Which Copy of "The River" by Bruce Springsteen to Keep?

[4-2-7]

Oh, and you are the only one who said anything about dynamics.

Because "Dynamics" refers to the full range of frequencies.

Song Dynamics. The term, "dynamics" refers to whether a sound is "soft" or "loud". The ability of a recording medium to reproduce the difference between soft and loud is called its "Dynamic Range".

 

[OMGCat!]

I'd also go with the one you like the best. It may not be exactly as the mastering engineer wanted but he may have been making compromises for reasons unknown to us.

If you were a hardcore Bruce collector I'd obviously say keep the original or both but for a record that will likely see either little or no use you may as well have a copy that you actually want to hear when the mood strikes.

 

[markshan]

If you don't like how it sounds, will you ever listen to it?
Use loudness.

Probably not. Although maybe for historical context. That's kind of what I was referring to above when I said "appreciation".

 

[KeninDC]

You'll never enjoy the goosed bass version. Your initial Japanese LP crush will fade and you'll miss the coked-up original U.S. production. Keep the WLP and hear it as it was meant to be. No one needs more than one copy of The River.

 

[onwardjames]

Is it bad that the albums I've digitized, only to find on cd later, are mostly all ripped and KEPT along with the cd versions in my digital library?

I get it. Good luck.

 

[markshan]

No one needs more than one copy of The River.

Now we're back to square one. I actually agree that nobody needs more than one version, although I don't agree that there are only two good songs. If that were the case I'd just keep GH and not even bother with one copy. I like Fade Away and LOVE Cadillac Ranch.

 

[4-2-7]

Hungry Heart & Cadillac Ranch is all that's really good on this album.

With Bruce and Elton their catalogue is very big and might have a hit on each album. Sometimes the best option is a Greatest Hits album, that's why Elton's sold so many copies back in the day, everyone had it.

With the Boss, Darkness On The Edge of Town, Born to Run, Born in the U.S.A., and then maybe a GH to fill in the gaps with other good songs.

However Bruce didn't put out a GH back in the day, and I think the newer GH album mostly covers the three albums above but dose have Hungry Heart on it.

 

[onwardjames]

I find that Bruce Springsteen is one of those artists where I can acknowledge masterpiece tunes such as "I'm On Fire" or "Born In The USA" and such, but yet, have to admit that for the most part, I can only stomach him in small doses. Too much "sameness".

With that, I recently got a copy of "Magic" and the title track is so good!

 

[4-2-7]

Too much "sameness".

That's the word, I was going to mention something like that in my post above. He starts to get redundant and starts to bore you after awhile.

 

[onwardjames]

Y'know, Dan, I always felt like many of Bruce's songs were just too much "Southside Johnny/Asbury Dukes" style of predictable chord progressions, half-ass blues bar band stuff. Things that as a musician myself, is just phoning it in, musically speaking.

What sucks is that in a flash, he'll dazzle you with something magical out of left field.

 

[captouch]

So I recently found a "Mastered by Capitol" WLP of The River by Bruce Springsteen. I am a big fan of WLPs as they are often (perhaps even usually) the preferred cut approved by the artist and/or producer. I've always felt that they represent what is closest to the artist's intentions for the album, aurally speaking.. So I was actually a bit disappointed that this copy had the same thin, anemic bass that every copy I've had always displays.

A bit later, I found a Japanese pressing at a very favorable price so I decided to check it out. The Japanese engineer goosed the bass and it sounds like I think it should sound. The unison bass and kick drum on "Hungry Heart" actually have a little slam to them. To me it is a much more enjoyable listen. But this thing in my mind keeps telling me that it's not the sound that Bruce or Jon Landau envisioned for the work. It feels like revisionist history.

It's not an album I would ordinarily give two shelf spaces to, but I almost feel like I want to keep both. I actually want to unload one, but can't decide which one it should be.

If you don't care for the album all that much, then you have to ask yourself if you're a collector or not. If so, a WLP has some value for collection purposes. Sonically, it apparently doesn't based on your comments. It seems to have some premium as well over a non-WLP, so selling it will yield you $20-30 to buy something that you want that does sound good.

You like the way the Japanese pressing sounds, so I'd keep that one at a minimum. Having a recording that actually sounds right and has the bass you'd expect it to have is a good thing. They also seem to go for a premium, so if you like the idea of having a $20-30 copy of The River, the Japanese copy will satisfy that desire as well.

To me, what sounds best to my ears would be the one I want to keep. The artist's intentions are nice, but if their choices don't sound good to me it's of minimal value to me really. Also, you're kind of projecting the fact that the WLP or the earliest pressing actually are the artist's intentions. There are lots of cases of an artist not liking what came out. But even if you knew 100% it was his intention, he's listening to it in a studio with different gear, speakers, and sound room. So whatever it sounded like to him doesn't mean it sounds the same to you with your gear in your room.

 

[4-2-7]

"Southside Johnny/Asbury Dukes" style of predictable chord progressions, half-ass blues bar band stuff.

The thing was his hit albums came at a time when people wanted to listen to that. Not that he changed over time, it was the people who changed into listening to it and then not.

 

[markshan]

If you don't care for the album all that much, then you have to ask yourself if you're a collector or not.

Great post, thank you. I'm a collector at heart, but my little house isn't as keen on the idea.

 

[ehoove]

That is more than enough folks! It is one thing to go back and forth, but to bring Barter Town offerings into it crosses the line IMHO. 4-2-7 has solid feedback on those purchases from members and that speaks for itself. Any more back and forth will result in some bench time from this thread, and in all the years it has only happened a few times.
Play nice or stop posting in the thread,
Jim
P.s. Happy New Year

 

[markshan]

Maybe sell the WLP and pick up the reissue from a few years back. Fremer says it sucks less than the original.

https://www.analogplanet.com/conten...um-collection-vol-1-1973-1984-reviewed-part-2

The more I think about it, maybe sell the Japan and pick up that reissue. Then I have one which is presumably a reflection of the artists intentions at that time (or at the very least a historical document of the time) and one which sounds significantly better. Everything I've heard about that reissue is glowing. I wish I knew someone who has heard it and the Japanese. I wish I knew someone with the reissue so I could compare for myself.

 

[dbxdx5]

The more I think about it, maybe sell the Japan and pick up that reissue. Then I have one which is presumably a reflection of the artists intentions at that time (or at the very least a historical document of the time) and one which sounds significantly better. Everything I've heard about that reissue is glowing. I wish I knew someone who has heard it and the Japanese. I wish I knew someone with the reissue so I could compare for myself.

That's a good move, IMO. Just keep your expectations low for the degree of improvement in the reissue, and you won't be disappointed.

I'd be interested in hearing a 7 1/2 ips reel of this to see if it's any better than the vinyl issues, though I'm sure it's $$$.

 

[captouch]

If you’re inclined to try the reissue, why don’t you buy it first, compare it to the Japanese pressing and sell the loser?

It’s possible that you’ll still like the Japanese pressing better and if you’ve sold it already, that would kind of suck.

 

[markshan]

If you’re inclined to try the reissue, why don’t you buy it first, compare it to the Japanese pressing and sell the loser?

It’s possible that you’ll still like the Japanese pressing better and if you’ve sold it already, that would kind of suck.

Perfect. This does seem the way to go. Thanks.

 

[markshan]

So, I've gone from trying to narrow two down to one to buying a third, LOL. So it is in this hobby!

 

[markshan]

I just did a Discogs search and see that the 2015 RSD is from the same stampers as the 2014. One of our local stores has a bunch of old RSD stuff that they marked down. I'll have to check.