The Steve Wilson Yes remixes on vinyl

[kid_runningfox]

They're remixes, not remasters.

To honestly answer your question, at least from my perspective, my vinyl playback rig sounds better to my ears than my digital front-end. Call it what you may--I'll fully admit that I just might prefer the colorations to the sound that the vinyl medium requires more often than not.

Ah ok, though that doesn't change the basic thrust of my question - namely, that if these mixes haven't been specifically mastered for vinyl then what sonic benefits will they have over the cd versions?

[mkeneally]

They have been specifically mastered for vinyl, by Chris Bellman at Grundman's place, and he is superb. I haven't heard these, but in my experience Chris does only good work.

[Steve983]

Is there any point in buying these remasters on vinyl? Assuming they haven't been specifically mastered to compensate for the sonic deficiencies of vinyl, what's the justification for buying these over the cd versions? Asking because I'm genuinely curious

So it seems they have been remastered for vinyl. Even so it could be argued that there is no point in buying this box set especially when you own the cd/blu rays (plus original vinyl and umpteen remasters) like I do. However its entirely up to you whether you buy it or not. I decided to go for it because Yes are my favorite band and I can afford it.

[marblesmike]

• Vinylphiles prefer LPs
• Vinylphiles who are not purists prefer remixes
• Vinylphiles who are not purists who have a lot of expendable cash think nothing of spending $100 (even though the same hi-res files are $20)
• Vinylphiles who are not purists who have a lot of expendable cash derive a massive "cool factor" from owning extravagances like this
• As Mike points out, they HAVE been remastered (after they were "remixed") to compensate for the sonic deficiencies of vinyl

Lots of generalizations here. I don't always prefer remixes. The Genesis ones (vinyl or not) were terrible for the most part. I just usually love the sonic decisions SW makes. He's just one guy who does remixes.

I don't have a lot of expendable cash either haha. I still haven't bought this. I would prefer it if these were related separately rather than in box.

Back in the day I remember buying CD boxsets for more than $100, not the vinyl packaging is usually much better. I think most of your points are meant to slag off people who like vinyl, as I know you're not a fan. Sure, there are some "cool factor" hipsters who buy vinyl to play on their cheap turntables without any regard to the sound, but many of us take the medium seriously and are very discerning with what we buy.

[bondegezou]

So it seems they have been remastered for vinyl.

A vinyl release always entails a vinyl master. If something is new to vinyl (as these remixes are), then there has to be a new master.

Henry

[Top Cat]

I can't find any information online crediting remastering of these vinyl re-issues.
However, elusive disc . com provide the following details:
Features:
• 6LP Box Set
• 2013-2016 Steven Wilson stereo mixes on vinyl for the first time
• Set includes: The Yes Album (1971); Fragile (1971); Close To The Edge (1972); Tales From Topographic Oceans (1973); and Relayer (1974)
• Lacquers cut by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering
• Slipcase with artwork created specifically for the set by Roger Dean
• New cover art by Roger Dean

[floyd umma gumma]

There's a lot of speculation here, I'm wondering if anyone has purchased these and has thoughts about how they sound. I expect I'll buy them unless someone says there's something awful about how they turned out. I enjoyed the SW remixes and had hoped they would come out on Vinyl, and here they are. My ears are kind of shot by years of standing next to loud amps, so I don't pretend to think that vinyl sounds better or worse, but I still enjoy the Ritual of putting on a record, looking through the gatefold, and getting up(!) to turn it over. Really just sitting down and listening to it, no phone, no multitask...It's a lost art, I think. Listening.

[kid_runningfox]

They have been specifically mastered for vinyl, by Chris Bellman at Grundman's place, and he is superb. I haven't heard these, but in my experience Chris does only good work.

Ok, thanks for answering my question. Hope anyone who buys them enjoys the music!!

[Steve983]

^^^ Mines arriving today. I'll report back on the sound as soon as I can.

[olivetti]

lots of praise over at Hoffman forum
http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/thread...734463/page-11

[Top Cat]

lots of praise over at Hoffman forum
http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/thread...734463/page-11

WOW!!! thanks for the link.

[ombasan]

The new covers for the LPs are kinda cool!

But I cannot justify buying this set - I own many of these as original LPs and then also the recently released 5.1 versions. So this set would sit on the shelf most of the time.

[jc90125]

What happened to the Live track that was on the Topographic CD from Zurich '74 ?

[Kcrimso]

Nothing is all or nothing. In my opinion, Steven Wilson's remixes of K.C. -Lizard and J.T.-Aqualung are resplendent, eye-opening, amazing. However Steven Wilson's ELP remixes are Meh.

I agree with this. Wilson's Yes remixes go also under the category of "meh".

[aith01]

I agree with this. Wilson's Yes remixes go also under the category of "meh".

Not the Relayer remix.

[Kcrimso]

Not the Relayer remix.

I was very interested to get Wilson remix of Relayer because I never was completely satisfied with the original. Alas the remix strips lots of edge and energy of the music so I definately prefer the original. I am not saying that remix is bad but original is better and much more exciting to hear

[aith01]

I was very interested to get Wilson remix of Relayer because I never was completely satisfied with the original. Alas the remix strips lots of edge and energy of the music so I definately prefer the original. I am not saying that remix is bad but original is better and much more exciting to hear

Fair enough.

[Steve983]

I was very interested to get Wilson remix of Relayer because I never was completely satisfied with the original. Alas the remix strips lots of edge and energy of the music so I definately prefer the original. I am not saying that remix is bad but original is better and much more exciting to hear

I agree based on my listenings of the cd/blu ray stereo mixes. To my ears the remixes are very good but the sonic quality of the recordings is left flat and would benefit from some further EQ'ing.

Finally got my box set today (thanks to my local PO for delaying it) and must say I'm very impressed with the package and well packed by Burning Shed too.

Yes Nerd Observations:
Why is The Yes Album housed in a very heavy/thick cardboard sleeve? My late 70's version was an ordinary thickness sleeve.
Fragile Artwork: The outer sleeve looks quite different from the original, I wonder if Roger Dean took the original and then modified it or did he start from scratch? Anyone know? Same goes for the outer sleeve of Tales, I love both of these new artworks - they are gorgeous.
Close To The Edge - love the new blue outer sleeve artwork, I'd say better than the original. The missing inner sleeve with the lyrics is presumably a stupid oversight on someone's part....
Relayer: No modifications to the sleeve artwork at all - presumably Roger ran out of time..

I think I'll start listening with Fragile later although the hot weather we're having in Englandshire at the moment isn't great for listening on headphones.

[bondegezou]

What happened to the Live track that was on the Topographic CD from Zurich '74 ?

None of the bonus tracks from the CDs are included.

Henry

[Mister Triscuits]

Why is The Yes Album housed in a very heavy/thick cardboard sleeve? My late 70's version was an ordinary thickness sleeve.

Several packaging decisions that may seem odd to British fans are exactly how the LPs were originally released in America: thick cardboard with tip-on art for The Yes Album and Fragile, also green and red rather than plum labels for those albums, Fragile booklet loose rather than bound in, and Relayer inner sleeve on thin paper stock. Funny that they would be so authentic with these details while drastically changing the artwork on most of the covers!

[gojikranz]

think it is kinda odd that they didn't see this as a opportunity for Dean to do a whole new cover for the yes album and bring it into the fold artistically speaking.

makes it kinda the odd duck of the box.

[Top Cat]

I was very interested to get Wilson remix of Relayer because I never was completely satisfied with the original. Alas the remix strips lots of edge and energy of the music so I definately prefer the original. I am not saying that remix is bad but original is better and much more exciting to hear

It's funny you would mention the edge and energy missing from the original Relayer, because I was surfing through YouTube video reviews of this boxset and came across a review of it by Darren Locke(yes, the much disliked Darren Locke), and he pretty much said the same thing about the Relayer mix. It's missing that indescribable element which could best be said as missing that crunch, crispness that made the original what it was. After comparative listening he also preferred the original mix of Relayer.

[bondegezou]

I think The Yes Album is his best remix.

Henry

[Steve983]

I listened to the Fragile vinyl last night, sounded very good. Minimal surface noise, no bad points at all really. Of course Fragile has always been one of the best sounding Yes albums anyway so it was a good one to start with. Maybe I'll try The Yes Album next.

[Frumious B]

What'd he do to it? Give us an A - B comparison.

I prefer the original mixes because I basically ALWAYS defer to original mixes unless there is a super compelling reason to do otherwise such as with Vapor Trails. In the case of The Yes Album I’d note that the original mix is closer to that sixties stereo sound with a lot of hard panning, wide stereo effects etc. that could, arguably, sound “dated” to contemporary ears. The Wilson stereo mix gets rid of those for the most part in favor of just sounding clear and “normal” in the sense that you are listening to the music in stereo, but the stereo doesn’t really call attention to itself. However, I end up missing fun touches like that section of “Perpetual Change” where the band in playing a different bit in each channel.