34 replies · 1,327 views
Even in comparison to other singles/tracks from that area (Everything's Gone Green, In A Lonely Place, Procession) the recording sounds like they were using the oldest equipment. Almost sounds like they were using a cassette recorder or something. It's really bad sound quality and i'm curious as to why?
J
No Holiday wrote: Even in comparison to other singles/tracks from that area (Everything's Gone Green, In A Lonely Place, Procession) the recording sounds like they were using the oldest equipment. Almost sounds like they were using a cassette recorder or something. It's really bad sound quality and i'm curious as to why?
J
Hannett produced the earlier ones you speak of, then the band took things into their own hands around Temptation time... to varying results
Wasim wrote:
No Holiday wrote: Even in comparison to other singles/tracks from that area (Everything's Gone Green, In A Lonely Place, Procession) the recording sounds like they were using the oldest equipment. Almost sounds like they were using a cassette recorder or something. It's really bad sound quality and i'm curious as to why?
J
Hannett produced the earlier ones you speak of, then the band took things into their own hands around Temptation time... to varying results
Peel Sessions 1982 were recorded by the band thmeselves, too, mind you - they weren't that bad, soundwise.
Wasim wrote:
No Holiday wrote: Even in comparison to other singles/tracks from that area (Everything's Gone Green, In A Lonely Place, Procession) the recording sounds like they were using the oldest equipment. Almost sounds like they were using a cassette recorder or something. It's really bad sound quality and i'm curious as to why?
J
Hannett produced the earlier ones you speak of, then the band took things into their own hands around Temptation time... to varying results
Not to mention that, according to An Ideal For Living, it was their first attempt at digital recording. Same goes to Hurt.
I don't know, I kinda like the tinniness of them. 
If you want better/different, get a good live soundboard.
Steve One wrote: It sounds better than the guitar heavy '87 make over.
Yes yes 
I never really thought of the singles you list as having bad sound quality. Probably cos I bought all the singles as they came out and their sound developed over time.
Apparently the whole reason for the Factus8 compilation is for improved sound quality (according to Mark johnson anyway as my fooked up ears can't really tell the difference) 
the equipment the band used caused the sound issue,, hence barney and co re . recorded it for substance ,, dont like that version, and love the original 12"
its just a feeling inside i know.
I think I must be in the minority but I hate the original. It sounds extemely lightweight and tinny and the one of the guitar chords is even in the wrong key and makes me grimace each time I hear it.
I much prefere the live version or the Substance version as it sounds much better produced.
NO Regret wrote: I think I must be in the minority but I hate the original. It sounds extemely lightweight and tinny and the one of the guitar chords is even in the wrong key and makes me grimace each time I hear it.
I much prefere the live version or the Substance version as it sounds much better produced.
Don't hear that wrong chord you speak of. The pitch of the synth, the guitars, and the bass obviously don't match up perferctly, but none deviate from the key. Bernard has at least three sets of chord sequences for the chorus on Temptation (perhaps on all three versions from the 80s). They are C, G, F; C, G, F, but with the G and F higher up on the fret board; and C, Eminor, Dminor. I think C, Eminor, F might creep in there as well--at least it sounds good playing along to the record at the "Oh it's the last time" bit. What you're hearing might be a particularly aggressive attack in his strumming, consequently altering the tuning slightly for a moment.
Temptation was the one that got distorted most from the mastering job on singles. Can anyone verify that the original vinyl doesn't distort on the guitar heavy parts?
Thanks JV. It took me ages to work out the chords to this. Whenever I watched barney playing at Montreal 1983 I could see him play a barre C chord but couldnt work the other 2 out. I thought they must be G and F from looking at yellow NO music book but when I play the barre chords it doesnt sound right.
Its the 3rd chord of oiginal Tempation that doesnt sound right to me. Sounds like a minor chord but to me it doesnt go (badly). I reckon by the time of the 1987 re-recording Barney was a lot happier with how he should play it.
NO Regret wrote: I think I must be in the minority but I hate the original. It sounds extemely lightweight and tinny and the one of the guitar chords is even in the wrong key and makes me grimace each time I hear it.
I much prefere the live version or the Substance version as it sounds much better produced.
so where is the best recording of the original version to be found?
Major Tarantino wrote: I've always preferred the 87 version. Better sound, vocals and song structure.
Just wrote a lengthy bit and lost it, so suffice to say agreed!
I like what they were TRYING to do with the original, but that final mix is muddy as fuck.
I don't know, maybe the studio had shite monitors. Maybe the Band were in total control for this one....I can ASSURE you there were not for the Peel Session, there's not the mildest chance that was recorded without a BBC engineer present, you can hear it.
Temptation, Hurt and to a lesser extent EGG all have the same confused and muddy sound.
If I got my three wishes, one of them would be a week alone in a decent studio with the 2inch 24track for Temptation.....although some folks mention it was done digitally, so I have no idea what format that would be from 81/82. Still I'd sell my balls for a chance of a ground up mix on that track.
NO Regret wrote: I think I must be in the minority but I hate the original. It sounds extemely lightweight and tinny and the one of the guitar chords is even in the wrong key and makes me grimace each time I hear it.
I much prefere the live version or the Substance version as it sounds much better produced.
You are not alone.
Though I prefer the 1998 version to be entirely honest, the one on the Retro bonus CD.
I find the drums too harsh on the 7" version on singles. Haven't played the actual 7" for a while. I don't remember the 12" being so harsh and I've played that far more.
Somehow the balance is all wrong on the 7", I just find it hard work.
Spotnick wrote:
NO Regret wrote: I think I must be in the minority but I hate the original. It sounds extemely lightweight and tinny and the one of the guitar chords is even in the wrong key and makes me grimace each time I hear it.
I much prefere the live version or the Substance version as it sounds much better produced.
You are not alone.
Though I prefer the 1998 version to be entirely honest, the one on the Retro bonus CD.
Me too, 1998 does for me.
Kevin Smith wrote: I find the drums too harsh on the 7" version on singles. Haven't played the actual 7" for a while. I don't remember the 12" being so harsh and I've played that far more.
Somehow the balance is all wrong on the 7", I just find it hard work.
The original snare drum sound, used also for BBC Riverside, sounded a bit corny--at least it sounds terribly dated today, which is something I don't actually think too often about New Order drum sounds.
Doctor? wrote: Maybe the Band were in total control for this one....I can ASSURE you there were not for the Peel Session, there's not the mildest chance that was recorded without a BBC engineer present, you can hear it.
Not true. Uniquely for a Peel session, the band recorded the 4 tracks themselves and posted the finished tracks to the BBC for transmission. They were never in the BBC studios.
On the Temptation debate, the rerecorded verions while being technically better, just have no soul. I personally prefer the 7" version as that was the first one I heard when they played it live on Riverside, the only time they played that verions live as far as I know.
Maybe the Band were in total control for this one....I can ASSURE you there were not for the Peel Session, there's not the mildest chance that was recorded without a BBC engineer present, you can hear it.
...done at Strawberry Studios, though not sure if that would be north or south.
A note about Riverside, wasn't it recorded the day before they went into the studio to do Temptation and Hurt. It represents those tracks at exactly the point they were committed to tape.
I have never understood why so many people rave about Temptation. It wouldn't break into my NO Top 50, let alone be a favourite track. Maybe I've heard/seen it too many times.
If I must listen to it, the 87 version (after the first 10 seconds) is infinitely preferable to the original version for me.
oldmonkey wrote: I have never understood why so many people rave about Temptation. It wouldn't break into my NO Top 50, let alone be a favourite track. Maybe I've heard/seen it too many times.
If I must listen to it, the 87 version (after the first 10 seconds) is infinitely preferable to the original version for me.
Sometimes i wonder if you actually like NO. 
But i suppose the most critical fans are usually the most hardcore. Strange indeed.
Always remember being terribly disappointed on playing Substance for the first time and finding out they'd totally rehashed a classic.
five hates six wrote: Always remember being terribly disappointed on playing Substance for the first time and finding out they'd totally rehashed a classic.
totally agree... For me the early version is spot on, even though sound quality isn't that great. there must be plenty of songs other than temptation that suffer from bad mastering...
And anyway, isn't there that whole thing about capturing a song as it is... It's surely impossible to return to a song 5 or 6 years later and attempt to replicate it perfectly. Obviously the band were unhappy with almost everything about the song, arrangement, production, mastering, which is why they even bothered to spend time and money re-recording...
Also, I think that there is a unique point about NO evolving their songs in public over a long period of time- witness how different Temptation is on "taras" and other early live versions to, say, the original release, or how it was played in 83 onwards gigs. I think it shows strength to be able to change parts of a song that don't work and to have those mistakes aired in public 
