Mike menzies wrote:

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do they sound  better on vinyl  than on cd or MP3 ..?

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Generally, yes.  Only exception is Mondo Bongo which thanks to groove cramming is pretty hard to listen to.  The US version is a lot better sounding, but then you don't get Fall Down.  The debut LP is a lot better, especially Joey.

I do listen to all the LPs in order on MP3 which I have in the car.  Inherited my wife's Fiat Panda...

Lisa wrote:

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I remember them sounding better on vinyl - but maybe just because I was younger and more care-free! You had the excuse to just sit and enjoy the music more as you knew you had to be ready to turn the record over or check that it wasn't stuck! Just seemed to let you concentrate on listening to the music more rather than it just being "background" music which it can seem to be today.

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 Confused. com here.  Vinyl's better but you've reminded me of having to move a stuck record on and turn it over after 20 minutes or so. To me,  that detracts from sitting back and enjoying the whole album?

noelindublin wrote:

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Wonder why they don't issue the debut/Tonic albums on 180gram vinyl. Might be a good idea and sell them at the gigs, where they would have a good chance of actually shifting them. They are way behind the curve on this one. Any band worth it's salt seems to issue 180gram vinyl albums, even the most obscure of indie bands who can realistically only sell in the hundreds at best.

The original 'prints' were mass produced and not the best. With a bit of care and attention new vinyl releases of the first two albums could have the band sounding like they were meant to sound, something that vinyl can only really capture.

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One danger with a re-issue would be that they use the remasters.  I got the Blondie reissues just before Christmas and the quality of the reproduced covers was very disappointing.   The Ziggy Stardust re-issue sounds worse than the original.   The Jam's Sound Affects has the grooves more crammed than the original which despite using 180g vinyl detracts from the sound quality. Sometimes the reissues are top notch such as The Who's Quadrophenia, but in some cases the original release is better.

One of the good things about liking a less revered act whose sales were massive like the Rats is their LPs often turn up in charity shops and are very lightly played, so for a couple of quid you can replace the original vinyl.  Currently looking out for a good copy of the debut having already replaced Surfacing and Tonic.

Lisa wrote:

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Mark L wrote:

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Lisa wrote:

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I remember them sounding better on vinyl - but maybe just because I was younger and more care-free! You had the excuse to just sit and enjoy the music more as you knew you had to be ready to turn the record over or check that it wasn't stuck! Just seemed to let you concentrate on listening to the music more rather than it just being "background" music which it can seem to be today.

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 Confused. com here.  Vinyl's better but you've reminded me of having to move a stuck record on and turn it over after 20 minutes or so. To me,  that detracts from sitting back and enjoying the whole album?

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 Well what I meant to say, I guess, is that I just remember enjoying the whole thing of listening on vinyl,  probably due to not having other pressures of life, eg working, looking after kids, etc.  I could focus on sitting and listening, until I had to get up and turn the record over of course, though that stopped me being a complete couch potato.  It gives you the excuse not to have to "switch off", ie when listening to music in the car, and having to concentrate on where you are going, or telling the kids or other road users where to go when they're winding you up!!  Likewise now when you can have music anywhere in the house you have to flit between other stuff, cooking, tidying, catching up on stuff in general.  To me that detracts from the music, and I must admit I rarely listen to music at home for that reason.  I guess I am just remembering my former years with affection when I could be totally self-indulgent and just immerse myself in music.  

With regards to sound quality, couldn't possibly comment on what is better.  If I enjoy it, I just enjoy it and to me that's all I want.  I am certainly not an expert on anything technical.  So I guess I am coming at it from an emotional point of view, rather than a male one!    I just know what I like!

-- Edited by Lisa on Friday 30th of January 2015 03:16:30 PM

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 One thing about having to turn over the vinyl is that sometimes songs are placed together on one side for a reason eg some emotional linkage between the songs. Sides of an album can be mini albums in themselves and it's not all just random. Geldof explains this on the notes of the ITLG cd, ie about messing about with track listings, and how the songs are meant to be heard as sides one and two.

Theres a bit of a ritualistic quality in changing record sides,  a mini zen experience, mindfulness and all that.

ArrGee wrote:

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Lisa wrote:

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... I guess I am coming at it from an emotional point of view, rather than a male one!    I just know what I like!

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 Sure, but ain't it better to have the music at the right speed without wibbly wobbly bits, distortion and echoes of what has gone before and yet to come?  Us males can be emotional too, don't you know?

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There's nothing wrong with wibbly wobbly bits - I've certainly never had any complaints!

Lisa wrote:

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ArrGee wrote:

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Lisa wrote:

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... I guess I am coming at it from an emotional point of view, rather than a male one!    I just know what I like!

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 Sure, but ain't it better to have the music at the right speed without wibbly wobbly bits, distortion and echoes of what has gone before and yet to come?  Us males can be emotional too, don't you know?

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There's nothing wrong with wibbly wobbly bits - I've certainly never had any complaints!

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 I'm writing about your records not your....

I loved records But thats the past In my opinion cds are great. the sound is second to done But like most of you  here the reissue pack should not have been messed with I have all the rats USA cds and the sound is much superior Same as the 1989 reissue of tonic which has the 3 B sides of the singles 

manatthetop wrote:

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I loved records But thats the past In my opinion cds are great. the sound is second to done But like most of you  here the reissue pack should not have been messed with I have all the rats USA cds and the sound is much superior Same as the 1989 reissue of tonic which has the 3 B sides of the singles 

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The original un-remastered Tonics (US + UK), Surfacing (US), Mondo (US) and V Deep (UK) generally sound a lot better, but the original vinyl I have still sounds good, and I would argue sounds better than the CDs if you have a good turntable.  The track to benefit most from the remaster was Fall Down as it was nice to finally hear it without all the echo.

Derek The Dane wrote:

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Some of the singles sound amazing and some are just plain poor and sound worse that a package of rice crispies.

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 Get a velvet record cleaner and some screen cleaner spray and give them a good clean.  Do it dry first to get rid of the surface dust, then spray and put on flat surface and have a few goes following the grooves in a circular way.  Ideally leave to dry, but I confess I just bung them on figuring they will dry as they play.   Only do it as you play though unless you want to spend hours cleaning and letting them dry.

http://www.emp-online.co.uk/art_277910/?wt_mc=mp.google.Media.B%C3%BCrste.277910&gclid=CM2d-aWl5MMCFdMatAodsn0Ayw

PS Elvis Costello LPs generally sound cr@p cos he would insist on groove cramming to fit more on tracks.