Hot Rats LP vs CD , les avis sont partagés, d'autant plus que le mix n'est pas le même, alors le "sans appel" me semble exagéré :
"Remix & Opinion Gallery
When Hot Rats came out on CD, it was not at all identical to the vinyl original. And it generated a lot of opinion spin:
ERIC PEPKE: The CD has much less dynamic range than the vinyl. This may not be noticeable unless you have really good speakers. [Ed: It's pretty noticeable regardless!]
PAT BUZBY: The CD completely blows away the vinyl for me: it's like the difference between black-and-white and color TV.
STEN WINFIELD JOHNSON: Great sound, but noticeably remixed, bringing in unheard elements from the original sessions. At times, the additions are welcome (a longer intro on "Gumbo Variations"), but sometimes intrusive (piano vamping during "Little Umbrellas").
DAN WATKINS: On the vinyl version of "Little Umbrellas", the final note echoes for a few seconds. On the CD it doesn't.
MICHAEL PIERRY: I never had a problem with the '87 release, and when I went back and listened to the vinyl, I was shocked at the way "Little Umbrellas" was mixed (that little flute break is completely missing, and I was astounded that it was mixed out of the original like that). I must have horrible ears, because I can't find to complain about with my Hot Rats CD. But I like the different vinyl mix too. They're both cool.
BOSSK (R): Regardless of what new splendour has been tacked on the CD, I think the cymbals in the new mix sound like a low-bandwitdh MP3.
JWB: The original LP crushes the remix like a putrid grape. Now we're entering the territory of "the remix sucks but it's extended". This album needs to be remastered from the original LP master, or the original unedited mixes to save the "extended versions". The remix has no redeeming qualities to it whatsoever, at least compared to the vinyl. I just can't believe how bad it sounds.
From Neil in the UK & JYOB:
* "Willie the Pimp"'s intro is mixed differently.
* "Son of Mr Green Genes" suffers the most - the drums are lost in a wash of cymbals. The "duelling saxes" are pushed way into the background.
* "The Gumbo Variations" is about 5 minutes longer - good mix.
* "It Must Be a Camel" - some additional tracks/instruments (recorded during the original sessions) have been mixed back in.
From Bermuda Triangle:
* "Peaches en Regalia": I don't notice a huge difference between the two.
* "Willie the Pimp": since I love this track so much (and have the LP version permanently etched in my brain), I was shocked and pissed that the guitar solo is re-edited and reconstructed in parts. My favorite riff of the entire solo isn't even on the CD! Score one for the LP.
* "Son of Mr Green Jeans": not much difference to my ears.
* "Little Umbrellas" has added harpsichord and flute. I like the starkness of just the bass and drums better on the LP.
* "Gumbo Variations": score one for the CD.
* "It Must be a Camel": minor differences. Towards the end, a once clean guitar now has distortion. The part of the mini drum solo now has this ambience and reverb that wasn't on the LP. Not sure which I like better. [LEWIS SAUL: "There are major differences. The polyphony in many sections is radically different. The CD buries voices that are prominent in the LP, which yields a very, very different composition ...]
From Gary Horowitz:
I would agree that the clarity is unprecedented. The portions where different instrumental parts get brought into the mix plus the new extended sections are refreshing as well as entertaining. However, one thing I miss from the original vinyl mix of "Peaches en Regalia" was the ending figure where the theme is punctuated by speeded up drums or some other punchy percussive effect. It is either non-existent on the new mix, or so low that you can no longer hear it. This was one of my favorite parts of the song, because it's entrance was so festive and happy sounding. In my opinion its absence was not an improvement."
http://www.lukpac.org/~handmade/patio/v ... trats.html