Opal - Early Recordings/Happy Nightmare Baby

The remaster is great — lol, it really is so stupid that it's not available.

really sad the Happy Nightmare Baby reissue never made it out either, the original CD master of that one isn't bad but it isn't great either

There's a seller (Global-Deals for You) on eBay offering multiple sets of Early Recordings and Happy Nightmare Baby on CD - 30 sold, 8 remaining - which I think is a liquidator. Wondering if it might be the unsold stock of the reissues. I have the Early Recordings reissue and the original HNB CD, so it would be pretty expensive for me to buy a set out of curiosity, but I'm putting it here in case there are folks without either CD who'd like to give it a shot. Their feedback includes positive responses from folks who bought the set, by the way.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/185279370201

interesting! trying to justify buying it as I have both the original releases, I really want a hard copy of the extra Early tracks tho ...

Remaster is excellent too, if that’s a factor for you.

arrived today, and as suspected they are the Salley Garden reissues that were pulled. v happy!

does the Happy Nightmare Baby CD have anything extra? is it remastered? the SST CD version doesn't sound bad but it doesn't sound amazing either...

nothing extra, I have the OG vinyl so can't compare.
could rip & send if anyone's interested?

I would be interested to hear, yes please!

haha, I bought a set off the eBay auction so I can report back when I get mine re: old vs new HNB CD

(and can also rip for ILXors)

ok ripped, anyone interested webmail me 4 link

or just post here and I'll web you, that's probably easier tbh

That is AWESOME. I’m glad a few made it out after all.

thanks zappi!

Would love it, thanks Zappi!

Would love it, thanks Zappi!

Would greatly appreciate said link; thank you, Zappi!

I only have the LP to compare, on first listen this does sound a bit fuller/more detail/remastered, not really louder/compressed which is nice

I’d love to hear a lossless of HNB if such a thing were available …

yes thanks zappi for sending FLAC files, much appreciated

FLAC files? Wouldn't mind giving an ear, with thanks in advance. Lucky enough to have the original CD issues of both but it would be nice to get a sense of what's changed.

(And much thanks again!)

thank you!!

Thanks again, Zappi!

Did a bit of comparing the original HNB CD and FLAC of the new one in Audition. If I were to guess, the new one is the same as the old one, with ~ +5dB gain applied. Once I matched volumes, there was no difference when A/B-ing. There's also no difference in frequency spectrum — if the new one was digitized anew from original tapes, there most likely would've been. On the plus sized, at least it's not crushed into oblivion, it's just been amped up without any limiting or compressing. So, if you have the old CD, you're not missing anything revelatory that you couldn't get with a volume dial.

Someone mentioned that they heard the remastered Early Recordings, and that *that* one sounded different. Anyone?

Sounds significantly better to me, much fuller than the Rough Trade CD, at least.

and I agree that HNB is likely just a level boost of the same master

or just post here and I'll web you, that's probably easier tbh

Would love to hear this Zappi

hi zappi, have just sent you a mail :)

thank u zappi, my hero!

Thanks Zappi!

Are you on FB or Discord? Reddit? I want a copy (HNB was one of my favorites as a teen; it was burnt up in the fire) but I'm not sure if I have access to my ILXmail. (Chris Irregardless on FB, GreenLeafy11 on Discord and Reddit.)

sent via reddit! I think I've caught up with everyone else, let me know if you can't find it etc.

Lost opportunity with the lack of a remaster on Happy Nightmare Baby, it sounds like ass.

I got it, thank you.

like a fool I bought a set, I think I have bought Early Recordings four times now (and always for stupid prices). I'm glad to have both the Salley Gardens releases tho.

My copies from this eBay overstock place arrived, I wanted the Happy Nightmare Baby reissue to go along with the Early Recordings one I was lucky enough to get from Amazon before sales were halted. So I've got a spare copy of Early Recordings... anyone want it (for what I paid for it, an admittedly steep $36)?