WDADU: Original or Remaster

[MajorMatt]

I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I'm interested to know which you prefer and why?

[darkshade]

I believe the remaster is just a little louder than the original, otherwise, it's the same record production-wise.

[Ħ]

Neither.

[snapple]

the remaster is ever so slightly cleaner, imo

[Bolsters]

Neither.

Pretty much.

[BlobVanDam]

Neither.

That.

Also, I don't think DT get any money from the sales of the remaster. Or maybe they don't get money from the regular one either, because it's all the old label. I can't remember.

Better just not buy any version, just to be safe.

[TheGreatPretender]

Usually, I do go for the Reunite, if I listen to it. But if I ever feel like listening to Charlie, I just go with the remaster. I mean, even if it's just louder, that still means I don't have to turn my sound up quite as much.

[Lolzeez]

Neither.

Pretty much.

yup

[wolfking]

I don't even know if my copy is an original or a remaster.

[YtseJamittaja]

I don't even know if my copy is an original or a remaster.

Me too! I think there's no really much difference.

[?]

Haven't heard the remaster, my CD is the original one.

[me7]

To me, the original sounds "broken" like a cheap demo while the remaster sounds like a properly produced CD.
Maybe I should compare them again since so many people here disagree.

[ZirconBlue]

the remaster is ever so slightly cleaner, imo

This.  Although to my ears it seems to sound worse as the album proceeds.  Like they got tired of doing the remastering and just quit after 3-4 songs.

[TheGreatPretender]

the remaster is ever so slightly cleaner, imo

This.  Although to my ears it seems to sound worse as the album proceeds.  Like they got tired of doing the remastering and just quit after 3-4 songs.

Can you blame them? The first 4 songs are the ones worth listening to.

[iamtheeviltwin]

Not entirely germane to the poll, but out of curiosity for those better acquainted with live catalog from the band.  What are the best LaBrie versions of each song? 

I am not thrilled with WDADRU, but Afterlife from Score was incredible.  I am thinking about making a compilation version of the album with the best of James' performances.

Basically asking partially because I am lazy and some of you (wasteland, for example) who have a great catalog of live performances can give me some better insight.

[ZirconBlue]

Not entirely germane to the poll, but out of curiosity for those better acquainted with live catalog from the band.  What are the best LaBrie versions of each song? 

I am not thrilled with WDADRU, but Afterlife from Score was incredible.  I am thinking about making a compilation version of the album with the best of James' performances.

Basically asking partially because I am lazy and some of you (wasteland, for example) who have a great catalog of live performances can give me some better insight.

I'm going to put a plug in for my favorite version of AH/THK from Old Bridge 12/14/96.  I just recently got the Official Bootleg of that show, but that one was on the Hollow Years single, so I've been enjoying it for years. 

[ytserush]

Generous helpings of both please...

[jonnybaxy]

I have neither and don't plan on getting them for a while...

[hefdaddy42]

Remastered crappy-sounding recordings are still crappy-sounding recordings.

[BlobVanDam]

Remastered crappy-sounding recordings are still crappy-sounding recordings.

As they say, you can't polish a turd.

Relax, people, I'm only talking about the production.


And yes, I'm aware that the Mythbusters managed to polish a turd, but you know what? It was still a turd. It was just a shinier turd.

[Cyclopssss]

I think the overal comments are a bit harsh. Yeah, it's no I&W, but I always found there's plenty of enjoyable moments on it. Plus, for a debut album, it's a fuckin' stunner.

[wolfking]

I think it's just a great little album.  Sure when you compare to to their rest of their work it's pretty ordinary, but taking it for what it is, it's a great record.

[slycordinator]

Also, I don't think DT get any money from the sales of the remaster. Or maybe they don't get money from the regular one either, because it's all the old label. I can't remember.

They'd have to be paid the songwriting royalties, although that'd be far less than what you get for performing a new song for an album.

[DarkAnother]

I think it's just a great little album.  Sure when you compare to to their rest of their work it's pretty ordinary, but taking it for what it is, it's a great record.

Little ?! The Killing Hand, Status Seeker, Ytsejam and Afterlife are so good ! This album is clearly underrated and is everything but "a little" thing !

[goo-goo]

Also, I don't think DT get any money from the sales of the remaster. Or maybe they don't get money from the regular one either, because it's all the old label. I can't remember.

They'd have to be paid the songwriting royalties, although that'd be far less than what you get for performing a new song for an album.

Yeah. DT doesn't own the WDADU recordings. They have no input whatsoever on reissues or repackaging or anything at all. I guess it was easier and cheaper to re-record WDADU (for the official bootleg) than buying out the recordings from the label that currently owns them.

[TheGreatPretender]

Yeah. DT doesn't own the WDADU recordings. They have no input whatsoever on reissues or repackaging or anything at all. I guess it was easier and cheaper to re-record WDADU (for the official bootleg) than buying out the recordings from the label that currently owns them.

Plus that way they could have James LaBrie on the vocals.

[Lolzeez]

Yeah. DT doesn't own the WDADU recordings. They have no input whatsoever on reissues or repackaging or anything at all. I guess it was easier and cheaper to re-record WDADU (for the official bootleg) than buying out the recordings from the label that currently owns them.

Plus that way they could have James LaBrie on the vocals.

And that Metropolis solo battle.

[devieira73]

Yeah. DT doesn't own the WDADU recordings. They have no input whatsoever on reissues or repackaging or anything at all. I guess it was easier and cheaper to re-record WDADU (for the official bootleg) than buying out the recordings from the label that currently owns them.

Plus that way they could have James LaBrie on the vocals.

The "reunite" version was in that good intention, no doubt. But it's still a live version and I still miss a good studio version of that album (from my point of view, a remix could fix all the problems). And personally my favorite song from WDADU is Light Fuse and Get Away and I don't like that much the WDADR arrangement and James performance particulary on this song.

[TheGreatPretender]

The "reunite" version was in that good intention, no doubt. But it's still a live version and I still miss a good studio version of that album (from my point of view, a remix could fix all the problems). And personally my favorite song from WDADU is Light Fuse and Get Away and I don't like that much the WDADR arrangement and James performance particulary on this song.

Well, it's a trade off, isn't it? I mean, even if a proper remix could fix the production issues, I still think Reunite sounds better than what we currently have. Frankly, in a perfect world, I think WDADU would be completely re-recorded in studio with the current lineup, and some tweaks to the instrumentations and the vocal melodies and phrasing. But obviously that's never gonna happen.

[devieira73]

Well, it's a trade off, isn't it? I mean, even if a proper remix could fix the production issues, I still think Reunite sounds better than what we currently have. Frankly, in a perfect world, I think WDADU would be completely re-recorded in studio with the current lineup, and some tweaks to the instrumentations and the vocal melodies and phrasing. But obviously that's never gonna happen.

I understand your point. But my "problem" is that I really love the original version of WDADU. Well, in an ultra-perfect-impossible world, WDADU should be reissued this way in its 25th anniversary:

CD1: original recordings remixed/remastered
CD2: 2014 studio version (with Mangini of course!)
DVD: WDADR 15th anniversary

Maybe on Ytsejam Records?!

[TheGreatPretender]

Yes, well, we can always dream, can't we?

[me7]

Who knows, maybe a day will come that will unite with this dream....

[hefdaddy42]

No, it's done.  Dream another dream.

[IdoSC]

Live versions of songs from Score/8V/BCSL/ADTOE tour > Live versions from '92-'98 > Reunite > Remaster > original

[fisotteke]

Original or not, it's a hell of a album. It's got my all time favorite on it. (Only a matter of time)