Big Star – Radio City

I first heard both RADIO CITY and #1 RECORD via the 1992 Stax/Argent 2-for-1 CD, and I've played that CD hundreds of times over the years. The Craft Recordings reissue of #1 RECORD is absolutely fantastic, one of the best sounding records in my collection. But their release of RADIO CITY seems to be missing some of the punch to the cymbals and percussion that I'm used to hearing. I noticed it most on "Mod Lang" and "She's A Mover" Nothing really sounds bad - not flat or muffled - just different. My copy plays beautifully, quiet and clean with zero surface noise.

Sounds quite different from the Craft #1 Record cutting - but in a good way. Very low heavy with rolled off highs, whereas #1 Record is mid and high heavy. Great dichotomy when listening back to back! Oh, and they’re both painfully incredible sounding.

Sounds incredible. This and #1 Record are ingrained in my molecular makeup, but through the single-CD-with both-albums version from the 1990s. Bass and drums are really distinct and crisp. Harmonica and trebly guitar sounds are searing. Lower-end guitar sounds are thick and gritty. It's like I'm hearing this album for the first time after 10,000 listens.

Great sounding version! Sadly mine had a long patchy looking scuff across side 1. I found the high end on O My Soul to be a bit overbearing compared to the rest of the LP. Still a really great sounding all analog lp with an actual nice stoughton style cover.

No denying it sounds great but also no denying it's an modernization. The description of playing back the master mixes for friends is one of searing treble, which is how the Larry Nix originals and the Bellman 2009 and repress versions sound. They leap out of the speakers. This version has a more conventional treble balance and hence is smoother, more midrangey, more spacious. A matter of taste but historical accuracy lies with other versions.

Slight edge over the 2011 - even with a slight warp that dnap - when are new pressings perfectly flat anyway?

It’s dead quiet & you can turn this one up without getting a headache.

this sounds quite good. highs are a bit rolled off, yes, but crank this up and it sounds very good. no issues here with inner groove distortion. i also would've preferred a brighter sound more similar to the hi-res file currently available but this is also great, just different. would totally recommend this pressing.

listening setup: rega p6, ortofon mc cadenza bronze cartridge, stein music 'the perfect interface' carbon mat, liberty b2b-1 preamp, hegel h95 integrated amp, elac debut b5 speakers.

Super punchy and I bet it would sound great when blasted, though I don't think neighboring units would like that. I appreciate that, unlike my Craft #1 Record, this pressing seems to have consistent EQ from track to track. All the instruments are prominent enough in the mix. That said, to my ears the drums, vocals, and even guitar mostly sound overly compressed and distorted—not on just the inner-groove tracks, although the IGD is HEAVY. I know I'll probably get hate for saying this but I genuinely think my 3MWB 3rd is a better pressing than either of the Craft Big Stars. And that's very disappointing.

Fantastic pressing. The most underrated band ever. Great clarity. Incredible.

Yeah, it's back and it's worth the wait. It *is* different, but I dig this issue of Radio City. It's got a warmth and blend that makes it seem more of its time. Which to me is a bit weird; when I first heard RC (1990s, via the 2-fer CD), it sounded contemporary (probably cuz so many bands/producers/engineers worshipped at this alter) Compared to the 2011 reissue, it rolls off the treble and perhaps loses definition between instruments. My ears register the bright and trebly (ie, Chris Bellman cut, CD version, etc) versions as authentic. Now I have to keep both copies. And the CD. And the breakfast cereal. And the keychain.....