Search - Humble Pie :: Performance Rockin the Filmore

UH, "R. DIAZ"? YOU PURCHASED & REVIEWED THE WRONG CD

BOB | LOS ANGELES, CA | 04/11/2008

(1 out of 5 stars)

"
Reviewer "R. Diaz" of Seattle has posted three Humble Pie reviews. As he posted on this page, one assumes he purchased this Fillmore Japan edition.



This release is an older, jewel case CD that has been re-pressed for years in Japan. As the Japan CD market is far smaller than the U.S.'s, Japan companies constantly re-press CD's in far smaller quantities. Yes, it is the same master that is used for the U.S. domestic version, and yes, it sucks... but it's NOT the 2007 remaster, which I assure you, is phenomenal.



Unfortunately, the 2007 remaster, which was only released in mini-sleeve format, was sold out when it originally streeted in Japan and never made it into Amazon inventory. As of this writing, it has not been re-pressed. However, many people, including myself, have posted reviews on the 2007 remasters, quite rightly raving about them.



So, "R" just picked the only other Japan release he could find on Amazon without matching the release date. Then he compounded the problem by mistakenly posting an erroneous review, which, unfortunately by the vote count, is now also erroneously influencing other readers. Hopefully, "R" will read this, and correct his mistake, by removing his review.



I have loaded the image for the 2007 Japan mini-sleeve remaster above, and as you can see, the OBI is completely different.



WHAT IS A JAPAN "MINI-LP-SLEEVE" CD?



Have you ever lamented the loss of one of the 20th Century's great art forms, the 12" vinyl LP jacket? Then "mini-LP-sleeve" CD's may be for you.



Mini-sleeve CDs are manufactured in Japan under license. The disc is packaged inside a 135MM X 135MM cardboard precision-miniature replica of the original classic vinyl-LP album. Also, anything contained in the original LP, such as gatefolds, booklets, lyric sheets, posters, printed LP sleeves, stickers, embosses, special LP cover paper/inks/textures and/or die cuts, are precisely replicated and included. An English-language lyric sheet is always included, even if the original LP did not have printed lyrics.



Then, there's the sonic quality: Often (but not always), mini-sleeves have dedicated remastering (20-Bit, 24-Bit, DSD, K2/K2HD, and/or HDCD), and can often (but not always) be superior to the audio on the same title anywhere else in the world. There also may be bonus tracks unavailable elsewhere.



Each Japan mini-sleeve has an "obi" ("oh-bee"), a removable Japan-language promotional strip. The obi lists the Japan street date of that particular release, the catalog number, the mastering info, and often the original album's release date. Bonus tracks are only listed on the obi, maintaining the integrity of the original LP artwork. The obi's are collectable, and should not be discarded.



All mini-sleeve releases are limited edition, but re-pressings/re-issues are becoming more common (again, not always). The enthusiasm of mini-sleeve collecting must be tempered, however, with avoiding fake mini-sleeves manufactured in Russia and distributed throughout the world, primarily on eBay. They are inferior in quality, worthless in collectable value, a total waste of money, and should be avoided at all costs."

I'm sorry, but...

R. Diaz | Seattle, WA USA | 01/06/2008

(1 out of 5 stars)

"...this only applies to the Japanese version of the 5-star album. Everyone's raging about this Japanese version, so I bought it, paying the extra cash. What is the difference? There is none; Zero. All you get is a "Made In Japan" label, a cute little sleevelet on the left, the worst translation of lyrics on the face of the Earth that makes the translated lyrics to Cheap Trick's "Live At Budokan" look more tangible and zero difference in audio quality. One may debate that such is not the case; Good, that's subjective then. Save yourself the money, buy the American version and crank it louder. That'll make up for the difference and you can afford a decent lunch on what you save. Bon Appetit and ROCK ON!"

Rockin' indeed

Glenn Peach | Michigan | 10/16/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is one of the all time best live recordings, although that is a small group. the other reviewer states it never got it's due. This album was the highest selling live album in history untill it was knocked off by Frampton Comes Alive which remains today as the highest selling live album. I'd say it had it's due. If you like Rock'N' Roll you'll like this performance."