US vs. UK pressings.

**yo-i-got-beats** · November 4th, 2004, 06:51 PM

For all you 12" collectors - US vs. UK Pressings - preferences, comments?

Yo-I-Got-Beats

**Bernie** · November 4th, 2004, 07:02 PM

Depends on the title, but usually the US release is the one most look for.

**QUINNY** · November 5th, 2004, 05:06 AM

Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.

Sonically, anything on a 45 RPM UK release, that was about 6 mins or so long, was superior to virtually any US release in pure audio terms. US pressings always sounded dull by comparison.
However, give me a well transfered CD version anyday.

From the collectors point of view, it has to be original US release (why I don't fully understand, especially if a record originated outside the U.S.) if you're to earn maximum brownie points with fellow nerds. :D :D :D

**Jimmy-Michaels** · November 5th, 2004, 07:08 AM

Actualy my oppinion is whatever I can get hold of LOL. But I have noticed that some UK pressings can be better than US in quality. But again as said..depends on the 12''

**Jimmy-Michaels** · November 5th, 2004, 07:11 AM

One thing I forgot to mention...kinda off subject but on subject...the Mexico pressing of Gibson Bros - Que Serra Mi Vida..nice pic cover 12''..but for the vinyl...AVOID! Its pure crap, almost sounds like a bad bootlegg

**BrunoRepublic** · November 5th, 2004, 09:38 AM

It all depends. Some are better, some are worse. Generally, the UK releases had better vinyl. Sometimes the US ones have better mastering though (look for Jose Rodriguez in the credits or JR in the dead wax).

A couple of examples off the top of my head... UK pressings from Pye (a lot of disco and AVI product) have some seriously bad compression piled on top of them. The UK pressing of "Seven Deadly Sins" is practically unlistenable for this reason. OTOH, the UK edition of the first "Bionic Boogie" LP is easily the best of the three I've heard. The Canadian release sounds muddy, and the US one has the stereo image noticeably narrowed. Only the UK is bright and wide. So it all depends.

**Jimmy-Michaels** · November 5th, 2004, 11:49 AM

On the UK press of Bionic Boogie..is "Risky Changes" still sliced to hell like on the US one? And yes thats the only copy I ever heard and own is the US..and I always thought it sounded like **** in quality.

**BrunoRepublic** · November 5th, 2004, 01:45 PM

What do you mean by 'sliced to hell'? As in edited? It's the same mix on both versions...

**yo-i-got-beats** · November 5th, 2004, 02:50 PM

thanks for the input

Nicole
(yo-i-got-beats)

**Videoskooter** · November 5th, 2004, 06:55 PM

OMG-the vinylmyths! I still remember them very well.

My experiences:

First I never played much records on a home-system but always on a heavy soundsystem on the bumpercartrack. 12 speakers and we had to make sure that the bass wasn't too deep so the records wouldn't skip in the cash-box. I always found that the Unidisc pressings were perfectly fit for that. So were the Ramshorn pressings (dutch cie) and I once had a few white vinyls that were sold at a much higher price (double) but the quality was superior. They were Japanese. I can't check that coz' they were stolen many years ago.

When I was doing radioshows in the mid '80's I noticed that vinyl was becoming of a far less quality and that records were giving problems after a few weeks. You could even feel that by manipulating them with your both hands.

Fact is that many of my '70's classics are still in a fairly good condition but that the '80's-are giving a hell of a problem sometimes. Were they allready pushing us towards the cd??

But to answer the question: IMO the US-pressings were the best.

**Jimmy-Michaels** · November 6th, 2004, 12:49 AM

Originally Written by Graham_Start

What do you mean by 'sliced to hell'? As in edited? It's the same mix on both versions...

Yea I ment edited. Its like what they did was take the full length version on the 12'' and cut it up. You can tell this as well when listening, the slices are pretty evident. Kinda the same thing Polydor did with Peaches & Herb "Shake Your Groove Thing" on the 2 Hot LP.

**Jimmy-Michaels** · November 6th, 2004, 12:51 AM

Oh and speaking of crap pressings and bad quality..dont know what country this comes from honestly but my Siamese Records pressing of Amanda Lear "Follow Me" is pure crap quality :x

**Bernie** · November 6th, 2004, 08:42 AM

Originally Written by DJ Jimmy M

Oh and speaking of crap pressings and bad quality..dont know what country this comes from honestly but my Siamese Records pressing of Amanda Lear "Follow Me" is pure crap quality :x

There's a reason why. Read this to find out the true story behind the Amanda Lear release...
http://www.discomusic.com/people-more/3206_0_11_15_M77/
and
http://www.discomusic.com/records-more/3220_0_2_0_M39/
and
http://www.discomusic.com/records-more/533_0_2_0_M39/

**BrunoRepublic** · November 6th, 2004, 09:22 AM

So there are three different Canadian pressings of this record? I have the IGM one which is cut at 45RPM. I had an Epic copy which was cut at 33, but I didn't notice any depreciation in sound quality and I gave it away to someone who could truly appreciate it. I've never seen or heard this Siamese one.

**BrunoRepublic** · November 6th, 2004, 09:23 AM

Originally Written by DJ Jimmy M

Yea I ment edited. Its like what they did was take the full length version on the 12'' and cut it up. You can tell this as well when listening, the slices are pretty evident. Kinda the same thing Polydor did with Peaches & Herb "Shake Your Groove Thing" on the 2 Hot LP.

That's just the way the song is. There is no extended mix that I'm aware of. Diamond's been known to put a few bad edits in his tracks; there's a particularly jarring one on the 12" of "This Side Of Midnight".

**Jimmy-Michaels** · November 6th, 2004, 11:38 AM

Originally Written by Bernie

Originally Written by DJ Jimmy M

Oh and speaking of crap pressings and bad quality..dont know what country this comes from honestly but my Siamese Records pressing of Amanda Lear "Follow Me" is pure crap quality :x

There's a reason why. Read this to find out the true story behind the Amanda Lear release...
http://www.discomusic.com/people-more/3206_0_11_15_M77/
and
http://www.discomusic.com/records-more/3220_0_2_0_M39/
and
http://www.discomusic.com/records-more/533_0_2_0_M39/

Ahhh no wonder why it sounds like crap. Thats a shame actualy. I bet those original pressings are worth tons!

**Jimmy-Michaels** · November 6th, 2004, 11:41 AM

That's just the way the song is. There is no extended mix that I'm aware of

The 12'' on Polydor clocks in at a little over 7 mins which is the full length version, no lousy chops and this is what was sliced down to 5 something on the US LP I got. Is the full 7 mins on all the pressings of the LP you have?