More of the Music of Frank Sinatra
Reviews and Commentaries for the Music of Frank Sinatra
By 2007 we were doing regular shootouts for albums such as Sinatra’s The Voice (1955) whenever we had the stock, and of course we naturally would throw the Classic Records pressing in the mix to see how it compared to the real thing.
I was selling the Classic when it was in print back in 1999 although it had never impressed me much at the time. It was a “good enough” record for $30 back then.
We used to tolerate the differences between good vintage pressings and Classic Records reissues, but by 2007 the sound of many of these remastered titles was just too second- and third-rate to ignore, when they weren’t just awful as in the case of most of their orchestral titles.
By 2007 we had much better equipment, a better sounding room due to the room treatments we had purchased, and others we had developed, better cleaning technologies with our discovery of the Walker Enzyme Record Cleaning System, and probably a lot of other things to go with them.
Looking back, 2007 seems to have been a milestone year for us here at Better Records, although we certainly did not know it at the time.
Our review from 2007 follows.
This is a Six Eye Mono Original Columbia pressing. These originals have the Tubey Magical Midrange that is missing from the Classic Records heavy vinyl pressing.
In our experience these Six Eye Mono Original Columbia pressings are the only ones with any hope of having the Midrange Magic that is fundamental to the sound of Frank’s early Columbia LPs — and is clearly missing from the Classic Records heavy vinyl pressing. The Classic is clean and clear and tonally correct like a CD. Without the warmth and sweetness of analog and, in this case, tube mastering, the sound just isn’t “the real Frank”.
Side One
A++, clear and present vocals, very high-rez sound. The real Tubey Magic kicks in strongly on the second track, with a breathy, full-bodied Sinatra front and center. Listen to how clear you can hear his vibrato! Very few copies were this clear, but one was even better, our White Hot shootout winner. This is very close to it, and it will surely be years before we find another one this good for those who miss out on this copy. So don’t miss out!
Side Two
A++, very much like side one, with breathy, natural vocal reproduction and lovely transparency. A little more richness could very well have earned this side its third plus.
This link will take you to more records for which we’ve detailed the strengths and weaknesses of a specific shootout copy.
Here is our review of the Classic Records pressing.
There is a boatload of TUBEY MAGIC to be heard on the early pressings, no doubt due to the fact that they are mastered with tube equipment, but you would never know it by playing this barely passable Classic repressing.
The difference is night and day.
It’s been quite a while since I played the Classic pressing, but I remember it as nothing special. Like a lot of the records put out by this label, it’s tonally fine but low-rez and lacking space, warmth and above all, Tubey Magic.
I don’t think I’ve ever played an original that didn’t sound better, and that means that the best grade to give Classic’s pressing is probably a D, for below average. It sounds far too much like a CD.
Who can be bothered to play a record that has so few of the qualities we audiophiles are looking for on vinyl?
Back in 2007 we put the question this way: Why own a turntable if you’re going to play mediocrities like these?
Records are getting awfully expensive these days, and it’s not just our Hot Stampers that seem priced for perfection.
If you are still buying these modern remastered pressings, take the advice of some of our customers and stop throwing your money away on Heavy Vinyl and Half-Speed mastered LPs
At the very least let us send you a Hot Stamper pressing — of any album you choose — that can show you what is wrong with your copy. of the album.
And if for some reason you disagree with us that our record sounds better than yours, we will happily give you all your money back and wish you the best.
Further Reading
- Revolutions in audio, anyone?
- Our stereo (and thoughts on equipment)
- How to recognize what to listen for on any album
