PeteSilas said:

we've become a pitiful lot haven't we? I just thought about how we'd have ripped to shreds the cassette version of 1999 because it was sped up for some reason, probably to make it fit on a certain size tape.

Not really back then cassette was very advanced and the best people had. Today we have the technology to produce near perfect recordings and enhance the music to make it the best it can be. Why ignore that technology when its widely available to the masses?

Todays digital music is now the equalivent of yesterdays cassette....both are advanced for thier time.

PeteSilas said:

we've become a pitiful lot haven't we? I just thought about how we'd have ripped to shreds the cassette version of 1999 because it was sped up for some reason, probably to make it fit on a certain size tape.

Never heard this before and doing a quick little A/B test on a few songs, I don't hear anything "sped up" on the cassette.

maceoparker007 said:

PeteSilas said:

we've become a pitiful lot haven't we? I just thought about how we'd have ripped to shreds the cassette version of 1999 because it was sped up for some reason, probably to make it fit on a certain size tape.

Not really back then cassette was very advanced and the best people had. Today we have the technology to produce near perfect recordings and enhance the music to make it the best it can be. Why ignore that technology when its widely available to the masses?

Todays digital music is now the equalivent of yesterdays cassette....both are advanced for thier time.

for sound quality vinyl was still better wasn't it?

djThunderfunk said:

PeteSilas said:

we've become a pitiful lot haven't we? I just thought about how we'd have ripped to shreds the cassette version of 1999 because it was sped up for some reason, probably to make it fit on a certain size tape.

Never heard this before and doing a quick little A/B test on a few songs, I don't hear anything "sped up" on the cassette.

unless you got a different cassette than i did then the difference should be obvious. Someone else can back me up. It's been 30 some years though, it could have been the other way around, vinyl was sped and cassette was normal, either way, they weren't the same.

Now we know why WB were so keen to advertise this as a remaster 'overseen by Prince', it was their way of saying don't blame us! Also by saying this it could be seen to imply that he also selected the vault tracks, which is incorrect, he'd never authorise unfinished songs or the explicit songs on Disc 2 due to his beliefs. It serves their purpose to lead people to think that he did.

That aside, there are parts where there is distortion due to loudness but a lot of the complaints here are about modern music and the loudness wars inherent in new releases.

It would have been unrealistic to expect the release not to have been made louder, that is just how music is released these days to compete for the listener's ear.

Yes it may be wrong but that is just how things are so there's not much point blaming one person.

I mean if you're a newbie given the task to remaster a masterwork by Prince you're not going to say no are you?!

So any ire should be really with P who did this and not Josh who probably did what he could with the knowledge he had.

However, what they should have done is probably get Bernie to remaster this too and then hold a listening session to compare the two to decide which one to use, to preserve his legacy.

Also, really they should have just stuck to the same person/company to remaster for consistency as there are already comments noticing the variations between the Disc 3 edits and extended songs to those of the same tracks on Disc 1!

[Edited 6/26/17 14:43pm]

KingSausage said:

I would feel pretty emotional if I had to play all my music through Bose gear.

djThunderfunk said:

PurpleMouse88 said:

I wasn't too impressed by the loudness of the remastered CD, However I thought the remastered vinyl sounded great. I definitely don't have the greatest turntable in the world, but it sounded top notch to me!

[Edited 6/25/17 19:01pm]

Interesting. While complaints of the original master CD are understandable, I have never heard complaints of the original master vinyl. In fact, most agree that it is pretty great, I would say it is the best format/master released of the album thus far. So, this new remaster vinyl... I don't see the point in it.

I have the original vinyl too and it does sound great, but I meant between the remastered CD vs the remastered vinyl, I definitely preferred the sound of the vinyl over the CD. For some reason it just didn't sound as harsh to me as the CD. It doesn't necessarily sound better than the original vinyl tho. They both sound nice to me.

[Edited 6/26/17 16:33pm]

destroyed deluxe or deluxe destroyed

SchlomoThaHomo said:

I know I'm supposed to hate this brickwalled by Josh Purple Rain, but I'm kind of loving it. I've noticed lots of little parts I never noticed before. And it all sounds so damn powerful!

SchlomoThaHomo said:

I know I'm supposed to hate this brickwalled by Josh Purple Rain, but I'm kind of loving it. I've noticed lots of little parts I never noticed before. And it all sounds so damn powerful!

they comin for you

KingSausage said:

SchlomoThaHomo said:

I know I'm supposed to hate this brickwalled by Josh Purple Rain, but I'm kind of loving it. I've noticed lots of little parts I never noticed before. And it all sounds so damn powerful!

I'm afraid we're gonna need your Prince card, sir. It's been nice knowing you. I have faith that Katy Perry and shitty iPhone earbuds will treat you well.

Boy has lost his mind take him away.

rogifan said:

[Edited 6/24/17 10:45am]

Scooch87 said:

I am in no way disagreeing with anyone's comments here... just simply stating my own opinion.

As a fan of 36 years I have great memories of buying Purple Rain the day it was released (33 years ago today, I believe). So it's cool to see some hype around Purple Rain again. It may not be my personal Prince favorite, but there is no denying that this is one hell of an amazing album. Rarely can an album be so innovative and yet crossover like Purple Rain did - it deserves every ounce of recognition it gets. Obviously, it gained some attention last year when our boy passed away, but beyond that - I feel like it doesn't get mentioned too much so I'm psyched to see it celebrated. I bought this the day it came out and as someone said earlier, for the first time in a while I listened to the album from front to back in one sitting and was blown away all over again. Personally, I like the updated art work and the new photos as well.

I'm not an audiophile but to my ears the remastered album isn't unlistenable. I notice when albums are "too hot" (The Hold Steady's 'Stay Positve' or REM's 'Accelerate' for example), but this remaster doesn't seem to be like those albums - could there be more dynamic range? Probably. Does it sound good when it's on? To me, yes, it does. I do have friends that are audiophiles and I respect and many times agree with what they have to say. I guess I have a certain tolerance level for what I consider unlistenable and this doesn't make it.

To anyone disappointed with how the remaster came out, I'm sorry. Let's hope Prince's cataloge gets the attention is deserves in the near future (I'm thinking it someday will). But let's also be proud of what this album has done, and enjoy the attention it is getting. When I walked into the wrecka stow Friday night there was this huge Purple Rain display... I had to smile when I saw it. Plus when I bought it the 20-something cashier said "Purple Rain! I never heard this album until they played it earlier today and I have to be honest... I think it's actually really good!". So maybe the hype of this particular released recruited some new true funk soldiers?

We're only 14 months into a post-Prince world, so I'm sure more remasters and boxsets will be coming. Ones that will satisfy some of the people who were disappointed with this release

Peace everyone -

[Edited 6/25/17 7:12am]

KingSausage said:

SchlomoThaHomo said:

I know I'm supposed to hate this brickwalled by Josh Purple Rain, but I'm kind of loving it. I've noticed lots of little parts I never noticed before. And it all sounds so damn powerful!

I'm afraid we're gonna need your Prince card, sir. It's been nice knowing you. I have faith that Katy Perry and shitty iPhone earbuds will treat you well.

SchlomoThaHomo said:

I know I'm supposed to hate this brickwalled by Josh Purple Rain, but I'm kind of loving it. I've noticed lots of little parts I never noticed before. And it all sounds so damn powerful!

Same for me but I'm no audiphile. Blasting The Beautiful Ones in my car this morning it sounds awesome.

.

I almost wish Josh had threw some lasers and stutters somewhere in the mix just to see the reaction on here

This is why remasters are bollocks, nothing wrong with the original in the first place and no frigger is happy when they do it!

SchlomoThaHomo said:

KingSausage said:

I'm afraid we're gonna need your Prince card, sir. It's been nice knowing you. I have faith that Katy Perry and shitty iPhone earbuds will treat you well.

You ain't takin shit!! And fuck Katy Perry!

dodger said:

KingSausage said:

dodger said:

Same for me but I'm no audiphile. Blasting The Beautiful Ones in my car this morning it sounds awesome.

.

I almost wish Josh had threw some lasers and stutters somewhere in the mix just to see the reaction on here

LOL. I would never stop complaining if that happened. I would probably just melt like one of those Nazis opening the Ark.

KingSausage said:

SchlomoThaHomo said:

You ain't takin shit!! And fuck Katy Perry!

As you wish.

Prince did the same thing with Crystal Ball and honestly...I loved how tunred up those songs were

paisleypark4 said:

Prince did the same thing with Crystal Ball and honestly...I loved how tunred up those songs were

The quality of the tracks on that set were excellent despite tbe differing ages of the tracks, so someone knew what they were doing.

[Edited 6/27/17 11:28am]

PeteSilas said:

djThunderfunk said:

Never heard this before and doing a quick little A/B test on a few songs, I don't hear anything "sped up" on the cassette.

unless you got a different cassette than i did then the difference should be obvious. Someone else can back me up. It's been 30 some years though, it could have been the other way around, vinyl was sped and cassette was normal, either way, they weren't the same.

It might just be your tape player(s) that are playing it faster. I think it's pretty common to find some variation in playback speeds.

thx185 said:

PeteSilas said:

unless you got a different cassette than i did then the difference should be obvious. Someone else can back me up. It's been 30 some years though, it could have been the other way around, vinyl was sped and cassette was normal, either way, they weren't the same.

It might just be your tape player(s) that are playing it faster. I think it's pretty common to find some variation in playback speeds.

ya, but i've had several tapes over the years, i didn't buy music in 82 so i listened to my parent's i bought vinyl and cassette later and probably still have the tapes of my mine and my mom's. someone on here will verify if it means enough to them. I'm positive it was a widespread thing. In those days people weren't so whiny about sound quality though.

TheFreakerFantastic said:

paisleypark4 said:

Prince did the same thing with Crystal Ball and honestly...I loved how tunred up those songs were

The quality of the tracks on that set were excellent despite tbe differing ages of the tracks, so someone knew what they were doing.

[Edited 6/27/17 11:28am]

Crystal Ball was mastered by Brian Gardener at Bernie Grudmann Mastering, in other words, a professional who knows what he's doing.

thx185 said:

PeteSilas said:

unless you got a different cassette than i did then the difference should be obvious. Someone else can back me up. It's been 30 some years though, it could have been the other way around, vinyl was sped and cassette was normal, either way, they weren't the same.

It might just be your tape player(s) that are playing it faster. I think it's pretty common to find some variation in playback speeds.

I have 1999 on vinyl, cass, CD & 180gm vinyl. I did an A/B(/C/D) test on a couple songs and noticed no speed differences. Wondering if Pete experienced a song sped up or the whole album?

Interestingly, being a double album, it would not be unusual for cassettes of this album to drag, and play slow, on some players. I would think if the deck was playing too fast it would be noticed on all albums, not just 1999.

What I'm trying to understand is, why did Prince want to remaster PR himself (with Josh)? It doesn't seem like something that would interest him. And here WB and Bernie were obviously ready to go, I'm sure they said, "let us take care of it!", but no - Prince wanted to remaster it at the park. Why?