computer image on different colors for each CD, and there's some mispelling in the credits) but the sound is CD pristine. I give it a 9 overall.

[jim]

Tower records lost their Boston store,though they are still around in Cambriedge and Burlington.

Virgin records is there now at the Boston site.

When up at Virgin last fall, I saw Kirsten Dunst there, but did not talk with her.

[efunk_adelic]

7-SHOCK - Let's get crackin'
15-SUZY Q - Get on up & do it again

Labeled SPLK-7488 by Unidisc Music Inc., 1997.

The cover work is pretty bad (a horrible computer image on different colors for each CD, and there's some mispelling in the credits) but the sound is CD pristine. I give it a 9 overall.

Nano!

when you got time.... can you check the track time for the following tracks that I highlighted, please. :D

no big hurry...

[Nano]

SHOCK - Let's get crackin': 3:50
SUZY Q - Get on up & do it again: 4:50

In "Atlantic dance classics" (Turnstyle/Atlantic 7 14215-2, from 1992) the Suzy Q track clocks in at 5:51. I think this is the complete version.

[Bernie]

SHOCK - Let's get crackin': 3:50
SUZY Q - Get on up & do it again: 4:50

In "Atlantic dance classics" (Turnstyle/Atlantic 7 14215-2, from 1992) the Suzy Q track clocks in at 5:51. I think this is the complete version.

Close. I checked both of my copies. Suzy Q's "Get On Up..." clocks in at 5:54 on the original Atlantic 12" and JC Records 12."

[efunk_adelic]

thanks Nano & Bernie,


I have a feeling that Shock's - Let's Get Crackin'

is the 45rpm version.... as I recall the 12" played on forever.... but never the less still that is a great compilation of songs on 1 CD :o