Big Star – 3rd

Utterly fantastic pressing, clean, detailed, warm and dead quiet!!! The music an absolute masterpiece too!

I have an early copy that is well pressed and centered. This is a treasure--it sounds a generation or two better than the PVC, being both smoother and more detailed. In fact it is hauntingly in the room. I'm fond of this running order as well.

This was advertised as direct from masters which 4 Men With Beards rarely claims. Reviews for sound quality on Steve Hoffman Forum were excellent though some had off-centered pressings. The blurb "Also known as Sister Lovers - Big Star's legendary 3rd album has been released and re-released countless times around the world with different track listings, different mixes, and different cover art. Now for the first time since it's debut release in 1978 this is being re-released as a vinyl LP with the original cover art, including the innersleeve with the complete detailed liner notes and the original mixes and track listing. The master tape coming directly from Ardent Studios provides the highest sound quality for this vinyl classic -- available as it was first released 28 years ago. 180 gram audiophile vinyl."

I just read through the reviews here and I hate to be "that guy"...but... I had a sealed copy that I hadn't opened until last year. This thing is noisy, even after having been scrubbed with the Opera Consonance/Audio Intelligent wet vacuum system... musically, this is, of course, one of the masterpieces of the '70s, in all it's various versions... Even as a noisy pressing, I think this beats the Aura and PVC versions, but the best sounding version is the one compiled by Rykodisc in 1992, which was CD only. I don't know how 4 men with beards mastered this, or what source they used, but it is certainly different than the Rykodisc. I'm glad other people seem to have gotten better quality copies of this, so I am sticking this review out here as my personal experience. I've listened to this copy before and after cleaning, with Denon 103 and micro line ortofon carts, on two separate turntables, and it's Rice Krispies time, even after cleaning. I've avoided 4 men with beards due to quality issues back in the day, both with the quality of the pressing and the mastering on their White Light White Heat and Marble Index by Nico reissues, and this one continues the losing streak for me. YMMV, caveat emptor, etc. I'd put up with a digitally sourced reissue if it sounded like the Ryko and was pressed on clean vinyl...

very good pressing! very dynamic and detailed. feels very analogue.
I am not a fan of 4men LP's, but this one is the exception!

This album is a national treasure. Big Star's first two albums definitely had a strong influence on the later Indie scene, but this album had a profound influence on it...its blueprint is inescapable here, especially considering recording was finalized in 1975! Alex Chilton bared his soul here and I'm so grateful that he did, because some of my favorite bands were inspired to make their own art as a result of the mental turmoil that he manifested into something beautiful. One half of the batch is melancholy and could bring one down in a certain state, while the other half is quite joyous and light-hearted! It's not divided up by sides, though, so you'll have to determine that on your own. :D
I got into Big Star through This Mortal Coil's covers of both "Holocaust" and "Kangaroo", so I'm thankful for their homage that led me to discover the work of Alex Chilton and co.
As others have said, even though it's a 4MWB pressing, it sounds lovely: lively, lush, and squeaky-clean playback. The track listing on this release, as compared to the first UK edition & US test pressings, is far superior imo. "Stroke It, Noel" as an opener, and the addition of "Big Black Car" & "You Can't Have Me"? C'mon now!

Most of you probably already have strong feelings about this album already.
However, if you came across this album and haven't listened to it yet, here's your validation to take the dive. Go for it-you won't regret it. :)

I have the misfortune of owning a quartet of 4MWB re-issues, and this is the only one that sounds and looks professional.

Reclaimed a copy after selling it a few years back. What a mistake that was, but fortunately these are floating around for reasonable prices nowadays. If 4 Men With Beards have any diamonds in their largely offensive catalog, this is that diamond. It sounds great. Why they can't do this with all of their releases is beyond my comprehension. My copy is fairly quiet and the disc itself is flat. The mastering sounds superb. Save your money on those expensive box sets and pick this one up.

nice pressing, sounds great. good job all round.

Great, warm sound. Absolutely recommended