Mobiles CD update, and other news

[Rubellan]

For those who may be interested, the paperwork for the Mobiles CD has finally been sorted out. Cherry Red are hoping for a November release.

Also, in October, Cherry Red are re-issuing Toyah’s classic 1980 Live album Toyah! Toyah! Toyah!. I just received one of the master tape transfers, and that particular tape has not aged well. However, there is a superior quality transfer on its way to me, along with the bonus material. The CD will include an additional selection of never-released soundboard quality live tracks from 80-82. I’ve already had a preview of them and they sound great

And last, I was just assigned a new project that I think many here will be excited about. I can’t reveal too much right now as the details are a bit haysi, but I will post when I have more info.

[yipyipcoyote]

[quote]Originally posted by RubellanI can’t reveal too much right now as the details are a bit haysi, but I will post when I have more info.[/quote]I thought they only recorded one album [:o)]

Great news about Mobiles. Really looking forward to it

[Rubellan]

Yes, only one album, which has yet to be presented properly on CD. Should be early next year.

I love how they release product info even before work has been started on a project, and with the Toyah deadline approaching, I have managed to finsh the master and I'm sending out tomorrow. I'm also sending an updated Mobiles master as well.

The bonus Toyah material did not turn out to be as high end as I originally thought. Two songs come from cassette, and two of the four 1982 songs are from highly compressed MP3's. Though I can do some great stuff, you can't restore half of a missing audio spectrum - but hey, they are at the end of the CD...

[rewind]

Re: Haysi

Maybe this time the ORIGINAL 12" version of "Shiny Shiny" can be included!

[DavePlym]

um, as for the mysterious 'Haysi' thing - having already been reissued with bonus tracks and great sound quality - would it not be better to licence that material, rather than a vinyl to cd 'remaster'?
From having bought a few cherry red reissues, the sound often is muddy, dull lifeless or just poor - there should be a declaraion in big letters on the sleeve if the original master tapes weren't used,
coz cherry red cds cost about £10, which is dear compared to say the warner platinum series which, for their price, sound both fab and groovy (without an arguement about mass sales vs. small issues).
I know there are several threads about 'which program to use to put vinyl to CD', which becomes pointless if the turntable is poor or the needle rubbish (an ortofon 20 is jolly good at about £50 (honest. it's worth it)). Sorry I'm straying, I've taken a long time to build a hi-fi system which makes cd's which sound like the source record, and if that record is in ex+ condition and cleaned twice first, the music will jump out of the speakers, rather than ooze out.
p.s. sorry i've ended up amalgamation 3 current threads in this rant/comment. i'm nice really

[Rubellan]

The original Haysi CD was not entirely from masters, and suffered from terrible sound quality. Many of the songs run together on the album, yet that CD let you hear the sound engineer turn the tape machine off, then back on. Sound was muddy on many tracks, bad fades, bad starts, poor vinyl remasters for various bonus tracks - it was one of the worst CD's I've ever heard. I parted with it soon after purchasing.

Regarding Cherry Red and vinyl remasters - I have been the most outspoken against it. The truth of the matter is they just don't care. Yes, they could obtain the original masters, as per the license agreements, and have with high quality reissues they've previously released; i.e. the first two Classix Nouveaux CD's and the Landscape CD. At this point they are CHOOSING not to obtain masters, as it is generally cheaper and easier to drop a needle on a record and call it art. The guy they have doing their remastering is absolutely awful, hence the limitations you mention in your post. He spits out over 30 masters for Cherry Red a month, and with that pace there is no time to bring quality when remastering from vinyl. The only reason I am doing some of their remasters is to prevent disappointment for albums I love. As many have heard me state, it takes me several days to weeks to complete a single master, as I do everything manually. Regardless of how good anyone's vinyl remastering skills are, I would gladly prefer master sources any day (as I was able to do with the latest Toyah CD), however it is not an option (for me), and not in my control. I have typed myself raw trying to get Cherry Red to realize the importance of tapes, though it's just not resonating. The Haysi CD was one of many recommendations I suggested to them last year. They have been turned down for many of the titles already, though others are still awaiting a response. In truth, I would not have bothered making the suggestions if I knew they were going to drop using studio masters altogether because I can make my own CD from vinyl and leave it at that. Now that I know how things are being done there nowadays, I don't intend to suggest any further titles for them to release because if they get approved they will be vinyl remasters, and I will do the job purely to prevent another awful sounding release of a great lost album. Just listen to the two 'never released on cd' songs on the recent Darling Buds "Pop Said" reissue. They sound godawful! Dirty, scratchy records, and we know that Sony has the masters.

The new Haysi CD will be a dramtic improvement over the original. Trust me, the master is right next to me. And yes, it does contain the correct version of 'Shiny Shiny' 12" mix.

[rewind]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Rubellan[/i]
<br> And yes, it does contain the correct version of 'Shiny Shiny' 12" mix.
[/quote]

Fantastic! And thanks for the expert report.

[Rubellan]

Mobiles available November 20 - available for preorder at Amazon. It comes with a 20 page booklet including many rare and unseen photos provided by band members. Also includes history of the band and track by track comments.

[Rubellan]

Even though the CD is not "officially" released until November 20, it can be purchased directly from Cherry Red right now though eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/The-Best-Of-The-Mob ... dZViewItem

The stock has already arrived, and I just received my copies today. The deluxe book is excellent, and the CD master is exactly as I sent it. Hopefully, this wonderful album will gain some new fans. I posted the Top Of The Pops performance of "Drowning in Berlin" on my YouTube site weeks back, and it's received a very positive response.

The Haysi Fantayzee CD has taken a possible turn. Though it will still be released, and include the songs and track order I provided, they are thinking of releasing it as a Very Best Of CD. Personally, I would like it to remain the "Battle Hymns" CD with bonus track, and feel the Best Of approach cheapens it - though I understand their thoughts on a commercial front.

The Toyah CD has been delayed due to an artwork snafu, which has now been sorted out. I haven't been informed that stock has arrived yet, though it may very well be there.