Search - Richard Rodgers, Robert Russell Bennett, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra :: Rodgers: More Victory at Sea

A Pathetic Remake of the Original.

dkhoward@wave.net | Brookings, Oregon, USA | 06/19/1999

(2 out of 5 stars)

""Pathetic," anemic," and "emasculated" are words to describe this sorrowful remastering. Anyone who remembers the original, powerful 33rpm recording will be disappointed with this CD. What ruins this CD is the perceptible reduction in the audio, making the RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra sound more like front music in Tin Pan Alley. The other problem is the castration of the sound effects. Gone are the roar of big guns from "Allies on the March," for example. Also oddly lacking are the fighter aircraft sounds from "Marianas Turkey Shoot," the multiple horns and whistles from "Ship That Pass," etc.,etc.,etc. Suffice to say those of us who remember the original...please pass on this CD, not worth a bucket of warm spit by comparison."

This album brought tears to my eyes...

Steve Kersten | Coral Springs, FL United States | 03/14/2000

(2 out of 5 stars)

"... it was so bad. The "remixing" of the embedded sound effects by Nathaniel S. Johnson is flat and amateurish. The music (still the original music from the series) would have been far better served WITHOUT the new sound effects. The only thing that I can surmise from this release, is that RCA no longer had the original master tape containing the ORIGINAL sound effects. But then, the original sound effects came from the US Navy archives... a little research could have probably located them. Instead of taking this extra step, Johnson decided to add a recording of his trip to the pet store... I believe even Tweety Bird made an appearance. Most of the new effects will make you laugh... that is, if you are not crying from the butchering of this soundtrack. That "ka-thunk" you keep hearing is Richard Rogers turning over in his grave. I still have the original Victory at Sea, Volume III, but it has the scars of almost 30 years of use. Even so, the vinyl version will get my preferences over this "effort" by RCA. I don't WANT to pass on this album. I want RCA to do it CORRECTLY. This release should be an embarassment to RCA."

Remastering is not always better

dkhoward@wave.net | 06/19/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"What a shame to tone down to original embedded effects, the passion that the effects brought to those of us with combat experience is lost in the new version, (especially when an orchesta only version is available in the original "Victory at Sea" album). The development of the score to a rousing crescendo is as uplifting as ever."