Re: Elvis vinyl related discussion

[Sweet-Angeline]

MBM put out some very classy vinyl for sure

[Alexander72]

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Great lp s one frome France and Elvis Country UK original.

Have the UK Elvis Country with bonus photo in my collection, never saw this French compilation before. Label is simular to this well-known French release: https://www.discogs.com/release/4433603 ... is-Presley and is apperently a budget label. Anymore releases on that label?

On the subject of mono mixes, if my information is solid... (So please correct me if I am wrong).

Period of real dedicated mono mixes

1954 - 1968:

RCA made monomixes of (all?) Elvis recordings until about the end of 1968.This means that the mono versions were not simply "fold-downs" (stereo merged into mono), but mixed versions with sometimes noticeable differences in balance, EQ, dynamics etc.

Bilbo, I thought about this a bit. I don't think that the UK pressings can have different mixes of anything.

Before 1969 or so,the final mix was done during recording session. My guess is that in the Elvis world,recording systems with more than 3 tracks were used in the Memphis -69 sessions for the first time.

Up until then the systems were basically 3 tracks:
1.
2&3: the rest of the musicians mixed to 2 tracks, which were used as left and right channel and therefore created a stereo image.

In the fifties,everything was mixed during the session,even Elvis's vocal. So you could not separate it from the band after the session. And Let's leave the binaural backup tapes out of this discussion...

In order to "mix" these afterwards, it would mean that you would need the multrack 3-track tapes and even then you can only mix the balance of Elvis vs. Rest of the instruments and vocals.

And I'm pretty sure that RCA did not send the original 3-track session tapes or even copies of them to the UK for remixing

So, the mono and stereo releases could have had different mastering. That means that the equalization,limiting and compression settings could have been different. For a listener it might seem like a certain instrument is heard differently,but that's because every instrument (and vocal) is produced with certain frequenzies and if those frequenzies are emphazised in the mastering process, the instruments/vocals in those frequenzies are heard louder. And vice versa.

Thank for the analysis!

You are very right. In my post about the mono mixes I was referring to the mixes made in the US. And these mixes were sent out to pressing plants in the rest of the world. The tapes sent were 2nd generation copies at best. In the UK, they were definitely remastered to the "UK taste" in sound. At least in the 50's and early 60's.

Bilbobaggins probably is right that RCA would sent mixed 2nd generation tapes to production facilities worldwide. From Elvis In Memphis was never mixed as a MONO album in the US so in this case the UK lacquer cutter had to "fold-down" the STEREO tape for a MONO record. I was really in awe when I first played the MONO record last week. JohnnyByeBye is so right: you can still make a hell of a difference in mastering as the Brits did. It's an excellent listening experience.

[Bilbobaggins]

Today I went to a small local vinyl (and beer) store to buy me some protective outer sleeves. Taking a quick look around I saw a US pressing of "Elvis 68 NBC TV Special" in a box with 2nd hand vinyl. Looking at the vinyl there wasn't the faintest sign of a hairline to be seen. So I took it home and gave it a quick clean. It sounds NM to me. If I am not mistaken it is a 1968 Hollywood pressing.

Maybe one of you US vinyl experts (Alexander72?) can confirm this?

[JohnnyByeBye]

Bilbo,you are so lucky!! Complete with original inner sleeve...Looks absolutely beautiful,congratulations!

[elvis-fan]

Today I went to a small local vinyl (and beer) store to buy me some protective outer sleeves. Taking a quick look around I saw a US pressing of "Elvis 68 NBC TV Special" in a box with 2nd hand vinyl. Looking at the vinyl there wasn't the faintest sign of a hairline to be seen. So I took it home and gave it a quick clean. It sounds NM to me. If I am not mistaken it is a 1968 Hollywood pressing.

Correct... as it's a 10S and rigid, it's a '68 Hollywood pressing. You should also see an H in the runout...
Nice find!

[colonel snow]

In the lead-out groove you'll find a code to recognize the pressing.
Here an explanation:

In 1963 another set of codes was introduced.

1st character (year recorded)
W = 1968

2nd character (label designation)

3rd character (size & speed)
A: master tape (also B, C)
K: 7" 45rpm
L: 7" 33rpm
P: 10" 33rpm
R: 12" 33prm

4th character (description)
A: stereo EP
B: mono EP
M: mono
S: stereo
T: quadrophonic
1: New York City recording
2: Chicago recording (discontinued in 1973)
3: Hollywood recording
4: Nashville recording
5: outside recording
6: foreign recording (?)

Plant identication of stampers
I = Indianapolis
H = Hollywood
R = Rockaway

A1 = first mold made from first master
A3 = third mold made from first master
C2 = second mold made from third master

This is not the master as recorded!!!

colonel snow

[Bilbobaggins]

Today I went to a small local vinyl (and beer) store to buy me some protective outer sleeves. Taking a quick look around I saw a US pressing of "Elvis 68 NBC TV Special" in a box with 2nd hand vinyl. Looking at the vinyl there wasn't the faintest sign of a hairline to be seen. So I took it home and gave it a quick clean. It sounds NM to me. If I am not mistaken it is a 1968 Hollywood pressing.

Correct... as it's a 10S and rigid, it's a '68 Hollywood pressing. You should also see an H in the runout...
Nice find!

Indeed, there is a H on the runout.

[colonel snow]

What is the complete code in the lead-out groove?
After pressing thousands of records a new mold was used for the next serie of pressings.


colonel snow

[Bilbobaggins]

What is the complete code in the lead-out groove?
After pressing thousands of records a new mold was used for the next serie of pressings.


colonel snow

Side 1: WPRM 8051 10S H
Side 2: WPRM 8052 9S H