Eric Clapton's New LP

[mep]

So boys and girls, Clapton has a new LP coming out "I Still Do" that appears to have been recorded on a 16 track tape deck and is being cut by Bernie Grundman from 'a' tape at 45 RPM. So, does that mean the 16 track tape stayed in the analog realm all the way to Bernie Grundman when he cut the LP? Here is where things get dicey. We know it was recorded on a 16 track tape deck. We know it was mastered by Bob Ludwig. What we don't know is if Bob Ludwig took the 16 track tape and made a digital master from it and then a tape was made from the digital master and used by Bernie Grundman to cut the LP.

It's getting so hard to know anymore if LPs that are being released are really AAA because there isn't much truth in lending now days. All kinds of labels are saying things to suggest their LPs are being cut from the original master tapes, but we know the way they weasel word it you really have to read between the lines.

[allenh]

Awesome! I preordered from Amazon. Out on Friday?

[allenh]

Hmm, could've sworn there was a different message than what I'm seeing now. %^0

[spinblackcircle]

[mep]

Awesome news! Now we know it's the real deal! Thanks for the detective work.

[JCOConnell]

So boys and girls, Clapton has a new LP coming out "I Still Do" that appears to have been recorded on a 16 track tape deck and is being cut by Bernie Grundman from 'a' tape at 45 RPM. So, does that mean the 16 track tape stayed in the analog realm all the way to Bernie Grundman when he cut the LP? Here is where things get dicey. We know it was recorded on a 16 track tape deck. We know it was mastered by Bob Ludwig. What we don't know is if Bob Ludwig took the 16 track tape and made a digital master from it and then a tape was made from the digital master and used by Bernie Grundman to cut the LP.

It's getting so hard to know anymore if LPs that are being released are really AAA because there isn't much truth in lending now days. All kinds of labels are saying things to suggest their LPs are being cut from the original master tapes, but we know the way they weasel word it you really have to read between the lines.

The sad truth is that for various reasons, LPs are being cut from digital intermediates more and more nowadays, and the record producers/labels are hiding the fact that digital was used because it may hurt marketing and sales of the LP in question. (not in this case however).

[JCOConnell]

The other bonus with this release is it seems the street price is under $30

[MylesBAstor]

Wonder where it's being pressed?

[Johnny Vinyl]

I believe it was pressed at MPO in France.

[lasercd]

Yes. Pressed at MPO. Actually pretty quiet.

[Johnny Vinyl]

The keyword being "pretty"...mine is a bit noisy on a few tracks. Nothing serious and it could have to do with the cleaning. Sometimes initial plays are a little noisy, but work themselves out.

[rockitman]

I'm ordering it from Chad.

[lasercd]

I've had it sitting here for days. Haven't had a chance to crack it open.

[spinblackcircle]

Spotify download sounds pretty good. Looking forward to listening to the LP tonight, should be waiting for me when I get home.

[Johnny Vinyl]

The files on the D/L code are WAV.

[lasercd]

WAV files won't make the music on this album any better. Zzzzzzzzzz......

[mep]

I think the LP is meh.

[Johnny Vinyl]

I haven't listened to it yet...neither the LP or WAV files. I'm in a rut musically....don't have the desire to really sit down and listen.

[Bill Hart]

I was gonna say, all the talk about mastering, Bernie, the pressing, Clapton, and how is the record? Clapton, to me, peaked back in the pre-Layla years- not that I don't respect what he did, but do I need this record?
I'm also more ambivalent about the all analog thing than ever. Much new music never sees tape (or they use a tape process to sweeten as part of a digital chain). And the reality is, some of these records sound fantastic.
Now, if faced with the prospect of buying an old analog record that was recorded well or even decently, from the '60s or '70s, vs a digitally cloned version done with little care, I'm almost undoubtedly going to pick the analog record.
I get why you guys are picky about the remasters and some of them do better the original records.

[rockitman]

I like the record a lot. Not the best pressing noise floor wise.

[Johnny Vinyl]

I agree with the latter. I like it as well, but find it a tad too polite.

[mkuller]

I've been listening to the CD and it's pretty good. The hype was that Clapton wanted to do something a little different this time. So he's playing similar music to what he normally puts out - a couple of J. J. Cale songs, a Robert Johnson cut, a Skip James and one of his own - and uses a different band with more musicians. There are extra keyboards, a mandolin, other guitarists, an accordion, extra background vocalists, etc. The recording is better than usual so that you can easily hear all of the different things going on in the mix and the music is growing on me.