I’m always amazed how humble and unassuming these legendary engineers seem to be. Bruces story about Joplin and Paul had me choked up . I have loved her forever and Pearl is a masterpiece.
Wonderful roundtable discussion and incredible insight for us as fans into the recording of these Doors releases...priceless! Thank you again for this beautiful opportunity to peek "behind the curtain". I was 3 years old and living in Mission Viejo in Southern Orange County when the earthquake that you all were referring to occurred and I still remember the shaking to this day.
Big thanks to you Steve for putting this roundtable together. Great box set. I was thrilled to hear Kevin say that "Morrison Hotel" is his favorite Doors album. It is my favorite as well.
Fantastic work yet again Steve. Thanks to you and all that crack team of Bruce B, Kevin and of course Patrick for bothering to care so much about these classic releases. It is truly wonderful that their work is continuing to open this music to the younger generations. Being an old fella, I rejoice in how lucky we were in the 60s and 70s to have lived and loved this music. Keep up the great work - Cheers from Oz
Well Steve, that was awesome! I loved hearing all of Bruce’s stories about the band and recording, so special. I’m so glad I purchased this box set, whatever Kevin touches is gold.
I was baptized @ Blessed Sacrament 25 years ago. I met Robbie Krieger, members of his jazz band, Henry Diltz, and Paul Rothschild’s son (who plays and tours with Robbie) in 2024. Met Kevin last year in LA as well when the Rhino High Fidelity series was announced. The Rhino box will be treasured along with my DCCs for the rest of my life! My buddies and I visit the abandoned Morrison Hotel in DTLA every now and then after a night out of drinking. As a 30 year old, I’m thankful to all for releasing my favorite music @ an affordable price point!
I think this was probably your best roundtable.Drug my feet on ordering waited to here the reviews.Glad to here the reissies are coming.Have all the originals but never pulled the trigger on the 45 rpm,s.Glad I waited.
The story about Jim being juiced and bringing the older couple (incl the Chief of Police) back to the studio is hilarious...he was such a fascinating and intelligent dude he could likely charm anyone into partying with him for the night.
Thanks Steve for the great round table discussion! I'm a second generation Doors fan. My first Doors album was LA Woman purchased in 1980 when I was a Freshman in High School, and then I worked my way backward through their catalog. It was wonderful to hear Mr. Botnick's first hand recollections of his days working with the Doors. I don't have the newest Rhino Boxset of the Doors albums, but I do have most of the 2009 reissues that were mastered by Bernie Grundman and pressed at RTI, and even though there was a digital step in those releases, I've been pretty happy with the sound quality and the overall quality of the pressings. Looking forward to picking up the latest Rhino / Kevin Gray / Optimal pressings, once they are available, to compare!
You outdid yourself Steve. Bruuuuuuce frickin Botnick?? Fun stuff and informative😎🎸 Yes we want him back! I hope he enjoyed himself as much as we enjoyed listening to Bruce and all the cool Doors info. And yes, of course, we have questions if and when Bruce comes back (we will be gentle and behaved😇) Thanks again Steve, Bruce, Kevin and Patrick🎸✌🏻
Re watching and reveling in this again.Riveting podcast Steve. Maybe it should be re titled "Audiophile Roundtable: A conversation with The Doors audio engineer Bruce Botnick + Kevin Gray! (No Lizard was harmed in the making of this box set) I had a gazillion questions as I'm sure so many fans had for Bruce, but I didn't want to interrupt your flow, and man was I glad I didn't email any of them to you! It flew by, with not a moment wasted.Loved BB explanation on the LEDO copy.Not Shuffle. FINALLY putting this other BS to bed.I hope certain so called Vinyl Specialists were listening closely to that.The story about Laurence Harvey? is hilarious! Laurence Harvey in the UK at least probably couldn't get arrested.He was real hell raiser also in his day.And at this time '68 embraced the hippie culture.Heavy smoker and drinker.I can imagine him and Jim getting on like a house on fire! He was also was gone sadly by '73. Some brilliant stories from Bruce, that had even Kevin and Patrick riveted. Hope Bruce does his autobiography.Although he is too much of a gentleman to dish the dirt! Anyway. Such a delight to see and hear all four of you on together.Made my weekend. And the following week! Thanks again Steve.Hope you are reveling in your own box set.
Morrison Hotel is my fav Doors album. I have two of the DCC CD's and original vinyl and only need the Rhino Hifi Morrison Hotel. I know the reviews of this box set are excellent. Bruce has mastered 3 of my fav albums of all time really including Let It Bleed, The Doors and Morrison Hotel.
The Sgt Pepper's influence was interesting to learn about, awesome panel...great interview with Bruce. Also, shocked no one asked about 'Robbie the Robot' to BLEEB's left?!
I doubt it. I think they kind of released everything they got with the 50th anniversary editions. For Waiting for the sun we got the studio demo of "Celebration of the Lizard". For Soft Parade we got the mentioned "Rock is dead" recording. For Morrison Hotel und LA Woman we got lots of studio sessions. For the debut and Strange Days we just got the mono versions. My guess is if they had more they would have released it. But of course it's possible they found something unreleased since those editions came out.
@@theshowcase23 they didn't include celebration on the 50th, it was on the 40th previously though. They did acquire a a couple of reels from 67 a few years back, that had stuff from the first three albums hopefully they will use them. Bruce did imply there that they were releasing something
Great work Steve and amazing that you put this together! but you let Bruce off the hook about the stereo master now being a copy tape - I think he got confused when you showed the mono tape image and he started talking about the ledo - but that's not what the question was about obviously.. Anyways thank you!
@stevewestman7774 So after some back and forth with Steve Hoffman himself, this is what I've come up with: The 1978 tape is the original LEDO (the 1967 master). It was damaged around that time by the mixers of Apocalypse Now (which came out in 1979) and the tape was also reboxed when it returned to Elektra. The 1980 tape is a safety copy. Unknown if it was made before the 1978 damage but likely. Also it should be noted that the Mobile Fidelity version came out in 1981, also from "the master tape". It's possible this 1980 safety copy was made for that release. Steve used the 1967/1978 LEDO for the DCC (1992) and patched it where necessary. Analogue productions decided that there was too much damage to the 1967/1978 tape and used the 1980 tape in 2012. That's why that release sounds inferior to the Monarch original, the DCC and the Rhino. Rhino returned to the 1967/1978 tape for the new box set and had Kevin Grey cut in digitally sourced tape patches where necessary. (or analog patches from the 1980 tape.). Would love to hear from Kevin about how much patching needed to be done and how he did it. It seems likely that Break On Through is a patch since most reviewers say that song does not sound as good as the rest on the new Rhino release.
@@alwilliams5177Doug Sax's system was pretty transparent. A lot of people who have the RHF and AP45 have said the two are very close with either a hair or a lot better Plus Bruce says at 16:20 that he's partial to the first 2 inches of a record for sound quality. Usually the benefit of 45 is putting the last couple inches of the groove now at the first 2.
No, these are two different things. The mentioned Scotch 201 tape isn't sticky. Parts of the magnetic layer get loose. It's like brown dust but it doesn't stick. In bad cases big chunks of the magnetic layer fall off but that's also not sticky. But usually you can just wipe away the dust and play it normally. Sticky shed tapes also loose the magnetic layer but that stuff really is sticky like glue. You can't really play that tape because it just sticks to everything and also messes up the play head so the sound quality goes down quickly. Often you can make these tapes playable by baking them at the right temperature. In summary tapes up to the end of the 60s are usually fine with small problems like the brown dust. Sticky shed tapes are usually from the 70s or newer.
Sorry guys, but you do so, the Rhino High Fidelity didn't sound better than the Analogue Productions 45 rpm. They other thing is, AP's are available worldwide. The Rhino High Fidelity's you only get at this shitty Online Store with the criminal shipping costs. The typical American arrogance.
I’m always amazed how humble and unassuming these legendary engineers seem to be. Bruces story about Joplin and Paul had me choked up . I have loved her forever and Pearl is a masterpiece.
Amazing stories. 👍
Thank you Bruce ,Patrick,and Kevin for these jewels. Cant thank you guys enough for doing this.
I am not even a big Doors fan and this was just an amazing thing to watch, thank you all !
Appreciate you checking it out. 👍
Wonderful roundtable discussion and incredible insight for us as fans into the recording of these Doors releases...priceless! Thank you again for this beautiful opportunity to peek "behind the curtain". I was 3 years old and living in Mission Viejo in Southern Orange County when the earthquake that you all were referring to occurred and I still remember the shaking to this day.
Appreciate it. Glad you enjoyed it.
Mr. Botnick is a gem. Thank you for his time and stories 🙏
Yes. He was great.
Wonderful show. Many interviewers talk over their guests. I enjoy how you allow your guests to speak. Thank you.
Appreciate the feedback, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Big thanks to you Steve for putting this roundtable together. Great box set. I was thrilled to hear Kevin say that "Morrison Hotel" is his favorite Doors album. It is my favorite as well.
Glad you enjoyed it! 👍
I think The Changeling is my favorite - so raw and powerful… and features several great Morrison screams as mentioned.
Another good pick.
The instruments so darn real on these Kevin cut doors disks
The Soft Parade my favorite Doors album….and all the albums are obviously brilliant
I have an RL pressing that. I don’t hear much about but sounds fantastic.
This is the best thing I’ve heard in a long time. Excited for this podcast.
Enjoy.
Bruce Botnick, thank you for doing this, long live The Doors x🎉
Thanks for watching.
Fantastic work yet again Steve. Thanks to you and all that crack team of Bruce B, Kevin and of course Patrick for bothering to care so much about these classic releases. It is truly wonderful that their work is continuing to open this music to the younger generations. Being an old fella, I rejoice in how lucky we were in the 60s and 70s to have lived and loved this music. Keep up the great work - Cheers from Oz
Cheers to you mate! Thanks for watching.
Well Steve, that was awesome! I loved hearing all of Bruce’s stories about the band and recording, so special. I’m so glad I purchased this box set, whatever Kevin touches is gold.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I was baptized @ Blessed Sacrament 25 years ago. I met Robbie Krieger, members of his jazz band, Henry Diltz, and Paul Rothschild’s son (who plays and tours with Robbie) in 2024. Met Kevin last year in LA as well when the Rhino High Fidelity series was announced.
The Rhino box will be treasured along with my DCCs for the rest of my life! My buddies and I visit the abandoned Morrison Hotel in DTLA every now and then after a night out of drinking. As a 30 year old, I’m thankful to all for releasing my favorite music @ an affordable price point!
Thanks for tuning in.
Fantastic round table Steve! Many thanks.
Thanks for watching!
Wish this was live. But this is an epic roundtable
Thank you 🙏
@ no, Thank you
What an incredible piece of oral history. He’s 78, try to get him on again. Thanks!
Thanks for watching, I’ll see what I can do.
I think this was probably your best roundtable.Drug my feet on ordering waited to here the reviews.Glad to here the reissies are coming.Have all the originals but never pulled the trigger on the 45 rpm,s.Glad I waited.
Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you to all. Listening to the new box set is an amazing experience.
Enjoy!
The story about Jim being juiced and bringing the older couple (incl the Chief of Police) back to the studio is hilarious...he was such a fascinating and intelligent dude he could likely charm anyone into partying with him for the night.
Classic. Great stories.
Thanks Steve for the great round table discussion! I'm a second generation Doors fan. My first Doors album was LA Woman purchased in 1980 when I was a Freshman in High School, and then I worked my way backward through their catalog.
It was wonderful to hear Mr. Botnick's first hand recollections of his days working with the Doors.
I don't have the newest Rhino Boxset of the Doors albums, but I do have most of the 2009 reissues that were mastered by Bernie Grundman and pressed at RTI, and even though there was a digital step in those releases, I've been pretty happy with the sound quality and the overall quality of the pressings.
Looking forward to picking up the latest Rhino / Kevin Gray / Optimal pressings, once they are available, to compare!
Good luck with the comparison! Glad you enjoyed the show.
You outdid yourself Steve. Bruuuuuuce frickin Botnick?? Fun stuff and informative😎🎸
Yes we want him back! I hope he enjoyed himself as much as we enjoyed listening to Bruce and all the cool Doors info.
And yes, of course, we have questions if and when Bruce comes back (we will be gentle and behaved😇)
Thanks again Steve, Bruce, Kevin and Patrick🎸✌🏻
Appreciate that. Maybe I can get him back for another round.
Thank you for asking great questions, Steve! I think this is my favorite video you have released, it features great info. Kudos to you 🎉
Appreciate it. Glad you enjoyed it.
Re watching and reveling in this again.Riveting podcast Steve. Maybe it should be re titled "Audiophile Roundtable: A conversation with The Doors audio engineer Bruce Botnick + Kevin Gray! (No Lizard was harmed in the making of this box set) I had a gazillion questions as I'm sure so many fans had for Bruce, but I didn't want to interrupt your flow, and man was I glad I didn't email any of them to you! It flew by, with not a moment wasted.Loved BB explanation on the LEDO copy.Not Shuffle. FINALLY putting this other BS to bed.I hope certain so called Vinyl Specialists were listening closely to that.The story about Laurence Harvey? is hilarious! Laurence Harvey in the UK at least probably couldn't get arrested.He was real hell raiser also in his day.And at this time '68 embraced the hippie culture.Heavy smoker and drinker.I can imagine him and Jim getting on like a house on fire!
He was also was gone sadly by '73. Some brilliant stories from Bruce, that had even Kevin and Patrick riveted. Hope Bruce does his autobiography.Although he is too much of a gentleman to dish the dirt! Anyway. Such a delight to see and hear all four of you on together.Made my weekend. And the following week! Thanks again Steve.Hope you are reveling in your own box set.
lol. Good one.
The best round table to date , just awesome
Wow. Thank you 🙏
The Doug Sax AP 45. LA Woman still best sounding to me.
33 vs 45 is apple to oranges.
Thanks, Bruce’s stories were amazing.
Glad you enjoyed it
Wonderful insight into these masterpiece albums. Great job Steve.
Thank you kindly!
Morrison Hotel is my fav Doors album. I have two of the DCC CD's and original vinyl and only need the Rhino Hifi Morrison Hotel. I know the reviews of this box set are excellent. Bruce has mastered 3 of my fav albums of all time really including Let It Bleed, The Doors and Morrison Hotel.
Great choice! 👍
This is a awesome interview
Thank you 🙏
This was great Steve! Thanks for bringing this to us.
Glad you enjoyed it!
The Sgt Pepper's influence was interesting to learn about, awesome panel...great interview with Bruce. Also, shocked no one asked about 'Robbie the Robot' to BLEEB's left?!
lol. I think Kevin mentioned it once.
Awesome! Thanks for making this happen. 😎 I'm gonna give my boxset a spin this weekend.
Enjoy it!
GREAT discussion.
Mr. Pete--------->
aging hippie
Thanks Pete.
I saw bruce with Ray at rhe Wgyptian Theater at the release of rhe Blu-ray on the making of Light My Fire.
Nice job with this interview, Steve!
Appreciate it.
Wow, great story about Paul and Janis!
Right. Wow !
I didn't understand the part about the master tape for the first album. I thought the original master was shot -- that's not the case?
Fascinating listening to the stories of days gone by.
Brian in Fort Worth 🎶
Thanks Brian. It was fun.
So we are getting strange days outtakes next year? Is that what bruce let slip at around 20:30 ?
Not sure. 🤞
I doubt it. I think they kind of released everything they got with the 50th anniversary editions. For Waiting for the sun we got the studio demo of "Celebration of the Lizard". For Soft Parade we got the mentioned "Rock is dead" recording. For Morrison Hotel und LA Woman we got lots of studio sessions. For the debut and Strange Days we just got the mono versions. My guess is if they had more they would have released it. But of course it's possible they found something unreleased since those editions came out.
@@theshowcase23 they didn't include celebration on the 50th, it was on the 40th previously though. They did acquire a a couple of reels from 67 a few years back, that had stuff from the first three albums hopefully they will use them. Bruce did imply there that they were releasing something
You should buy this bawx set mastered by Bruce Bawtnick! 🇨🇦
Hahaha
Will the individual Doors albums be the same AAA Kevin Gray Bruce Botnick records as the box set were? What will the price be each?
Yes. The same plates will be used that pressed the box set. I would assume the pricing will be the same as always. $39.95 ish each plus shipping.
@ thanks Steve really enjoy your shows hope all is well happy holidays
Lets get this started westman
5 minutes! Let's gooooo!
Great work Steve and amazing that you put this together! but you let Bruce off the hook about the stereo master now being a copy tape - I think he got confused when you showed the mono tape image and he started talking about the ledo - but that's not what the question was about obviously.. Anyways thank you!
Thanks! Good catch, I'll try to make sure we get that straight next time!
@stevewestman7774
So after some back and forth with Steve Hoffman himself, this is what I've come up with:
The 1978 tape is the original LEDO (the 1967 master).
It was damaged around that time by the mixers of Apocalypse Now (which came out in 1979) and the tape was also reboxed when it returned to Elektra.
The 1980 tape is a safety copy. Unknown if it was made before the 1978 damage but likely. Also it should be noted that the Mobile Fidelity version came out in 1981, also from "the master tape". It's possible this 1980 safety copy was made for that release.
Steve used the 1967/1978 LEDO for the DCC (1992) and patched it where necessary.
Analogue productions decided that there was too much damage to the 1967/1978 tape and used the 1980 tape in 2012. That's why that release sounds inferior to the Monarch original, the DCC and the Rhino.
Rhino returned to the 1967/1978 tape for the new box set and had Kevin Grey cut in digitally sourced tape patches where necessary. (or analog patches from the 1980 tape.). Would love to hear from Kevin about how much patching needed to be done and how he did it. It seems likely that Break On Through is a patch since most reviewers say that song does not sound as good as the rest on the new Rhino release.
with all due respect to Kevin, how is this set better than the Botnick/Doug Sax set that Acoustic Sounds did?
The answer is in the sound.
Doug Sax wasn't using the setup at Coherent. Astounding detail.
@@alwilliams5177Doug Sax's system was pretty transparent. A lot of people who have the RHF and AP45 have said the two are very close with either a hair or a lot better
Plus Bruce says at 16:20 that he's partial to the first 2 inches of a record for sound quality. Usually the benefit of 45 is putting the last couple inches of the groove now at the first 2.
Good evening!
Thanks for watching!
I guess it was for the LA Woman album.
the oxide flaking off is called sticky shed bad stuff
No, these are two different things. The mentioned Scotch 201 tape isn't sticky. Parts of the magnetic layer get loose. It's like brown dust but it doesn't stick. In bad cases big chunks of the magnetic layer fall off but that's also not sticky. But usually you can just wipe away the dust and play it normally. Sticky shed tapes also loose the magnetic layer but that stuff really is sticky like glue. You can't really play that tape because it just sticks to everything and also messes up the play head so the sound quality goes down quickly. Often you can make these tapes playable by baking them at the right temperature. In summary tapes up to the end of the 60s are usually fine with small problems like the brown dust. Sticky shed tapes are usually from the 70s or newer.
Hyacinth House of course
Good choice.
Seriously folks, lizard skins would cost more than the box set
True. lol
You could have had just Bruce on, the other guys hardly said a word.
Thanks for watching.
Egyptian
Sorry guys, but you do so, the Rhino High Fidelity didn't sound better than the Analogue Productions 45 rpm. They other thing is, AP's are available worldwide. The Rhino High Fidelity's you only get at this shitty Online Store with the criminal shipping costs. The typical American arrogance.
Agree 👍
WFTS is easily their weakest album (with Jim).