News

Peter Gabriel Releasing First Four Albums on Double 45rpm 180 Gram Vinyl

Michael Fremer  |  Jul 28, 2015

Peter Gabriel announced the October 2nd, 2015 release of his first four albums on 180 gram vinyl cut 1/2 speed at 45rpm.

These albums have not been available on vinyl since 2002 when Classic Records issued them from the original analog tapes. Also included in this release will be the long out of print Ein Deutsches Albums, which are the third and fourth album sung in German.

All four of these albums are called "Peter Gabriel" (what a funny guy!) though in America #4 was called Security. The first three have long been referred to as "Car", "Scratch" and "Melt" referring to the cover art. The first album shows Gabriel in the U.K. passenger seat of what looks like a Volvo, the second has him scratching the cover and the third is a manipulation of a Polaroid SX-70 picture before it's had a chance to "set".

Based on the detailed production description on Peter Gabriel's website it's clear the cut was sourced from 96/24 files.

The site says "The vinyl was cut by Matt Colton at Alchemy Mastering, mastered by Tony Cousins at Metropolis and overseen by Peter’s main sound engineer Richard Chappell."

In other words, Cousins mastered from tape to 96/24, Colton cut lacquers from the files and the records are pressed on 180g vinyl, though the pressing plant was not specified.

A comparison between these at 45 from files and Classic's superb Bernie Grundman cuts in real time at 33 1/3 from tape (including So cut from analog tape for the first time) should be interesting!

The gatefold imagery is sourced from the original artwork. Each of the English language LPs will be limited to 10,000 copies worldwide (the German language editions limited to 3000 each). Digital download cards will be included offering a choice of 96/24 or 44.1/16 bit files.

COMMENTS
AnalogJ's picture
Submitted by AnalogJ on Tue, 2015-07-28 10:32

I am not all that familiar with Tony Colton's work, but I do have the Big Blue Ball set cut at 45rpm on blue vinyl and it's nothing to write home about. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this new work will be at least as good as the Classic Records pressings, but not holding my breath either. At about $34 retail from Peter Gabriel's site when purchased in a bundle (with free shipping to the US), that's not too bad, particularly compared to what the 45rpm sets from Classic Records are going for on EBay.

ebuzz's picture
Submitted by ebuzz on Fri, 2015-07-31 08:37

I'd like to know how you got them for $34 from PG web site? Looks to me like they're $42?

AnalogJ's picture
Submitted by AnalogJ on Fri, 2015-07-31 13:32

At the top right hand of the page, there is a dropdown menu where you can select US Dollars, Euros, or pounds Stirling. If you have pounds Stirling selected and pay that way, the price per record is far cheaper, once they have taken VAT out (and it automatically will once you put your address in, as long as you don't live in the UK).

avanti1960's picture
Submitted by avanti1960 on Tue, 2015-07-28 10:51

not a fan of the 45rpm LP- changing belt pulley, having to turn the record over every 10 minutes and the fact i hear outstanding sound quality from a 33-1/3 pressing.
no thanks PG. release them at 33-1/3 and i'm all in.

soundman45's picture
Submitted by soundman45 on Tue, 2015-07-28 12:01

I'd be interested to hear the reviews when these hit the shelves. Knowing that Security was basically mixed to a PCM-F1 and that Gabriel was then the king of the 8 bit sample, I'd be interested to see if these vinyl releases are an improvement over anything released previously.

Michael Fremer's picture
Submitted by Michael Fremer on Tue, 2015-07-28 13:31
I find it difficult to believe that "Security" was MIXED to a PCM-Fi as opposed to having been transferred to that and mastered from it because "So" was first issued from a similar digital source but there was an analog master tape that Classic Records used. So I find it difficult to believe that an earlier Gabriel album was MIXED to PCM-F1... In fact, the inner sleeve of Classic's reissues is an image of analog tape boxes, four double boxes of which are labeled "Peter Gabriel"
IR Shane's picture
Submitted by IR Shane on Tue, 2015-07-28 17:28

For Security/PG4 if, as you (and I) suspect, the final mixdown was to analog, is that final analog mixdown the "original master?" Certainly the original multitrack aren't the masters as they aren't mixed or mastered. And there are many examples of recordings from the 80s that were captured digitally but mixed to analog. Would Security CDs from that era be marked as D-A-D?

In this case if they want back to the original digital multitrack and and remixed and remastered from scratch, I'd be very curious to compare this to the Classic using the analog tapes that were of course sourced from the D-A converters of yesteryear.

Unless I am missing something on the PG site however, I didn't see any indication that Car, Melt or Scratch are definitely cut from files? Did I miss that?

Luke's picture
Submitted by Luke on Tue, 2015-07-28 12:42

24/96 files on Double 45rpm 180 Gram Vinyl - that's a bit like putting a little 4 cylinder engine in a Ferrari!

Wymax's picture
Submitted by Wymax on Tue, 2015-07-28 14:41

If it sounds better than the previous issues, that will be enough for me.

IR Shane's picture
Submitted by IR Shane on Tue, 2015-07-28 17:32

For all-analog recordings AAA is obviously the bee's knees. But it's also not the end-all be-all as so many other decisions during mastering have as big or even bigger impact. just sayin. judge it with your ears when you hear it not your eyes three months ahead!

Catcher10's picture
Submitted by Catcher10 on Tue, 2015-07-28 14:34

I pulled the trigger and bought the PG 1-4 bundle, not a fan of 45rpm...but what the heck it's Peter Frickin Gabriel!!

Wymax's picture
Submitted by Wymax on Tue, 2015-07-28 14:39

I have the original PG records, they were the good quality as we know it from the day.

Later bought the complete back catalogue when Classic Records issued it, at a premium price, but was very disappointed at varying pressing quality.

The advertisment says that it is as close to the analogue tapes as possible, it will be interesting to see/hear if the records are superior, and especially if the pressing quality is ok.

The price is indeed very attractive. I have ordered the 1-4 bundle, and if the quality is as promised, it will be VERY cheap compared to other obscenely priced reissues out there.

PG is quite interested in sound quality, but that is no guarantee that the pressing itself will also be top notch, sadly.

soundman45's picture
Submitted by soundman45 on Tue, 2015-07-28 18:29

Actually after Michael's reply, I would love to know the true story of Gabriel's 1982 album Security. It was reported at the time to be an all digital production, both in the stereo mags and the audio engineering publications. I was going to school to be an audio engineer at that time and remember it clearly. I also have the CD from that era labeled DDD, which doesn't mean much since there were a few releases that were incorrectly identified as all digital. It's very possible and I'm betting that a digital and analog master both exist from those days since it was commonplace to run both formats for archiving and safety purposes.

sharris55's picture
Submitted by sharris55 on Tue, 2015-07-28 19:28

Check this out when I attempt to checkout.... Sorry, we do not have enough "BUNDLE OFFER - Peter Gabriel 1-4 (2LP Half Speed Remaster) PRE-ORDER" in stock to fulfill your order right now. Please try again in 2880 minutes or edit your basket and try again. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Wymax's picture
Submitted by Wymax on Wed, 2015-07-29 11:14

I succeded in being able to add the 1-4 bundle to my cart, which went well. Then changed the currency from Pounds Sterling to US Dollars, then got the error you also got. And after that I get the error continously.

Most likely an error in the shop, indicated by the unusual 2880 minutes comment. Best to contact the shop.

sharris55's picture
Submitted by sharris55 on Tue, 2015-07-28 19:40

Used to open my radio show with the opening of Modern Love from PG1. I have all 4 of these purchased at the time they came out though they will be American Atco or Mercury pressings. Never thought they sounded that good. Have a import CD of the first as well. Now if I can get the PG shop to cooperate...

soundman45's picture
Submitted by soundman45 on Wed, 2015-07-29 12:04

For those who are interested here's the tech behind the making of Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer. It's definitely a hybrid Analog/Digital recording, Studer A80 Analog/Mitsubishi-32 16 bit.

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/aug14/articles/classic-tracks-0814.htm

Analogico's picture
Submitted by Analogico on Wed, 2015-07-29 16:52

I expect the vinyl to be average/good but I bought this set anyway as the hi-res + updated art make it worthwhile to me. Back in May PG announced the "Mastered for iTunes" collection of all his records, Springsteen did a similar move before launching his box set last year, so my guess is that they are doing only one digital master to rule them all.

audiotom's picture
Submitted by audiotom on Wed, 2015-07-29 20:19

Even though I have multiple releases / formats / lp pressings
We are dealing with Peter Gabriel here and if we can get even a smidgeon more realism it will be worth it, especially at this low price and with high rez digital files. Please may the remaster crew have taken every step to enhance these and keep them in the analog relm as much as possible.

The first two albums are analog to 1/4" the Japanese pressings standout, but still are not fully fleshed out.
3 and 4 have some eighties production elements. Intruder actually started the gated drum mic craze.
Gabriel started using the fairlight sampler / synth on 4. Sometimes too extensively. He recorded the instruments digitally and his vocals in analog - he felt it had more soul for voice. Hopefully the original recordings included analog tape also running in parallel. Oh what a new mix would do on the 1/2" reels

Blind purchase - hope the sonics are stellar

mauidj's picture
Submitted by mauidj on Thu, 2015-07-30 15:04

Michael......Will you also be comparing them to the 4 side Classic 45rpm albums?

mauidj's picture
Submitted by mauidj on Fri, 2015-07-31 09:57

I should have said 4 record Classic sets.

Paul Boudreau's picture
Submitted by Paul Boudreau on Mon, 2015-08-03 10:56

The Classic Records Clarity boxes of PGs 1-5 were 45rpm (one sided).

mauidj's picture
Submitted by mauidj on Mon, 2015-08-03 11:14

Yep...I have them all :-)

Jazzfan62's picture
Submitted by Jazzfan62 on Fri, 2015-07-31 19:24

Yes the TV show....introduced me to Peter Gabriel. I had pretty much ignored Peter Gabriel through the years, but an episode on House played "My Body is a Cage". I Shazamed it, bought the album "Scratch My Back", and have been hooked on Gabriel's music ever since. I enjoy these albums, but "Scratch My Back" still remains my favorite.

my new username's picture
Submitted by my new username on Wed, 2015-08-12 05:04

The music was spooky and at times ethereally weird but I loved diving into it. The LP had truly deep bass, was dead quiet and that antiseptic digital cleanliness my el cheapo setup had never before experienced.

I do think the early digital tech deftly served the music in that way, even with what of course had to be an analog mix after the recording.

anonymous's picture
Submitted by anonymous on Wed, 2015-08-12 15:57

Didn't Peter Gabriel already re-master all of his albums from the original master tapes to both DSD using Meitner gear and 192/24? If so, why bother with 96/24 when, unquestionably, better digital sources exist?

Rudy's picture
Submitted by Rudy on Sat, 2015-08-29 19:02

I have all of his SACDs from, what, about a dozen years ago, and have no issues with them. The real deal killer for me is 45RPM. I want to play music, not dyck around with the turntable every 10-12 minutes...and what a way to interrupt the flow of the albums.

LonsterBrau's picture
Submitted by LonsterBrau on Sun, 2016-04-03 09:40

I'm listening to side one of this 2 record album on my audio-technical AT-LP120-USB and all I can say is wow! Listening through my Marantz SR-4320 with a set of Sony MDR-7506 headphones, and the sound quality is amazing. It brings back memories of me floating in my friend's swimming pool in 1986, the hot summer sun beating down...Hot, brilliant, intriguing...

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