Lowrell

[BrunoRepublic]

I've had the 12" of "Overdose Of Love" for a few years, but it was only yesterday that I finally found a copy of his funky 1979 album on AVI. I love it! Thing is, the sound quality is *terrible*, and not just becuase of the crummy AVI vinyl. The whole thing sounds vey muffled, like it came off of an old cassette or something. The 12" that I have doesn't have this problem at all. Are all copies of this album like this?

[sweetndirty]

The copy that I have sounds fine. I don't know if yours is a US or Canadian pressing because as you probably already know a lot of the canadian pressings of lp's from the late 70's sound terrible. Like they were recorded lower or something.

If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for it. I have a mint US pressing I was thinking of putting up on e-bay but have no idea what to ask for it.

[Bernie]

Graham,
I don't know anything about this record, but I just went to GEMM http://gemm.com/q.cgi?rb=DISCOMUSIC&artist=lowrell
and it appears that it has been reissued (possibly bootlegged?). I've been seeing lots of poor quality reissues and bootlegs over the last few years so you have to watch out for them. A bootleg of Eddie Drennon that I bought in Philly last year even copied the original label graphics and cover, but sounded okay for $6.00.

[BrunoRepublic]

It appears to be a US copy, but I think Bernie's right. I was already suspecting that it might have been a bootleg, simply because it looked so *new*. I also thought that it was odd that a record from '79 would have AVI's 1976 label design.

Okay, well I'll stop trying to restore this one, then... just as well, because it was looking hopeless. Thing is, if I order it from an online vendor, how can I tell if it's a legit copy?

[BrunoRepublic]

If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for it. I have a mint US pressing I was thinking of putting up on e-bay but have no idea what to ask for it.

I paid $14 for it, which I thought was a good deal since it still had the shrink wrap. I'd gladly pay three times that for a proper copy. I want to do this up as an audio restoration project (have 12" of "Overdose Of Love" already and have ordered UK 12" of "Mellow Mellow" -- hopefully that one's not a boot too!).

I must admit that I'm quite surprised to find vinyl bootlegs in Toronto...

[Forrrce]

I've had this LP since 1980 and remember the dull EQ took some getting used to. I thought the pressing was faulty 'til the shaker leapt out of 'Mellow, Mellow'. I see this LP quite regularly and it's quite often in good shape. There was a near -mint promo in a shop I sometimes visit, yesterday.

[BrunoRepublic]

I've had this LP since 1980 and remember the dull EQ took some getting used to. I thought the pressing was faulty 'til the shaker leapt out of 'Mellow, Mellow'. I see this LP quite regularly and it's quite often in good shape. There was a near -mint promo in a shop I sometimes visit, yesterday.

This is not just dull EQ... there's not much above 4KHz, and almost nothing beyond 13. The sound is weak and warbly, like an old cassette. 'Smooth And Wild' appears in the same form on both the LP and the 12"... the LP sound is just horrible, but the 12" is bright and clear. But yes, there is quite a bit of bass on Mellow, Mellow...

Either I've got a counterfeit copy, or there are multiple metal masters with major differences in quality.

[Forrrce]

I know you're very particular about sound quality, Graham, so I wasn't doubting your assessment - just airing an opinion on the LP in general. But the offer's there if you need an original, as it's not an expensive LP.

[BrunoRepublic]

I know you're very particular about sound quality, Graham, so I wasn't doubting your assessment - just airing an opinion on the LP in general. But the offer's there if you need an original, as it's not an expensive LP.

Now I'm really not sure. It's got rather low-quality printing on the sleeve, and the spine is way off, but that's also very typical of AVI LPs to begin with. :roll: The vinyl is very heavy, but with a lot of surface noise, again not unheard of with AVI. The only things that seem out of the ordinary are the labels (1976 design on a 1979 LP) and that it looks brand-new -- the paper has no sign of yellowing.

Rolled-off highs is one thing, but this sounds completely muffled.

[Giovanni]

This is a great soul disco album I have since it came out, but the AVI quality is poor. Better was the italian pressing but I saw italian pressings only back then.
The two classic cuts MELLOW MELLOW and OVERDOSE OF LOVE are among my favorite boogie grooves. Mellow Mellow has been sampled by Chemical Bros a few years ago

[SandraDee]

Mellow Mellow was also sampled by Massive Attack in 1990 for their Blue Lines LP.

[buckaroo]

Is "Love Massage" on the LP?

[BrunoRepublic]

Nope.

[Giovanni]

Love massage is a single only issue on ZooYork records from 1981. Great soul disco track again!

[BrunoRepublic]

Update: I got the UK 12" in yesterday. It sounds great. While the highs are still a little rolled off, it's still listenable, whereas the album sounds like it came from an old cassette. So my question is, do I have a bad or counterfeit pressing, or do all copies sound totally muffled? I can post snippets of the LP vs the 12" to illustrate my point if needed...

[BrunoRepublic]

Almost 2 years to the day that I last posted to this thread, I received the Japanese CD of this album on P-Vine. I'm happy to report that the sound quality is excellent. This didn't come cheap, but it's a great album, and it was well worth it.