“Never A Dull Moment” by ROD STEWART (2009 Audio Fidelity 24 KT Gold Audiophile CD Reissue) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…It Appears To Be Raining Again…You Know I Wouldn’t Tell You No Lie…"

Half way through the second song on this CD "Lost Paraguayos" - I turned it off. I thought to myself maybe it's my CD player, maybe it's me, because the sound on this supposed audiophile CD reissue is incredibly muffled and dull and nothing like what it should be.

Audio Fidelity AFZ 058 is a 24 Karat Gold CD (HDCD encoded) of "Never A Dull Moment" by ROD STEWART issued November 2009 in the USA and is a numbered limited edition of 3000 (33:36 minutes).

AF's releases have had very mixed reviews despite the blurbs all over their gold die-cut card-wrap packaging about "Ultimate Sound Quality", no "compression" and analogue masters being put through "digital converters" etc. It's odd, because I raved about their Joe Walsh CD "The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get" which is fantastic - so why are some of their issues so underwhelming (Faces, Montrose, Randy Newman jump to mind as well).

I then dug out my "Reason To Believe - The Complete Mercury Studio Recordings" 3CD set from 2002 with its stunning SUHA GUR remasters (has done loads of great work for Hip-O Select on Motown and Verve recordings) - and there's the sound I want - full, lively, every instrument alive - kicking like an audiophile title is supposed to do.

I now find that there's controversy about their recent Simon & Garfunkel CD for "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme" too which sounds exactly like the Columbia CD on a few years ago that you can get for a few cents. And to ad insult to injury - Audio Fidelity have even removed the "From The Original Master Tapes" wording from the card sleeve of their new 2010 "Talking Book" reissue by Stevie Wonder! An audiophile reissue company that doesn't want to have the words "original master tapes" on their reissues - how ludicrous can you get.

The packaging too came in for flack, it's a CD single jewel case inside and not an album one - with the original album artwork reproduced in card form - but you can't read anything off it. But that's not what any punter is buying this for - they're looking for the best sound - and for me - it's just not there. The "Reason To Believe" set with 5 full albums, non-album single sides and previously unreleased outtakes and a decent booklet is the winner you want - with genuinely great remastered-sound from an award-winning engineer.

With it's iffy packaging, high price tag and above all suspect sound - I would say that this is a reissue to avoid I'm afraid.

“Surrealistic Pillow” by JEFFERSON AIRPLANE (1995 USA-only RCA 'Collector's Edition 24-Karat Gold Disc' CD Reissue with Mono and Stereo Mixes) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Through An Open Window Where No Curtain Hung..."

Given the sheer fame of the band - it’s kind of surprising to find how few Audiophile CDs are out there are for one of the Sixties most influential bands – JEFFERSON AIRPLANE? But here’s a peach to whet your sonic appetite - albeit one that seems to have slipped under the net too.

The “Collector’s Edition 24 Karat Gold Disc” of “Surrealistic Pillow” was put out by RCA in the USA in July 1995 on RCA 07863 66598-2 (Barcode 078636659824) featuring both the STEREO and MONO mix of the album for the first time (22 tracks) – remastered from the original tapes. It was reissued in 2001 on a standard CD without the gold/titled card slipcase and breaks down as follows (69:35 minutes):

1. She Has Funny Cars [Side 1]

2. Somebody To Love

3. My Best Friend

4. Today

5. Comin’ Back To Me

6. 3/5 Of A Mile In 10 Seconds [Side 2]

7. D.C.B.A. – 25

8. How Do You Feel

9. Embryonic Journey

10. White Rabbit

11. Plastic Fantastic Lover

Tracks 1 to 11 are the STEREO mix of “Surrealistic Pillow” - their 2nd album released February 1967 in the USA on RCA Victor LSP-3584 and September 1967 in the UK on RCA RD 7889 (Mono) and SF 7889 (Stereo)

Tracks 12 to 22 are the MONO mixes of the American album on RCA Victor LPM-3584

JEFFERSON AIRPLANE was:
GRACE SLICK – Lead Vocals, Piano, Organ and Recorder

JORMA KAUKONEN – Lead and Rhythm Guitar, Vocals

MARTY BALIN – Guitar and Vocals

PAUL KANTNER – Guitar and Vocals

JACK CASADY – Rhythm Guitars and Bass

SPENCER DRYDEN – Percussion

Guests: GERRY GARCIA

The jewel case comes in an outer card wrap with gold borders and a die-cut rear sleeve to see the gold coloured disc within. The inlay is a disappointing gatefold slip of paper with just about enough track details to make it acceptable – typical of a major label.

But the sound quality is great. BILL LACEY did the audio restoration; EDDIE TALLIA handled the Stereo transfer while MIKE HARTRY did the mono mixes. The very quiet acoustic guitars and flute of “Comin’ Back To Me” is a good example (lyrics above) – lovely sound – even if it is a little hissy in places (the nature of the recordings). The punch of the MONO mix of “3/5 Of A Mile In 10 Seconds” is fantastic while that drum beginning in the STEREO version of “She Has Funny Cars” hits your speakers with a vengeance. The rhythm section mixing with those acoustic guitars and combo vocals on “My Best Friend” sound wonderful too (very Mama’s & Papa’s almost). And Slick sounds suitably aggressive on the classic “Somebody To Love” – those distant guitars now with more definition.

The 1995 ‘gold’ original of this audiophile CD is now long deleted and has in some cases gained a hefty price tag amongst audio buffs and fans alike. But if you can get a copy for a reasonable price - then set your credit-card propellers for ‘worth those few extra quid’. Impressive stuff indeed…