Originals vs. re-releases

[Black Winter Day]

yeah, i don't mind re-releases UNLESS they have 5 million bonus tracks tacked on at them end. they kill the fluidity of the album (unless the bonus tracks happen to be rare/kickass). i almost always prefer remastered versions over non-remastered, though.

 

[Under a Stone]

"Gypsy" eh? Those King Diamond imitation vox sure are funny... On the other hand, "A Fine Day to Die" is fucking excellent. Either way, I usually just press stop before the covers if I don't want the atmosphere ruined.

Talking of In The Nightside Eclipse, has it been recently re-mastered?

 

[unhinged]

 

[Under a Stone]

This old thread made me curious

http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=143154&highlight=Emperor

Mind you, i wonder what a re-remastered copy of ITNE would sound like?

 

[Under a Stone]

Was it first re-issued back in 1998?

My copy strangley dosen't have that sticker(living in the UK might explain that).

 

[NAD]

My copy of Nightside is remastered and has the Bathory and Mercyful Fate covers, but retains the original artwork.

 

[NAD]

Ah, those sneaky petes. I guess mine is the "improved" artwork, it is very much blue and has the white lettering. The sticker on the jewel case does not mention the artwork though.

 

[NAD]

Copyright 1999 Century Media, Santa Monica, CA. Yep, probably US.

 

[Under a Stone]

Once again undeniable proof that changing or modifying the original artwork is, in most cases, wrong.

 

[NAD]

Why can't labels just reprint original releases? They could still put stickers on them saying LONG OUT OF PRINT CLASSIC BACK IN PRODUCTION!!! and still get their $$$.

Not like this hasn't been happening for decades, check out all the remaster jobs for bands in the 70s, you can find 20 remasters for Black Sabbath, King Crimson, and others without even trying, which probably means there are 30 more you missed. Ridiculous.

 

[Under a Stone]

Sometimes i find re-releases favorable if the original copy is proving elusive or is priced too high on Ebay.

 

[unhinged]

Once again undeniable proof that changing or modifying the original artwork is, in most cases, wrong.

interesting thread guys

and one that I've been pondering

if + when scald get a licence to re-release headworm I intend to change both the sequencing + the artwork
is this a bad or good idea then?

the original pressing that we made was limited to 500
and I want no more of that version made
I want to keep it as a special edition

now heres what we want to do
remove the cd-rom track and return to our original sequencing without any gaps between tracks (these were put in to accomidate the data track)

remove and replace all the artwork except the lyric pages
there will be a few more pieces of art than before
..I haven't made them yet, but I'm working on it

do you think this may be taking the piss a bit?
I don't expect people to buy it if they already have another version
i know a few will, but its not based on this at all

we're not fucking roadrunner uke:

 

[NAD]

There's a huge difference in changing the artwork because the band wants to, and the label changing the artwork because they are weird. In other words if the band makes the artistic decision, I'm okay with that, regardless of if I agree with the direction or not.

 

[J.]

It is a different situation when the band themselves release an album as opposed to a label. In Scald's case, the band fronted all the finances (I'm assuming) for the 500 limited pressing. When Scald eventually get Headworm licensed, I don't see a problem with THE BAND altering the artwork or sequencing.

Like NAD said, if Scald wants to do it, then I see no fault in that.

 

[Black Winter Day]

what about bands going back and re-recording old stuff like Arcturus, Jag Panzer and Iced Earth?

 

[J.]

I have the Arcturus re-recording, but only because I wanted the earlier vinyl-only songs. I think I listened to that thing some time 2 years ago.

EDIT: I thought the Aspera stuff was re-mastered, not re-recorded.

 

[Black Winter Day]

i agree. can you imagine if percy shelley had lived to be 80 and in his final years went back and re-wrote "ode to the west wind"? or if jimmy page and robert plant decided to go back and re-record ZOSO to fit modern music? if ozzy re-recorded the bass and drums for his first two albums with different musicians? oh, wait...

 

[NAD]

Hypocrisy did a great job for that 10 Years box, they redid a handful of older songs, but redoing an entire album is weak. Then again, if that's the band's decision so be it. That's when I start calling the band gay though.

 

[J.]

what if a band re-records demo material to be put ont a proper release?

 

[En Vind Av Sorg]

Originally in general obviously. However, one example of an excellent re-release recently would be Xasthur's "A gate through Bloodstained Mirrors." Speaking of which, you should all go buy the album now.