I DEMAND A DISCOUNT....I've bought some titles in the LP format, 8-track, cassette, CD, and now remastered CD!  Yes, the improved sound and bonus tracks are a treat, but don't you think the consumer should be rewarded for his/her dedication to the band, label and music.  I mean, Yes remastered most of the discography in the early 90s and then come the Rhino remasters just a year later, which make the previous batch outdated/outmoded....don't you think some compensation is due the consumer.  Perhaps, if one brings the same title of a CD into a shop while purchasing the remaster a discount should be rewarded.

Now, Van der Graff has remastered their back catalog....just weeks ago I purchased Pawn Hearts for at least the third time!  Now, I'm hesitant to pick up any Gentle Giant titles because they're overdue for remastering....what to do?!

Remasters are often great idea, but sometimes only slight differences from previous editions can be noticed....here's my question:

Do I go ahead and purchase a copy of Going for the One on the Atlantic remaster or should I wait and wait and wait until a copy of the Rhino remaster shows up in my local record shop?

Do I forego my desire to hear a certain album for the later reward of a potentially better sounding and expanded version?  Do I say, "sod it, I need that title now and no amount of remastering can quell my desire?" 

I buy three or four CDs every payday and I've been DYING to hear Going for the One....also the Beyond and Before double CD from the Banks era Yes...but those titles are only available on "old" CDs.....what's your take on remasters?

It's the basic economics of demand and supply.  If you didn't buy the remasters then they wouldn't produce them. 

Welcome to capitalism, I hope you enjoy your stay.

Take the following in considuration:

• How much do you like the album?
• Are you satified with the copy you got?
• Bonus-tracks
• Economy

If you follow those guidelines, I'm sure you'll have less problems, besides, music is there to enjoy, not to cause problems. If it's causing problems, let it REST for a while and the solution will come to you

Some remasters blow the originals away, and some actually sound worse in many ways - I would suggest listening to as much of the remaster as you can before buying it.

The remaster of Marillion's "Script..." for example, is fantastic - it's like hearing the album properly for the first time. "Fugazi", while clearer and dynamically richer, does not benefit even half as well.

Hi Intruder,

I have the same problem as you, but for some bands I waited long enough to not buy the cd twice: example Led Zep and now VDGG. I gave away my old Caravan and Jethro Tull cds to likely new prog fans when I bought the remastered under the mini-lp form with all the good bonus tracks. I do this for essential albums and great bands only . I would not pick up , say Tormato remasters or Tull's Broadsword.

There are a few things that can entice me to buy the remasters:

a) the lyrics printed out ,

b)extended liner notes    

c)real bonafide unreleased bonus tracks (as opposed to alternate or live versions of existing tracks),    

d) full artwork sleeve restored    

e) cardboard mini Lp artwork sleeve   

f) a good remastering job

At least four of the six must be met if I am to pick those up.

However in case of the Yes remasters , I bought those a few years back (first edition of remasters with no bonus tracks) and have no intention of rebuying the second (with cardboard enveloppe around the jewel case and a few needless alternative or live tracks) or the latest Rhino . If at least there was the mini-lp covers, but fat chance that I will once more buy it even in the DVD audio or SACD or any other shape else.

Of course , this is a sucker trap.

If I am to rebuy the VDGG remasters since I still have some vynils, they'de better meet all of the requirement in my list (especially the papersleeve artwork but some bonus tracks are very interesting) but a thing would upset me is that they could be copy-protected (I think it is the case), then I will consider myself having not been suckered too badly by those marketing assholes.

Intruder wrote: I DEMAND A DISCOUNT....I've bought some titles in the LP format, 8-track, cassette, CD, and now remastered CD!  Yes, the improved sound and bonus tracks are a treat, but don't you think the consumer should be rewarded for his/her dedication to the band, label and music.  I mean, Yes remastered most of the discography in the early 90s and then come the Rhino remasters just a year later, which make the previous batch outdated/outmoded....don't you think some compensation is due the consumer.  Perhaps, if one brings the same title of a CD into a shop while purchasing the remaster a discount should be rewarded. Now, Van der Graff has remastered their back catalog....just weeks ago I purchased Pawn Hearts for at least the third time!  Now, I'm hesitant to pick up any Gentle Giant titles because they're overdue for remastering....what to do?! Remasters are often great idea, but sometimes only slight differences from previous editions can be noticed....here's my question: Do I go ahead and purchase a copy of Going for the One on the Atlantic remaster or should I wait and wait and wait until a copy of the Rhino remaster shows up in my local record shop? Do I forego my desire to hear a certain album for the later reward of a potentially better sounding and expanded version?  Do I say, "sod it, I need that title now and no amount of remastering can quell my desire?"  I buy three or four CDs every payday and I've been DYING to hear Going for the One....also the Beyond and Before double CD from the Banks era Yes...but those titles are only available on "old" CDs.....what's your take on remasters?

You know, who said you had to buy the remasters? If you already have the CD/vinyl/tape/whatever, why use more money to buy something you already have? Why not spend it on something else you don't have? I've found the remastered sound isn't all that worth it, and it's nothing that can't be fixed by a decent pair of headphones.

oliverstoned wrote: Logos wrote: Why should you buy a new remaster if you already have a copy of the cd? The sound quality is not that much better. Because SOMETIMES the sound is better and you can have good bonus. (like on the Caravan for example).

YEP ITS OBVIOUS

OR NOT?