When did the Japanese endorse the "happy wall of sound"

[Daniel A]

As expressed in this thread and elsewhere the Japanese remasterings of jazz recordings (Blue Note in particular) seem to have changed in later years. There is supposed to be a thread (which I can't find) about the sound quality of particular titles in the TOCJ-6000 series somewhere; at least someone (I think it was couw) mentioned the existence of such a thread in another thread I can't find at the moment... Anyway, I would appreciate any help in finding this thread.

I'm not trying to restart the old argument about what compression, no-noise etc. is, and if and how it has been applied on the TOCJ-6000 series. I'm just curious about if any titles from this series are to my taste.

And while we're at it: Some titles from the older TOCJ-4000 series still seem to be repressed every now and then. Anyone got any idea why these sell in Japan for almost twice the price as the TOCJ-6000 series? Because they sound better...? :rsly:

[Claude]

I've heard a couple of discs from the TOCJ6000 series. I can't remember which titles I heard in a store and didn't like (soundwise), but there ware at least half of dozen of them.

I compared these three discs at home:

- Jackie McLean - Demon's dance: sounds acceptable despite the compression, but the McMaster version is much better

- Jackie McLean - One step beyond: sounds very good, better than the Moncur Mosaic Select. No noticeable compression

- Wayne Shorter - Night dreamer: sounds very similar to the RVG. No CD version sounds very good, I prefer the McMaster

Edited October 8, 2006 by Claude

[Daniel A]

Thank you, Claude!

If the other thread is lost (if it even exists), maybe we could continue here:

-Jackie McLean 'Swing, Swang, Swingin'' (TOCJ-6412) does sound slightly compressed. Bass and treble seem boosted a bit too much, at least compared with the Connoisseur edition.

-J.R. Monterose (TOCJ-6469) sounds rather compressed. Bass and espescially treble are boosted even more. I can't compare to any other issue, but I don't really like the sound of this one, it's tiring after a few minutes already.

'Demon's Dance' is TOCJ-6502, 'One Step Beyond' is TOCJ-6609 and 'Night Dreamer' is TOCJ-6490.

'Davis Cup', mentioned in the thread which I linked to in my first post, which apparently sounded bad is TOCJ-6457.

[couw]

that Davis Cup TOCJ 6XXX doesn't sound bad, it's an aural nightmare!

Hank Mobley - Workout sounds great. Just the right dose to bring the detail out but keep the sound balanced.

as for all those threads about threads... my memory can't help you out; as I recall there were lots of comments scattered across plenty of threads.

[Daniel A]

'Workout' is cat.no TOCJ-6484, so the conclusion so far is that the really bad ones are in the mid-64xx range.

TOCJ-6412 - 'Swing, Swang, Swingin'' - OK

TOCJ-6457 - 'Davis Cup' - bad

TOCJ-6469 - 'J.R. Monterose' - bad

TOCJ-6484 - 'Workout' - good

TOCJ-6490 - 'Night Dreamer' - OK

TOCJ-6502 - 'Demon's Dance' - OK

TOCJ-6534 - 'Hank Mobley and His All-Stars' - (OK? - since all other issues sound bad, you couldn't really tell if the remastering is bad)

TOCJ-6609 - 'One Step Beyond' - good

[David Ayers]

HAPPY WALL OF SOUND! WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT! THEY SOUND FINE TO ME! WHAT DID YOU SAY? SPEAK UP! I CAN'T HEAR YOU!

[jeffsjazz]

ANYBODY HEAR THESE?! All are in the TOCJ 6000 series.

How do these sound,compressed?

Lou Donaldson-Lou takes Off

Sonny Clark-Leapin' and Lopin'

Horace Silver-Further Explorations

Jackie McLean-Bluesnik

Harold Vick-Steppin' Out

Thanks for your help.

[Daniel A]

I just discovered that there's even a Wikipedia entry for "Loudness war":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness_war