• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Bad Luck Streak with "The Man Who Sold the World"

jmchrislip

jmchrislip

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
I recently purchased two different vinyl recordings of The Man Who Sold the World by David Bowie. One was a German recording and one was an Italian recording. They were horrible. It sounded as if someone put a sock on the microphone.
Usually the German recordings quality are very good. I just don't know why some recordings are like this. :tears:

I had a great version from the 70's that I lost years ago and it was an amazing recording. I still have my original Space Oddity and Ziggy Stardust on the orange Dynagroove RCA label that sound beautiful and have a very quiet background and wide dynamic range. I will continue my search for one of these.
 
Register to hide this ad
What was the copy you had in the 70s?

If it was a US RCA, LSP-4816, they're pretty expensive now.

What were the reissue labels? The Italian stuff is usually semi-bootleg from a CD master, legal in Italy because of their 25-year copyright on recordings, but technically not legal for export to the US. Naturally, nobody pays any attention to these laws.
 
The copy I had in the 70's was an RCA release in the U.S. on the Dynagroove orange label.

I tossed the Italian and German pressings because they were terrible.

I'm just curious why some recordings sound so bad. I remember getting a couple of The Beatles albums on the blue Odeon label in the 70's and they had the same problem, just horrible.
 
The US RCA original seems to sell now for $40-60 on eBay. You might find a cheaper copy in a record store or a record show if you look around a little.
 
Hopefully the Bowie vinyl reissues and LP box set coming in September will be done as well as the "Space Oddity" vinyl reissue a few years ago. I'm planning on buying the box set when it's released, which includes the early RCA titles. Hard to find those records in clean used condition, for reasonable prices these days.
 
It will if legitimate, the counterfeit Mercury was not too good. A tip: Any Mercury with hand etched stamper numbers is a counterfeit. Cover printing is a bit blurry and unfocused too and the label graphics likewise the same way. If your Mercury has machine stamped deadwax, it is the real deal.
 
I have one, RCA AFL1-4816, with the tan greyish label. On the front of the jacket in small writing in the bottom corner it says.

"Previously released on Mercury SR 61325".
 
Bowie

You can also look for the 1980s Rykodisc reissues. They did MWSTW with the original U.K. "Drag Cover" artwork and Diamond Dogs with the dog's genitals intact. IIRC some were even on clear vinyl.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom