The Best CD version of Pleasuredome
A. Koh | Singapore | 02/27/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Frankie Goes To Hollywood's Pleasuredome has been one of my all time favorites. After giving up my turntable in favor of CDs long time ago, I have been on the lookout for a CD that sounds as good as the LP. All the CDs, whether US or European versions were sonically disappointing - overall veiled and rolled off bass robbing the music of the energy that makes this a great album. Compared to the LP, these CDs sure didn't sound like FGTH at all!
Then in UK's HiFi News Dec 09 issue it listed the different available versions of this album including this just released 2009 Japanese remastered CD rating it as one of the best.
Went through some Japanese websites but they were all sold out so I ordered the deluxe version that comes with a T-shirt from amazon. About a month later, Amazon emailed to say that they have difficulties in fulfilling this order and suggested canceling it. Which I did, but ordered the version without the T-shirt.
Although based on memory, I believe this remaster is still not as good as the LPs (the 12" singles are way much better) but significantly better than any of my earlier CDs. With much better mastering and pressing standards, the music sounds great as it should. Not cheap at all but to me, it's worth every penny."