I just noticed there isn't a dedicated thread to today's reissue of The Versace Experience (or at least I couldn't find one). Thoughts? I recorded my thoughts alongside my Aussie mates in the Peach & Black Podcast review, also released today https://peachandblack.pod...ld-review/

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It's a very odd choice for release. If you're buying the vinyl and/or CD, are you aware that it's sourced from a cassette tape??

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[Edited 9/12/19 22:08pm]

dsimp8 said:

Listening to it now. Listening on my AirPods. Sounds ok. Not pristine by any means but I think it’s serviceable. Says “The Versace Experience “ enough lol.

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^That's for damn sure!

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I compared the CD with another circulating rip from the cassette, and I think the CD is ever-so-slightly sped up. But it's practically unnoticeable unless you're comparing in an audio editor or what-have-you.

toejam said:

dsimp8 said:

Listening to it now. Listening on my AirPods. Sounds ok. Not pristine by any means but I think it’s serviceable. Says “The Versace Experience “ enough lol.

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^That's for damn sure!

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I compared the CD with another circulating rip from the cassette, and I think the CD is ever-so-slightly sped up. But it's practically unnoticeable unless you're comparing in an audio editor or what-have-you.

Isn't it more likely to be the case that the rip from the casette was playing more slowly and the CD is playing at the correct speed?

I'm happy enough with the release and very glad that I didn't buy an over priced casette copy of it previously.

TheEnglishGent said:

Could it be that Prince sped it up slightly when configuring the tracks because models would be walking down the runway to it and he wanted it to have a slight "urgency" to it all? I dont know.

My guess is this is meant to fill the gap of The Gold Experience vinyl which they won't re-release because of TMBGITW lawsuit.

[Edited 9/13/19 3:10am]

FYI here's the edition of Gold Experience without P Control. Still don't know what the deal with it is though.

As for Versace, it's being released because they're able to release it. They're not allowed release unreleased tracks so this falls under their remit, just about. Anything for a bit of cash.

TheEnglishGent said:

toejam said:

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^That's for damn sure!

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I compared the CD with another circulating rip from the cassette, and I think the CD is ever-so-slightly sped up. But it's practically unnoticeable unless you're comparing in an audio editor or what-have-you.

Isn't it more likely to be the case that the rip from the casette was playing more slowly and the CD is playing at the correct speed?

But didn't they already put out Piano & Microphone at the confirmed incorrect speed?

jaawwnn said:

FYI here's the edition of Gold Experience without P Control. Still don't know what the deal with it is though.

My best guess is it was some sort of censorship, some places wouldn't stock it with that track on there?

who knows...

WhisperingDandelions said:

TheEnglishGent said:

Isn't it more likely to be the case that the rip from the casette was playing more slowly and the CD is playing at the correct speed?

But didn't they already put out Piano & Microphone at the confirmed incorrect speed?

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Speed can be a nightmare when working with tape. Not only does tape stretch over time, but the playback can also be inconsistent. You can correct the speed towards the begining of a track, and it could be ever so slightly out again by the end.

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To work out which source is closest, take a Gold Experience track and compare the speed of both to the official LP version.

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Personally, if Sony think I'm paying money for a sampler cassette they've got another thing coming. Sure, the artwork looks nice, but at the end of the day it's still a bunch of edits that were given away to people for free.

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I understand that legal issues are causing them headaches when it comes to 'The Gold Experience', but this was a lazy way of circumventing the issue. Especially now I hear that it wasn't even sourced from a master copy.

Archivist Michael Howe really does need to explain why he allowed a tape cassette to be re-issued and pressed on vinyl and CD.

How on earth can anyone trust what he is doing!!!!!!

People have found faults in all of the re-issues so far!

HE HAS TO GO!

We need someone who is capable of managing the vault and all of it's treasures!

darkroman said:

Archivist Michael Howe really does need to explain why he allowed a tape cassette to be re-issued and pressed on vinyl and CD.

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This is true of Piano & a Microphone, however I will cut him some slack here. Sony doesn't actually have access to vault at this time, so Michael Howe shouldn't have had anything to do with The Versace Experience, or any of Sony's legacy releases.

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[Edited 9/13/19 2:39am]

VaultCurator said:

darkroman said:

Archivist Michael Howe really does need to explain why he allowed a tape cassette to be re-issued and pressed on vinyl and CD.

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This is true of Piano & a Microphone, however I will cut him some slack here. Sony doesn't actually have access to vault at this time, so Michael Howe shouldn't have had anything to do with The Versace Experience, or any of Sony's legacy releases.

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[Edited 9/13/19 2:39am]

Hello, that isn't the case!

Michael has confirmed it is his responsibility to deliver ALL vault content to ALL companies releasing content!

He has seriously f'ed up Prince's release history!

Interview snippet:

https://www.superdeluxeedition.com/interview/princes-archivist-michael-howe-talks-to-sde/

TheEnglishGent said:

toejam said:

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^That's for damn sure!

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I compared the CD with another circulating rip from the cassette, and I think the CD is ever-so-slightly sped up. But it's practically unnoticeable unless you're comparing in an audio editor or what-have-you.

Isn't it more likely to be the case that the rip from the casette was playing more slowly and the CD is playing at the correct speed?

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Except that the official release is produced by the same people who put out P&M83 which also runs at the wrong speed. Dedicated fans often take far more care in these things.

darkroman said:

Interview snippet:

SDE: And how does the relationship with the record companies work, because, obviously, you’ve got different parties involved; Warners who go back a long way, and then you’ve got Sony that own more recent stuff. I mean, are you thinking about things like that when you’re working through the content of the vaults; who might own and where it sits etc.?

MH: Yes, I am, to the extent that I am the guy who, for the most part, A&Rs anything that comes out of a vault – I’m delivering the content to whoever’s going to be releasing it. So, yes, I’m thinking about that every day.

https://www.superdeluxeedition.com/interview/princes-archivist-michael-howe-talks-to-sde/

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Hi Darkroman,

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Thanks for this. Thinking about it, I guess the legacy album masters have to come from somewhere. Most likely the vault.

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Even Prince's promo cassettes must have had master prints. Maybe it hasn't been found yet.

VaultCurator said:

darkroman said:

Interview snippet:

SDE: And how does the relationship with the record companies work, because, obviously, you’ve got different parties involved; Warners who go back a long way, and then you’ve got Sony that own more recent stuff. I mean, are you thinking about things like that when you’re working through the content of the vaults; who might own and where it sits etc.?

MH: Yes, I am, to the extent that I am the guy who, for the most part, A&Rs anything that comes out of a vault – I’m delivering the content to whoever’s going to be releasing it. So, yes, I’m thinking about that every day.

https://www.superdeluxeedition.com/interview/princes-archivist-michael-howe-talks-to-sde/

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Hi Darkroman,

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Thanks for this. Thinking about it, I guess the legacy album masters have to come from somewhere. Most likely the vault.

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Even Prince's promo cassettes must have had master prints. Maybe it hasn't been found yet.

Hello, yes I agree with you!

There is clearly an issue so they should have delayed releasing this or just not bothered as there is soooooo much more they could release! Or they could have just told us what the issue is!

For Record Store Day 2020, I'd like to see ''Strange Tales From The Rain'' re-issued. Just simply because it is a very nice unique release. WB have been re-issuing Japanese editions so this would fit in nicely:

https://www.discogs.com/P...se/3139238

it's pretty weird to be listening to this one, as an official release, on spotify.

I had fun listening to this on Spotify today. Nothing essential, but a fun curiosity. Can't seem to find the CD in stores here in Oz, so I might have to go hunting for it.

darkroman said:

For Record Store Day 2020, I'd like to see ''Strange Tales From The Rain'' re-issued. Just simply because it is a very nice unique release. WB have been re-issuing Japanese editions so this would fit in nicely:

https://www.discogs.com/P...se/3139238

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Now that's something I'd happily splash some cash on. Vinyl & CD. I know a decent number of fans are starting to get tired or Purple Rain era releases, but 'Strange Tales From The Rain' is a bit special.

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I do have a digital rip of this album to keep me going, but a physical version would be fantastic.

Moonbeam said:

I had fun listening to this on Spotify today. Nothing essential, but a fun curiosity. Can't seem to find the CD in stores here in Oz, so I might have to go hunting for it.

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Where in Oz are you? I live in Brisbane and found the CD and JB HiFi Indooroopilly. Surprisingly, I didn't see any in the 3 city stores when I went hunting for it this morning.

To me, it's a nice to have.

It won't get too many spins, but I'd love to get more project work like this. Work such as The Flesh or The Rebels, are never going to get mass market release, but it's some of the material I'd like to be put out the most.

I wouldn't try to consider them from a quality perspective against the formal albums, just an interesting insight into Prince's broad artistic nature.

Moonbeam said:

I had fun listening to this on Spotify today. Nothing essential, but a fun curiosity. Can't seem to find the CD in stores here in Oz, so I might have to go hunting for it.

I do very much love listening to TVE as it is a great little compilation and I can listen to it twice during a gym session.

Oddly there is a version on Spotify where it says the source is the bootleg ''Work It Volume 7''.

Very strange!!!

darkroman said:

Moonbeam said:

I had fun listening to this on Spotify today. Nothing essential, but a fun curiosity. Can't seem to find the CD in stores here in Oz, so I might have to go hunting for it.

I do very much love listening to TVE as it is a great little compilation and I can listen to it twice during a gym session.

Oddly there is a version on Spotify where it says the source is the bootleg ''Work It Volume 7''.

Very strange!!!

Its a great work out mix! I'm lovin it. Could'nt give a F about being slightly sped up...

Ordered the Vinyl for C&D & Emancipation. No interest in a physical copy of this. My Apple Music stream will suffice.