Hacked Off
Raul Bringas | Tehuacan, Puebla, Mexico | 06/04/2001
(1 out of 5 stars)
"A very sad story. Great music, but an awful record company. The first time I saw two of my favorite UFO records in one CD, I was delirious. It couldn't be better, so I bought it. The dream ended as soon as the CD began to play. Many tracks of "The Wild, the Willing and the Innocent" were hacked off at the end. It was not editing; the CD was defective. More important: it was not only that CD. As some reviewers have stated, there is a big problem with this edition. I have bought three copies (different stores and times) and been forced to return them. How come ... the company (Beat Goes On Records) keeps producing it? Beware, buyers."
The truth shall set you free ...
KCB | Santa Clara, CA United States | 05/05/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have had this disc for a while, and just became aware of the complaints about the "hacked" tracks. So I compared this CD vs the 1999 Japanese versions, and the newer UK EMI/Chrysalis remasters. Both for TWTW&TI and Mechanix. (Before all that, I had the vinyl for years.) As far as I can tell, all the songs are 100% intact. What has changed is that the intersong gaps are shorter on the BGO release.
To be honest, I can't remember which way the original vinyl was, but ... If you look up TWTW&TI on Wikipedia, the song lengths given there *match* the lengths on the BGO CD. *Not* the lengths on the 1999 and 2009 remasters. And because "Side 1" and "Side 2" are detailed in the Wikipedia entry, that leads me to believe those timings came from the lp. So the BGO release appears to match the original vinyl. Maybe it's possible that the 1999 and 2009 remasters have longer gaps. I don't know. But I also seem to remember the shorter segue between Long Gone and TWTW&TI on the lp too. In fact, these 2 songs were often played back to back live, also without any gap in between. So that *also* leads me to believe that the BGO CD is "correct", and that there were longer gaps on the 1999 and 2009 CDs.
I can also tell you that having owned all these versions over the years, I didn't notice the shorter gaps on the BGO until I read the reviews here. (But by the same token, I just got the DCC for VH1, and I immediately noticed the gaps on that one are longer than both the original lp and the original and remastered CDs. So I do notice this stuff.)
So what I would say is: do not avoid this disc because of any concern over "hacked" songs or the gaps. Buy it, give it a listen, and judge it on your own.
Now as far as sound quality, I compared the BGO vs the 1999 Japanese remaster and the 2009 UK EMI/Chrysalis remaster. I have a clear preference for the BGO. It is a much more natural, balanced sounding disc, more like the original vinyl than either remaster. In fact, the two remasters are mastered very similarly to each other: boosted low frequencies, boosted high frequencies (smiley faced EQ if you will), and reduced dynamic range due to being mastered louder. (Hey all you record companies: LOUDER IS NOT BETTER !!) While at 1st listen the 2 remasters might sound initially "better", what you will find over time is that they are much more fatiguing to listen to at high volumes for extended periods. The BGO CD is much more crankible, and that to me is the mark of a great mastering.
Content? Well, between you and me, I prefer UFO with Paul Chapman. I think he is just as good a guitarist as Michael Schenker (neither is better or worse than the other IMO, they are just "different"), but whereas I think Michael was a little bit more melodic than Paul, Paul rocked a little harder than Michael. (Check out Making Contact and see if you don't agree.) Don't get me wrong, love 'em both, just like Paul Chapman a hair more.
Great release. 2 lps on 1 CD. Great sound quality. Great content. Five thumbs up. :-)
"
Brilliant albums yet some songs hacked off at end
Peter Gonet | Oshawa, Ont. Canada | 01/11/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If it wasn't for the brilliant music making on these UFO recordings I would have returned my copy almost immediately. The songs are so good that I could not bear to part with it. Like the other dude said, some of the songs, albeit clear and crisp, are hacked off at the end, as if the songs were downloaded and then cut off. Funny from a record producing company. Anyway, music rocks even for today's standards if not even better. Bye for now. Pete"
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1