[ -- I recently purchased Itzy 5003, At The Hop II. For songs cleaned up from records, they didn't do a bad job. There is occasional noise, but by and large, the songs sound pretty clean. There is one problem, though. Every song has had reverb added, so they all sound like they're in a big dance hall. I suppose the reissuer wanted them to sound that way, but I'd much rather add the reverb myself if I want it, rather than getting his idea of how the song should be doctored. I'd rate it a C overall because of the reverb, but the sound quality might scrape into the low "B" range. -- MC]

[ -- That's about it so far, but look for some new stereo on the Shangs within a few months. -- MC]

[ -- The stereo we were talking about was on vinyl. They are listed in the "LP Discographies" section of the BSN web page under "Red Bird" (or you can get there directly at http://www.bsnpubs.com/redbird.html). I assume we will hear new stereo on the Taragon Records CD(s). -- MC]

[ -- I'm not surprised at the response. Cary Mansfield has always paid more attention to his customers than the average record company reissue producer. And reissue producers are *way* above the average 22-year-old record company PR slug that answers (or ignores) mail at many of the labels. -- MC]

[ -- Cary Mansfield of Varese tells me that they're now working on a multi-CD project with Dick Bartley. These new CDs will have radio versions of hits, things not on CD before, etc. Included will be some new true stereo, and "(Just Like) Romeo and Juliet" will be on the series in stereo for the first time. It should be out within a few months. -- MC]

[ But not in stereo... MC]

[ -- See next post, above. -- MC]

[ -- "Paper Roses" is the Columbia remake, not the original Carlton version, if I remember correctly. These six CDs were all reviewed in various issues of BSN. -- MC]

[ -- Laurie is not still in business. They were bought by EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets in 1992 or so. For more information, please see the Laurie discography elsewhere on this web page (www.bsnpubs.com/laurie.html). -- MC]

[ -- "Walkin' My Cat Named Dog" was true stereo on the original vinyl LP, although it was hard to find a copy of the LP in stereo. "Romeo & Juliet" is being mastered from the original multi-tracks, or so I hear, so I would expect it to sound pretty nifty. -- MC]

[ -- For years, I've heard collectors tell me they'd love to get a chance to do things "right." It ought to be interesting to see how many will take the opportunity. -- MC]

[ -- I don't know if it's true, but it sounds like the story of the Atlantic fire is getting mixed in here. As you know, for Atlantic, they have said they only have the finished 45 and LP masters left, no multi-tracks, although that isn't 100% true. For Laurie, I know that Ace worked on Dion, Jarmels, Mystics, and other masters and had multitracks to work from. For that reason, I don't think the story about all Laurie tapes being lost except finished masters was true. I know that Laurie didn't like to go back to the studio to remaster for stereo (see Gene Schwartz comment on Laurie Story on the discography page -- http://www.bsnpubs.com/laurie.html). I know that most of their masters were stored at RCA and not handy. I also know that some Laurie songs are even now being remixed for stereo, for instance "Party Girl" by Bernadette Carroll. All in all, there may have been some damage, but it doesn't appear to have been as catastrophic as the Atlantic "mishap." On the other hand, I haven't seen any new Chiffons or R&R stereo lately.... -- MC]

[ -- What? How dare you!! ... Actually, I've always liked the trashcan reverb sound of the rechanneled "Little Darlin" by the Diamonds. -- MC]

[ -- The two Gold Vault CDs on Curb are the original lineups for the two albums, in the same stereo format as the original vinyl, except "Rag Doll" is stereo on the CD whereas it was rechanneled on vinyl. As far as sound quality, the sound is excellent but the hiss level is high. Without actually sitting down to rate them (as I will do in Issue #45), I'd say they sound like about a "C" or high "C." -- MC]

[ -- Thanks, John. I put up a format for things like lists of 45 edits, etc. hoping someone would pick up the ball and send in something we could all benefit from. I have info on those topics, but haven't got around to doing anything with those lists. The discography section has really taken off, as we get updates and corrections every day... some are really substantial additions. David Edwards, for instance, has been sending his years of research in, which prods me to add whatever I can and get it on the page. Dennis Dioguardi has been sending tons of material for the Laurie discography. I'm really pleased that the "BSN Family" who have been with me for so many years are pitching in to make this the kind of site we would all want. Thanks to everybody, even those who sent in information on just one LP.... every little bit helps. -- MC]

[ -- Thanks for your comments. At the very least, they brought a smile. While this topic has been beaten to death in issues of the Both Sides Now Stereo Newsletter, and I don't want to get into another long discussion, some of your points seem to call for a few extra words from us.

[He is NOT the Don Ciccone of the Critters, although he has the same name. -- MC]

[ -- I agree. One of the primary justifications for a song in mono on CD is that the mono 45 master was "different" from the stereo. This happens quite a bit. As much as I like stereo, I also like to hear the versions I heard on the radio, therefore sometimes mono is the only way to do that. That said, however, I DO object to the position that everything should be mono because 45s were mono, and that stereo has no legitimacy: that's just narrow mindedness, IMHO. As much as I love the stereo version of Ral Donner's "(What A Sad Way) To Love Someone," for example, it's not the take they used for the 45. And I miss Andy Williams' overdubbed voice on the stereo version of "Lonely Street." But I enjoy listening to the stereo versions of these songs anyway. In these cases, I agree that we absolutely need the mono 45 version to be somewhere on CD. The position that EVERYTHING should be "restored to mono" is strictly a personal preference on certain people's part. They are free to prefer that, but spare the rest of us the attempts at justifying that position for everyone. -- MC]