Raspberries – Raspberries' Best - Featuring Eric Carmen

A very basic ten-track best of, gathering the hits and most of the highlights from the Raspberries' four studio albums. The vinyl sounds okay, there's not much low end, guitars/vocals are bright and crisp throughout. My copy plays nice and clean with occasional faint surface noise.

Quiet pressing but bright and cluttered sound. The stereo separation in some songs is almost non-existant.

1/4" / 15 IPS / Dolby A analog copy to analog console to lathe

According to the Music Direct website.

https://www.musicdirect.com/music/vinyl/the-raspberries-the-raspberries-best-numbered-red-vinyl-lp/

love this album because of how quickly the songs change lol One of the coolest greatest hits albums I’ve ever come across

Overnight sensation (hit record) may be one of the worst songs ever recorded though

SX in runout marks this as a Santa Maria pressing.

Review of the MFSL Reissue comparing to this: https://www.discogs.com/Raspberries-Featuring-Eric-Carmen-Raspberries-Best-Featuring-Eric-Carmen/release/5010424
As you may know, this is not an audiophiles album, but damn does this press get near it at times.
I say that because the recording quality varies quite a bit, Side B tracks are mainly the better ones though.
The question is if this surpasses the US original and to cut the suspense short I will just say, yes. As mentioned it will vary a lot but the gist is that the US original is quite bright and thin compared to the more well rounded MFSL. The MFSL also separates more, for better and worse. I say that because some A side tracks have baked in distortion, especially on the guitars. You can hear it on the left quite easily on Go All The Way for example. I went back to my original to confirm that its there too and it is, just less apparent because the more cluttered and already bright sound hides that buzzing guitar a bit. Its sort of the same deal as with MFSLs Supertramp - Breakfast In America, where Gone Hollywoods drum distortion is more apparent with the transparent mastering. Its a tradeoff but completely reasonable given what we are working with here.
So I then compared Tonight, which is more of the same and Ecstacy which may be slightly favorable on the Original as the extra low end somewhat muffles thing a bit too much on the MFSL, but its picking between poisons really.
Overnight Sensation which is a B side track is my last stop and only took a minute before I felt satisfied. The MFSL again just sweeps the floor with the Original, giving much nicer separation and balance in tone. Mind you it rarely ever has great bass, its instead about toning down that edge on the Original and making the album crankable.
Speaking of, the Original is quite a bit louder than the MFSL which makes it hard to be completely fair between them. But in this case I feel its just too obvious as to what I prefer anyway, so no point in drawing this out.
As for printing I am a bit disappointed with the MFSLs sleeve however, quite blurry and poorly saturated. I get that its a budget product but some basic digital touch ups would have been easy to do and appreciated.
At least the red and black record looks rad and plays well too.

Equipment Used:
Technics SL-1210GR Turntable
ATVM95ML Cartridge
Cyrus 2 Amplifier
System Fidelity SF-3050 Tower Speakers

As you may know, this is not an audiophiles album, but damn does this press get near it at times.
I say that because the recording quality varies quite a bit, Side B tracks are mainly the better ones though.
The question is if this surpasses the US original and to cut the suspense short I will just say, yes. As mentioned it will vary a lot but the gist is that the US original is quite bright and thin compared to the more well rounded MFSL. The MFSL also separates more, for better and worse. I say that because some A side tracks have baked in distortion, especially on the guitars. You can hear it on the left quite easily on Go All The Way for example. I went back to my original to confirm that its there too and it is, just less apparent because the more cluttered and already bright sound hides that buzzing guitar a bit. Its sort of the same deal as with MFSLs Supertramp - Breakfast In America, where Gone Hollywoods drum distortion is more apparent with the transparent mastering. Its a tradeoff but completely reasonable given what we are working with here.
So I then compared Tonight, which is more of the same and Ecstacy which may be slightly favorable on the Original as the extra low end somewhat muffles thing a bit too much on the MFSL, but its picking between poisons really.
Overnight Sensation which is a B side track is my last stop and only took a minute before I felt satisfied. The MFSL again just sweeps the floor with the Original, giving much nicer separation and balance in tone. Mind you it rarely ever has great bass, its instead about toning down that edge on the Original and making the album crankable.
Speaking of, the Original is quite a bit louder than the MFSL which makes it hard to be completely fair between them. But in this case I feel its just too obvious as to what I prefer anyway, so no point in drawing this out.
As for printing I am a bit disappointed with the MFSLs sleeve however, quite blurry and poorly saturated. I get that its a budget product but some basic digital touch ups would have been easy to do and appreciated.
At least the red and black record looks rad and plays well too.

Equipment Used:
Technics SL-1210GR Turntable
ATVM95ML Cartridge
Cyrus 2 Amplifier
System Fidelity SF-3050 Tower Speakers

This is a good reissue. I like what MFSL was able to do here. Nice full, warm, hard rockin sound pressed into these grooves. Soundstage is nice and wide with a driving low end and good midrange detail. Vocals sound dynamic, drums are punchy and the instruments are balance well. I can hear the induvidual instruments crystal clear. Never sounds muddy or distorted. Quality pressing, no flaws, couple of clicks and pops between tracks but never during the songs. A very pleasant listening experience.

This compilation version is loud and righteous. Ultimate moodlifter. Really great pressing. Love the liner notes. More liner notes than any record I have.

I don't know what to make of the decision to make a "Best of" album with very short (i.e. "NO") gaps in between songs and I'm guessing someone's ego and poor foresight did this. (My two cents only)