Worst Master Recording

[HarvestmanMan]

What is the worst master recording you've heard on a garage record?

My vote goes to the Endd's "Out Of My Hands". I don't know if they left all the microphones open at once, or if they used very low-quality master tape, but it sounds BAD. There is way too much treble, as well. A real shame considering that it's a wonderful tune apart from that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCH_whgm8E0

 

[mikael]

I think it sounds terrific. Good n raw, just like we dig our punk.

Worst has gotta to be Modds - Leave My House

 

[bosshoss]

I agree with Mikael. Nothing beats the Modds. But the Stoics pressing is one that always grates for me. Mainly because I know how much better it should sound from the mastertapes via Acid Visions. I guess it's not that bad, but I was very disappointed when I finally got a copy after years of searching, and played it. It sounds like there was dirt on the cutting head, when it was mastered.

 

[pfft]

I think it sounds terrific. Good n raw, just like we dig our punk.

Worst has gotta to be Modds - Leave My House

I think it sounds terrific. Good n raw, just like we dig our punk.

 

[bosshoss]

Another shocker is Head And The Hares "One Against The World".
And The Shandels "No Way Out" on Carldell. Both horrible pressings.

 

[gregk25]

What about Yesterday's Obsessions? My copy looks NM but plays as if Mother Hulda shook out many a bed sheet over the pressing plant.

Also the Centrees on Wildwood appears to be a rather weak press.

 

[axel]

How bout "(I Ain't No) Miracle Worker" by Jimmy & the Offbeats? I have it on three compilations and it sounds equally bad on all of them, sadly.

 

[bosshoss]

Another disappointing pressing - "I Saw You Walking" by The By Fives. It's still awesome, though.

 

[EXPO67]

I'm not sure if Danny & the Counts 'You Need Love'/'Ode To The Wind' is a bad pressing or if I've just got a bad copy. I've heard others complain about this disc in the past, probably on old Forum.

 

[mikael]

I think it sounds terrific. Good n raw, just like we dig our punk.

Hoho. One can only hear one instrument in that song. I think I need to hear the drums too at least.
But it's kinda cool in a strange way.

 

[MopTopMike]

Anything on the C.A.V. U. label - "Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited".... haha.
The Young Souls "You're Gonna Need Love" 45 is ultra crude, sounds like it was recorded in a barn on one small portable deck with built in condenser mic.

 

[MopTopMike]

How bout "(I Ain't No) Miracle Worker" by Jimmy & the Offbeats? I have it on three compilations and it sounds equally bad on all of them, sadly.

Yeah, all 45rpm copies play with a built in slushy "hiss" that is constant throughout playback

 

[buckeyebeat]

"master recording" as it's been interpreted here is vague. There are three stages to making a record - the band recording it to tape, the mastering of the tape to the master acetate (in some cases, the acetate may have been cut directly as the recording and not onto tape), and the record pressing (which is a couple manufacturing stages). Mistakes, poor skills, defective equipment, cheap equipment, all factor in. Most of the hissy or odd sounding pressings (another one being the Roots "Its Been a Long Journey") are mistakes in the post recording process.

 

[buckeyebeat]

Also the Centrees on Wildwood appears to be a rather weak press.

I like this just fine. They recorded at a home studio run by a guy who was a country musician so I don't think they were allowed to crank it up very loud. It's not a hot recording but it's a jangler (and the band, not exactly loaded with money, was still using surf era gear) and I would prefer that to an overbearing recording. I've heard worse from the same geographical region (Shambles - I Just Think Of You - grating!).

Regarding the other records, I think the Endd is great. The sound matches the mood and feel of the song. I've had an original for 30 years and I still dig it.

 

[TheOriginal1966BadApple]

"Little Latin Lupe Lu" (The Kingsmen [LP version: Cdn Reo]). It's still a "fave" rave up. Buckeyebeat's words re The Endd fit, "The sound matches the mood and feel of the song."

 

[MopTopMike]

The Revens 45 on Night Owl is a great, Beatle-fied harmony jangle 2 sider, but the mastering is terrible.
"For You" suffers from a constant low-end dropout woosh. Perhaps it wasn't cut direct to tape when recorded in Indiana. Someone must've messed up during the cutting stage. Since it was not recorded at Cuca Studios, but mastered/pressed there, the high school aged employees Jim Kirchstein hired to work there may be to blame. The ledger card shows the Revens as the moniker, but the group was called the Ravens.
When I spoke to one of the members in the '90s, he remembered how disappointed they all were when the records came back from Cuca.

 

[Spirit of '66]

Imagine the disappointment felt by the Shags when they received their shipment of 45's on Concert that not only had both titles horribly mangled (Louis, Louis b/w Summertime News), but also was mastered way too slow.

 

[HarvestmanMan]

both titles horribly mangled (Louis, Louis b/w Summertime News)

Hahahaha!
Those sound like some sort of parody.

 

[bosshoss]

I think I have a new contender, to rival the Modds. The Lords on Vance. But wait, it actually has drums and bass, so maybe not.

 

[franku]

I was thinking about another Vance 45, myself, "Love Is Everywhere" by Gold Standard. Definitely one of the lowest-fi garage 45s I have, but great, with a punky vocal and super guitar rave-up. "Fidelity as thin as a cracker" as somebody once said.