Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones Streaming in June!! (Out August 19th!)

[Prayer 3,291]

OK, now you're all making a disaster/"Celebration" bad remastering scenario for "Finally Enough Love" when the reality is we've had so far a not perfect, but rather good one remaster ("Into The Groove") and another one not that good that comes from an "already not that good" master, anyway ("Deeper And Deeper").

Don't get me wrong, I've always said I prefer NO remastering at all - I was super happy when the back catalogue digital singles were released as they were, without sound boosting or anything. But I also understand that in a 2022 compilation that simply can't happen. General public simply don't expect to have to turn the volume uuuup to listen to something. A product like this needs to meet the nowadays standards.

Let's wait, there will be another advanced track soon and then we'll have a fuller picture.

And by the way, almost everyone in the music business would kill to work with Mike Dean. If that man isn't experienced enough for you to handle this project I don't know who it can be then. 

[Brendanlovesu1 5,881]

The Japanese editions of Finally Enough Love are now available for pre-order through HMV in Japan.

WPCR18532 3CD set Warner Music Japan

https://www.hmv.co.jp/artist_Madonna_000000000001478/item_Finally-Enough-Love-50-Number-Ones_12977481?site=mailmagart&utm_source=moa220527sa&utm_medium=other

WPCR18535 standard CD Warner Music Japan

https://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Madonna_000000000001478/item_Finally-Enough-Love_12977482?site=mailmagart&utm_source=moa220527sa&utm_medium=other

[GregVsMatt 803]

1 minute ago, Brendanlovesu1 said:

The Japanese editions of Finally Enough Love are now available for pre-order through HMV in Japan.

WPCR18532 3CD set Warner Music Japan

https://www.hmv.co.jp/artist_Madonna_000000000001478/item_Finally-Enough-Love-50-Number-Ones_12977481?site=mailmagart&utm_source=moa220527sa&utm_medium=other

WPCR18535 standard CD Warner Music Japan

https://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Madonna_000000000001478/item_Finally-Enough-Love_12977482?site=mailmagart&utm_source=moa220527sa&utm_medium=other

Due to the worldwide spread of the new coronavirus infection,
HMV has been difficult to ship by international mail.
Therefore we have decided to suspend that
place a new order with the delivering address of outside Japan temporarily.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to our customers.

This is what I got when I tried to order about 10 hours ago - comes up at checkout 

[Ayham 2,242]

12 hours ago, LongIslandTea said:

Finally, WB Japan has announced the Japanese version of FEL CD

Catalog Number: WPCR18532
Barcode: 4943674355389
Number of Discs: 3
Country: Japan
Price: 4180 Yen

No changes in tracklisting except LAP is listed as 7" Remix Edit

No bonus track.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Catalog Number: WPCR18535
Barcode: 4943674355396
Number of Discs: 1
Country: Japan
Price: 2420 Yen

No changes in tracklisting except LAP is listed as 7" version

No bonus track.

No indication of packaging hence not sure if both version are gonna be in digipak or CD hardcasing.

I believe there will be a beautiful OBI (confirmed) + lyrics booklet.

No bonus tracks! 😔😔😔

[Ayham 2,242]

The 6 LP is now available in Japan! 
 

https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/NEODAI-134112?s_ssid=e378bd629086f4fe12

[Blue Jean 4,358]

1 hour ago, Prayer said:

OK, now you're all making a disaster/"Celebration" bad remastering scenario for "Finally Enough Love" when the reality is we've had so far a not perfect, but rather good one remaster ("Into The Groove") and another one not that good that comes from an "already not that good" master, anyway ("Deeper And Deeper").

Don't get me wrong, I've always said I prefer NO remastering at all - I was super happy when the back catalogue digital singles were released as they were, without sound boosting or anything. But I also understand that in a 2022 compilation that simply can't happen. General public simply don't expect to have to turn the volume uuuup to listen to something. A product like this needs to meet the nowadays standards.

Let's wait, there will be another advanced track soon and then we'll have a fuller picture.

And by the way, almost everyone in the music business would kill to work with Mike Dean. If that man isn't experienced enough for you to handle this project I don't know who it can be then. 

A prominent mastering engineer lol

[wtg1987 7,530]

I would rather they just use the original lossless files then and no sound boosting remastering then - Nero express does that on my laptop 🥴😭🙄

[Aiwa08 8,944]

1 hour ago, Prayer said:

OK, now you're all making a disaster/"Celebration" bad remastering scenario for "Finally Enough Love" when the reality is we've had so far a not perfect, but rather good one remaster ("Into The Groove") and another one not that good that comes from an "already not that good" master, anyway ("Deeper And Deeper").

Don't get me wrong, I've always said I prefer NO remastering at all - I was super happy when the back catalogue digital singles were released as they were, without sound boosting or anything. But I also understand that in a 2022 compilation that simply can't happen. General public simply don't expect to have to turn the volume uuuup to listen to something. A product like this needs to meet the nowadays standards.

 

I'm sorry but I'm not agree with you. For me the original master of "Deeper And Deeper" sounds really good. Please, put the original CD promo or just the commercial CD-Single on a good stereo system, turn the volume up, and listen it before to say that. 

Thanks God for the vinyl version remastered without the dynamic range destroyed (that is the problem on digital, the dynamic range compression, not the new remaster).

 

[sidney78a 2,007]

am I the only one satisfied with deeper & deeper remastering? lol

[Aiwa08 8,944]

29 minutes ago, sidney78a said:

am I the only one satisfied with deeper & deeper remastering? lol

Again, the problem it's not the deeper & deeper remastering. It's the compression (to sound louder in tablets, cell phones, etc, etc, etc). They are two concepts totally different. But the compression is a problem in Madonna's CDs since American Life.

https://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list/1/year/desc?artist=madonna (Red is bad, Green is good)

[Prayer 3,291]

33 minutes ago, Aiwa08 said:

I'm sorry but I'm not agree with you. For me the original master of "Deeper And Deeper" sounds really good. Please, put the original CD promo or just the commercial CD-Single on a good stereo system, turn the volume up, and listen it before to say that. 

Thanks God for the vinyl version remastered without the dynamic range destroyed (that is the problem on digital, the dynamic range compression, not the new remaster).

 

Can you share the original please? I don't have the original promo or the files, so the only way to compare with the now released remaster was the YouTube uploads of it (one claimed to be HQ but we know YouTube compress the hell out of everything).

Thanks!

Edit: I realized this might be against the forum rules!! If that's the case sorry and forget about it. 

[Ayham 2,242]

So these Japanese CDs will be available in Amazon Japan? @LongIslandTea 🤔

[Aiwa08 8,944]

7 minutes ago, Prayer said:

Can you share the original please? I don't have the original promo or the files, so the only way to compare with the now released remaster was the YouTube uploads of it (one claimed to be HQ but we know YouTube compress the hell out of everything).

Thanks!

Edit: I realized this might be against the forum rules!! If that's the case sorry and forget about it. 

You know the forums rules, but I think it's in the remixology archive.

[Prayer 3,291]

OK I just listened to the original as it was. Thanks a lot to @Frankfor letting me know about it and its original source, this promo from Japan: https://www.discogs.com/es/release/9291970-Various-Warner-Music-Japan-Top-Hits-Selection-January-1

And I have to say that sorry, but I also stand by my original opinion. It's OK to disagree :-) But to me, the original mix is incredibly low in volume and, even when you turn it up enough, is bright as f**k. Her vocals seemed to be already compressed somehow in the original remix - check 0:29 "I let my father mold me", seems like David Morales applied some kind of compression of filter to her vocals on the remix.

The 2022 remaster sounds a little bit compressed, yes, but I can't see how it could sound better with that original source without going back to the original multitracks - and there's no way they would to that for a 1992 remix, maybe the album versions when the Deluxe editions are released, yes.

To sum it up: the 2022 remaster is what the original was but louder - To my ears! Personal review, not saying this is the universal truth about it. :-)

[kesiak 2,331]

22 minutes ago, Prayer said:

The 2022 remaster sounds a little bit compressed, yes, but I can't see how it could sound better with that original source without going back to the original multitracks - and there's no way they would to that for a 1992 remix, maybe the album versions when the Deluxe editions are released, yes.

To sum it up: the 2022 remaster is what the original was but louder - To my ears! Personal review, not saying this is the universal truth about it. :-)

Totally with you on that actually. Think it sounds pretty good.

[Aiwa08 8,944]

1 hour ago, Prayer said:

And I have to say that sorry, but I also stand by my original opinion. It's OK to disagree :-) But to me, the original mix is incredibly low in volume and, even when you turn it up enough, is bright as f**k. Her vocals seemed to be already compressed somehow in the original remix - check 0:29 "I let my father mold me", seems like David Morales applied some kind of compression of filter to her vocals on the remix.

The 2022 remaster sounds a little bit compressed, yes, but I can't see how it could sound better with that original source without going back to the original multitracks - and there's no way they would to that for a 1992 remix, maybe the album versions when the Deluxe editions are released, yes.

 

Ok, I've done a test and, and believe it or not, they barely remastered the original remix. Only a little more bass. So the problem is the fucking compression, killing the dynamic range (It's too loud). Unfortunately, this is a problem since American Life.

The Green curve represents the original track from the original CD-Promo, the white curve it's the FEL version. The EQ is almost identical except for the bass (a little louder). The line with points tells you the differences in the EQ between songs.

The test it's been done at the same volume. Check the compression (left: FEL version, right: original promo CD).

So the remastering is amazing, the dynamic range compression is awful. But nowadays this is the new normal in music (at least in Warner).

[PlayPause 1,342]

4 hours ago, Prayer said:

OK, now you're all making a disaster/"Celebration" bad remastering scenario for "Finally Enough Love" when the reality is we've had so far a not perfect, but rather good one remaster ("Into The Groove") and another one not that good that comes from an "already not that good" master, anyway ("Deeper And Deeper").

What we can't judge now is the overall mastering of the compilation, since they had to remaster material from VERY different sources, given the major changes in single / remix production and process throughout the years. Think vintage Pettibone vs. Offer Nissim... and it's Mike Dean, not some random studio guy... When we hear it all, we'll have the direction they took with these 50 (FIFTY) tracks. Enormous job, not easy.

I like that the remastering didn't bring forward M's vocals as much as ITG (the first single from FEL). Erotica (the album) was recorded with a lo-fi spirit and David Morales did a good job back then on the vocal treatment, so the remaster mainly sounds brighter and bumpier, satisfying enough.

 

Quote

Don't get me wrong, I've always said I prefer NO remastering at all

AMEN. Of course, the original will sound better, less overbearing on a big system.

[lucasciccone 3,362]

This compilation would be perfect for a promo megamix like GHV2. Emily please read me and make it happen! 

[Roy 3,191]

Just now, lucasciccone said:

This compilation would be perfect for a promo megamix like GHV2. Emily please read me and make it happen! 

Emily is passed out in some bar. She won't read this.

I mean, it's been weeks and American Pie isn't in HD/4K yet. lel

[xavier 2,508]

From new people magazine

[thegoldencalf 8,678]

1 hour ago, Prayer said:

OK I just listened to the original as it was. Thanks a lot to @Frankfor letting me know about it and its original source, this promo from Japan: https://www.discogs.com/es/release/9291970-Various-Warner-Music-Japan-Top-Hits-Selection-January-1

And I have to say that sorry, but I also stand by my original opinion. It's OK to disagree :-) But to me, the original mix is incredibly low in volume and, even when you turn it up enough, is bright as f**k. Her vocals seemed to be already compressed somehow in the original remix - check 0:29 "I let my father mold me", seems like David Morales applied some kind of compression of filter to her vocals on the remix.

The 2022 remaster sounds a little bit compressed, yes, but I can't see how it could sound better with that original source without going back to the original multitracks - and there's no way they would to that for a 1992 remix, maybe the album versions when the Deluxe editions are released, yes.

To sum it up: the 2022 remaster is what the original was but louder - To my ears! Personal review, not saying this is the universal truth about it. :-)

Yes it’s true that the original has issues too but that’s the point of a good remaster. Going back into the original multitrack and fixing those issues…

[thegoldencalf 8,678]

1 hour ago, Aiwa08 said:

Ok, I've done a test and, and believe it or not, they barely remastered the original remix. Only a little more bass. So the problem is the fucking compression, killing the dynamic range (It's too loud). Unfortunately, this is a problem since American Life.

The Green curve represents the original track from the original CD-Promo, the white curve it's the FEL version. The EQ is almost identical except for the bass (a little louder). The line with points tells you the differences in the EQ between songs.

The test it's been done at the same volume. Check the compression (left: FEL version, right: original promo CD).

So the remastering is amazing, the dynamic range compression is awful. But nowadays this is the new normal in music (at least in Warner).

But I do think this is also bad remastering. The engineer should be aware DRC is applied and should take that into consideration. 
Also it’s disappointing that these cut off at 44.1lHz even though they’re released in HD.   I was hoping they’ll use the original multitracks or at least uncompressed raw transfers. But it’s clear they just used the already mastered CD sources. 
So they remastered already mastered tracks. Which to me can be an issue for the sound of the vinyl

[xavier 2,508]

Well I’m loving the new 2022 remaster of Deeper, it’s sounds fresh and new. Bass is excellent. Can’t stop playing it.

[RUADJAI 11,060]

The fact that everything is chopped off at -3db clearly indicates this person doesn’t know what they’re doing. Compression doesn’t need to clip anything. This is extreme compression (limiting). And limiting at -3 is weird. 
 

But I’m pretty sure Mike clips audio for an effect. (bass sounds usually) It sounds like the sound is busting speakers. It can be cool as a production technique, but it’s not something anyone who knows about sound would do to an entire piece of music. 
 

I’m actually curious if maybe he mistakenly set his limiter to -3 instead of -.03.  A -3db ceiling is weird and he does smoke a lot of pot. 

[Aiwa08 8,944]

39 minutes ago, thegoldencalf said:

But I do think this is also bad remastering. The engineer should be aware DRC is applied and should take that into consideration. 
Also it’s disappointing that these cut off at 44.1lHz even though they’re released in HD.   I was hoping they’ll use the original multitracks or at least uncompressed raw transfers. But it’s clear they just used the already mastered CD sources. 
So they remastered already mastered tracks. Which to me can be an issue for the sound of the vinyl

I've always loved the sound quality of the classic Madonna's records until "American Life", except for "Like A Prayer" (needs more bass) and "Ray of Light" (needs more treble). And for me it's a good thing if the tracks are barely "remastered", only a little enhance. Obviously I'm talking about the original FEL master without any dynamic range compression. 

And yes, the cut off at 44.1 kHz is disappointing...