new reissues of Linda's 4 solo Capitol albums

[Partridge]

I've often complained about the record companies releasing the same titles over and over.

But I gave in and bought the 4 solo Capitol albums that were reissued in Japan last week.
They are beautiful packages. I love the way they replicated the gatefold "Linda Ronstadt" LP on CD.

However, I hate the "remastering"- The Linda Ronstadt CD was so harsh I didn't make it past Rock Me on the Water.

I compared the new Heart Like a Wheel with the recent remaster that was done by John Boylan. The John Boylan mix
sounds so much better than this Japanese remaster. They have taken the quiet parts and made them almost as loud as
possible so that the music and the voice are fighting against each other. It just wears me out to listen to these types of
remasters. They killed the dynamic range. I suppose someday we can look to a massacre of "Cry Like a Rainstorm."

[charlotte]

Thanks Tony. I read Rhino touting the 25th anniversary of Cry Like A Rainstorm in the last few days so maybe they would do a quality remastering or something to celebrate.  Won't hold my breath.  Also saw on one of the fan facebook pages that the Joe Ely duet is to be released in November.  Have you heard anything to that effect.?

[Partridge]

I didn't know the Joe Ely duet was to be released. I thought it was going to be included on Linda's recent Duets album.

A Rhino reissue of Cry Like a Rainstorm might be worthwhile. That album has a huge dynamic range on many songs, so if they just make every passage LOUD, they will ruin it.

I'm still waiting for the Complete Trio Recordings. What happened there?

[eddiejinnj]

what was the joe ely song again? when was it recorded. I remember us talking about it but don't recall details. sorry, you are unhappy with the 4 cd's tony. did you call them or post your opinion somewhere? as much as I want linda to sell cd's, we also want others to hear it in the best possible light. eddiejinnj

[fabtastique]

I'd really like Linda's 80s and 90s albums remastered .... They are crying out for it

[Partridge]

Some people will find these CDs a great improvement over the original releases. In a remaster, I prefer the old analog recordings to
be cleaned up sonically, but I don't particularly want to hear them "punched up." I have found that the punched-up CDs do sound better
in the car sometimes. For instance, in the car, when I listen to the CRY LIKE A RAINSTORM album, I turn the volume up on the soft
passages and by the time Linda hits full throttle later in the song, I am having to turn it down. Not a problem listening at home,
but competing with road noise does interfere with the sonics. With these new remasters, the volume is more equalized throughout the
track, so no need to fiddle with the volume. The whole song is mixed loud.

Here is a visual representation of YOU'RE NO GOOD. The top bars represent the version in the recent John Boylan reissue. The bottom bars
represent the Japanese reissue, everything at high volume. I am capable of controlling the volume myself.



If Linda wants to go from a whisper to a scream in a song, I think that's her artistic decision. She doesn't want the whisper to be turned up to 11.

I don't regret buying these. They satisfied my impulse to add to my Linda Ronstadt collection. But bring on the unreleased material.

[linda2006nicci]

Sept 4, 2014 6:14:04 GMT -5 eddiejinnj said:

what was the joe ely song again? when was it recorded. eddiejinnj

I think the song is "Where Is My Love" recorded in 1987.

[linda2006nicci]

I bought the four solo Capitol albums, too.
2,880 yen each. very expensive!

[Deleted]

Interesting. Does it say in English who did the remastering.

The WMJ mini-LP Japanese remasters are much better than Asylum's originals are, to my ears. DCN, PID, SD & LITUSA are the only CDs I listen to. I do like HLAW remaster from MFSL & particuarly Audio Fidelity. HDTW from MFSL is the nicest for that album.

But for HSHG, SP & LR, the BGO (UK) set BGOCD1156 is very good, followed by the Raven (Australian) two CDs which include HLAW and bonus tracks "She's A Very Lovely Woman" & "Can It Be True", as well as Linda's Free Creek performances of "He Darked The Sun", & "Living Like A Fool"