Vinyl & CD Showdown Revealed - Boston Self-Titled LP

[@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion]

The CD Transport is an Oppo BDP-95 Blu-Ray Multichannel Player

[@luxnerSD]

I love that you're including CDs in the comparisons.

[@eric_in_florida]

I had just started college when this album came out. I still remember laying on the floor with some friends and we cranked this vinyl up on a decent stereo and heard every track. Just amazing. I agree that in concert they were not great. Saw them once and that was enough.

[@GeeAitch-r1r]

Kansas... Point Of Know Return may be a good one to do as it has had many different releases over the years... and was a good album for it's time. I really liked this Boston video... look forward to seeing more in this series. Cheers!

[@murch13]

Love this channel and the in depth shootouts you do. Keep up the great work!

[@novisnick6928]

Another great review. Love this LP, thanks so much!

[@jazzlouise]

Excellent review and comparison. Yes include CD's because they often get a bad rap.

[@BowieorBolan]

Great comparison video as usual David. I saw Boston in the UK on the Don’t Look Back tour in October 1979 with 3 of my friends. The consensus of opinion when we got outside was “what the hell was that?” Like the gig you saw everything was too slow & it just makes me think they couldn’t get anywhere near reproducing the magic of the albums live. That concert still ranks as one of the worst I have ever seen in the 48 years I have been going to gigs. When we meet up now and talk about music the Boston concert frequently comes up. Like yourself I think Boston’s first album is one of the all-time great debuts. I have a first UK “Wally” pressing and to my ears & on my system it absolutely sparkles so have never felt the need to pursue any other copies. Keep up the excellent work.

[@Bondrkmz]

David, love that intro. 🎶🎼🎵🎤

[@theragingdolphinsmaniac4696]

I have that album in every format and mastering it has ever been released in, and it has always sounded great. The most recent HDTracks DSD format sounds the best of all of them, and for physical media the special anniversary edition remaster in the all-paper gatefold package sounds great too.

[@neechee5150]

Do you have both the Sony and the Scholz 2006 remasters of this record? The Sony remaster is not easy to come by

[@larrybarnett5721]

I have the DSD64 from HDTracks and it is my preferred copy. I have the OG CD and the OG Wally. The DSD is magic.

[@randyg9256]

Great review and shootout David! At age 16, Boston was the first rock concert I ever attended, and remember it being a great show. I agree with you in that I think their debut album is one of the all time best debut albums ever. In fact, I would probably rank it in my top 25 albums of all time....I like it that much. I have a NM OG Wally and also the 2010 Kevin Gray. I think I like the Wally slightly better, but consider them both very good. It will be interesting to see what you think if you get hooked up with a MOFI version of Boston....I've been looking for an affordable copy of that one, but they're starting at about $500.00 and go up from there. So, I think I'll wait on that one! :)

[@ianrobertson8514]

I got this on first release in the UK in 1976. According to Discogs it was mastered by "Wally". All I can say is I loved the quality of the fidelity of the pressing in 1976 and have never felt the need search out a replacement as it still sounds fantastic today.

[@neechee5150]

@ianrobertson8514 The original recording of this record was mastered in analog in 1976 by Wally Traugott at Capitol Records. There are two remasters of this record. One was done by Sony and this one is kind of rare. The second remaster was done by Tom in 2006. The Scholz remaster was done digitally

[@s.t.e.r.e.o.]

Great video! Do you ever add streaming to the ratings?

[@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion]

@@s.t.e.r.e.o. I will be moving into streaming in 2025….stay tuned!

[@johnlangdon4338]

I bought this on release day, probably the Wally. Loved it. I have the original CD release and the Tom Scholz remaster. Tom's remaster is the one I go to these days.

[@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion]

@@johnlangdon4338 when was the Scholz remaster released? CD or LP?

[@georgeprice4212]

@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion on CD.

[@georgeprice4212]

I am on my second copy of the Scholz remaster.

[@MichaelRMarshall1]

I would have been interested to hear from you what the SACD sounds like compared to the other digital releases as well as the different vinyl counterparts.

[@leea202]

First concert I ever attended, Nazareth opened....they were getting pretty good at the game, we stood in line and didn't seem to mind....boys I think this band is outta sight!

[@georgeprice4212]

Did you also have the 2006 Tom Scholz remaster CD and the 2020 “flame blue” Walmart pressings?

[@dennismcgarry6486]

David, if you haven't already, check that Mothership box set, the PVC sleeves damage the vinyl in some of those sets. I replaced mine with new sleeves.

[@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion]

@@dennismcgarry6486 thanks, I will look into that!

[@fretboy1969]

On the CBS Mastersound, which cut did you use? The original 34188 or the later recut 44188?

[@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion]

The original HE34188 is what I purchased when it was released. Was the HE44188 a fix to an EQ/RIAA problem like Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here? I only had heard of that problem with the PF WYWH… are there other CBS HalfSpeeds that had to be redone?

[@nikoschristos8778]

@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion I read that it was recut (I believe it was due to new equipment). I have not been able to find if it was improved. As you reviewed the 34188, and rate it better than the Friday Music, I’ll look for it and give it a try. Thank you!

[@johnlangdon4338]

I recommend the Nautilus Half Speed pressing of Dreamboat Annie as the best I've heard. If you can find one.

[@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion]

It is in my shootout! I also have a DBX Nautilus copy, but my DBX unit needs repair :(

[@analoguecity3454]

What puzzles me is why do they master a Redbook CD at 24 bit super mapping, when it's just going down to 16 bit? All that information from the 24 bit is still being "discarded" when it's dumbed down to 16 bit!

[@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion]

Marketing? :)

[@ctrlzyx2]

This usually means they created a digital image of the master tape at 24 bit/96 kHz and worked on the remaster from that. As these classic rock tapes are now at least 50 years old, conversion to hi-rez digital is standard procedure. I have a bunch of jazz cd's from the late 50s-early 60s. The most recent remasters (ca. 2000-2020) are 20 or 24 bit. Typically these sound "cleaner" than transfers done in the 1980's, but you do get dropouts from tape oxide flaking off when they did the digital image. Some of these old tapes are falling apart, and the degree of deterioration varies based on brand and storage conditions.

[@ctrlzyx2]

I have multiple versions on lp, cd, and sacd. The wally traugott cd master is easy to find and sounds great. I do prefer the scholz remaster, as tom has been pretty clear in interviews he went over these tracks note by note and finally got them how he wanted them to sound in 1976. That approach fits everything i know about how this album was created, which is a truly remarkable story.

[@georgeprice4212]

Tom said that he literally sat down with the original pressings for Boston and Don’t Look Back during the remastering process and realized one thing about the Don’t Look Back album: that his thinking the album was unfinished was, in hindsight, actually complete despite the short run time of the album. And, he came to appreciate the album much more than in prior years.

[@neechee5150]

@@georgeprice4212 Sony would not let Tom have access to the original 1976 masters for the debut record. Tom had to purchase a copy from Sony do do his digital remaster project. I have heard both the Traugott analog and the Scholz digital remaster. There is a noticeable difference for sure. I like both of them. The original is mastered to be more am/fm radio and vinyl friendly

[@georgeprice4212]

@ Tom OWNS the original masters for the first two albums, having recorded the majority of them in his own basement studio (“Let Me Take You Home Tonight” being recorded in a proper studio). Or did you not know that?

[@neechee5150]

@@georgeprice4212 False. Here it is in Toms own words: "Did you have the original masters yourself? I didn't. They [Sony] had the original, quarter-inch-tape stereo masters, and did a very good job of doing the A/D conversion. I have to tell you, I would have been sweating bullets doing that myself. So we had good 24-bit transfers to start with. I'm really excited about how they came out, and I never thought I'd get excited about something I did 30 years ago. I can finally listen to these mixes on CD now. Source 30 Minutes with Tom Scholz of Boston. Sound and Vision Nov 4, 2006

[@neechee5150]

@@georgeprice4212 Here is something that you need to account for. Tom ONLY recorded instrument tracks for the record. As clearly stated by both Tom and Boylan, Boylan hired a mobile unit to come to Toms apartment and transfer Tom's INSTRUMENT tracks to the then industry standard 24 track two inch tape format. Tom used a 12 track Scully one inch tape machine. Once all of Toms instrument tracks were on 24 track two inch tape, all of Brads vocals except for one song were recorded at Capital Studios Studio C. The entire song Let Me Take You Home Tonight was recorded at The Record Plant LA. There were actually three songs recorded at The Record Plant but only Let Me Take You Home made it to the record. Now that Brads vocals had been added to the instrument tracks (now in 2 inch tape 24 track format) and the entire song Let Me Take You Home was recorded at The Record Plant LA, the record was ready to Mix. This record was mixed at Wesltake Studios on their then new API console. The mix down to two track stereo was recorded on 1/4 inch two track tape and this stereo master was given to Wally Trougott to master at Capital Studios in analog (it is 1976). Tom did not have nor did he own the original two track stereo master that was sent to Traugott to master. That tape remained the property of Epic/Sony records and does so to this day.

[@hubertzawadzki9490]

You list the Analog equipment but not the CD transport/DAC which has a noticeable impact on the sound, especially with the modern Transport /DAC. What is your reason for not listing it ?

[@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion]

@@hubertzawadzki9490 oversight as that’s the first video I’ve added in CDs. It’s an Oppo BDP-95 BluRay Multichannel unit.

[@Tahoe415]

UHQR for the 50th next year??

[@paulocallaghan6348]

Mofi copies are available at Discogs, but be prepared to pay between $1,000.00 - $2000.00 😮

[@automatedelectronics6062]

Why not include your picture disc? We know the playing surface is not made of vinyl and it has lots of surface noise, but how does it compare sonically?

[@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion]

@@automatedelectronics6062 on wow! Busted :) I won’t do that to my stylus!!

[@automatedelectronics6062]

@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion Aha! You realize that it's a wall-hanger! You should play it. It won't hurt your stylus.

[@moogoomoogoo5990]

As I recall this was the first 8-track tape I bought. Still have it. You could have used it for your shoot-out. 😂 I agree this was one of the best debut albums ever.

[@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion]

8-Track “click click” between the 4 “sides”. Were any of the Boston songs chopped up mid-song on the 8-Track? I hated that about the format.

[@photogcw]

I have 3 different digital versions of the album. I lost my original Epic "Wally"-mastered record decades ago. I have an original CBS compact disc, the gold Mastersound and the SACD. Of the 3, the prize goes to the original CD. The Mastersound sounds fine but a bit bright. The SACD should be the winner but something happened when you get to the track "Smokin'". It sounds very muffled like there were a tape alignment issue then everything returns to normal after that.

[@owlnswan4016]

Yes, the SACD really sounded great except for "Smokin"...that one sounded dull. The rest of the disc sounded like you were seeing them live in concert.

[@ctrlzyx2]

This is a known problem with that sacd. No known explanation for how this happened. Unfortunately it kinda ruins the whole listening experience.

[@JeffersonDD]

WARNING: Long Diatribe to follow: Great Shootout David. I appreciate that you try to add a layer of empirical data for the comparisons, although your disclaimers are of course the key and everyone hears different. Ok I have several versions of Double Wally from various pressing plants and they’re pretty variable, although the CSM and TH seem most consistent to me. Also, finding a true NM Double Wally is a challenge, and I think it makes a difference vs a VG+ when splitting hairs. I agree the AZ is substandard to double Wally. I was surprised you dragged the Japanese as much as you did, I don’t have the 1976, but a 1978 Japanese; don’t recall it being atrocious, maybe they corrected something resulting in the quick reissue (1976 vs. 1978). I have the half speed and find it respectable and detailed, but still prefer the double Wally. Don’t have the Friday or MOFI but would love to find one for less than the cost of a kidney. Interesting to bring the CDs into it, I’ll try and find that 1993 for a good comparison. Finally; since he was a good friend, I’ll mention Warren Dewey, the recording engineer, he had a gold record for his work on both this and Don’t look back. The engineers need to get more love IMHO, since they create the work that the mastering engineers finalize. No amount of mastering magic can fix a shitty recording:). Looking forward to the next shootouts!

[@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion]

@@JeffersonDD thanks Jefferson for your detailed insights. You are 100% correct about recording engineers. Boston music was very complex IMO and getting the right balance of the multitracks was critical to the sound being balanced and having meaning be being just a mass of sound!

[@paulocallaghan6348]

As far as CD's are concerned, you have to compare the original 80's pressing, with the much later remastered versions of today. The original CD had little, to no compression at all, where is much later reissues has massive compression.

[@neechee5150]

@paulocallaghan6348 According to Boylan, the tug of war that existed during the three man mixing job of this record caused by Tom repeatedly pushing the guitars and cymbals required Boylan and Dewey to counter to keep the vocals and drums from being buried in the mix. According to Boylan, Westlake's API console was "pushed into manual compression"

[@sidesup8286]

I think the Boston music is great but the recording is processed sounding, thin and bright. It was one of those recordings where the band was not all together playing next to each other. It was a studio in the basement, and someone mailing their vocal tracks etc. across the country. Considering all the overdubs and processing he did a good job. The track on side 2 with the applause dubbed in to make it sound live, is the best sound quality track to me. "Rock & Roll Band..." is the repeated lyric in the song. Every version of the Boston debut I have heard needs tamed and infused with more warmth. Taping it onto tape usually does those two things. Whoever has dubbed it onto a good reel to reel probably likes that to listen to best. The CBS halfspped master lps are generally very bright, and often over the top. Many of them are also digital mastered instead of analog mastered from the master tape. Very obvious on some; like One On On by Bob James. The previous CBS Mastersound halfspeed of Touchdown by same artist sounds wonderfully analog. Another very overrated recording that gets real big bucks (foolishly) in my opinion, is The Nightfly by Donald Fagan. Digitally recorded in the studio and it sounds like it. Thin and not as expansive sounding as good analog. The bass on it is very well defined however. The midrange and highs are a grade or two lower. Two Against Nature by Fagan's backed Steely Dan puts to shame The Nightfly sonically. Both are good music, but The Nightfly probably betters it musically; but is nowhere near it sonically.

[@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion]

@@sidesup8286 I think the Kevin Gray games that top end exactly for the reasons you mentioned. But not too much so as to lose the energy. On the Nightfly, the 2012 Chris Bellman cut was my shootout winner and sonically balanced some of the elements of the recording.

[@sidesup8286]

I have not heard the Mofi Boston lp either. But on the best versions I've heard of either album, the music is about an 8 and the sound is about a six. The CBS halfspeed is a little too processed and bright to tell for sure if it's analog cut, but I would guess it is. It has nice layering with lots of detail. The Quiex II pressing of The Nightfly lp, is the one I'm most familiar with. The texture and definition of the low end on New Frontier is a decent track to demonstrate bass definition. The midrange and highs give itself away a bit, that it is early digital. Harry Pearson said of early digital that the low end transient response is the only area that he liked sonically. The only modern halfspeed master lp I ever seen on his famous Super Disc list was the Mofi Slowhand by Eric Clapton. There are many London Blueback classical lps on his list though, and they were half sperd mastered lps, back in the late 1950s/early 1960s. Half speed mastering really can reduce distortion but it is said that it compromises the spatiality of the sound. I compared a few of the early Mofi lps like Crime Of The Century with the original A & M pressing, and the the nion halfspeed lp original was more spacious noticeably. But the Mofi versions were cleaner and quieter.

[@neechee5150]

The drum tracks on Rock and Roll Band are not recorded that well. It is very likely that Tom used the demo drum track for that song instead of the Sib played drum track.

[@DavidMander-rs4uk]

And the CD wins everytime!! 👍

[@Vinylfromtheunderground]

Try a better Wally press as those are the best. The most tube like. The mofi is awful. No mid with cranked up bass and treble. The other remasters all included digital step and I can tell

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

I'm a music junkie and vinyl is my prefered drug of choice, in saying that (and i know this is hard to believe) I have never heard this album and don't intend to. I understand its a popular album, one that everyone seems to have a copy of on vinyl for some reason but i honestly couldn't tell you a song off it if i heard it and i have no idea who the band members are. Just one of those bands and albums that ive never had an interest in.

[@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion]

I’m not sure of your age, but if you were around starting in the mid-70’s you couldn’t help but hear More Than A Feeling on the radio!

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion I'm 45 and yes I've heard that song on the radio and TV etc but I had no idea who it was nor the itch to find out. Same as the band Foreigner, I know they have hits but I couldn't tell you one of their songs if it came on the radio, all those Arena rock type bands from that time are the same band to me, wallpaper that I have zero interest in