Superb mastering; sub-par vinyl
3 Stars
Posted
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
by
RCG
The pressing quality of this record is not as bad as my copy of Whipped Cream, which suffered a very wavy surface and hazy looking vinyl, symptoms of an overheated vinyl biscuit. Here again, we have wavy vinyl, and the slight haze. This time, the playback is mostly acceptable but still, two different titles pressed at the same plant with the same sloppy press operators? Not good.
I and anyone else buying vinyl would gladly pay an extra $2 to have RTI, QRP, Pallas, etc. press these competently. And, to get something other than the thinnest paper sleeve I've ever seen.
And this is a shame. Bernie Grundman's mastering is once again superb, allowing me to hear details in this lifelong favorite which I have never heard before. The music is a nice change, Alpert's arrangements upending the tiredold Christmas songs to create something unique. Musically, I highly recommend it. Otherwise, be prepared for disappointing pressings on this and other Herb Alpert Presents titles.