Universal to Re-Release Albums on Vinyl

[FormerDJMike]

One week away from the release and yet I cannot find a single website or press release that says if it is remastered in any form. The only thing I am seeing is that it will be 180 gram vinyl but that makes no difference whatsoever if the mastering is bad. If I were Universal I would want this product to SELL. So I would say something like "Remastered from the original analog tapes by" and "Paradise Theatre includes a laser etching just like the original version". But there is nothing available about this release. I am interested in Equinox because I have everything else. The thing about this is that all of the A&M albums can be found in GOOD condition at cheap prices. So if there is no incentive (remastering) to BUY at the new price I would be better off looking for a good used copy. We shall see come 5/12/15

I would think that if these were remastered versions they would have indicated it. So, my guess is that they are not.

And I know the Friday Releases ARE remastered by Joe Reagoso. I have the Friday version of Grand Illusion and it sounds good. I have been eyeing Cornerstone but then when this set was announced I have been waiting around to see what this would be like. If you look closely at this picture Cornerstone is clearly a Gatefold cover, unlike the original and more like the Friday release:



Grand Illusion does not look to be gatefold. Will there be a poster? It looks like Universal is jumping on the vinyl craze for this without putting a single thought into it. I know I would hate to shell out $200 bucks for these to be the same versions that are already out there in used stores in mint condition. I know right now the highest I paid for ANY of these is $4 and that was for CITA. I found a VG copy of Kilroy for 50 cents (and then had another given to me).

[Toph]

One week away from the release and yet I cannot find a single website or press release that says if it is remastered in any form. The only thing I am seeing is that it will be 180 gram vinyl but that makes no difference whatsoever if the mastering is bad. If I were Universal I would want this product to SELL. So I would say something like "Remastered from the original analog tapes by" and "Paradise Theatre includes a laser etching just like the original version". But there is nothing available about this release. I am interested in Equinox because I have everything else. The thing about this is that all of the A&M albums can be found in GOOD condition at cheap prices. So if there is no incentive (remastering) to BUY at the new price I would be better off looking for a good used copy. We shall see come 5/12/15

I'm buying Equinox, Grand Illusion, PoE and Cornerstone for sure. I'd be interested to know if the Friday releases are better sound quality wise on the latter 3.

Friday has not yet released Paradise Theatre or Kilroy, right?

[FormerDJMike]

No, right now Friday Music has only release Grand Illusion, PO8 and Cornerstone.

[Baron Von Bielski]

One week away from the release and yet I cannot find a single website or press release that says if it is remastered in any form. The only thing I am seeing is that it will be 180 gram vinyl but that makes no difference whatsoever if the mastering is bad. If I were Universal I would want this product to SELL. So I would say something like "Remastered from the original analog tapes by" and "Paradise Theatre includes a laser etching just like the original version". But there is nothing available about this release. I am interested in Equinox because I have everything else. The thing about this is that all of the A&M albums can be found in GOOD condition at cheap prices. So if there is no incentive (remastering) to BUY at the new price I would be better off looking for a good used copy. We shall see come 5/12/15

I would think that if these were remastered versions they would have indicated it. So, my guess is that they are not.

Collector might know. I'm sure he has all the Friday releases as well as either advance copies of the A&M ones or at least knows the answer. I wonder if Cornerstone is actually remastered on either of those. Something tells me it's not.

[gr8dane]

Sadly StyxCollecter doesn't post much any more.
I liked his Styx knowhow.
Toph was getting tired of his, "Holier than thou' know it all' attitude,Toph said.
Kind of funny when you read tophs post,I find HE is the holier than thou' know it all.

[FormerDJMike]

Cornerstone from Friday's website:

Styx - Cornerstone (180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl/Limited Edition)
One of the finest albums of their long career, Cornerstone is Styx's watershed multi-platinum album from 1979 and continues Friday Music's exclusive and much applauded STYX 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl Series re-mastered impeccably from the original A & M Records tapes by Joe Reagoso at Friday Music studios. This limited edition masterpiece is housed in a beautiful first time gatefold cover.


So all 3 of those were remastered. I went to FYE yesterday to go ahead and pre-order Equinox. Was told they "can't do it because there is no reservation number for it available so it can't be reserved". WHAT? What is that supposed to mean. Then he said "We might get one copy of it when it is released on May 26". I said "26?? It comes out next week, I just want to get it that day. Amazon and your website has it available on the 12th, not the 26th". The only reason I am fooling with FYE is because I still have a giftcard for them left over from Christmas.

[Toph]

Cornerstone from Friday's website:

Styx - Cornerstone (180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl/Limited Edition)
One of the finest albums of their long career, Cornerstone is Styx's watershed multi-platinum album from 1979 and continues Friday Music's exclusive and much applauded STYX 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl Series re-mastered impeccably from the original A & M Records tapes by Joe Reagoso at Friday Music studios. This limited edition masterpiece is housed in a beautiful first time gatefold cover.


So all 3 of those were remastered. I went to FYE yesterday to go ahead and pre-order Equinox. Was told they "can't do it because there is no reservation number for it available so it can't be reserved". WHAT? What is that supposed to mean. Then he said "We might get one copy of it when it is released on May 26". I said "26?? It comes out next week, I just want to get it that day. Amazon and your website has it available on the 12th, not the 26th". The only reason I am fooling with FYE is because I still have a giftcard for them left over from Christmas.

So much for Tommy Shaw saying the masters for Cornerstone were gone....

[gr8dane]

Cornerstone from Friday's website:

Styx - Cornerstone (180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl/Limited Edition)
One of the finest albums of their long career, Cornerstone is Styx's watershed multi-platinum album from 1979 and continues Friday Music's exclusive and much applauded STYX 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl Series re-mastered impeccably from the original A & M Records tapes by Joe Reagoso at Friday Music studios. This limited edition masterpiece is housed in a beautiful first time gatefold cover.


So all 3 of those were remastered. I went to FYE yesterday to go ahead and pre-order Equinox. Was told they "can't do it because there is no reservation number for it available so it can't be reserved". WHAT? What is that supposed to mean. Then he said "We might get one copy of it when it is released on May 26". I said "26?? It comes out next week, I just want to get it that day. Amazon and your website has it available on the 12th, not the 26th". The only reason I am fooling with FYE is because I still have a giftcard for them left over from Christmas.

So much for Tommy Shaw saying the masters for Cornerstone were gone....

But isn't lucky he was wrong ?

[Baron Von Bielski]

Cornerstone from Friday's website:

Styx - Cornerstone (180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl/Limited Edition)
One of the finest albums of their long career, Cornerstone is Styx's watershed multi-platinum album from 1979 and continues Friday Music's exclusive and much applauded STYX 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl Series re-mastered impeccably from the original A & M Records tapes by Joe Reagoso at Friday Music studios. This limited edition masterpiece is housed in a beautiful first time gatefold cover.


So all 3 of those were remastered. I went to FYE yesterday to go ahead and pre-order Equinox. Was told they "can't do it because there is no reservation number for it available so it can't be reserved". WHAT? What is that supposed to mean. Then he said "We might get one copy of it when it is released on May 26". I said "26?? It comes out next week, I just want to get it that day. Amazon and your website has it available on the 12th, not the 26th". The only reason I am fooling with FYE is because I still have a giftcard for them left over from Christmas.

So much for Tommy Shaw saying the masters for Cornerstone were gone....

Boy, you are really stuck on this. Like I said before, I believe his statements to be fact. I have an SHM-CD of Cornerstone and there is absolutely no difference between it and the Cornerstone CD that was released back in 1990. But my SHM-CD's of GI, PoE, CITA and Equinox are all remastered. Hence, there are no masters of Cornerstone. If Friday Music claims they remastered it then all they did was raise the volume. Loudness is no remastering.

[Cassie May]

I've also read interviews in which JY and DDY have said that no one knows where the masters are.

[Boomchild]

I've also read interviews in which JY and DDY have said that no one knows where the masters are.

It's not uncommon that record labels uncover recordings once thought to be lost. So it's possible that TS was stating what the label told them at the time they inquired about them. A;so, I doubt that any of the members including DDY were keeping tabs on the masters since they had no rights or ownership to them.

[yogi]

I once lost our families label maker.

Found it in the freezer 3 days shy of my 17th birthday.

[Baron Von Bielski]

I've also read interviews in which JY and DDY have said that no one knows where the masters are.

It's not uncommon that record labels uncover recordings once thought to be lost. So it's possible that TS was stating what the label told them at the time they inquired about them. A;so, I doubt that any of the members including DDY were keeping tabs on the masters since they had no rights or ownership to them.

Yeah, it's a pretty rare occurrence for any band/artist to own their masters. Elektra gave Motley Crüe their masters to basically get rid of them. The band not the masters. Metallica had a deal with Elektra that they retained their own masters once their contract expires I think in 2012. Masters are like gold. Which is why record companies retain them as part of a contract. And you'd sign any deal just for a chance at stardom. I think all bands should retain their own masters at the 30 year mark.

[Baron Von Bielski]

I ordered Cornerstone's supposed Friday vinyl remaster and it'll be in my hands tomorrow. So we'll see what if anything was actually done. I wish they had released it in the original packaging rather than a gatefold. The original is rather unique. The SHM-CD was done as a replica to the original just much much smaller. Great album never the less sans First Time and Eddie. 7 out of 9 ain't bad.

[Boomchild]

Yeah, it's a pretty rare occurrence for any band/artist to own their masters. Elektra gave Motley Crüe their masters to basically get rid of them. The band not the masters. Metallica had a deal with Elektra that they retained their own masters once their contract expires I think in 2012. Masters are like gold. Which is why record companies retain them as part of a contract. And you'd sign any deal just for a chance at stardom. I think all bands should retain their own masters at the 30 year mark.

It's an interesting subject. I think one of the first artists to ever own their masters was Ray Charles. As to whether or not artists should retain ownership of their masters I think should be based on the circumstances. If the label is covering all or most of the costs to create those recordings, then they should be able to retain the masters. That's not to say that the artist should not have some legal rights as to how they are used.

[Baron Von Bielski]

Cornerstone from Friday's website:

Styx - Cornerstone (180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl/Limited Edition)
One of the finest albums of their long career, Cornerstone is Styx's watershed multi-platinum album from 1979 and continues Friday Music's exclusive and much applauded STYX 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl Series re-mastered impeccably from the original A & M Records tapes by Joe Reagoso at Friday Music studios. This limited edition masterpiece is housed in a beautiful first time gatefold cover.


So all 3 of those were remastered. I went to FYE yesterday to go ahead and pre-order Equinox. Was told they "can't do it because there is no reservation number for it available so it can't be reserved". WHAT? What is that supposed to mean. Then he said "We might get one copy of it when it is released on May 26". I said "26?? It comes out next week, I just want to get it that day. Amazon and your website has it available on the 12th, not the 26th". The only reason I am fooling with FYE is because I still have a giftcard for them left over from Christmas.

Unfortunately it has been changed to the 26th.

[FormerDJMike]

Cornerstone from Friday's website:

Styx - Cornerstone (180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl/Limited Edition)
One of the finest albums of their long career, Cornerstone is Styx's watershed multi-platinum album from 1979 and continues Friday Music's exclusive and much applauded STYX 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl Series re-mastered impeccably from the original A & M Records tapes by Joe Reagoso at Friday Music studios. This limited edition masterpiece is housed in a beautiful first time gatefold cover.


So all 3 of those were remastered. I went to FYE yesterday to go ahead and pre-order Equinox. Was told they "can't do it because there is no reservation number for it available so it can't be reserved". WHAT? What is that supposed to mean. Then he said "We might get one copy of it when it is released on May 26". I said "26?? It comes out next week, I just want to get it that day. Amazon and your website has it available on the 12th, not the 26th". The only reason I am fooling with FYE is because I still have a giftcard for them left over from Christmas.

Unfortunately it has been changed to the 26th.

Ok, thanks I guess that explains it. Some of the websites I have seen still say May 12.... And FYE STILL can't preorder Equinox for some reason so I will try again in the same store with a different clerk.

No idea what Friday Music did with their version of Cornerstone (dont have it) but a remaster is still possible, even from a CD or digital files. I know Friday says they "used original tapes from A&M" and while they have have used an original copy, it seems the Masters themselves are gone. Remasters can be made using any form of audio. A REMIX is made by having the original masters (anyone heard Triumph's Greatest Hits Remixed? It is simply amazing!). I know at one point Dennis said he wanted to remix some of the Wooden Nickel stuff but the original tapes were long gone so a remix wasn't possible (but it was remastered for the double CD release, probably not using the master tapes).

[Boomchild]

Ok, thanks I guess that explains it. Some of the websites I have seen still say May 12.... And FYE STILL can't preorder Equinox for some reason so I will try again in the same store with a different clerk.

I believe your problem with ordering from an F.Y.E. store is due to the fact that the store distribution centers are probably not stocking those releases at all. The distribution centers that the stores pull from are not the same as the ones used for their website. They are operated as two different segments. So while online it shows they are carrying something their stores may not.

[Baron Von Bielski]

Cornerstone from Friday's website:

Styx - Cornerstone (180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl/Limited Edition)
One of the finest albums of their long career, Cornerstone is Styx's watershed multi-platinum album from 1979 and continues Friday Music's exclusive and much applauded STYX 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl Series re-mastered impeccably from the original A & M Records tapes by Joe Reagoso at Friday Music studios. This limited edition masterpiece is housed in a beautiful first time gatefold cover.


So all 3 of those were remastered. I went to FYE yesterday to go ahead and pre-order Equinox. Was told they "can't do it because there is no reservation number for it available so it can't be reserved". WHAT? What is that supposed to mean. Then he said "We might get one copy of it when it is released on May 26". I said "26?? It comes out next week, I just want to get it that day. Amazon and your website has it available on the 12th, not the 26th". The only reason I am fooling with FYE is because I still have a giftcard for them left over from Christmas.

Unfortunately it has been changed to the 26th.

Ok, thanks I guess that explains it. Some of the websites I have seen still say May 12.... And FYE STILL can't preorder Equinox for some reason so I will try again in the same store with a different clerk.

No idea what Friday Music did with their version of Cornerstone (dont have it) but a remaster is still possible, even from a CD or digital files. I know Friday says they "used original tapes from A&M" and while they have have used an original copy, it seems the Masters themselves are gone. Remasters can be made using any form of audio. A REMIX is made by having the original masters (anyone heard Triumph's Greatest Hits Remixed? It is simply amazing!). I know at one point Dennis said he wanted to remix some of the Wooden Nickel stuff but the original tapes were long gone so a remix wasn't possible (but it was remastered for the double CD release, probably not using the master tapes).

Good point.

[FormerDJMike]

Looks like the release date (according to Amazon) has been pushed back to July, 17. Why the hold up??

[Baron Von Bielski]

Looks like the release date (according to Amazon) has been pushed back to July, 17. Why the hold up??

Really?? Shit.

[Baron Von Bielski]

I still see May 26th on the individual ones.

[FormerDJMike]

I still see May 26th on the individual ones.

Well I sure hope so. FYE was finally able to preorder Equinox by the way... So tell us, BVB, did you get the Friday version of Cornerstone and how is it? I actually ran across a used copy of it and it was in decent shape for around 16 bucks but I passed. Already have it on vinyl, and while it is a dirty copy not sure if I want to shell out for something that sounds the same. Curious to know how it sounds.

[Baron Von Bielski]

I still see May 26th on the individual ones.

Well I sure hope so. FYE was finally able to preorder Equinox by the way... So tell us, BVB, did you get the Friday version of Cornerstone and how is it? I actually ran across a used copy of it and it was in decent shape for around 16 bucks but I passed. Already have it on vinyl, and while it is a dirty copy not sure if I want to shell out for something that sounds the same. Curious to know how it sounds.

In fact I did get my copy. The got it early in the week and listened to side one without a problem. Side 2 on the other hand had multiple skips and Love in the Midnight had a spot that it kept repeating. I made sure there wasn't any small debris on it, but did notice like 3 very small puncture type scratches which caused the LitM issue. Long story short, Amazon sent out a new copy which seems to be problem free. It sounds pretty good to me, but without a copy of the original on vinyl I don't have a source comparison. Still anyone who has any 180 gram vinyl knows what great quality that part of it is. Thick, dense not flimsy. Nothing special about the packaging. Gatefold as advertised, but nowhere near as impressive as the original Cornerstone. When you open up the gatefold it has the lyrics and album and band member info. The paper sleeve holding the record is plain white. I'll be interested to know what the new A&M releases will be like.

[FormerDJMike]

I still see May 26th on the individual ones.

Well I sure hope so. FYE was finally able to preorder Equinox by the way... So tell us, BVB, did you get the Friday version of Cornerstone and how is it? I actually ran across a used copy of it and it was in decent shape for around 16 bucks but I passed. Already have it on vinyl, and while it is a dirty copy not sure if I want to shell out for something that sounds the same. Curious to know how it sounds.

In fact I did get my copy. The got it early in the week and listened to side one without a problem. Side 2 on the other hand had multiple skips and Love in the Midnight had a spot that it kept repeating. I made sure there wasn't any small debris on it, but did notice like 3 very small puncture type scratches which caused the LitM issue. Long story short, Amazon sent out a new copy which seems to be problem free. It sounds pretty good to me, but without a copy of the original on vinyl I don't have a source comparison. Still anyone who has any 180 gram vinyl knows what great quality that part of it is. Thick, dense not flimsy. Nothing special about the packaging. Gatefold as advertised, but nowhere near as impressive as the original Cornerstone. When you open up the gatefold it has the lyrics and album and band member info. The paper sleeve holding the record is plain white. I'll be interested to know what the new A&M releases will be like.

Yes, I love the feel of 180 and 200 gram vinyl. Good stuff. I have a lot of Hendrix reissues and many of those are 180 or 200.

Grand Illusion from Friday sounds great as well but the gatefold was rather dull. Just the black lyrics sheet on one side of the gatefold and side 2 lyrics on the other. No pictures, no poster. Here's my copy of the album and what it looks like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YfkPOAagXs

And at the end I meant to say "they reissued this PO8 and Cornerstone".

[Baron Von Bielski]

Yes, I love the feel of 180 and 200 gram vinyl. Good stuff. I have a lot of Hendrix reissues and many of those are 180 or 200.

Grand Illusion from Friday sounds great as well but the gatefold was rather dull. Just the black lyrics sheet on one side of the gatefold and side 2 lyrics on the other. No pictures, no poster. Here's my copy of the album and what it looks like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YfkPOAagXs

And at the end I meant to say "they reissued this PO8 and Cornerstone".

Cornerstone is exactly the same. Except of course it uses its own artwork. But the format and representation are the same. I'm glad to have it though. I hope the A&M releases are more like the original releases.

[FormerDJMike]

Damn, all of them bumped til July.... Maybe that's because they are taking their time to do it right?? Dunno, but I heard the remaining vinyl pressing plants in the US are terribly backed up. I think there are only 4 left in the US and all of them using vintage equipment to press records.

[Baron Von Bielski]

Damn, all of them bumped til July.... Maybe that's because they are taking their time to do it right?? Dunno, but I heard the remaining vinyl pressing plants in the US are terribly backed up. I think there are only 4 left in the US and all of them using vintage equipment to press records.

Yup, you're right. Fuckers!

[FormerDJMike]

Hmmmm... Not out until July yet someone has them for sale on eBay and they do NOT look like they have been remastered.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Styx-Kilroy-Was-Here-NEW-2015-180-gram-vinyl-LP-audiophile-pressing-Mr-Roboto-/231600516642?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35ec776e22

[FormerDJMike]

I'm trying to find out info on the remastering but there is just no info out there. It seems not to be printed at all anywhere on the artwork.





In comparison I have found this does not mean it [i]isn't[i] a remaster. I checked Iron Maiden Piece Of Mind, Rush Hemispheres, Queen News Of The World and The Grand Illusion (Friday Music). All of those are remasters but the only one that lists it on the album art is Grand Illusion. Since the above are done by UMe (as are the Rush and Iron Maiden Remasters) we can assume this is information they choose to leave off for whatever reason because both Rush and Maiden were remastered for vinyl. Queen is very true to the original artwork, not even listing a current year but only 1977. And there is a very small "Hollywood Records" on the back cover, other than that there is no indication whatsoever this is a recent release. With all of that being said if you see product info on Rush or Iron Maiden all of the releases clearly state they are remasters and these Styx reissues do not. The proof will be in the pudding when they are finally released later this month. However, I am only picking up Equinox because I already have the others on vinyl (and Cornerstone is a bad copy that was given to me, I may pick it up at some point). Since I don't have another version of Equinox to compare it to this will be something I decide on my own based on playing of the record when it arrives. I have also noticed the artwork seems to be a bit brighter, at least to my eyes.



I have e-mailed management and the record company to see if these have been remastered and there has been no reply. StyxCollector may know but he has been AWOL and I am not sure if his e-mail address that I have is still the same.