NAKED EYES "Burning Bridges" on CD in UK 26 Nov

[synthboy1969]

One more discovery on the "Burning Bridges" CD reissue:

VOICES IN MY HEAD is slightly shorter on this CD release than on all of the other CD releases on which it appears to date. If you listen carefully, the drum breakdown that begins at about the 2:03 mark is two measures shorter on this release than on any other previously release. (Compare your recordings.)

I don't imagine this was an edit done by Cherry Pop for this reissue. It was probably this way on the original vinyl release of "Burning Bridges," too. Can anyone confirm this?

JT

[discoginfo]

Pete told me this about that:
"I don't know what it means, and I can't imagine there was a mix with a two measure piece missing in the breakdown. I did make sure they put the right mix of Time Is Now, thanks for letting me know about that, they were about to use the [inferior] American b-side mix."

Jonas W
www.jonaswarstad.com
(yup my new website, i'm an author now!!)

[Sean]

Yeah, this cd is really cool as quite a few of the tracks sound different from what I remember it sounding on my U.S. lp as well as all the previously released cd tracks. I guess they did a lot of change to the tracks once it reached US shores.

[jaybag]

I just got the CD in the mail today. Yep, it's the drumless intro on ASTTRM(I pumped both fists in the air when I heard it) and the original "cup of tea" mix of Promises Promises, both of which were on my version of the "Naked Eyes" U.S. LP which was subsequently changed - mine must have been maybe the first pressing only or something (would be fascinated to hear from Pete why this happened, if he's even aware of it!).

Synthboy - fantastic catch on Voices! I'm usually good about catching things like that but I don't know if I would have if you hadn't mentioned it.

As for the CD being loud - I compared the tracks on BB to the ones that also appeared on Everything And More and didn't notice any difference so I guess either means BB wasn't brickwalled or both CD's were. Either way it sounds great - love the liner notes too!

[crichert]

Ditto on that jaybag...I just received my copy in the mail yesterday and LOVE it!! It sounds great to me, and I'm very happy to hear the alternate UK versions, since I was only ever exposed to the US release of their first album.

Very cool!!!


[quote][i]Originally posted by jaybag[/i]
<br>I just got the CD in the mail today. Yep, it's the drumless intro on ASTTRM(I pumped both fists in the air when I heard it) and the original "cup of tea" mix of Promises Promises, both of which were on my version of the "Naked Eyes" U.S. LP which was subsequently changed - mine must have been maybe the first pressing only or something (would be fascinated to hear from Pete why this happened, if he's even aware of it!).

Synthboy - fantastic catch on Voices! I'm usually good about catching things like that but I don't know if I would have if you hadn't mentioned it.

As for the CD being loud - I compared the tracks on BB to the ones that also appeared on Everything And More and didn't notice any difference so I guess either means BB wasn't brickwalled or both CD's were. Either way it sounds great - love the liner notes too!
[/quote]

[Bellenger1981]

I received my copy the other day. Here's what I posted in the "From The Vaults" forum at imwan.com about this reissue of Naked Eyes' "Burning Bridges" in case anyone cares to read my opinion:

"Yikes! As a person who enjoys loud and compressed remasters (yep, I know that I'm in the minority), I think that this one is too loud and leaning on the harsh side. If it's too loud for me, then that's a bad sign. The sound is too bright and suffers from distortion when turned up loud on my headphones. I know of very, very few remasters in my collection which distort when turned up to this level. Not good! I'm disappointed. The packaging and liner notes, on the other hand, are nicely done. Mastering credits go to Dick Beetham and Dave Turner @ 360 Mastering, in case anyone wants to know. It's such a shame that the sound had to be ruined by some overzealous mastering engineers."

[rewind]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Bellenger1981[/i]
<br>I received my copy the other day. Here's what I posted in the "From The Vaults" forum at imwan.com about this reissue of Naked Eyes' "Burning Bridges" in case anyone cares to read my opinion:

"Yikes! As a person who enjoys loud and compressed remasters (yep, I know that I'm in the minority), I think that this one is too loud and leaning on the harsh side. If it's too loud for me, then that's a bad sign. The sound is too bright and suffers from distortion when turned up loud on my headphones. I know of very, very few remasters in my collection which distort when turned up to this level. Not good! I'm disappointed. The packaging and liner notes, on the other hand, are nicely done. Mastering credits go to Dick Beetham and Dave Turner @ 360 Mastering, in case anyone wants to know. It's such a shame that the sound had to be ruined by some overzealous mastering engineers."
[/quote]

I agree with you. I usually like some compression on remasters as well, if only to consistently match the dynamics of current releases so my playlists don't fluctuate all over the road. However this remaster is indeed compressed to the point of distortion. I have a Clip Restoration setting on Adobe Audition that fixes the problem somewhat.

[Bellenger1981]

[quote]I have a Clip Restoration setting on Adobe Audition that fixes the problem somewhat.
[/quote]
I will have to check this out. Thanks.

[discoginfo]

About the two different short versions of Always Something There... - the version on the two compilations CDs is the one WITH synth drum intro (3.41 long). The one with the "dramatic" intro with church bells etc, is on this remastered Burning Bridges CD. It is slightly shorter (3.33). Now, my question is, which version was on the original 1982 UK 7" single (EMI 5334)? And which version was on the original 1983 UK LP BURNING BRIDGES (EMI EMC 3426)? And which version was on the 1983 US 7" (EMI America B-8155)?

Thanks/JW

www.jonaswarstad.com
www.discog.info

[Fred Taghon]

I got my copy of "Burning Bridges" this week. I'm a bit of an audiophile, but not a purist - I'm not opposed to some compression as it definitely benefits some older recordings that may feel thin. All of Naked Eyes' songs were actually beautifully recorded from the start, so it's kind of hard to mess that up too badly.

This CD did seem surprisingly loud initially, though. There is far too much bottom end (bass) which tends to muddy the overall sound a little (and may be the cause for distortion discussed earlier in this thread). I used PEAK LE audio software to decrease the low end signal of each track to a more natural yet still punchy level and to my pleasant surprise the whole CD suddenly sounded wonderful. Comparing my new (EQ adjusted) tracks to those from the "Promises, Promises" compilation (albeit with the latter version's volume raised to match the new CD), the new tracks did indeed sound more full and warmer.

So, yes, I'm happy with this new CD, but only after having made some custom adjustments to the low end frequencies. No question, you shouldn't HAVE to "re-remaster" a remastered CD release, but if you have the time and the means, it's worth it in this case.

I must say, it's wonderful to finally have the original versions of "The Time Is Now" and the drumless intro'd "Always Something There..." on CD

[discoginfo]

I always thought that especially the chorus part of this song sounded very Naked Eye-ish: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP67Sc-gFmM

/JW
www.jonaswarstad.com
www.discog.info