Anyone know what's going on with this LP...

[synclavier82]

The Pretenders - Pretenders.

Picked up a nice, clean original pressing of this a few weeks ago. On the inside sleeve it says something like this:

"This record has a longer than normal run time, so for maximum effect, play it loud!"

That's more or less the gist of the message. Anyways, my question is what does the length of an album have to do with the volume at which it must be played for "maximum effect?"

 

[pustelniakr]

Not likely, but it can be that the groove-to-groove spacing has been reduced, allowing a greater groove length. This is only possible if the amplitude stored in the groove has been reduced. This requires you to turn up the volume for the same sound pressure level.

Enjoy,
Rich P

 

[Sir.Byrd]

Hmm.

 

[similost]

Damn I hate when I gotta play it LOUD..

Actually, I've got quite a few LPs that say things to this effect, and as always, I follow directions :yes:

 

[synclavier82]

Not likely, but it can be that the groove-to-groove spacing has been reduced, allowing a greater groove length. This is only possible if the amplitude stored in the groove has been reduced. This requires you to turn up the volume for the same sound pressure level.

Enjoy,
Rich P

That's interesting... I wonder if that's not what is going on. If you add up all the times of each track, each side is only about 24 minutes though...

I have one record that's 27 minutes on a side...

 

[jchouston]

I think you're overthinking rock and roll.

 

[synclavier82]

I think you're overthinking rock and roll.

I most assuredly am.

Still, I wonder why they had to invent a reason to play it loud when simply stating "play it loud" would have sufficed for most people. I don't need a reason to crank the volume.

 

[jfine]

Actually, I've got quite a few LPs that say things to this effect, and as always, I follow directions :yes:

I will not follow directions in this case

 

[KeninDC]

As Jimmy Miller says on the insert to "Sticky Fingers" - "made loud to be played loud."

 

[onepixel]

It's a joke.

 

[ehoove]

It's just Rock and Roll musician commentary!
Regards,
Jim

 

[cactuscowboy]

There's definitely a relationship between run time of an LP and playback volume.

For example, I've got a copy of Public Enemy "Fear Of A Black Planet" that runs close to 30 minutes per side. Gotta crank the volume way up for this one.

 

[Chazzer]

On the back of my J.Geils Band lp Blow Your Face Out it states: "Made Loud to Play Loud" :yes:

 

[Mr. Lin]

There's definitely a relationship between run time of an LP and playback volume.

For example, I've got a copy of Public Enemy "Fear Of A Black Planet" that runs close to 30 minutes per side. Gotta crank the volume way up for this one.

Yeah I don't think it's actually a joke, I think it might really be because there's so much in a small space, sort of the way a lot of 7" records are. Unfortunately, aside from the need to turn up the volume, this often negatively affects the sound quality.

 

[synclavier82]

Yeah I don't think it's actually a joke, I think it might really be because there's so much in a small space, sort of the way a lot of 7" records are. Unfortunately, aside from the need to turn up the volume, this often negatively affects the sound quality.

Ahh Ha! I thought there might have been something to this!