As an attorney and an audiophile, I enjoyed this story tremendously. You have a way of describing things that literally places you in the room. As an attorney, getting the opposing party to stipulate an expert’s testimony is a huge win and a tribute to how powerful and compelling your testimony must have been.
I have the original CD I bought back in the day, and it is one of the best recordings of the time. Truly clear, beautiful and dynamic. I daren't listen to the remaster.
WHHOOOAAAA!!! Michael Fremer that was an AWESOME story. Not so expunged anymore, LOL!!!! Thank you so much for that. The contribution of Bruce Swedien and QJ to what came out of those recording sessions, and following MJ albums, is still too little understood by the public, and it needs someone like you to tell that story as well as you did. Many thanks again!
Superb! I'm a musician and record collector. (Vinyl, cassette, reel-to-reel, CD, minidisc, DAT, mp3 (yuck), FLAC.) Where have you been all my life? Your descriptions of everything (even the raw narrative) but especially the audio experience are magnificent and so true-to-(my)-experiences of 50+ listening years, both good and bad. I'm headed to your website ASAP.
You did something great not just for Quincy Jones but for every person who wants to make a great recording and everyone who wants to hear a great recording!!!
I have never owned any Michael Jackson albums, but after watching this video, I bought the 2001 "Remaster" of Bad, and through luck of the draw it seems I got the 1987 original from the seller, not the remaster. I had never considered how much musical content is really on this album until hearing you describe each part of the intro to "Bad" and then hearing it for myself.
The remasters are more like remixes when you consider the straight up changes made to the album since its original release. They removed the horns in the chorus for "Bad", ad-libbing was added to the outro of "The Way You Make Me Feel", no spoken intro in "I Just Can't Stop Loving You", "Dirty Diana" uses the shortened 7'' single mix, and no breathing (but more drums) in "Smooth Criminal".
What a great story. I was completely absorbed though the entire video. As an aside, I have to say I love looking a the waveforms (in Audacity or otherwise) as a check for what I am hearing. Glad you employed that to great effect. Thanks for sharing.
That's an amazing story Michael. Thanks for sharing it. Glad to see that everyone in the courtroom loved and can hear the full dynamic range of the original recording than the awful demasters. After watching this video I went back and listened to my original vinyl pressing of bad and It was exactly the way you explained it, actually enjoying it even more. Hopefully one day the music industry will make good dynamic mixes again and end the loudness wars.
It's called dynamic compression and it is a rampant problem with all the reissues and newer albums. There is a site that you can go on that will tell you which albums by artists have great dynamics and which ones suck.
Michael, I've subscribed to Stereophile for fifteen years and I often recognized the humorous flavor in your column, but I didn't know about your stand up comedy background until I happened to be watching your turntable set-up DVD and let it play on after the end credits, when after a few minutes some grainy b & w video showed your youthful self performing at various locations in Boston during the 70's. I think that you should been on SCTV, if not SNL; you were that good. Best to you.
This was enthralling, I'm always a big fanatic of audiophile relation discussion especially with how it pertains to modern production and releases, because we really do brickwall everything to death and crush it under ungodly levels of compression and distort the volume for the sake of making it sound good in cars or loud speakers. So it was so interesting listening to this whole story of trying to convince a jury that all these rereleases are not doing their favorite musicians and their music justice, because once you make anyone do a side by side comparison, they WILL hear the difference.
I've always loved your gear and LP technology reviews. Non-Classical Music reviews, maybe not so much....but nobody's perfect, lol... Thanks for decades of informative and educational writings.
What I would give to have been there in person, to hear ANY of Michaels tracks on a speaker like THAT, in such utter clarity...would be worth its weight in gold! It would have been amazing!
Such a cool way, to demonstrate, that our passion for sound, which some find whimsical and time misspent, has real value. And in typical fashion, the newspapers presented an ultra compressed and distorted account. Unfortunately, the newspaper account will make history. And HIStory will lie expunged, to be heard never more. Thank you for sharing all the great stories over the years. I know, from reading many comments , that occasionally you rub some people the wrong way. That's the "Boston effect". That's one effect you never want to lose, and should keep on or about your person. Those comments are easily expunged. As they pass through, from one ear and out the other. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.
Thank you! I’m an MJ fan and student of audio. I wrote an essay on Bruce Swedien, and those recordings are a masterclass. The only good thing to come from the remasters is to highlight how terrible it can turn out when someone comes along years later and tampers with the original art. How incredible to have had the opportunity to prove that in a courtroom!
After seeing this vid I bought the 1987 cd of bad..and wow what a difference..it sounds amazing..I’ve found this with digital music I’ve been replacing modern CDs in my collection with the older 80s ones and the old ones sound so much better..the new ones aren’t even in the same ballpark .. don’t fret,I collect vinyl as well .
Michael, I've read and utilized your advice for as long as I can remember, from my big-bigger--biggerer-buck turntable days of the 80s into the present. I have relatives who work in your echelon of audio who know you and vice versa, and yet this is the first time I've heard you speak. Congrats on educating anyone smart/lucky enough to watch this video - for all the threats the industry and musical culture have faced from the homogenization of mainstream audio, good music reproduction is alive and well for anyone who wants it, on most budgets. And I'd love to know how many members of the jury went for a better hi-fi system after your ear-opener!
Thank you Michael for sharing that fascinating experience and by the way that was a fantastic impersonation of Dustin Hoffman doing Dorothy from Tootsie when you shared with us how the lawyer from Texas spoke well done cheers Carl.
This is a great story! I watched it twice and shared with non musically inclined family and friends and I think they are convinced now that audio matters
Great video Michael! I listened to both versions via RUclips using headphones and focused on what you explained to the jury. Very good, except for the chorus being, "layers of women on both sides of him". Both versions, to me, have layers of Michael Jackson as the chorus. Anybody else get that?
Michael, I want to thank you for a fantastic 2017. You have brought me many happy moments of enjoyment from your fantastic videos. I wish you all the best for the holiday season and for a happy, healthy and analogue 2018!
Incredible story! They were listening, I finished your sentence before you could .That's whats so great about a great system , detail!! I did the same thing with my girlfriend on her copy of Yes and my copy. She was amazed by the differences, in the mastering by the engineers. Thanks for sharing.
I thoroughly enjoyed you explanation. Not only were you enthralling, I also learned a few terms from you. You explained most of the reasons I love music! You also encapsulated the Quincy Jones/Michael Jackson experience brilliantly!
Great video, while listening I thought that I had not heard the remasters but I still have the original on both CD and Vinyl, so I got it out and OMG your right about the opening even on my office setup, I will be listening to the rest of the album later today, nice one.
Michael, great story and very well told !...I was watching the movie as you spoke...start writing it ! Too sad that MJ's state wasn't the one suing the record companies for trashing his work but I bet they don't care, they don't see the big picture in the long term.
great story, Michael. hopefully this case sets a great precedent for producers to begin rescuing the legacy of their works from the hands of modern mastering mistakes. and thus the tide of the LOUDNESS WARS can finally turn.
Glad your little education session worked out so well. Frankly I would have been a bit worried as the acoustics of your average court room are more akin to a train station. Also the powers of discernment of your average non-audio hack should never be overestimated. A significant number of people hear dynamic range compression as actually sounding more dynamic. Young females do hovever tend to have excellent hearing and so that is a point in their favor. Had you not instructed them what to listen for they might just as easily been confused by the whole experience. Kudos to your teaching abilities.
Great story! It sure does pay off to strive to be an authority on the subject. The best opportunities will be given to those who are known for their passion and hard work. Congrats Mike!
Damn it...you´re great storyteller, man :))))))) loved every second...plz spread your word about the sonic quality of the work of MJ, Bruce, Rod, Brad(s), Grundman & Q ... I mean, all of todays modern music schools of pop is based on their decisions of the past 40 years
Blime me I've had goose bumps down my spine and arms when you reached the play time before court ladies moment! 🏃🏃🏃🏃 I literally could see that bloody room and the actual sounds you had just described, awesome! Man, you are a pro with a capital P!!!! 👍👋💜 Hugs from Russia 👍😊🏄🐎
That was a great story and testimony, Michael ! You were the home run king that day ! They were fools to expunge the truth from the record but, at least the jury got to hear it all.
Yes the first time I heard a system that could do of this 35 plus years ago I was floored. You do not realize the truth to this until you have a presentation of what's intended to be listened to and enjoyed. If there's anybody out there to demonstrate this in spades its Mr. Fremer.
Hi Mike, sold my 1229, got a TD 160, new Jelco SA 550s MR 2 Ease VTA on the fly and the best Jelco tone arm cables, now looking at the Gem Dandy turntable
As an attorney and an audiophile, I enjoyed this story tremendously. You have a way of describing things that literally places you in the room. As an attorney, getting the opposing party to stipulate an expert’s testimony is a huge win and a tribute to how powerful and compelling your testimony must have been.
I didn't know how much I needed this story until I heard it. Marvelous.
I’m here in 2020 and loved the story
I have the original CD I bought back in the day, and it is one of the best recordings of the time. Truly clear, beautiful and dynamic. I daren't listen to the remaster.
I must say the video of the Year
This is pretty awesome, can't believe i'm just now finding this video in 2022 :)
wow, what an story! thanks fos sharing, Michael!
WHHOOOAAAA!!! Michael Fremer that was an AWESOME story. Not so expunged anymore, LOL!!!! Thank you so much for that. The contribution of Bruce Swedien and QJ to what came out of those recording sessions, and following MJ albums, is still too little understood by the public, and it needs someone like you to tell that story as well as you did. Many thanks again!
Superb! I'm a musician and record collector. (Vinyl, cassette, reel-to-reel, CD, minidisc, DAT, mp3 (yuck), FLAC.) Where have you been all my life?
Your descriptions of everything (even the raw narrative) but especially the audio experience are magnificent and so true-to-(my)-experiences of 50+ listening years, both good and bad.
I'm headed to your website ASAP.
You did something great not just for Quincy Jones but for every person who wants to make a great recording and everyone who wants to hear a great recording!!!
I have never owned any Michael Jackson albums, but after watching this video, I bought the 2001 "Remaster" of Bad, and through luck of the draw it seems I got the 1987 original from the seller, not the remaster. I had never considered how much musical content is really on this album until hearing you describe each part of the intro to "Bad" and then hearing it for myself.
I have all of his original Albums/CDs
remaster are in war sound level
The remasters are more like remixes when you consider the straight up changes made to the album since its original release.
They removed the horns in the chorus for "Bad", ad-libbing was added to the outro of "The Way You Make Me Feel", no spoken intro in "I Just Can't Stop Loving You", "Dirty Diana" uses the shortened 7'' single mix, and no breathing (but more drums) in "Smooth Criminal".
I hate the remaster. I refuse to listen to the streamed version. The original mix is the standard
Woaw didn’t realise this. Wanna get me a copy now to hear it!
Beyond all the wisdom, I LOVE your intro. Takes me back to Olde Noo Yawk. Thanks
I could listen to your stories all day.
Listening to him was so compelling.
Simply amazing story! Thanks for sharing. Fantastic job Fremer.
Brilliant testimony! The defense wanted your deposition to be expunged from the record because they were cornered and nowhere to go.
What a great story. I was completely absorbed though the entire video. As an aside, I have to say I love looking a the waveforms (in Audacity or otherwise) as a check for what I am hearing. Glad you employed that to great effect. Thanks for sharing.
Fantastic story, I wish would have been there in the jury and listened to those songs. Thanks for sharing..
Crushed is an understatement. You did a good thing, Michael. Really appreciate you.
That's an amazing story Michael. Thanks for sharing it. Glad to see that everyone in the courtroom loved and can hear the full dynamic range of the original recording than the awful demasters.
After watching this video I went back and listened to my original vinyl pressing of bad and It was exactly the way you explained it, actually enjoying it even more. Hopefully one day the music industry will make good dynamic mixes again and end the loudness wars.
It's called dynamic compression and it is a rampant problem with all the reissues and newer albums.
There is a site that you can go on that will tell you which albums by artists have great dynamics and which ones suck.
What's the site's name??
@@stephenkater9621 He probably meant that site: dr.loudness-war.info/
@stephenkater9621 We'll never know...
@@georgethompson3763 I don't know if you will see this after 8 monts, let alone the other guy after 5 years, but it's called Dynamic Range DB.
Michael, I've subscribed to Stereophile for fifteen years and I often recognized the humorous flavor in your column, but I didn't know about your stand up comedy background until I happened to be watching your turntable set-up DVD and let it play on after the end credits, when after a few minutes some grainy b & w video showed your youthful self performing at various locations in Boston during the 70's. I think that you should been on SCTV, if not SNL; you were that good. Best to you.
Fantastic! I could listen to your experiences over and over. Cheers
This was enthralling, I'm always a big fanatic of audiophile relation discussion especially with how it pertains to modern production and releases, because we really do brickwall everything to death and crush it under ungodly levels of compression and distort the volume for the sake of making it sound good in cars or loud speakers. So it was so interesting listening to this whole story of trying to convince a jury that all these rereleases are not doing their favorite musicians and their music justice, because once you make anyone do a side by side comparison, they WILL hear the difference.
I've always loved your gear and LP technology reviews. Non-Classical Music reviews, maybe not so much....but nobody's perfect, lol... Thanks for decades of informative and educational writings.
Absolutely amazing! Thanks for sharing.
What I would give to have been there in person, to hear ANY of Michaels tracks on a speaker like THAT, in such utter clarity...would be worth its weight in gold! It would have been amazing!
The greatest HI-FI story ever!!
Bravo Josipe , sve ste rekli u jednoj rečenici .
That was amazing. Cheers for sharing!
Hey Michael, I loved your story and I'm deeply motivated and humbled by your passion towards sound and hi-fi audio. Greetings from Romania !
just stumbled on this. this is a great story. thanks for sharing!
Absolutely wonderful story, Michael. I had a good laugh. Thank you for sharing.
Brilliant story Michael and you earned anything you got. Well done, you have such a way of conveying a story it should be available on line !!
"I can't say what I don't believe" Good thing you dropped out of law school, you can't make it as a lawyer with that attitude.
I know they are. I'm bad mouthing lawyers in general, not you.
Such a cool way, to demonstrate, that our passion for sound, which some find whimsical and time misspent, has real value.
And in typical fashion, the newspapers presented an ultra compressed and distorted account.
Unfortunately, the newspaper account will make history.
And HIStory will lie expunged, to be heard never more.
Thank you for sharing all the great stories over the years.
I know, from reading many comments , that occasionally you rub some people the wrong way.
That's the "Boston effect".
That's one effect you never want to lose, and should keep on or about your person.
Those comments are easily expunged.
As they pass through, from one ear and out the other.
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.
hahaha
Thank you! I’m an MJ fan and student of audio. I wrote an essay on Bruce Swedien, and those recordings are a masterclass. The only good thing to come from the remasters is to highlight how terrible it can turn out when someone comes along years later and tampers with the original art. How incredible to have had the opportunity to prove that in a courtroom!
I'm late to the party, but...Wow What a cool story! Thanks for sharing
Great story,. I like the way you presented it.
After seeing this vid I bought the 1987 cd of bad..and wow what a difference..it sounds amazing..I’ve found this with digital music I’ve been replacing modern CDs in my collection with the older 80s ones and the old ones sound so much better..the new ones aren’t even in the same ballpark .. don’t fret,I collect vinyl as well .
Michael, I've read and utilized your advice for as long as I can remember, from my big-bigger--biggerer-buck turntable days of the 80s into the present. I have relatives who work in your echelon of audio who know you and vice versa, and yet this is the first time I've heard you speak. Congrats on educating anyone smart/lucky enough to watch this video - for all the threats the industry and musical culture have faced from the homogenization of mainstream audio, good music reproduction is alive and well for anyone who wants it, on most budgets. And I'd love to know how many members of the jury went for a better hi-fi system after your ear-opener!
I loved hearing that,you have a great comedic sense of humour.
Seen this video in my feed for months but never watched it. Wow, that was a great story and storyteller 👏🏽
Great Story! Stumbled on this but I was riveted the whole time, you told it really well :)
LOL The Quincy Jones attorney phone impersonation !LOL
Great story Michael, thank you for sharing.
Thanks Paul for clearing that up for a lot of audio enthusiasts looking to upgrade their audio equipments.
This is ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!!!
Thank you Michael for sharing that fascinating experience and by the way that was a fantastic impersonation of Dustin Hoffman doing Dorothy from Tootsie when you shared with us how the lawyer from Texas spoke well done cheers Carl.
This was really fun to watch. 😊
That was a fascinating story Michael! thanks for sharing that!
Michael, what a great story! Thanks for sharing it!
This is a great story! I watched it twice and shared with non musically inclined family and friends and I think they are convinced now that audio matters
Great video Michael! I listened to both versions via RUclips using headphones and focused on what you explained to the jury. Very good, except for the chorus being, "layers of women on both sides of him". Both versions, to me, have layers of Michael Jackson as the chorus. Anybody else get that?
Yea it’s MJs layering of his background vocals
Superb story, just goes to show that great recordings are never lost on the masses, unless there squashed to annihilation.
Michael, I want to thank you for a fantastic 2017. You have brought me many happy moments of enjoyment from your fantastic videos. I wish you all the best for the holiday season and for a happy, healthy and analogue 2018!
"Story Time with Michael Fremer", these are great! Happy Holidays!
A really good storyteller and a really good story makes for a great video. Thanks Mike for these!
Incredible story! They were listening, I finished your sentence before you could .That's whats so great about a great system , detail!! I did the same thing with my girlfriend on her copy of Yes and my copy. She was amazed by the differences, in the mastering by the engineers. Thanks for sharing.
I thoroughly enjoyed you explanation. Not only were you enthralling, I also learned a few terms from you.
You explained most of the reasons I love music!
You also encapsulated the Quincy Jones/Michael Jackson experience brilliantly!
Well done, good for you, and good for all of us that care about quality music! Oh yeah, and Quincy.
You are a lawyer and a comic all in one package
Great story. Man, I'll bet that was one fun day for sure. Good job!
Great story! Found it late, but I did find it!
Love the story. I only wish I could have been a juror and gotten to listen to the music with you as you describe it. Man that would have been a treat!
I've seen this video so many times like I would listen a song. It's that great!
Couldn't help but notice the quality turntable and hi fi in the background [nice]. nice info too big up
Great show
Super Fun and very nice audiophile story!!
Enjoyed this completely, fun stuff!
I'm convinced and I never heard it!! Fantastic story, told fantastically!!
A great video, very informative. The general public never gets to hear about these kinds of things so many thanks to you for sharing this with us.
Great video, while listening I thought that I had not heard the remasters but I still have the original on both CD and Vinyl, so I got it out and OMG your right about the opening even on my office setup, I will be listening to the rest of the album later today, nice one.
Absolutely fab story Michael. That one and the Phill Brown interview were my top two videos of 2017!
A supreme raconteur. That coupled with the passion- teacher.
Great Story!!!! Really enjoyed it
Your one of the best most fascinating people on youtube plus earth!;)
Michael, great story and very well told !...I was watching the movie as you spoke...start writing it !
Too sad that MJ's state wasn't the one suing the record companies for trashing his work but I bet they don't care, they don't see the big picture in the long term.
Amazing story mate. Thanks for sharing.
great story, Michael. hopefully this case sets a great precedent for producers to begin rescuing the legacy of their works from the hands of modern mastering mistakes. and thus the tide of the LOUDNESS WARS can finally turn.
GREAT STORY MIKE.....THANKS
Fantastic story!
Wow, that's an amazing story, thanks Michael, keep it up :)
Glad your little education session worked out so well. Frankly I would have been a bit worried as the acoustics of your average court room are more akin to a train station. Also the powers of discernment of your average non-audio hack should never be overestimated. A significant number of people hear dynamic range compression as actually sounding more dynamic. Young females do hovever tend to have excellent hearing and so that is a point in their favor. Had you not instructed them what to listen for they might just as easily been confused by the whole experience. Kudos to your teaching abilities.
Great story! It sure does pay off to strive to be an authority on the subject. The best opportunities will be given to those who are known for their passion and hard work. Congrats Mike!
Damn it...you´re great storyteller, man :))))))) loved every second...plz spread your word about the sonic quality of the work of MJ, Bruce, Rod, Brad(s), Grundman & Q ... I mean, all of todays modern music schools of pop is based on their decisions of the past 40 years
good to watch
this again
What a story! I would've loved to have seen their reaction when they heard it.
I just bought an ortofon quintet blue. And my friend says; the red one you already have looks much better 😂
Jørn Birkeland hahaha
Wow what a fascinating story. You are a true professional
Love this. And Michael you are one of the funniest people I know. Two thumbs way up.
Thanks Michael- I enjoyed this video very much. This was a win for high fiidelity I bet someone in the court has upgraded their system!
The attorney who worked with me did!
Wonderfull story, did bring a smile on my face!
Blime me I've had goose bumps down my spine and arms when you reached the play time before court ladies moment! 🏃🏃🏃🏃
I literally could see that bloody room and the actual sounds you had just described, awesome! Man, you are a pro with a capital P!!!! 👍👋💜
Hugs from Russia 👍😊🏄🐎
That was a great story and testimony, Michael ! You were the home run king that day ! They were fools to expunge the truth from the record but, at least the jury got to hear it all.
Yes the first time I heard a system that could do of this 35 plus years ago I was floored. You do not realize the truth to this until you have a presentation of what's intended to be listened to and enjoyed. If there's anybody out there to demonstrate this in spades its Mr. Fremer.
Great story and good for you on educating a few ( court room full) more people on how recorded music should sound
Great story, I loved it !
absolutely love that story my friend!
Amazing story, thanks!!!
Hi Mike, sold my 1229, got a TD 160, new Jelco SA 550s MR 2 Ease VTA on the fly and the best Jelco tone arm cables, now looking at the Gem Dandy turntable
Great and interesting story.Oh and btw Happy holidays Michael!
And there are still people that say it doesn't matter....or "I won't hear the difference"....