As there was a 2013 MOFI release of this from master tape to DSD64, I would be willing to compare it to the AP if a viewer wants to send it be me to borrow! Email me at: david@safeandsoundtexas.com
I loved this record back in the day. I've listened to Foreigner many times recently. Thanks David! And just so everyone knows, David doesn't just research this stuff. He knows it! I used to work with David and I would mention an old song, then David would always come right back with the year and record label is was produced under! I was always amazed!
Thanks so much David, enjoyed as always. If this record ranked higher on my personal list I would get the AP but as thing sit I’ll be happy with my 1981 Atlantic.
@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion oh? Well there's shoot-outs to be found here and there, but I don't feel like the deal is closed until I see yours. I look forward to your thoughts on that new S.T.P.
Don’t forget, Larry Fast of Synergy fame (also Peter Gabriel and Nektar as well as others) contributes textures along with Thomas Dolby. I was initially disappointed at the loss of Greenwood and McDonald, I was happy to see the presence of 2 of my favorite artists of the 70’s and 80’s. I have the OG, but it’s seen WAY too many parties! Again, happy to see a relatively budget friendly superior pressing from the Atlantic series. Thanks for another thoughtful and detailed comparison.
By the end of the 70's 50.1% of the people listened to FM radio. That is surprising to me. Our house was listening FM only both in the car and the house by the late 60's.
Almost every 80’s Japanese issue I have purchased has been disappointing. The Japanese Double Vision also used Sterling parts and does some really good with the quiet vinyl. Almost all Japanese cut issues suffer from a very reduced low end, even though the actually pressings are very quiet. Michael Fremer has also mentioned that in the 1980’s, Japanese cutting engineers stopped using reel to reel machines with preview heads and began using 8 bit digital relay lines, so the cut on the lacquer that was delayed is in 8 bit digital resolution.
So, last weekend at the Audio Advice Show, Michael Fremer brought an OG The Yes Album and the A75 of the same. He had said in his video with Steve Westman that the OG was better and I couldn't believe it; so he committed to bring it to Raleigh. The OG was better and I was floored. But here's the moral of the story, so to speak, my wife was with me and she has zero interest in this stuff, especially the bane idea of comparing pressings. Well, she picked out the difference in those two immediately and kind of prided herself in doing so. Last night, I was listening to the DSD of the Foreigner self-titled and I didn't think it was right when compared to the A75. She sat down with me when she saw what I was doing and I also have an OG of it. We spent an hour comparing the three and of course she can remember all the lyrics. But the OG was very similar with the DSD, thin bass and vocals weren't nearly as defined; the A75 took the crown there. I was actually surprised the DSD didn't make the cut. Anyway, I thought this was interesting and encouraging, sorry to bore you if I did.
You could also have included the Music On Vinyl pressing from 2013 which, despite the digital step, is a very strong sonic reproduction IMHO. As always with MOVLP the pressing itself is virtually flawless.
Unfortunately, I don’t have (and haven’t seen) that MOV title (although I have many). A few I’ve heard of the MOVs are decent, but their remastering is a bit hit and miss. The vinyl is typically very good.
Thanks for the efforts in this David. Time/money saver: All the Mofi Foreigner titles unfortunately sound like poop. Originals of this group are very good sounding and relatively cheap. Isn’t the mastering engineer for most of the japanese rock titles Oyunow Tutoomuchhi? ;)
I love this album but 45 RPM is a pain in the butt. Having to change sides every 2 or 3 songs is not worth the marginal improvement in sound quality (at least to my ears on my system). If Chad and the gang ever decide to release this as a 33.3 single LP, I'll be all over it.
I have an original USA pressing but it's also a RCA Record Club variant. As such, the quality of it is not good. There is audible vinyl growl on side 2 which is distracting and buries quiet portions of the music. So I settled for the CD. I would consider the Atlantic 75 only if it were a single 33rpm disc.
Hot stamper vintage pressings almost always beat any and all modern repressed vinyl. If the remastering isnt ruining these lps, it’s poor QC at today’s plants. I always prefer vintage analog over remastered modern.
Concur mostly…. But there are some rather great modern redos and several more these days with AP and other producers who care. Cool thing. You can seek out whatever one sounds great to you. I love my OG pressings but it’s not so easy to make a sweeping generalization. The heavy vinyl era didn’t improve much and also a lot more crap digital sourced. DSD sourced vinyl far exceeds PCM based sourcing. I love those old dynaflex pressings. OG are great but they are mostly noisy too! Are you Tom P? When I hear hot stampers…..
As there was a 2013 MOFI release of this from master tape to DSD64, I would be willing to compare it to the AP if a viewer wants to send it be me to borrow!
Email me at:
david@safeandsoundtexas.com
I loved this record back in the day. I've listened to Foreigner many times recently. Thanks David! And just so everyone knows, David doesn't just research this stuff. He knows it! I used to work with David and I would mention an old song, then David would always come right back with the year and record label is was produced under! I was always amazed!
Agree with you David. Such a marvelous album!! Thanks my friend
Thanks so much David, enjoyed as always. If this record ranked higher on my personal list I would get the AP but as thing sit I’ll be happy with my 1981 Atlantic.
Another good review David. I’m expecting my copy of 4 & Purple to arrive in the next day or two. Looking forward to listening to them. 👍
Great and thorough review on Foreigner’s 4. Thank you David.
Many thanks, I enjoy these shoot-outs very much ✌️
Glad you like them! Thanks for letting me know that, it makes the effort worth it :)
@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion oh? Well there's shoot-outs to be found here and there, but I don't feel like the deal is closed until I see yours. I look forward to your thoughts on that new S.T.P.
Sounds like another winner for AP David. 👍 the music room is shaping up there too.
interesting review David, hope your doin' good my friend
Don’t forget, Larry Fast of Synergy fame (also Peter Gabriel and Nektar as well as others) contributes textures along with Thomas Dolby. I was initially disappointed at the loss of Greenwood and McDonald, I was happy to see the presence of 2 of my favorite artists of the 70’s and 80’s. I have the OG, but it’s seen WAY too many parties! Again, happy to see a relatively budget friendly superior pressing from the Atlantic series. Thanks for another thoughtful and detailed comparison.
There were several others contributing to the project. so apologies on missing Larry Fast!
By the end of the 70's 50.1% of the people listened to FM radio. That is surprising to me. Our house was listening FM only both in the car and the house by the late 60's.
Would love to see a video of your stereo setup.
@@vinylrules4838 slowly getting set up…
Almost every 80’s Japanese issue I have purchased has been disappointing. The Japanese Double Vision also used Sterling parts and does some really good with the quiet vinyl. Almost all Japanese cut issues suffer from a very reduced low end, even though the actually pressings are very quiet. Michael Fremer has also mentioned that in the 1980’s, Japanese cutting engineers stopped using reel to reel machines with preview heads and began using 8 bit digital relay lines, so the cut on the lacquer that was delayed is in 8 bit digital resolution.
So, last weekend at the Audio Advice Show, Michael Fremer brought an OG The Yes Album and the A75 of the same. He had said in his video with Steve Westman that the OG was better and I couldn't believe it; so he committed to bring it to Raleigh. The OG was better and I was floored. But here's the moral of the story, so to speak, my wife was with me and she has zero interest in this stuff, especially the bane idea of comparing pressings. Well, she picked out the difference in those two immediately and kind of prided herself in doing so. Last night, I was listening to the DSD of the Foreigner self-titled and I didn't think it was right when compared to the A75. She sat down with me when she saw what I was doing and I also have an OG of it. We spent an hour comparing the three and of course she can remember all the lyrics. But the OG was very similar with the DSD, thin bass and vocals weren't nearly as defined; the A75 took the crown there. I was actually surprised the DSD didn't make the cut. Anyway, I thought this was interesting and encouraging, sorry to bore you if I did.
Fremer indicated a very specific OG pressing on The Yes Album which didn’t match any I have come across. So I guess I will seek it out!
You could also have included the Music On Vinyl pressing from 2013 which, despite the digital step, is a very strong sonic reproduction IMHO. As always with MOVLP the pressing itself is virtually flawless.
Unfortunately, I don’t have (and haven’t seen) that MOV title (although I have many). A few I’ve heard of the MOVs are decent, but their remastering is a bit hit and miss. The vinyl is typically very good.
Thanks for the efforts in this David.
Time/money saver: All the Mofi Foreigner titles unfortunately sound like poop. Originals of this group are very good sounding and relatively cheap.
Isn’t the mastering engineer for most of the japanese rock titles Oyunow Tutoomuchhi?
;)
@@FleagleSangria that’s funny!
That's an album in happy enough hearing on UA-cam at 96kb/sec audio
@@erikmolnar6585 I get that too! Had more of a draw to me when it came out. Some music ages better than others!
I love this album but 45 RPM is a pain in the butt. Having to change sides every 2 or 3 songs is not worth the marginal improvement in sound quality (at least to my ears on my system). If Chad and the gang ever decide to release this as a 33.3 single LP, I'll be all over it.
I have an original USA pressing but it's also a RCA Record Club variant. As such, the quality of it is not good. There is audible vinyl growl on side 2 which is distracting and buries quiet portions of the music. So I settled for the CD. I would consider the Atlantic 75 only if it were a single 33rpm disc.
@@photogcw I get the 45RPM turn off for space and exercise :)
Hot stamper vintage pressings almost always beat any and all modern repressed vinyl. If the remastering isnt ruining these lps, it’s poor QC at today’s plants. I always prefer vintage analog over remastered modern.
Concur mostly…. But there are some rather great modern redos and several more these days with AP and other producers who care. Cool thing. You can seek out whatever one sounds great to you. I love my OG pressings but it’s not so easy to make a sweeping generalization. The heavy vinyl era didn’t improve much and also a lot more crap digital sourced. DSD sourced vinyl far exceeds PCM based sourcing. I love those old dynaflex pressings. OG are great but they are mostly noisy too! Are you Tom P? When I hear hot stampers…..
Seeking out (and paying for) a “hot stamper” can be a challenge, especially in many regions where the used vinyl supply is limited.