Best Pressing Shootouts

This is where I’m collecting links to all my “Best Pressing Shootouts.” I’m going to try to organize these in a useful way, by genre and label. But this may develop over time… Winners are bolded and underlined. Since I’m always updating my hifi, I occasionally return to an earlier comparison to evaluate it in light of an improved system. When I do, I mark them with a red *Revisited.

Everything But Jazz

A

• Azymuth, Águia Não Come Mosca — 1977 Atlantic Brazil Original vs. 2019 Mr. Bongo Reissue

The Beatles

• Abbey Road: 1981 Blue Box vs. 2009 Remaster vs. 2019 Giles Martin Remix
• Rubber Soul: 1981 Blue Box* vs. 1995 Direct Metal Master (Side 1 sounded worse than DMM; Side 2 significantly better)
• Sgt. Pepper: 1981 Blue Box vs. 1983 Canadian pressing vs. 2017 Giles Martin Remix *Revisited!

C

• Can, Tago Mago: 1971 UK First Pressing vs. 1981 Celluloid France reissue
• Can, Tago Mago Take Two!: 1971 UK First Pressing vs. 1981 Celluloid France reissue vs. 2014 Spoon Remaster

R

• The Rolling Stones, Beggars Banquet: 70s Decca UK vs. 2003 DSD Remaster

Y

• Yo La Tengo, Painful: 1993 first pressing vs. 2011 reissue.

Jazz

Atlantic

• Charles Mingus, The Clown: 1961 Atlantic USA vs. 1972 Warner-Pioneer Japan reissue

Blue Note

• Ornette Coleman Trio, At the “Golden Circle” Volume One: 1966 New York USA (RVG, Plastylite) vs. 1977 King Japan reissue *Revisited!
• Eric Dolphy, Out to Lunch: 1977 King Japan vs. 2015 Music Matters *Revisited!

Contemporary

• Prince Lasha Quintet, The Cry!: Yellow Label 1963 (D3 stamper) vs. 1975 King Japan reissue

Impulse!

• Charles Mingus, The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady: 1963 Impulse vs. 1963 Sparton vs. 1975 Impulse Japan (Toshiba) vs. 2019 Vital Vinyl *Revisited!
• Charles Mingus, Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus: 1968 ABC Impulse vs. 1979 MCA Japan *Revisited!

Prestige

• Eric Dolphy, Out There: 1969 Prestige Blue Trident Stereo vs. 1968 Xtra UK Stereo vs. 1975 Toshiba-EMI Japan Stereo vs. 1977 Victor Japan Mono