Should I buy Herb's Definative Hits?
- Thread starter Steven J. Gross
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DAN BOLTON
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Steven J. Gross said:
Well, around here we call it DEFECTIVE HITS...there's nothing new on the disc, the masters weren't utilized well...the production is so-so...the sound quality is right up there with the vinyl the songs were originally released on...but other than that, it isn't a bad record...the liner notes are good, because Herb wrote them to explain how the songs came about, but you can download them from herbalpert.com[or at least, you could in the past...haven't been there lately...]...so if you already have all the songs on the album, I don't think I 'd spring for it, myself...
In Herb's defense, some of the original masters apparently no longer exist...so they had to use whatever was available for a couple of the tracks...THE LONELY BULL is one of them...TIJUANA TAXI doesn't sound too good compared to other discs, either...but the rest of the album is okay...there just isn't anything rare or anything that hasn't popped up on another disc on that particular collection...and THAT was a big disappointment here.
Herb is supposedly working on a newer and hopefully more complete package...I'd wait for it...I wouln't hold my breath, but I'd wait...
Dan
Steven J. Gross
Well-Known Member
Best bet for a completist is to find a used copy somewhere, or at least a sale at a retail outlet (unlikely!). It's certainly not worth the $15.99 to $18.99 that I see it for in stores, but as a fan, I'm happy that I sprang for it. Some of the early songs sound worse than they ever have with dropouts (notably "Tijuana Taxi") and lack of original tapes ("Lonely Bull"). Actually, the idea behind making "The Lonely Bull" mono is good, but whatever they used as a source leaves a lot to be desired. "Casino Royale" on the other hand, never sounded better than on DEFINITIVE HITS.
The album is a pleasant trip down memory lane, collecting a bunch of favorites together in one place from much of Herb's career. It just needed to be two discs to truly be "definitive." The liner notes are the best part, and it may be worth it for those alone, despite their availability on the web.
Harry
...looking for the positives, online...
The album is a pleasant trip down memory lane, collecting a bunch of favorites together in one place from much of Herb's career. It just needed to be two discs to truly be "definitive." The liner notes are the best part, and it may be worth it for those alone, despite their availability on the web.
Harry
...looking for the positives, online...
Dave
Well-Known Member
Steven J. Gross said:
I think, although it is rather sparse as far as the later material goes, it IS worth going for! HERB ALPERT'S DEFINITIVE HITS is at least a good 'Starter Set' (as I have noted in a review
).I have a few '45's such as "Magic Man", "Angelina", "Streetlife"/"1980", "Bud", "Without Her", "To Wait For Love" and "Sandbox", which I cue in at "appropriate" times while playing the CD.
Though labeled as "Defective Hits", "Demented Hits", etc. I am glad I purchased a copy of it when it was new and it helped to have a 20% off coupon, as well. If you can find a satisfactory used copy or at least get a new one at a decent discount, then it IS 'Quite A Value'.
Dave
...now why couldn't "Last Tango In Paris" have been included in it, as per Quincy Jones liner notes?...maybe I better get that '45' as well...
Harry said:
I've gotten much better results by dubbing the mono LP version and cleaning it up minimally (since my copy is very clean). For that matter, they could have used the Greatest Hits CD version of the song and left it intact, or just used the one channel to make it mono, as it should be. Whatever tape was found and used is horribly congested and muffled sounding in comparison. IMHO, if Lonely Bull is ever reissued, I don't see how it could be released properly without including both the stereo and mono versions of the LP...since some of the tracks have added parts to them. "Acapulco 1922" is so much better in the mono version.
One thing that really bothers me is how undefinitive the set is. It does a decent job on TJB, but certainly doesn't get even half the "hits", and having the later solo stuff thrown on is just too out of place for me. I can listen to it up to "Route 101" but then have to hit the eject button. (Well, at least the four times I've ever listened to it.
) The two Classics CDs were much better sequenced, and kept the solo projects separate where they belonged. Thank goodness this is just a holdover until something better comes out. Captaindave
Well-Known Member
I borrowed DEFINITIVE HITS from the audio/visual section of the local public library system. After listening to it, I decided that it wasn't worth the money. If I want to listen to it, I'll just go back to the library...
IMO, DEFINITIVE HITS is best marketed toward the casual Herb Alpert listener who may want something by Herb/TJB in the CD collection, but who also may not be a dedicated fan and want or know every song that Herb has ever released as TJB or solo.
On the other hand, if you are like me, and are intimately familiar with all the TJB recordings and some of the solo recordings, then this is not going to impress you very much - you know that reissues of all the old material are long overdue and you probably won't be satisfied with anything less than a major release of all the TJB material. And I do not hear anything that sounds unusually better in terms of the actual recording itself.
DEFINITIVE HITS isn't,IMO, for the dedicated Herb Alpert/TJB fan. It is best suited for the casual listener who wants a little bit of Herb around to fill out the CD collection.
IMO, DEFINITIVE HITS is best marketed toward the casual Herb Alpert listener who may want something by Herb/TJB in the CD collection, but who also may not be a dedicated fan and want or know every song that Herb has ever released as TJB or solo.
On the other hand, if you are like me, and are intimately familiar with all the TJB recordings and some of the solo recordings, then this is not going to impress you very much - you know that reissues of all the old material are long overdue and you probably won't be satisfied with anything less than a major release of all the TJB material. And I do not hear anything that sounds unusually better in terms of the actual recording itself.
DEFINITIVE HITS isn't,IMO, for the dedicated Herb Alpert/TJB fan. It is best suited for the casual listener who wants a little bit of Herb around to fill out the CD collection.
I say buy a used copy. Getting a new one sends the wrong signal to UNI, giving them the impression that DH is the only Herb/TJB the consumers "need" and justifying the decisions not to reissue original albums or to continue letting existing titles go out of print.
So far I've not seen a used one; and $18.99 is too expensive IMHO.
JB
So far I've not seen a used one; and $18.99 is too expensive IMHO.
JB
Let's just hope it's a damned good shoe. I would say buy D-F-H for a few reasons. Some or maybe all of the the mixes are different from the originals and re-mixes on other hits packages plus the tube equipment they used. I like some of the re-mixes because, by virtue of the channel some of the instruments have been isolated to, and using my stereo system's ability to take out some instruments, I can hear some of the instruments that I have been wanting to isolate so I can concentrate on the playing and style such as Herb, Bob Edmondson, Julius, Nick Ceroli, etc. And, the brochure that comes with the c-d is very nice, though I'd like to have seen more in pictures and comments from others. The stories and inspiration behind the songs are great...such as the bass drum pickup on TOH performed by drummer extraordinare Hal Blaine, which we all know now was the spontaneous invention because of necessity. The bass drum pickup is part of the magic of that performance and we can only say, thank goodness Herb had the incredible appreciation to know that at the time.
Tom
Tom
Steven J. Gross
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Steven J. Gross
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