Gentle Giant – Free Hand

It would sound excellent, but my copy had significant pops and clicks in the first track of both the original master transfer and the Steven Wilson version. There's also a visible scratch on the deadwax at the end of side A of the Steven Wilson version straight out of the packaging.

If this is indicative of the quality control from this pressing plant, I'd advise passing on this release.

I might as well write it here since it doesn't make any difference... A long time ago when I got into Gentle Giant ( the 1980's about 5 years after they broke up SEE I WAS BORN IN 1969 although that was a very cool year for music and films ) Being born in 1969 the only two music rock artists I got out of the 1970's was seeing Elvis in 1975 and getting into The Beatles around 1976 and seeing Beatlemania ( Oh I did see STEVE MARTIN ON THE WILD AND CRAZY GUY 2 YEAR TOUR 78/79 WHEN I WAS 10 IN 1979 the NJ SHOW ... NOW THAT'S RARE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE I WAS ONE OF THE FEW PRIVILEGED ) . So I missed the entire decade when releases were new and fresh and sealed but I think just as cheap as the 1980's since me 1969 got all the left overs... Now in 2020 the left overs depending what or who it is I go into shock at times like shock men in white coats come ( joke ) because the price on a lot not all is like laughably expensive as hell and like the fact there's 5 copies left in existence or discogs anyway. But the fact is this CAPITOL RECORDS ( and I always ending up getting 90 percent of the time the Winchester copies I forget what the Jacksonville or Los Angeles pressing plant by Capitol sound like or I have few of them and don't remember what they sound like.... But I do own at this point one sealed copy of Octopus from the CARROLLTON PLANT !!!! ( and thank goodness although that was a Columbia US release ) But after all this writing here... Did anyone else find that used copies of any artist that were the Orange copies and not sure what I paid for them or if someone gave them to me or I robbed a house or something..... But Jesus all these Orange Capirol copies you name it crackles scratches pops ticks noise scruff static... I might have to try to find one sealed copy if it's not 150 bucks now that Carollton copy cost me like 2.99 30 years ago... Oh I do have a near mint copy Green reissue copy of Interview. I paid 2.99 for it and like it was never played I think from the 1980 Wally series. That sounded I think really good or great I forget because I been transferring to digital all these Orange 1970's used copies and they just sound like wretched shit ... I'm wondering what a sealed or mint / near mint copy sounds liike... Thank You For Reading... So did Winchester Capitol records suck ? Or was it me ....

Two sleeve images exist. In one the thumb is folded and the pinky is straight, in the other the thumb is straight and the pinky is folded.
By the way, I love this album. The USA Capitol is my favourite for the vinyl and the Steve Wilson 5.1 remix is my other favourite.

strong bass, very good stereo image on this one. who needs bloody reissues (even Wilson's who reportedly plays maybe better) when u have the real analog thing before u ?

The first One Way release has terrible sound quality. It is very muddy and lacks treble. Supposedly, it was not mastered from an original master tape. After complaints from listeners, One Way recalled the disc from stores, remastered the disc, and rereleased it.

Both One Way discs used incorrect or poorly chosen master tapes. Both One Way discs incorrectly say that the album was made in 1972.

The second One Way disc is missing the drum roll at the very end of the album.

Durante il mio ultimo giro per mercatini ho preso questo disco dei Gentle Giant. Sono sincero, possiedo solo
"Octopus" e "Three Friends" entrambi della Vertigo. E' un ottimo Prog. Anche questo "Free Hand" mi è subito
piaciuto.

I'm comparing LP1 of this with my 1975 original right now. Immediately apparent is how sparing they've been with any limiting. If anything it seems lower in volume than my original copy. Just a smidge, not massive, but enough to notice.
Secondly the upper frequencies are slightly rolled off (evident on hi-hats, crashes, tambourine) compared to my 1975 copy....which is altogether more lively to my ears.
How peculiar in this day and age! Invariably reissues are hotter and brighter. Not this one! But then they DO say 'transfer' rather than a remaster. True to their word, blimey!

On to the other disc, the SW remix....sure enough, he's made everything sound more expensive. Less muddy. There's more air. It's wetter (too wet, on 'On Reflection'?). The vocals, the tambourine, the ride, snare (not the hi-hats, strangely enough) are all sharper.
Typically the genius has done a good job but it does sound more modern. More tiring on the ears. Like a CD.

All this is further confirmation that, much as I like to get well-pressed, clean reissues of things whose original pressings are out of my price range eg, Can, Wigwam...I'm SOOOO glad I've kept my original pressings of Giant and Floyd, Beatles, Zeppelin, etc.etc.

Thank you to individual that posted this entry. I have a copy of this pressing that I purchased mid 70's through my RCA Record Club. I could not find anything on it until I found your entry.

Fantastic. Great remixes (especially the surround) from Steven Wilson, And truly groundbreaking music… Even now. Excellent videos as well. I had pretty expectations of this release, and it’s exceeded them by a light year.

Just amazing. I think it's the best surround remix that Steven Wilson has ever did.
The videos are also great.