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Reviews: Aretha's Gold

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Reviews: 4

Review by Audio Ed February 14, 2014 (1 of 1 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:
This may be the best we will get from these recordings but they are not the greatest in sound. Anyone reading this is familiar with the performance so there is no need to speak to that. The sound is good, just not great. We have come to expect more from MOFI we just don't get it here. I suspect that the masters just don't contain much info. I do not regret the purchase, I was just hoping for more.

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Review by tmitchmd February 18, 2014 (3 of 3 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:
MoFi has produced one for the ages. Hiss in abundance, the wizards have extracted every delicious morsel contained in the original Rhino masters. Wide sound stage, reasonable depth, biting horns, brilliant back ups, warm and crispy throughout. You know and love these tunes, but you've never felt them so viscerally. Forty minutes and 15 seconds of Aretha bliss...

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Review by analogue March 4, 2014 (4 of 4 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:
Was I ever impressed and pleasantly surprised by this new Mofi effort. I figured that the tape source would be in rough condition ala the Ray Charles releases but such is not the case.

I own the Ted Jenson box set and I believe that the mastering and sound quality is very good. This new Mofi sacd is on another level though. The additional Dsd resolution, the Mofi tape player and the subsequent improvements since the early 90's of digital transfers have made the new sacd the thing to listen to.

For starters.....bass and drums are very solid. The back ground singers really shine. There is air, hiss and a slight, natural reverb from the studio that is awesome to hear. There is a slight strain on Aretha's voice....even her pipes countnt match the intensity of the band. It seems that this recording did nothing to push the band to the back. Rather its Aretha that needs to struggle to match their volume. The fact that one can hear this for the first time is pretty amazing. THats not to say that Franklins voice is not up front. It is. But not all the time.

As for Frankins voice............its just a beautiful thing to hear. For soul music she was on her own level with not much competition. All other cd presentations only hinted at how good she sounded. Now however.........you can literally feel, through sound, her mouth forming the words.

Its not like this sacd sounds like it was recorded yesterday....thats not what Im trying to say. This sacd simply makes for a very beautiful musical facsimile of the sessions recorded during the time frame. There is simply a very authentic mid to late 60;s feel. Its a little gritty and raw but also beautiful and truthful. Id never heard the sax solo on respect sound so good before. At times the background singers leap out at you.

This sacd must be played loudly as per the norm. If ones system allows for it....there is so much analogue goodness to be had. There is no dilution of sound here....just powerful, dynamic music. Sometimes gutsy and sometimes tender and soulful. But it always makes you feel good because its so darn great. The talent is undeniable.

As a collection of songs its stellar. And there were more to come.

Excellent job Mr. Loverde.
Highly recommended.

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Review by tdunster March 5, 2014 (1 of 1 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:
I wasn't expecting much and too my surprise I was completely blown away by how good this sacd sounds. Sure there's a bucket load of hiss to contend with you will be too involved simply enjoying the music to even notice, let alone be bothered by it.

Technically speaking there will be a lot better quality recordings out there but this one makes you feel like you have been transported back into a 1960's studio to hear these tracks laid down for the very first time.

MoFi have hit the ball out of the park once again. Brilliant.

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