Search - Sarah Vaughan :: After Hours

Another Victim of Excessive Noise Reduction

D. Allen | McKinney Texas | 04/07/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Michael Cuscuna has been credited as the reissue producer on Blue Note's remastered offerings since the mid 90s. Problem is, the reissues in every case, except Blue Note's two Monk titles, are worse than what preceded them. Extremely poor mastering and excessive noise reduction have been the primary problems with his projects, leading myself and others to seek out the original CD's from the 80's or pay the stiff premium for Japanese versions.



Unfortunately, this great Sarah Vaughan collection of songs was remastered in 1997 under Cuscuna's direction, and as you've probably already guessed - it's had the ambiance and life sucked out of it by the use (misuse) of excessive noise reduction.



When is someone at Blue Note going to correct this on-going problem? Seventeen years of unacceptable product is enough. They are stewards of some of the most important recordings ever made, and such historic material surely deserves better treatment than this."

Bad Dates

Nick Chapman | San Francisco | 01/27/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Note that the "original release date" is given as 1955, but this recording dates from 1961, as is pointed out in other reviews and even in the official remarks."

Great music esp if you have tube gear

D. Veneri | New Jersey | 11/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What an intimate recording! if you have good tube gear get ready to pass out. She is in your room singing just for you...Really. The only minor, and i do mean minor gripe is that there is a tiny bit of hiss in the recording. Now that is to be expected since it was recorded almost 50 years ago. If the hiss wasnt there, it would be the most lifelike recording I have ever heard.

And for that reason im only giving it 5 stars ; )"