Okay, so I orded this so-called "remastered" CD from eBay and was shocked at the sound quality upon listening to it. IT'S TERRIBLE!!!!

The songs sound like they were remastered in a garage with an annoying echo effect. Basslines are drowned out, the drums sounds faint and overall it's just too much treble. "Ghetto Life" might as well be a classical song.

If anyone else has this CD and knows what I'm talking about please stand up. I'm thinking of re-selling this and just buying the vinyl. NOTHING BEATS THE WARMTH OF AN LP!!!

okaypimpn said:

Then you should have bought the 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition 2CD set...

Neversin.

Neversin said:

Again...

okaypimpn said:

That's common knowledge...
But why buy a "remastered" CD then?
Like I said, you should've bought the 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition 2CD set...

Neversin.

Neversin said:

The CD was a convenience factor, but had I known it was going to sound like that I wouldn't have bought it in the first place. Thanks for your suggestion, but I'll pass.

What's the remaster copyright date (year)?

Supernova said:

2002

Jeez, seems like if it's a legit remaster it would sound better than you describe. I just never trust eBay.

Supernova said:

Oh, it's a legit copy...eBay has nothing to do with it. It's just not the sound I was hoping for. Case-in-point, "Fire & Desire" sounds good on the CD because it's a ballad and can benefit from the echoing effects, but funk jams like "Give It To Me," "Ghetto Life," "Superfreak" and "Below The Funk" do not need to sound like they were recorded at Carnegie Hall.

I have the 20th Anniversary Edition 2 CD set and it sounds great. The second live CD sounds great also. I had the CD originally before it was remastered and it sounded horrible.

This weekend I also bought the remastered Teena Marie album "It Must Be Magic". It sounds great also and has a live 12 minute version of "De Ja Vue".

You're right though, nothing beats vinyl.

Yeah,the deluxe edition is the one to go with.

I hate to keep repeating what others are saying,but you REALLY REALLY should have bought the 2-CD "20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition"


The sound quality is incredible,and you get several 12" versions of the songs "Give It To Me Baby" and "SuperFreak".The remix to the latter absolutely KILLS the short album version.As if that's not enough,you get a second disc containing a Summer '81 Live concert performance,complete with Teena Marie doing her own "Square Biz" and duetting with Rick on "Sucka For Your Love"! It's a long,hot,sweaty show.There are also some extensive liner notes/essays,the song lyrics and alot of rare photos.

A landmark album like 'Street Songs' deserves the best packaging and remastering possible,and Motown/Universal did a superb job with this set!

DavidEye said:

They sure did! My only complaint is that it should have been in two plastic cases or at least one double plastic case. That way, it would fit in a CD tower instead of just laying on the shelf along with Diana Ross' "Diana".

vainandy said:

I like the way these "Deluxe Editions" are packaged.Yeah,it makes it harder to store it in a CD tower,but I like the packaging regardless

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I know with Prince's "Musicology" and "The Rainbow Children", I got me a plastic case, cut the cardboard down to fit both the front and the back of the case, and kept the booklet separate. It looks very professional as if it was made that way.

With Rick James' CD, it is too nice to do that to. It has countless rare pictures on the inside of the cardboard that I would not want to destroy.

okaypimpn said:

Hmm...I guess it's just a botched remastering job. It happens.