As is sometimes the case, there is one and only one set of stamper numbers that consistently wins our Every Picture Tells A Story shootouts.
We stumbled upon an out-of-this-world copy of the right pressing back in 2016, a copy that took the recording to a level we had no idea was even possible.
Side one was so jaw-droppingly amazing that we awarded it the rare Four Plus (A++++) grade.
We no longer give Four Pluses out as a matter of policy, but that doesn’t mean we don’t come across records that deserve them from time to time.
In our breakthrough shootout from 2016 the magic stampers were discovered, and they have won every shootout since then. We would be very surprised to find any stampers that could compete with them, but you never know.
More on the subject of stampers and breakthrough pressings:
- More stamper and pressing information
- More breakthrough pressings, some of them, like this one, from 2016
This is a superb recording, and on the best pressings it is true Demo Disc material. Not too many of our Hot Stamper titles are going to ROCK you the way this one does. We put it in a class with Led Zep II, Nevermind, and Back In Black — elite company to say the least.
A Quick Check for Tonal Balance
One quick note on how to tell if you have a tonally balanced copy, at least on side two: Maggie May has multi-overdubbed, close-miked mandolins that should have plenty of midrange presence and an extended top end.
As soon as that song ends, a very sweet, smooth guitar opens the next track, Mandolin Wind.
The two songs lean towards opposite ends of the tonal balance spectrum, but on a good copy, both of them sound right.
One’s a little darker, one’s a little brighter, but they’re both right.
And of course the next track, … Losing You, is a great test for energy, whomp and excitement.
Side One
Every Picture Tells a Story
Seems Like a Long Time
That’s All Right
Tomorrow Is a Long Time
Side Two
Maggie May
Mandolin Wind
(I Know) I’m Losing You
Reason to Believe