This release was part of the CBS Master Sound Audiophile series of recordings
Half Speed Mastered
There are "normal" pressings of vinyl and then there are the audiophile releases, where the record label/artist attempt to provide the best possible media and audio material to the listener.
To get the best from this type of recording, you need VERY GOOD equipment in your audio system, beginning at the styli, the cartridge, the turntable, the preamp, the amp, speaker cabling and finally the speakers and after all that, the audio system environment is also critical. It's of no benefit to have an absolutely fantastic audio system but placed in a small room with multiple sound reflections etc - your music will always sound bad, no matter how great the source material is.
That is not to say "normal" vinyl is no good, but these audiophile releases have the potential to take the listener up to a higher level in musical enjoyment.
I can tell you with all honesty, this audiophile album release sounds very different to a "standard" vinyl release - not only is the vinyl quieter but the musicality is significantly better.
So what is the big deal about the CBS Master Sound releases?
CBS Master Sound was a process comprising two main "parts"
THE SOURCE:
The lacquer master is critical in the pressing process, and it is here that CBS focused their efforts. Instead of the master tape and master lacquer moving in real time, both machines were run at half speed. This is not an easy task and CBS made extensive modifications to their equipment to enable this process.
The intended result is that the power required for the cutting head is reduced by a factor of 4, reducing the load on the power amplifiers and allowing for a more linear transfer. The cutting stylus is able to trace the grooves more accurately which result in significant improvements in frequency response, distortion and transient response. Crosstalk between channels is also dramatically reduced and high energy passages of music can be cut without distortion being greatly increased,
THE PRESSING:
Secondly the pressing is different, actually the vinyl material used is different with a new vinyl composition being created by CBS.
The stamper cross-sectional contour was improved and the record weight increased.
Special, strict quality control tests were applied to the Master Sound series
CBS attempted to create a vinyl release of the very highest quality audio possible and certainly far more advanced than standard vinyl pressings.
This vinyl was not cheap originally as it cost CBS a great deal to bring this audiophile series to the market and their retail prices (in the day) reflected this - for many listeners, these releases were a real test of the home audio setup.
Neil Diamond - You Don't Bring Me Flowers
CBA Mastersound Records
Cat# CBSH 86077
Runout/Matrix codes (stamped)
CBS 86077-A HAL 35625-2AB
CBS 86077-B HBL 356225-2AB
1980 - this is a special audiophile reissue
European release (cover indicates made in Holland, record label indicates made in Germany)
DELETION PRODUCT: This does NOT indicate there is anything wrong with the vinyl but it occasionally happened that the record label sales were not as expected and an issue was "deleted" from sale. Most often a diagonal cut across one corner or a small hole is drilled right through the cover (not the vinyl though!)
With this copy, deletion is obvious by observing the the small hole punched through the entire cover, lower right hand corner.
Cover is in very good condition, no tears, edges have very light handling wear (normal), no writing. There is a couple of light marks on the pale matt front cover.
This copy does NOT have the "standard" insert of a 4 page multi-language explanation of the processes used in producing a Mastersound release.
High quality original (clean) inner lined acid free paper sleeve
Vinyl is in very good condition, visually nspected under a white halogen light source I can see NO scratches on each side. However just giving a visual inspection can be deceptive and I then played both sides ENTIRELY, every track. This is a very very nice recording, takes you back to the days when just about 1 in 3 households had at least one album from Neil Diamond.
New outer protective plastic sleeve
TRACKS: The American Popular Song, Forever In Blue Jeans, Remember Me, You've Got Your Troubles, You Don't Bring Me Flowers (Duet With Barbra Streisand), The Dancing Bumble Bee/Bumble Boogie, Mothers And Daughters Fathers And Sons, Memphis Flyer, Say Maybe, Diamond Girls
