Not Remastered
David Gasten | Denver CO USA | 04/12/2008
(2 out of 5 stars)
"It's really unusual for me to buy a box set that has just been released, as I usually wait until I see it used and then buy it. But I've been wanting to get the old Toto records for a while now, and when I saw this I thought it was perfect, because I didn't have any of them on CD as of yet and thought it would be a great space saving solution (as was the Queensryche "Revolution Calling" box set). The drummer in my swing band is a Jeff Procaro fan, so we split the cost so she could download all the tracks and listen to Jeff and I could have the little baby Toto collection.
Having just received it in the mail, I really would only recommend it for people who are in my situation and are either looking to save space and/or don't own these albums yet. Here's an overview:
--Not remastered. They sound OK for what I'm needing but I can hear the lack of bass and slightly tinny sound of a late 80's digital mastering job. I remember "Mushanga" being a lot warmer sounding on vinyl, for example.
--Crappy artwork on the mini-sleeves. The cover of "Hydra" and the painting on "Farenheit" have that infamous diamond-textured look that you'll get if you don't scan something correctly. The "Toto IV" front cover is BLOCKY with a capital "B"! It looks like they took it off a 72 psi scan made for the Internet (no kidding!)--it really looks awful. A couple of times (as in "Toto IV" and "The Seventh One") they try to approximate the vinyl packaging (with inferior scans of course), but many times, as with "Hydra", it looks like they are looking off the old CD's rather than the vinyl. It's a pretty amateur-looking hack job that I could do myself with Photoshop (with the possible exception of "Turn Back" which looks pretty good). Makes me wish I had kept my Toto vinyl for the artwork.
--The DVD of "Greatest Hits Live and More" (formerly "Toto Live" on VHS). The concert is well-edited and was recorded at Le Zenith in Paris on October of 1990. This DVD comes with a couple of interesting extras. One extra is an interview with the band that Jeff Procaro dominates that was shot in Holland in 1988 and is interspersed with clips of their old music videos. The other is a Behind the Scenes promo for the "Tambu" album from 1995, which is fun. This DVD is available separately, as all of you Toto fans know. It's a fun disc, but everything looks like it's taken from VHS masters.
--A flimsy, bare bones 12-page booklet with credits for the songs and some short recollections from David Paich on each of the albums. Interesting, but nothing to kill for, as it fills one page with gaps to spare.
I hope this helps all you Toto fans who are wondering what's in this box. Don't rebuy everything if you don't have to. If you like having the Mini LP sleeves, don't buy it for that either because they look really bad. Only buy it if you do not have the albums already, as was my situation.
--David Gasten"
Bare bones/lack of respect for a ToTo collection in the US
Michael J. Sippie | Costa Mesa, CA | 04/14/2008
(1 out of 5 stars)
"I would just like to comment on what the previous reviewer stated.
I do not own this collection, but I know exactly what he is talking about. And for a band that is so tight and clean. you would think they earned a delux set, not just a bare boned transfer that Sony has done here. I own the 2005 DSD remastered Japan editions. These are much more worthy of you hard earned dollar. All artwork is clean and sharp. The colors are fresh and clean. Not like the US CD issues. As mention in the previous post. The US editions are flat interms of sound and a faded looking cover art.
But when you play the japenese editions you hear the HUGE difference in sound. The volume level just alone, and you do get that warm sound feel on the 7th one CD+ a bonus Track called the 7th one, which is a kinda jam session. That song is only available on the Japenese editon.
It seems like Japan does everything right, great remastering, bonus tracks, sometimes extra booklets. Anyway not to get to much off the subject. It would be nice here in America TOTO would get the delux treatment of there 1st 7 albums. Including some bonus tracks and demos.
If anyone is interested in getting there ToTo collection started with Japenese DSD Mastered editons, I have 2 extra copies of the 1st album and Isolation album in that form for sale. I know this series is out of print, but is for sale on ebay from different sellers. Usualy about 20.00 to 37.00 per + shipping. Depends on the which one you want. If you want to buy one of 2 I have for sale shot me an e-mail mikesippie@yahoo.com. Maybe one day SONY will get it right.....We alwys have to pay top dollar for the imports Mike S.
"
Remastered?
B. Foster | Ohio | 03/20/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Are these CD's remastered/upgraded from the versions that were originally issued on CD? (It would make sense, since the sound quality varied so greatly among Toto's CD releases. But the marketing info available so far is completely silent about that particular detail) Anyone?.....hello?"
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1