I agree completely! As the art director/designer for Impex Records, I have always pushed for greater presentation on expensive records. Thanks to Abey Fonn and our partners at Elusive Disc, we keep getting closer and closer to the ideal I seek. We may not make the kind of profits as Mo-Fi and Analogue Productions do (and there's something to say for that from a purely business point of view), we never regret the high effort and cost we put into our projects. Thank you for bringing up how important the packaging is to heighten and add value to the physical interaction between a music fan and the luxe LP releases they love.
And as you proved with the Kenny Dorham “Matador” release (the only Impex release I currently own), you showed that a jacket doesn’t have to be glossy to be quality: a matte jacket can be just as fantastic provided that it’s made with quality materials and leaves a tactile impression when held in one’s hands.
MoFi was relevant when it was really one of the only sources available for great recordings. Today we have 2-gigabit internet and lossless files, so there isn't a need anymore to seek out things like MoFi anymore. It had its day...
Disagree, the vinyl experience, although flawed calls to me more than digital processing. I prefer imported artisan cheeses over processed cheese Kraft slices. Yes it’s a strange metaphor but you get my drift.
@@ralex3697 No, I get it completely. Digital is the processed cheese, and analog is the real imported artisan item. You made your point even if you didn't exactly mean to. Digital vinyl is Velveeta on a fancy French baguette.
I'm very confused by this video. You are upset for the way MFSL has been making jackets since the 70's but ERC charging 10x the price with shapie touch up's is not a problem?
i love both of you guys on here so i don't want to piss nobody off but i was pleased with the quality of my eye in the sky pressing and jacket but if i recall mike wasn't the original eye in the sky like a golden glitter?
@@johnloper5740 Had to go look at mine, it is not a gatefold, but it is a matte sea mist green background with an embossed 3D relief and a texture stamped into gold foil. (Artista AL 9599)
Please never NEVER put ads on a record jacket! I art directed Hard Rock Cafe CD compilations and I screamed and cried and stomped my foot to keep ads off of it! PS: I love righteously angry Michael!
I agree with you, Michael. They present us with products that impart an attitude of either laziness or arrogance. But, as you mentioned, they are living in a competitive world. They should remember that.
You are absolutely right, Michael. It also annoys me a lot when someone tries to sell a semi-finished product to customers as a complete product. However, it annoys me even more when Analogue Production sells an ugly box of UHQR for $50 or something like that.
RUclips videos shifts new releases more than any thing. So Michael and the other reviewers have the potential to move markets by simply reviewing fewer MOFi discs until they change their offering and pricing. They should give more airtime to more consumer friendly audiophile labels.
Do NOT apologize for speaking your mind on your own channel! At least for me,that´s why i´m here,to hear your thoughts and reviews! Other than that i can´t comment on this particular release but do not apologize for speaking out,you do that on behalf of many of us i´m quite sure. Everyone won´t agree and maybe you´ll catch some flak ,but that´s just how it goes sometimes. Keep up your good work,both in praising and criticism! It´s too much money involved to stay silent when one isn´t satiesfied! Cheers.
To me, the sleeves and gatefolds for vinyl it is a part of the whole experience. Great ones like those from Verve-Impulse Jazz and VMP are just fantastic and can lift the entire thing into a different tier of quality. Then you look at Blue Note and Speakers Corner for the price and theyre just great value for what you pay. MOFI needs to up their game.
The original Eye In The Sky has gold embossing, so beautiful. I do own the Mo Fi new version which I just purchased, major disappointment. I found an original mint copy of this album, which is still easily available. I paid 5.00 The Mo-Fi cost me 100.00
I have a couple copies of that original jacket. I'm not a fan of how thick jackets are now. I can fit a lot more vintage LPs in my house than reissues.
I wrote to Chad at Acoustic Sounds in the late 90s when he was selling two 45s in a single cover, not a gatefold. When Music Matters started selling their releases in beautiful thick gatefold covers with photos, it made Chad’s releases look remarkably inferior. In the letter, I told Chad if he wanted to be the best, he had a ways to go to approach MM’s standard. Soon after that Acoustic Sounds started issuing their releases in beautiful gatefolds. I doubt my letter had anything to do with it- probably pure coincidence, but Chad ultimately got the message and has consistently issued superior jackets since.
@@Michael45RPM I was just going to comment on that: Analogue Productions is a great example of how you can improve your products (by changing jackets, for example). Vinyl Me Please is another example, they learned how to make top quality products (AAA, with top master engineers, etc.).
AP definitely stepped up, although part of me likes the old crappy jackets because they are so efficient with space and practical. But of course, much less nice.
The problem now with AP is that the jackets are top quality but sometimes the photo they use for the jackets is an obvious scan and sometimes done well and sometimes poorly done.
Hold their feet to the fire, Michael! Even 55 years ago, the look, the feel, even the smell of the jackets were integral to my appreciation of the artistic statement that is a great release. I don't mind advertisements per se (even Analogue Productions have upcoming titles included in their releases) but I want top-flight jackets and inserts.
We are buying the entire product experience when we indulge in vinyl. Having an ad inside a bare bones cardboard jacket for any record above 50 euros is like buying a slap to my face.
I am glad you brought this up. The packaging is low rate but I wonder if it’s due to the fact they are rushing to get product promised to the market. Give the people a good quality vinyl and they may over look the weaknesses of the packaging. My feeling are they are probably cutting costs somewhere or applying the better quality sleeves, jackets to their new One Steps not the boxed ones. I have bought some VMP titles and they are top notch. A lot of good points here.
I completely agree with you. Mofi is in cash grab mode. They did the same thing on Eric Clapton Unplugged. I live in Chicago and was at Axpona a month or so ago, and Mofi had this huge sales area and they were charging huge prices for very low selling albums. They were pushing a bunch of crap on the attendees. I am sad to say they, as you mentioned, don't care any more and are in "we will sell it anyway," mode. Great video and thank you for saying what a lot of us are thinking.
I just looked at my Speaker’s Corner Eye in the Sky and it’s not even gatefold but it sounds like a dream . I do support your your approach in any case
i was just at the grocery store and what used to cost me 18$ now costs 48$ .... and a tank of gas went from 30$ to 90$ .... unless you are financially successful or merely rich... i suspect over the next 2 years of recession/depression the vinyl fad will fade because they will have priced 80% of the population out of the "new audiophile pressing market" ... unfortunately vinyl will suffer while the public struggles to get to work and home and pay for food to keep their family alive....
Hi Michael, I bought the Eye In The Sky today at one of my local stores ( That's almost a miracle here in Germany ). This was surely not because of the cover. I absolutely agree with you on that topic. The original pressings of eye in the sky come with an embossed and gold-foiled cover art. Mofi offers none of that. I think it's even worse with their one-step titles - here in Germany you pay 170-200 Euros for one of those copies and you don't even get a proper cover, just a lousy piece of cardboard depicting the cover art. If I compare that to AP's UHQR product for example...well...does mofi really think their product is competitive in this topic?
When Italy play in 1982 the final of football worldcup I was fifteen and at the end Italy won. All people celebrate victory. I put my new copy of Eye In The sky on turntable and I listen this magic album at heavy volume in the night.
I couldn’t agree with you more. A month ago I ordered MOFI The Young Rascals- Groovin’. It took them over 2 weeks to ship when it was stated they had it in stock. When it arrived, it was Alan Parsons Project Eye in the sky! They shipped the wrong album! I emailed them twice nearly a week ago and they will not respond. Even though the APP album is wonderful, it is not what I ordered. I guess I have no recourse other than to file a dispute with my credit card company. I’ve about had it with MOFI. The complete lack of customer service is mind boggling and at best, rude. I had a similar problem back in February when I ordered Cyndi Lauper She’s so unusual. It took over a month to get the album when it was in stock. The emails I sent, the replies were condescending to say the least. What an obnoxious company. I’ve reached the end of my tether with them.
I agree, if you’re going to charge premium prices this should extend to the quality of the jackets. The other thing that burns me are ultra expensive releases that include no extras, such as inserts. Would love to see them get more creative - e.g. including 8x10 glossy photos, maybe even a half dozen signed versions that get thrown in; mini posters; inserts with essays and other info specific to the album.
Good call Michael. The cover and packaging are extremely important. The best quality products will be about the total package, not just part of the package. Thanks for being a strong voice on this particular release - you have called it honestly, hopefully you will be heard.
Totally agree with you Michael! As a record collector, the complete package, a top notch sounding record, plus a beautiful piece of artwork (the record jacket) has always been important to me! I noticed that your Eye In The Sky record jacket had a damaged, banged up left corner too. No doubt that this was due to the inadequate shipping mailer. Unacceptable!
I couldn't agree more.. You are so precise and before you unfolded the issue, I knew exactly what you were about to say in the whole video.... I was lucky I saw the vinyl at a friend's house and I was instantly put off from buying it... Some companies have to start respecting the people who pay rediculous prices for their products if they want to keep them
Hello Michael, Question not related to vid topic. What are you using to clean your needle? I was using the Onzow ZeroDust, but now with the debacle of it damaging needle in the long run, was looking for a good alternative.
I’m glad someone has finally called Mofi out on this issue. It’s the same with the One Steps, it’s 2 lps in a box with virtually no extra’s. Here in the U.K. they cost £180 each. I’m really hoping they put some extra booklets or photos/prints in the upcoming Thriller One Step.
I agree with you. The problem is: I am afraid MoFi would raise their prices even higher for better quality packaging. What is totally crazy about this is MoFi's parent company Music Direct know how to do this right. Music Direct prints a stunning high quality glossy yearly catalog which comes out at year end and is is like Audio Porn. I see it out at audiophiles listening room like you would a coffee table book in the Living Room. It is telling that they will do that to try to sell you a product. Once they have gotten you to pay for a MoFi LP their interest in presenting you with a quality experience seems to extend to the LP only.
@@Matasky2010That is your opinion which you are certainly entitled to. I respectfully disagree. They go all out on the Music Direct catalog which shows they know how to provide a quality presentation. To me this shows they are more interested in getting you to buy a product than they are in providing you with a high quality cover on their own product. I would say the sound is the most important thing, but for the price they charge I would think they could put a little more into the covers. Their competition certainly does.
@@jfm0830 Yes, but there are MANY Mofi covers that are very high quality- I have Allman Bros and Dylan titles whose covers feel like hardcover books. I get it- the Alan Parsons cover sucks, cool, but let's not dismiss Mofi altogether. As I pointed out before- the RECENT Mofi David Crosby cover was beautifully done, Michael even reviewed and praised it himself! An epic rant about one cover is absurd lol.
@@Matasky2010 I will agree that there have been some great covers, but there have also been some pretty mediocre covers. I think we can probably agree they should at least be as good as the original LP. That is why I didn't think the rant about Allan Parson was too over the top. This isn't the first LP cover that has been less than stellar. Now MoFi has far more completion than in the past.
Aspects of a vinyl reissue in order of importance for me: 1. Source audio 2. Mastering 3. Pressing 4. Jacket quality It would have to be a really bad cover to be more important than 1-3. If a label is going to skimp anywhere, I'd prefer it be the cover, rather than 1-3. Having said that, if it's being presented and priced as a top-notch, world-class reissue, it should have an awesome jacket, too.
I agree. There are several MoFi "coming soon" releases that I've decided not to buy. My confidence in them has dropped considerably especially when there are better companies now. The arrogance is not back up by the quality.
Besides their QC is truly disappointing, I have received "one steps" with the vinyl full of thick dust, outrageous for the price. Hope this improves when using new facility, not RTI.
It's good to hear how well VMP is doing. I subscribed for years. I dropped my subscriptions last year only because I could not keep up with the listening. I'm old.
I must say in the last few months I’ve been getting bored with videos for new releases etc etc but Michael this I enjoyed and totally agree with you 👍👍 For the money being shared with expect a far better product and as you say other companies do it exceedingly well -hope to see more content like this as this was one of your best for a long time!!
The last Mofi's i bought were the Dire Straits titles. Not interested in any of the One-Steps musically so far, and the latest titles don't appeal to be. Craft is doing great stuff, in a single pocket tip-on for 33 rpm, which is my preferred format. My biggest pet peeve is that Blue Note doesn't put the Classic Series records in a decent jacket. Mofi's biggest sin in ruining every piece of album artwork with their stupid banner, and not using the original record label graphics on the centre labels, substituting their own logos. Mofi has to really be a definitive vinyl version of the title for me to consider buying it, and overlooking all the things they do that I feel are extremely poor choices.
@@derosa1989 What's your complaint? They give you the option- pay premium for the beautiful Tone Poet, or get the equally great sounding Classic in a lesser cover at a lower price.
I concur. I’m a huge mobile fidelity fan. Even have some tshirts. I feel their packaging is not what it could be and especially at the vinyl pricing. I also get many of their digital product and amazed at how the the font is not straight and the photo quality feels like a copy of a copy. I would love to seem them freshen up the packaging to the next level.
Michael, I'd like to suggest that it would be more helpful if you could describe more about why you find it so bad. You lightly touch on what MoFi COULD do to make it spectacular (e.g. gold foiling), but you're saying it's bad for a high-priced release. You have it in hand, in 3-dimensions. You can feel it, smell, etc. We can't. Can you give us a greater sense of why it's not just merely okay, but bad?
hey michael...cover art and packaging is very important to me...it can almost 'flavor' the way i hear the music inside...only two things that could help a situation like this...people just don't buy the album, or people send their copies back, demanding a better cover....if enough people react, then mo-fi has to act...great video my friend...peace...rocky
I don’t always agree with you Michael, but on this topic I have to say that you are right. Be careful with MoFi/Music Direct as positive criticism doesn’t sit well with them. I was banned from buying their product from their website after voicing my opinion about their packaging and shipping. Their attitude was “we don’t care about you being a customer for years as we have many other customers.”
Loved the tetra pack analogy! Perfect. You voice the feelings of many who feel that for the money they pay they deserve a product that delivers on quality -- not only musical quality.
Spot on Michael!!! Packaging quality is extremely important especially at this price level. I have further issues with MoFi not staying true to the original manufacturer's outer jacket by continuing to place their branding 'stripe' along the top and by using their own MoFi label on the vinyl record instead of keeping with the original manufacturer's release as is done by Analogue Productions, Sam Records, Impex, and other forward thinking companies. You have the audience to bring this quality issue to their doorstep. Let's hope Mobile Fidelity Labs starts looking at the quality their competition is producing.
That jacket looks like my old Mexican pressing from the 80s. My country was going through an ugly economic crisis at the time, so records had to be cheaper, with the consequent loss in terms of quality. Definitely not expected in a supposedly premium release. I really enjoy your videos, Michael!
Wonderful and honest review as always. I am writing from Dublin Ireland. Does every European buyer of US import records i.e. Acoustic Sounds MOFI etc have to pay twice i.e. shipping plus taxes? I have bought directly from Acoustic Sounds and and happily paid the 50+ dollars for FedEx and then been hit with a 45 euro import tax a few weeks later after delivery. Is this everybody's experience? Is there any European supplier of these records? Or any way around effectively paying twice for the delivery of these records? Any help or advice would be gratefully received
Yep, I've seen this nonsense from many companies, including a few I've worked for, where just to make a tiny bit more profit, they cut corners on things that only cost pennies, but give the customer significantly less value, thus deterring future purchases. It's short sighted decisions like that that kill companies.
You are absolutely right, it’s to easy fo MOFI. Old style, not looking into the needs for the market nowadays. Markets are moving fast and they need to do something about it. I also wanted to get into some of the announced releases but is it worth the steep asking price if you compare to the competition. Very good video Michael, as always, keep them coming!
I agree with you Michael. I actually have a reissue of this exact album with a gold foil inlay on the cover. I picked it up a few months back. If we, as consumers, make our displeasure know to the company they have two choices, make changes or watch others pass them by.
Yupp, totally agree. The packaging for vinyl is important. This is a physical medium and size and quality of the jackets are part of the reason we kept on buying vinyl. Yes the sound is also important, but high res steaming has something going for it, so the vinyl sellers need to keep their act together to keep the interest.
My longstanding gripe with MoFi is really through RTI. Nearly everything (**EVERYTHING**) MoFi that I’ve bought in the last three years has been completely dish warped. Every One Step, every SuperVinyl, every standard MoFi release. For these prices it shouldn’t even be a concern. I’m looking forward to their new pressing plant so they can cut ties with RTI.
The new plant will be run by Rick Hashimoto from RTI. The plating will be done at RTI. The presses will be SMTs like RTI. You have had an incredible string of bad luck pressings or you live in a hot place and your carrier(s) are leaving your records in the sun. I buy many Tone Poets and have not had your experience.
@@trackingangle929 I mean, Tennessee isn't the hottest place in the US. Certainly not during the fall/winter. I still buy RTI vinyl as they always sound superb, but it's usually a replacement or two before I get one that's flat.
Great video Michael…. I totally agree with your thoughts and opinions on this topic. I am relatively new to vinyl again. When I was getting back into it, I was told, you have to invest into Mofi pressings. My very first exposure to them was the blood sweat and tears one step. That pressing absolutely blew my mind!!!!! That is one of the best sounding pressings I have heard period. Then I got the Muddy Waters Folk Singer. Which, in my opinion is one of the greatest album ever. I compared that to my AP 45rpm version for $60 and I was not that impressed. Then it got worse with the EC Unplugged. The photo they used for the front is matte and so blurry. It is really bad. Plus their version of a jacket is horrible. There is so much more room for improvement. When I look at my AP album jacket it is so beautiful and sturdy great images and tons of info about the album. Not to mention no seam splits…. Look what Chad does with his UHQR SERIES. Now that is top of the line all the way!!!! You get the actual jacket and it is $25 less. Chad is absolutely killing it over there. Also, they have way more titles and so much of it is in stock most of the time…… you can tell that Chas would do this for free because he care so much about the music and the whole experience of owning vinyl. Where Mofi is a production line and just spitting out records without any thought or care behind it. Mofi used to be the good standard the pinnacle, the bench mark to which everyone else espied to be like. One of my favorite quotes is from Lee Iacocca “You either lead, follow or get out of the way” Come on Mofi, dust yourself off and get back to what made you the king of the hill…. Take back the crown and the throne. Let’s hope with their new pressing plane coming in 2023 and all these new titles and genera’s they are saying they will be doing, it will happen?
This applies to the records as well. Do you buy a mofi just to have to clean it first. I haven't had to yet but I would be pissed off for having to for a $100 record. This happened to me with a SRV album from a competitor. $40 record. But you are correct.
This is a very fair assessment. VMP has been really great at upping their jacket game. The PIR Anthology Box set are all stunners with custom matched vinyl to boot.
I agree packing is very important. I like to look packing while I listen, it’s part of the overall experience of listening to vinyl. The look and the feel are so important. I completely agree with you.
Very interesting. I love your videos and opinions. Appreciate you sharing this. I like MOFI’s SACD packaging and gold CD releases. Vinyl may be a different story. ;)
I purchase Mofi albums on a regular basis. I like what they do on a musical basis. I especially like the One Steps. I appreciate your points on the covers and advertisement materials. It would be nice if they upped their game. They push SACD’s as well as vinyl. I don’t know how well those sell. That product never took off in a big way, though it has been available since the late 1990 ‘s. Mofi should stick to vinyl with the improvements that you note.
Totally understand where you are coming from Michael! Especially compared to like you say: Vinyl Me Please and something like the Tone Poet series with the wonderful jackets and extensive, beautiful photos and liner notes. It’s not acceptable at all.
I agree with you 💯! I'm a art director and seeing poor quality artwork is such a turnoff no matter the price. I just got back into Vinyl at the beginning of the pandemic, and to me, the artwork is just as important as the sound. So if one or the other is poor, I won't buy the record. Keep voicing your opinion, without it, change won't happen👊🏻🙏🏻🎶
I agree 100% Packaging is everything to the hobby of collecting vinyl. I got my copy of Eye In The Sky a few weeks ago and it sounds good but like you I was extremely disappointed in the packaging. I was expecting more for $65.00. I knew this one was coming so I passed on the Speakers Corner version. Now I wonder if I should have bought that version and saved some money.
Love this, excellent job Michael. This is the freedom bestowed on someone who actually buys the product. Most big-time reviewers, and I'm thinking of one in particular, wouldn't dare criticize a major label because they would be afraid the free-record gravy train would dry up.
Wow, so I get home from a holiday weekend and see that 'Li'l Mikey Fremer And The Giant Fragile Egos' has been obsessing for days over a comment on another person's RUclips channel, and is calling me out like a sixth grade bully demanding I meet him by the bike racks after school. In other words, his usual insecure, baiting shtick. Couple of things: -I think Carly Simon said it best when she said "You're so vain, I bet you think this song is about you". -I'm not going to shit on Michael's channel, which I really, really enjoy, by involving myself with your shit-show temper tantrum. Get help. Seriously.
Is it the wine or the label? What do you drink? Letting bias get in the way of listening is seemingly a common situation in audio, as it is in all aesthetics categories.
Sadly, all you say is true. So many labels put out sub par stuff knowing people will gobble it up. I really hate it when you can clearly tell that they simply blew up the CD artwork to album size. Its all grainy and looks like crap. Sadly, that is a side effect of the vinyl craze. People won't stop and be selective, and let the companies take a hit in their pocketbook until they wake up.
I agree Michael. When purchasing a high end archival record it should be presented as such. The recent Eric Clapton release has an awful blurry picture as well. If this is the end, I hope the CSN couch album comes out soon. Really want this one and hope the quality is there.
Your point is so on the money and I totally agree. Love your shows very educational cheers and thanks for taking the time to put them together. Have a good one.
I agree with you regarding the stunning quality of VMP. But.. unfortunately when their package finally arrives at my doorsteps it is seldom the gatefold/jackets isn’t damaged.. guess bad luck! Perhaps their shipping packaging is improved over the course of time.. Great topic Michael! Shame on you mofi ;)
I totally agree with you, I bought a $49.99 album and after $9.89 shipping it was nearly $60.00! But analogue productions has free shipping after $49.00. Guess where I'm going!!
I mentioned this in Rachel's Ghost stream yesterday but obviously I would like to share my experience here. I bought Young Rascals directly from Mofi, #302. It was shipped with pretty flimsy packaging, I've had discogs records come in better packaging consistently than what MOFI/music direct uses. As a result, horrible seam splits on both ends of the jacket. To MF's credit, they immediately responded to my email and explained they would ship another jacket within the month as they were expecting to receive them. It actually shipped in a week and interestingly was numbered #4986. This is just an empty jacket, I was very surprised it would be numbered. Does that mean they dont actually press 5000, or there's extra LPs with no jacket? It does indicate it's a limited edition of 5k on the back of these jackets. Aside from that interesting occurrence, my next order was for APP Eye in the Skye, same deal with the crummy packaging, same problem with the seam splits.. now for this one, I have not gotten an email response from MOFI in which I requested another jacket and asked them if they could quit shipping these LP jacketed in the media sleeve LOL
@Nicholas yes Nicholas you are 100% correct and as people who ship records this has to be a given. People have to ship them and assume this will happen and ship accordingly so the record will get there in the condition the buyer purchase the record. I've got videos on RUclips where I tell people how to ship records because I got so fed up with those bad eBay shippers.
@@robertpannullo5687 yeah don't assume that the record and the cover are going to match you obviously have a record one of 5,000 but you don't know when the record comes off this press you can only assume the early ones match the earlier covers but there's no way to link them together
I don't get it... Is the cover art wrong? are the photos not from the first release? Is the graphic design of the jacket different from the original thus is worst or mediocre? I don't have that album so I don't really get the reference point to understand the criticism. Thnx!
You remind me of a friend I had in Lahr, Schwartzwald in the 80's when I was stationed there, and the many discussions we had on music, while drinking good German beer and listening to records. One I remember was also about MOFI, but on their "Gold cd's"...cheers....
I am totally with you Michael. 85 EUR for that record is crazy. I just bought the stereo edition of Coltrane's Blue Train from the Tone Poet series: two heavenly sounding discs with a beautiful high gloss tip-on jacket, accompanied by a booklet full of high resolution photos and interesting stories. All that for around 60 EUR. I am new to this hobby but I am not tempted to buy a MFSL release as long as there are such gems out there from Blue Note, Analogue Productions, Verve/Impulse etc.
Well said Michael MOFI need to hear / see this video. I total agree with everything you said. Being an ex professional photographer your comment about Kodak & Polaroid is very pertinent to the position MOFI could find themselves in very quickly, if they do not up there game as you stated “There is a lot of sharks swimming in this vinyl pool at the moment” ATB Graham.
Well said. Really well said. We, especially in Europe, are being taken to the cleaners. £90 average for Audio Analogue and MoFi in UK. Related subject. On your list of who should get the audiophile pressing treatment can you add Donovan? Excellent original LP’s. I guess you already have Bowie?🤔
The original has embossed gold foil on the front cover. For the price the MoFi needs to have it as well. I didn’t get this release because I felt the 45rpm format , i.e. , having to break the album over 4 sides would to detrimental to the listening experience
I was just coming here to comment the same thing. They should have copied the original gold foil! (Which sounds amazing and cost me $3 not that long ago)
@@jasonsmith2032 I posted almost the same thing. I found it for 5.00 cdn, it’s still easily found. A mint copy no less. It’s amazing that Mo Fi titles are always sold out and the product is not top notch.
Yes, MoFi jackets leave a lot to be desired. Hopefully the new pressing plant marks a new era as well (better release schedule, better jackets - considering that pressing records will be cheaper I guess).
Hello Michael! I could not agree more. MOFI is one of my favorite labels but Impex, Analogue Productions and BN bring it all together. Don't forget MOFI, it comes down to Art. It's a visual as well as audio medium. I hope you get a response (I hope we all do).
Is it just me or was the Eric Clapton one step image used for the cover really low quality? It felt like something I printed out in the late 1990s from a cheap printer at school using a low quality GIF.
I love your passion Michael, I feel exactly as you. This has always been an issue with MoFi & it defiantly comes across like let the peasants eat the crumbs we throw at them. These records are expensive by any measure, most people have to live within a budget forced to pick & choose carefully. The last thing you want your customer to feel is regret in spending his hard earned money on the product you sold them. You could never say this about Chad as he would never put out some of the things many other's seem to have no problem doing. Things are hot now but the day of reckoning with regards to the economy are soon to change things drastically. As they say in marketing, The best customer is the one you already have. The wheel turns MoFi, try to show more appreciation to the loyal customers that supported you. You may own the company but ultimately the customer is the true boss in the end.
Agee with you 100% .. for the price we are paying the artwork on the jacket and overall production are all part of the overall packaging we are paying a premium for .. it’s not good when a company starts taking advantage of loyal customers
Im waiting on my AP Eye and you are absolutely correct! We are paying for every bit of the title, Sound quality, cover quality etc! We are paying for the experience of top of the line audio. Im sad they cheapen out for a dollar vs reputation and customer satisfaction.
I wasn't convinced of your complaint until you bring up the $80 price tag. For that price the cover should at least replicate the original, and certainly shouldn't be of lower quality. Acoustic Sounds' releases are less than half that price, and have amazing packaging.
The most honest and free speech feedback I have seen/ heard, in this community; I am totally with you Michael💪. This accounts in a larger scale too, but let's start here, in a open respectful discussion. Great work Michael, thanks, Toby
Great video. You are absolutely right. I agree. For that kind of money we can expect more for the total product. This is a disgrace of a product they deliver at the moment
I agree completely, Michael. With a physical product like records, the whole package does matter. Look at what Sam Records are doing - re-creating flip back jackets and sourcing original photographs. Their product ends up feeling much more superior to Mofi, and yet can cost half as much!
You know you are right! We pay a lot of money for these albums and with the hype and waiting so long for the release dates only to be disappointed! MOFI has been doing these substandard albums all the while going up in price! As a professional photographer more than 35 years, I have demanded quality and expect it and anything less is insulting! I feel ya!
I’m still waiting on my replacement copy of Eagles Desperado One Step. Mofi sent me two copies of LP No 1. (Missing LP No 2.) also the individual sleeves were damaged. I have 3 pending orders in with MoFi at the moment - and they’ve not shipped an order I placed 14 months ago. Pretty upsetting given what paid to them over the years. Not feeling very valued as a customer.
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I agree completely! As the art director/designer for Impex Records, I have always pushed for greater presentation on expensive records. Thanks to Abey Fonn and our partners at Elusive Disc, we keep getting closer and closer to the ideal I seek. We may not make the kind of profits as Mo-Fi and Analogue Productions do (and there's something to say for that from a purely business point of view), we never regret the high effort and cost we put into our projects. Thank you for bringing up how important the packaging is to heighten and add value to the physical interaction between a music fan and the luxe LP releases they love.
And as you proved with the Kenny Dorham “Matador” release (the only Impex release I currently own), you showed that a jacket doesn’t have to be glossy to be quality: a matte jacket can be just as fantastic provided that it’s made with quality materials and leaves a tactile impression when held in one’s hands.
I have 8 Impex releases. All superb quality products - the jackets and the pressings / sound quality. Top notch.
Recently picked up IMPEX Records Sing and Dance with Frank Sinatra and it was a joy! Keep up the great work!
@@jeffbeamer9882 One of our favorite packages! Thank you for your comment
@@JamboLinnman Thank you!
Packaging is extremely important - vinyl is physical and it’s part of the experience. Hell, I choose a lot of vinyl simply for the cover art.
MoFi was relevant when it was really one of the only sources available for great recordings. Today we have 2-gigabit internet and lossless files, so there isn't a need anymore to seek out things like MoFi anymore. It had its day...
Disagree, the vinyl experience, although flawed calls to me more than digital processing.
I prefer imported artisan cheeses over processed cheese Kraft slices. Yes it’s a strange metaphor but you get my drift.
@@ralex3697 No, I get it completely. Digital is the processed cheese, and analog is the real imported artisan item. You made your point even if you didn't exactly mean to. Digital vinyl is Velveeta on a fancy French baguette.
I'm very confused by this video. You are upset for the way MFSL has been making jackets since the 70's but ERC charging 10x the price with shapie touch up's is not a problem?
Very true Mike
i love both of you guys on here so i don't want to piss nobody off but i was pleased with the quality of my eye in the sky pressing and jacket but if i recall mike wasn't the original eye in the sky like a golden glitter?
i also own the speakers corner pressing and the quality and pictures on covers are almost identical
My exact thought!
@@johnloper5740 Had to go look at mine, it is not a gatefold, but it is a matte sea mist green background with an embossed 3D relief and a texture stamped into gold foil. (Artista AL 9599)
Please never NEVER put ads on a record jacket! I art directed Hard Rock Cafe CD compilations and I screamed and cried and stomped my foot to keep ads off of it! PS: I love righteously angry Michael!
I agree with you, Michael. They present us with products that impart an attitude of either laziness or arrogance. But, as you mentioned, they are living in a competitive world. They should remember that.
You are absolutely right, Michael. It also annoys me a lot when someone tries to sell a semi-finished product to customers as a complete product. However, it annoys me even more when Analogue Production sells an ugly box of UHQR for $50 or something like that.
RUclips videos shifts new releases more than any thing. So Michael and the other reviewers have the potential to move markets by simply reviewing fewer MOFi discs until they change their offering and pricing. They should give more airtime to more consumer friendly audiophile labels.
Do NOT apologize for speaking your mind on your own channel! At least for me,that´s why i´m here,to hear your thoughts and reviews! Other than that i can´t comment on this particular release but do not apologize for speaking out,you do that on behalf of many of us i´m quite sure. Everyone won´t agree and maybe you´ll catch some flak ,but that´s just how it goes sometimes. Keep up your good work,both in praising and criticism! It´s too much money involved to stay silent when one isn´t satiesfied! Cheers.
To me, the sleeves and gatefolds for vinyl it is a part of the whole experience. Great ones like those from Verve-Impulse Jazz and VMP are just fantastic and can lift the entire thing into a different tier of quality. Then you look at Blue Note and Speakers Corner for the price and theyre just great value for what you pay. MOFI needs to up their game.
I've got Dylan and Allman Bros Mofi Lps that feel like hardcover books- they're beauties (assuming you can accept their signature banners).
The original Eye In The Sky has gold embossing, so beautiful. I do own the Mo Fi new version which I just purchased, major disappointment. I found an original mint copy of this album, which is still easily available.
I paid 5.00
The Mo-Fi cost me 100.00
I have that gold foil version - it sounds good enough and is an amazing presentation - although I do have the MOFi I-robot - that sounds amazing
I have a couple copies of that original jacket. I'm not a fan of how thick jackets are now. I can fit a lot more vintage LPs in my house than reissues.
I wrote to Chad at Acoustic Sounds in the late 90s when he was selling two 45s in a single cover, not a gatefold. When Music Matters started selling their releases in beautiful thick gatefold covers with photos, it made Chad’s releases look remarkably inferior. In the letter, I told Chad if he wanted to be the best, he had a ways to go to approach MM’s standard. Soon after that Acoustic Sounds started issuing their releases in beautiful gatefolds. I doubt my letter had anything to do with it- probably pure coincidence, but Chad ultimately got the message and has consistently issued superior jackets since.
your letter may have had more impact than you think Eric
@@Michael45RPM I was just going to comment on that: Analogue Productions is a great example of how you can improve your products (by changing jackets, for example). Vinyl Me Please is another example, they learned how to make top quality products (AAA, with top master engineers, etc.).
AP definitely stepped up, although part of me likes the old crappy jackets because they are so efficient with space and practical. But of course, much less nice.
good Job Eric because you are absolutely 100% Right and Chad has never looked back
The problem now with AP is that the jackets are top quality but sometimes the photo they use for the jackets is an obvious scan and sometimes done well and sometimes poorly done.
You have hit the point! There is nothing to replace the vinyl experience from cover to vinyl.
👍
Hold their feet to the fire, Michael! Even 55 years ago, the look, the feel, even the smell of the jackets were integral to my appreciation of the artistic statement that is a great release. I don't mind advertisements per se (even Analogue Productions have upcoming titles included in their releases) but I want top-flight jackets and inserts.
We are buying the entire product experience when we indulge in vinyl. Having an ad inside a bare bones cardboard jacket for any record above 50 euros is like buying a slap to my face.
I am glad you brought this up. The packaging is low rate but I wonder if it’s due to the fact they are rushing to get product promised to the market. Give the people a good quality vinyl and they may over look the weaknesses of the packaging. My feeling are they are probably cutting costs somewhere or applying the better quality sleeves, jackets to their new One Steps not the boxed ones. I have bought some VMP titles and they are top notch. A lot of good points here.
I completely agree with you. Mofi is in cash grab mode. They did the same thing on Eric Clapton Unplugged. I live in Chicago and was at Axpona a month or so ago, and Mofi had this huge sales area and they were charging huge prices for very low selling albums. They were pushing a bunch of crap on the attendees. I am sad to say they, as you mentioned, don't care any more and are in "we will sell it anyway," mode. Great video and thank you for saying what a lot of us are thinking.
I had spits in the sleeves and they could have in proved on the photos or added better photos or different photos
Well put
I just looked at my Speaker’s Corner Eye in the Sky and it’s not even gatefold but it sounds like a dream . I do support your your approach in any case
i was just at the grocery store and what used to cost me 18$ now costs 48$ .... and a tank of gas went from 30$ to 90$ .... unless you are financially successful or merely rich... i suspect over the next 2 years of recession/depression the vinyl fad will fade because they will have priced 80% of the population out of the "new audiophile pressing market" ... unfortunately vinyl will suffer while the public struggles to get to work and home and pay for food to keep their family alive....
Hi Michael,
I bought the Eye In The Sky today at one of my local stores ( That's almost a miracle here in Germany ). This was surely not because of the cover.
I absolutely agree with you on that topic.
The original pressings of eye in the sky come with an embossed and gold-foiled cover art. Mofi offers none of that. I think it's even worse with their one-step titles - here in Germany you pay 170-200 Euros for one of those copies and you don't even get a proper cover, just a lousy piece of cardboard depicting the cover art. If I compare that to AP's UHQR product for example...well...does mofi really think their product is competitive in this topic?
When Italy play in 1982 the final of football worldcup I was fifteen and at the end Italy won. All people celebrate victory. I put my new copy of Eye In The sky on turntable and I listen this magic album at heavy volume in the night.
... i do remember the final :-) you beat argentina and brasil if i am not mistaking
@@Michael45RPM yes you are right
I 100% agree with you. The high end vinyl labels are pushing quality aside to meet demand. It’s not just MOFI.
I couldn’t agree with you more. A month ago I ordered MOFI The Young Rascals- Groovin’. It took them over 2 weeks to ship when it was stated they had it in stock. When it arrived, it was Alan Parsons Project Eye in the sky! They shipped the wrong album! I emailed them twice nearly a week ago and they will not respond. Even though the APP album is wonderful, it is not what I ordered. I guess I have no recourse other than to file a dispute with my credit card company. I’ve about had it with MOFI. The complete lack of customer service is mind boggling and at best, rude. I had a similar problem back in February when I ordered Cyndi Lauper She’s so unusual. It took over a month to get the album when it was in stock. The emails I sent, the replies were condescending to say the least. What an obnoxious company. I’ve reached the end of my tether with them.
It’s all about perceived value. Mofi’s is taking a massive hit.
I agree, if you’re going to charge premium prices this should extend to the quality of the jackets. The other thing that burns me are ultra expensive releases that include no extras, such as inserts. Would love to see them get more creative - e.g. including 8x10 glossy photos, maybe even a half dozen signed versions that get thrown in; mini posters; inserts with essays and other info specific to the album.
Good call Michael. The cover and packaging are extremely important. The best quality products will be about the total package, not just part of the package. Thanks for being a strong voice on this particular release - you have called it honestly, hopefully you will be heard.
I think this has more to do with Michael's advertising links to amazon purchases for preorders than Mofi .
Totally agree with you Michael! As a record collector, the complete package, a top notch sounding record, plus a beautiful piece of artwork (the record jacket) has always been important to me!
I noticed that your Eye In The Sky record jacket had a damaged, banged up left corner too. No doubt that this was due to the inadequate shipping mailer. Unacceptable!
I couldn't agree more.. You are so precise and before you unfolded the issue, I knew exactly what you were about to say in the whole video.... I was lucky I saw the vinyl at a friend's house and I was instantly put off from buying it... Some companies have to start respecting the people who pay rediculous prices for their products if they want to keep them
Great content as always and I agree with you 100%. I have a couple of the MoFi Dire Straights 45RPM releases on order. Are they packaged any better?
Hello Michael,
Question not related to vid topic. What are you using to clean your needle? I was using the Onzow ZeroDust, but now with the debacle of it damaging needle in the long run, was looking for a good alternative.
I’m glad someone has finally called Mofi out on this issue. It’s the same with the One Steps, it’s 2 lps in a box with virtually no extra’s. Here in the U.K. they cost £180 each. I’m really hoping they put some extra booklets or photos/prints in the upcoming Thriller One Step.
I agree with you. The problem is: I am afraid MoFi would raise their prices even higher for better quality packaging. What is totally crazy about this is MoFi's parent company Music Direct know how to do this right. Music Direct prints a stunning high quality glossy yearly catalog which comes out at year end and is is like Audio Porn. I see it out at audiophiles listening room like you would a coffee table book in the Living Room. It is telling that they will do that to try to sell you a product. Once they have gotten you to pay for a MoFi LP their interest in presenting you with a quality experience seems to extend to the LP only.
What does a Music Direct catalogue have to do with the Mofi Lp covers? Nothing!
I literally circle the stuff I want, just like the Christmas catalog.
@@Matasky2010That is your opinion which you are certainly entitled to. I respectfully disagree. They go all out on the Music Direct catalog which shows they know how to provide a quality presentation. To me this shows they are more interested in getting you to buy a product than they are in providing you with a high quality cover on their own product.
I would say the sound is the most important thing, but for the price they charge I would think they could put a little more into the covers. Their competition certainly does.
@@jfm0830 Yes, but there are MANY Mofi covers that are very high quality- I have Allman Bros and Dylan titles whose covers feel like hardcover books. I get it- the Alan Parsons cover sucks, cool, but let's not dismiss Mofi altogether. As I pointed out before- the RECENT Mofi David Crosby cover was beautifully done, Michael even reviewed and praised it himself! An epic rant about one cover is absurd lol.
@@Matasky2010 I will agree that there have been some great covers, but there have also been some pretty mediocre covers. I think we can probably agree they should at least be as good as the original LP. That is why I didn't think the rant about Allan Parson was too over the top. This isn't the first LP cover that has been less than stellar. Now MoFi has far more completion than in the past.
Aspects of a vinyl reissue in order of importance for me:
1. Source audio
2. Mastering
3. Pressing
4. Jacket quality
It would have to be a really bad cover to be more important than 1-3. If a label is going to skimp anywhere, I'd prefer it be the cover, rather than 1-3. Having said that, if it's being presented and priced as a top-notch, world-class reissue, it should have an awesome jacket, too.
I agree. There are several MoFi "coming soon" releases that I've decided not to buy. My confidence in them has dropped considerably especially when there are better companies now. The arrogance is not back up by the quality.
Besides their QC is truly disappointing, I have received "one steps" with the vinyl full of thick dust, outrageous for the price. Hope this improves when using new facility, not RTI.
It's good to hear how well VMP is doing. I subscribed for years. I dropped my subscriptions last year only because I could not keep up with the listening. I'm old.
I must say in the last few months I’ve been getting bored with videos for new releases etc etc but Michael this I enjoyed and totally agree with you 👍👍 For the money being shared with expect a far better product and as you say other companies do it exceedingly well -hope to see more content like this as this was one of your best for a long time!!
The last Mofi's i bought were the Dire Straits titles. Not interested in any of the One-Steps musically so far, and the latest titles don't appeal to be. Craft is doing great stuff, in a single pocket tip-on for 33 rpm, which is my preferred format. My biggest pet peeve is that Blue Note doesn't put the Classic Series records in a decent jacket. Mofi's biggest sin in ruining every piece of album artwork with their stupid banner, and not using the original record label graphics on the centre labels, substituting their own logos. Mofi has to really be a definitive vinyl version of the title for me to consider buying it, and overlooking all the things they do that I feel are extremely poor choices.
If Blue Note did that the records would be Tone Poet’s. That’s why the Classic Series records are cheaper
@@madteam3parents773 exactly the point. They don't need to be cheaper
I’d gladly pay more for a classic series with a nicer jacket. Just a non-gatefold like the Craft ones.
@@derosa1989 What's your complaint? They give you the option- pay premium for the beautiful Tone Poet, or get the equally great sounding Classic in a lesser cover at a lower price.
@@mr.bigsquid8422 Then buy a Tone Poet! We're lucky to even have the option- thank you Blue Note!
I concur. I’m a huge mobile fidelity fan. Even have some tshirts. I feel their packaging is not what it could be and especially at the vinyl pricing. I also get many of their digital product and amazed at how the the font is not straight and the photo quality feels like a copy of a copy. I would love to seem them freshen up the packaging to the next level.
Michael, I'd like to suggest that it would be more helpful if you could describe more about why you find it so bad. You lightly touch on what MoFi COULD do to make it spectacular (e.g. gold foiling), but you're saying it's bad for a high-priced release. You have it in hand, in 3-dimensions. You can feel it, smell, etc. We can't. Can you give us a greater sense of why it's not just merely okay, but bad?
I added a reply but it’s gone missing
hey michael...cover art and packaging is very important to me...it can almost 'flavor' the way i hear the music inside...only two things that could help a situation like this...people just don't buy the album, or people send their copies back, demanding a better cover....if enough people react, then mo-fi has to act...great video my friend...peace...rocky
I don’t always agree with you Michael, but on this topic I have to say that you are right. Be careful with MoFi/Music Direct as positive criticism doesn’t sit well with them. I was banned from buying their product from their website after voicing my opinion about their packaging and shipping. Their attitude was “we don’t care about you being a customer for years as we have many other customers.”
really? thats not the way to handle things
I agree , Michael ! 100% correct ! It's like they are getting lazy on the product and charging more :(
Loved the tetra pack analogy! Perfect. You voice the feelings of many who feel that for the money they pay they deserve a product that delivers on quality -- not only musical quality.
Spot on Michael!!! Packaging quality is extremely important especially at this price level. I have further issues with MoFi not staying true to the original manufacturer's outer jacket by continuing to place their branding 'stripe' along the top and by using their own MoFi label on the vinyl record instead of keeping with the original manufacturer's release as is done by Analogue Productions, Sam Records, Impex, and other forward thinking companies. You have the audience to bring this quality issue to their doorstep. Let's hope Mobile Fidelity Labs starts looking at the quality their competition is producing.
That jacket looks like my old Mexican pressing from the 80s. My country was going through an ugly economic crisis at the time, so records had to be cheaper, with the consequent loss in terms of quality. Definitely not expected in a supposedly premium release.
I really enjoy your videos, Michael!
Wonderful and honest review as always. I am writing from Dublin Ireland. Does every European buyer of US import records i.e. Acoustic Sounds MOFI etc have to pay twice i.e. shipping plus taxes? I have bought directly from Acoustic Sounds and and happily paid the 50+ dollars for FedEx and then been hit with a 45 euro import tax a few weeks later after delivery. Is this everybody's experience? Is there any European supplier of these records? Or any way around effectively paying twice for the delivery of these records? Any help or advice would be gratefully received
Yep, I've seen this nonsense from many companies, including a few I've worked for, where just to make a tiny bit more profit, they cut corners on things that only cost pennies, but give the customer significantly less value, thus deterring future purchases. It's short sighted decisions like that that kill companies.
You are absolutely right, it’s to easy fo MOFI. Old style, not looking into the needs for the market nowadays. Markets are moving fast and they need to do something about it. I also wanted to get into some of the announced releases but is it worth the steep asking price if you compare to the competition. Very good video Michael, as always, keep them coming!
I agree with you Michael. I actually have a reissue of this exact album with a gold foil inlay on the cover. I picked it up a few months back.
If we, as consumers, make our displeasure know to the company they have two choices, make changes or watch others pass them by.
Yupp, totally agree. The packaging for vinyl is important. This is a physical medium and size and quality of the jackets are part of the reason we kept on buying vinyl. Yes the sound is also important, but high res steaming has something going for it, so the vinyl sellers need to keep their act together to keep the interest.
My longstanding gripe with MoFi is really through RTI. Nearly everything (**EVERYTHING**) MoFi that I’ve bought in the last three years has been completely dish warped. Every One Step, every SuperVinyl, every standard MoFi release. For these prices it shouldn’t even be a concern. I’m looking forward to their new pressing plant so they can cut ties with RTI.
The new plant will be run by Rick Hashimoto from RTI. The plating will be done at RTI. The presses will be SMTs like RTI. You have had an incredible string of bad luck pressings or you live in a hot place and your carrier(s) are leaving your records in the sun. I buy many Tone Poets and have not had your experience.
@@trackingangle929 I mean, Tennessee isn't the hottest place in the US. Certainly not during the fall/winter. I still buy RTI vinyl as they always sound superb, but it's usually a replacement or two before I get one that's flat.
Great video Michael…. I totally agree with your thoughts and opinions on this topic. I am relatively new to vinyl again. When I was getting back into it, I was told, you have to invest into Mofi pressings. My very first exposure to them was the blood sweat and tears one step. That pressing absolutely blew my mind!!!!! That is one of the best sounding pressings I have heard period. Then I got the Muddy Waters Folk Singer. Which, in my opinion is one of the greatest album ever. I compared that to my AP 45rpm version for $60 and I was not that impressed. Then it got worse with the EC Unplugged. The photo they used for the front is matte and so blurry. It is really bad. Plus their version of a jacket is horrible. There is so much more room for improvement. When I look at my AP album jacket it is so beautiful and sturdy great images and tons of info about the album. Not to mention no seam splits….
Look what Chad does with his UHQR SERIES. Now that is top of the line all the way!!!! You get the actual jacket and it is $25 less. Chad is absolutely killing it over there. Also, they have way more titles and so much of it is in stock most of the time…… you can tell that Chas would do this for free because he care so much about the music and the whole experience of owning vinyl. Where Mofi is a production line and just spitting out records without any thought or care behind it.
Mofi used to be the good standard the pinnacle, the bench mark to which everyone else espied to be like. One of my favorite quotes is from Lee Iacocca “You either lead, follow or get out of the way”
Come on Mofi, dust yourself off and get back to what made you the king of the hill…. Take back the crown and the throne. Let’s hope with their new pressing plane coming in 2023 and all these new titles and genera’s they are saying they will be doing, it will happen?
I heard the inner sleeve advertisement is gone. People are saying its not in Local Hero release. It needs to go
This applies to the records as well. Do you buy a mofi just to have to clean it first. I haven't had to yet but I would be pissed off for having to for a $100 record. This happened to me with a SRV album from a competitor. $40 record. But you are correct.
Thanks for this! You have a respected voice in the vinyl community and I really think this could actually spark some change at MoFi. I appreciate you.
This gave me flashbacks to architecture school pin-up critiques that could be brutal sometimes -but I totally agree. They need to step it up.
This is a very fair assessment. VMP has been really great at upping their jacket game. The PIR Anthology Box set are all stunners with custom matched vinyl to boot.
I agree packing is very important. I like to look packing while I listen, it’s part of the overall experience of listening to vinyl. The look and the feel are so important. I completely agree with you.
Very interesting. I love your videos and opinions. Appreciate you sharing this. I like MOFI’s SACD packaging and gold CD releases. Vinyl may be a different story. ;)
I purchase Mofi albums on a regular basis. I like what they do on a musical basis. I especially like the One Steps. I appreciate your points on the covers and advertisement materials. It would be nice if they upped their game. They push SACD’s as well as vinyl. I don’t know how well those sell.
That product never took off in a big way, though it has been available since the late 1990 ‘s. Mofi should stick to vinyl with the improvements that you note.
Therapy session! 😆 I do agree with you. Look at what Blue Note has been able to do with the Tone Poets - quality all around at a reasonable price.
Totally understand where you are coming from Michael! Especially compared to like you say: Vinyl Me Please and something like the Tone Poet series with the wonderful jackets and extensive, beautiful photos and liner notes. It’s not acceptable at all.
I agree with you 💯! I'm a art director and seeing poor quality artwork is such a turnoff no matter the price. I just got back into Vinyl at the beginning of the pandemic, and to me, the artwork is just as important as the sound. So if one or the other is poor, I won't buy the record. Keep voicing your opinion, without it, change won't happen👊🏻🙏🏻🎶
I agree 100% Packaging is everything to the hobby of collecting vinyl. I got my copy of Eye In The Sky a few weeks ago and it sounds good but like you I was extremely disappointed in the packaging. I was expecting more for $65.00. I knew this one was coming so I passed on the Speakers Corner version. Now I wonder if I should have bought that version and saved some money.
No. This version sounds better than the Speakers Corner. I have both.
The Mo Fi is more dynamic, fuller sounding. I have both
Love this, excellent job Michael. This is the freedom bestowed on someone who actually buys the product. Most big-time reviewers, and I'm thinking of one in particular, wouldn't dare criticize a major label because they would be afraid the free-record gravy train would dry up.
I get promos and I criticize them mercilessly when required. I trust you are not referring to me. Name names.
Waiting for the name…
Still waiting
Wow, so I get home from a holiday weekend and see that 'Li'l Mikey Fremer And The Giant Fragile Egos' has been obsessing for days over a comment on another person's RUclips channel, and is calling me out like a sixth grade bully demanding I meet him by the bike racks after school. In other words, his usual insecure, baiting shtick. Couple of things:
-I think Carly Simon said it best when she said "You're so vain, I bet you think this song is about you".
-I'm not going to shit on Michael's channel, which I really, really enjoy, by involving myself with your shit-show temper tantrum. Get help. Seriously.
It is surely a perceived conflict of interest when any reviewer gets a kick back or gratuity. No matter who the reviewer is, big or small.
Is it the wine or the label? What do you drink? Letting bias get in the way of listening is seemingly a common situation in audio, as it is in all aesthetics categories.
Sadly, all you say is true. So many labels put out sub par stuff knowing people will gobble it up. I really hate it when you can clearly tell that they simply blew up the CD artwork to album size. Its all grainy and looks like crap. Sadly, that is a side effect of the vinyl craze. People won't stop and be selective, and let the companies take a hit in their pocketbook until they wake up.
I agree Michael. When purchasing a high end archival record it should be presented as such. The recent Eric Clapton release has an awful blurry picture as well.
If this is the end, I hope the CSN couch album comes out soon. Really want this one and hope the quality is there.
Your point is so on the money and I totally agree. Love your shows very educational cheers and thanks for taking the time to put them together. Have a good one.
I agree with you regarding the stunning quality of VMP. But.. unfortunately when their package finally arrives at my doorsteps it is seldom the gatefold/jackets isn’t damaged.. guess bad luck! Perhaps their shipping packaging is improved over the course of time.. Great topic Michael! Shame on you mofi ;)
I totally agree with you, I bought a $49.99 album and after $9.89 shipping it was nearly $60.00! But analogue productions has free shipping after $49.00. Guess where I'm going!!
I've had many releases come with seam splits also with the one step in the big boxes had a few seam splits
Geez!!
They remind me of Wall Street guys destroying Boeings.
I mentioned this in Rachel's Ghost stream yesterday but obviously I would like to share my experience here. I bought Young Rascals directly from Mofi, #302. It was shipped with pretty flimsy packaging, I've had discogs records come in better packaging consistently than what MOFI/music direct uses. As a result, horrible seam splits on both ends of the jacket. To MF's credit, they immediately responded to my email and explained they would ship another jacket within the month as they were expecting to receive them. It actually shipped in a week and interestingly was numbered #4986. This is just an empty jacket, I was very surprised it would be numbered. Does that mean they dont actually press 5000, or there's extra LPs with no jacket? It does indicate it's a limited edition of 5k on the back of these jackets. Aside from that interesting occurrence, my next order was for APP Eye in the Skye, same deal with the crummy packaging, same problem with the seam splits.. now for this one, I have not gotten an email response from MOFI in which I requested another jacket and asked them if they could quit shipping these LP jacketed in the media sleeve LOL
How do we even know they are putting the records in the jackets in chronological order ?
@Nicholas yes Nicholas you are 100% correct and as people who ship records this has to be a given. People have to ship them and assume this will happen and ship accordingly so the record will get there in the condition the buyer purchase the record.
I've got videos on RUclips where I tell people how to ship records because I got so fed up with those bad eBay shippers.
@@robertpannullo5687 yeah don't assume that the record and the cover are going to match you obviously have a record one of 5,000 but you don't know when the record comes off this press you can only assume the early ones match the earlier covers but there's no way to link them together
All you have to do is tell them to remove the Lps for shipping in your order's 'comments' section.
@@Matasky2010 good to know!
I don't get it... Is the cover art wrong? are the photos not from the first release? Is the graphic design of the jacket different from the original thus is worst or mediocre? I don't have that album so I don't really get the reference point to understand the criticism. Thnx!
You remind me of a friend I had in Lahr, Schwartzwald in the 80's when I was stationed there, and the many discussions we had on music, while drinking good German beer and listening to records. One I remember was also about MOFI, but on their "Gold cd's"...cheers....
I am totally with you Michael. 85 EUR for that record is crazy. I just bought the stereo edition of Coltrane's Blue Train from the Tone Poet series: two heavenly sounding discs with a beautiful high gloss tip-on jacket, accompanied by a booklet full of high resolution photos and interesting stories. All that for around 60 EUR. I am new to this hobby but I am not tempted to buy a MFSL release as long as there are such gems out there from Blue Note, Analogue Productions, Verve/Impulse etc.
I love your passion! Well said - Earned my sub :)
Well said Michael MOFI need to hear / see this video. I total agree with everything you said. Being an ex professional photographer your comment about Kodak & Polaroid is very pertinent to the position MOFI could find themselves in very quickly, if they do not up there game as you stated “There is a lot of sharks swimming in this vinyl pool at the moment”
ATB Graham.
I just received the Grateful Dead "Workingman's Dead" (which had a short repress) and they don't even include the two page advertisement anymore.
Well said. Really well said. We, especially in Europe, are being taken to the cleaners. £90 average for Audio Analogue and MoFi in UK. Related subject. On your list of who should get the audiophile pressing treatment can you add Donovan? Excellent original LP’s. I guess you already have Bowie?🤔
The original has embossed gold foil on the front cover. For the price the MoFi needs to have it as well. I didn’t get this release because I felt the 45rpm format , i.e. , having to break the album over 4 sides would to detrimental to the listening experience
I was just coming here to comment the same thing. They should have copied the original gold foil! (Which sounds amazing and cost me $3 not that long ago)
@@jasonsmith2032
I posted almost the same thing. I found it for 5.00 cdn, it’s still easily found. A mint copy no less.
It’s amazing that Mo Fi titles are always sold out and the product is not top notch.
Must add though, the Eye in the Sky Mofi 2x 45rpm sounds absolutely stunning.
Although it’s quite dynamic and highly boosted, my mint original copy for 5.00 sounds superior
Yes, MoFi jackets leave a lot to be desired. Hopefully the new pressing plant marks a new era as well (better release schedule, better jackets - considering that pressing records will be cheaper I guess).
Hello Michael! I could not agree more. MOFI is one of my favorite labels but Impex, Analogue Productions and BN bring it all together. Don't forget MOFI, it comes down to Art. It's a visual as well as audio medium. I hope you get a response (I hope we all do).
Is it just me or was the Eric Clapton one step image used for the cover really low quality?
It felt like something I printed out in the late 1990s from a cheap printer at school using a low quality GIF.
I love your passion Michael, I feel exactly as you. This has always been an issue with MoFi & it defiantly comes across like let the peasants eat the crumbs we throw at them. These records are expensive by any measure, most people have to live within a budget forced to pick & choose carefully. The last thing you want your customer to feel is regret in spending his hard earned money on the product you sold them. You could never say this about Chad as he would never put out some of the things many other's seem to have no problem doing. Things are hot now but the day of reckoning with regards to the economy are soon to change things drastically. As they say in marketing, The best customer is the one you already have. The wheel turns MoFi, try to show more appreciation to the loyal customers that supported you. You may own the company but ultimately the customer is the true boss in the end.
I bought Eye In The Sky in the UK in 1982 and, honestly, the photos aren't any better on my copy than on your Mobile Fidelity one.
Agee with you 100% .. for the price we are paying the artwork on the jacket and overall production are all part of the overall packaging we are paying a premium for .. it’s not good when a company starts taking advantage of loyal customers
Im waiting on my AP Eye and you are absolutely correct! We are paying for every bit of the title, Sound quality, cover quality etc! We are paying for the experience of top of the line audio. Im sad they cheapen out for a dollar vs reputation and customer satisfaction.
I wasn't convinced of your complaint until you bring up the $80 price tag. For that price the cover should at least replicate the original, and certainly shouldn't be of lower quality. Acoustic Sounds' releases are less than half that price, and have amazing packaging.
The most honest and free speech feedback I have seen/ heard, in this community; I am totally with you Michael💪. This accounts in a larger scale too, but let's start here, in a open respectful discussion. Great work Michael, thanks, Toby
100% agree. Thank you for speaking this truth, publicly. Now, can you ask VMP to improve those shitty mailers they ship with? 🙏🏻
yeah VMP has really impressed me with some of their work
Great video. You are absolutely right. I agree. For that kind of money we can expect more for the total product. This is a disgrace of a product they deliver at the moment
I agree completely, Michael. With a physical product like records, the whole package does matter. Look at what Sam Records are doing - re-creating flip back jackets and sourcing original photographs. Their product ends up feeling much more superior to Mofi, and yet can cost half as much!
I’m with you on this one….it won’t be the first time I’ve purchased an album just on the cover design ….
You are not wrong sir, regardless of one's spot on the globe. Thanks for your comments.
You know you are right! We pay a lot of money for these albums and with the hype and waiting so long for the release dates only to be disappointed! MOFI has been doing these substandard albums all the while going up in price! As a professional photographer more than 35 years, I have demanded quality and expect it and anything less is insulting! I feel ya!
Great video ,there’s nothing left to say. Keep up the good work!
You are the voice of the people!
I’m still waiting on my replacement copy of Eagles Desperado One Step. Mofi sent me two copies of LP No 1. (Missing LP No 2.) also the individual sleeves were damaged. I have 3 pending orders in with MoFi at the moment - and they’ve not shipped an order I placed 14 months ago. Pretty upsetting given what paid to them over the years. Not feeling very valued as a customer.