Can't believe I missed this video. Finding the best sounding NEVERMIND has been a somewhat expensive and tedious passion of mine. Not sure if I've gone through more copies of DSOTM or NEVERMIND, but probably the latter. And we ended at the same place - the 1991 Sonopress (DE). I've never heard the US OG and, while I'd like to, I will never shell out that amount - especially when I have a Mint perfect copy of the Sonopress pressing (with the treble clef on Side B). I started out with the run of the mill pressings in the beginning and then got the ORG/BG pressing, which I had heard so much about and which really underwhelmed me (it's Mike Esposito's shootout pick, 2nd only to US OG). Somewhere along the way, I heard about the Sonopress and went through two or three copies to find a flawless pressing. It is probably my favorite record in my collection to whip out. So visceral and satisfying on my setup. I feel actually honored and fortunate to own it. It's very special. Search over. It's moments like these that makes this is such a fun hobby.
Hi Austin, I'm so glad you found the video, eventually... ;-) I'm even more pleased to discover that we've reached the same conclusion. I have spent SO much money buying these other 'best' versions...They are all sitting in my ever expanding 'out-pile'. The ORG/BG for example: It's one of the reasons I rarely read other peoples reviews (obviously I did regarding Nevermind). The fact that Mike Esposiito (and many others) thinks this one is best makes me wonder what on earth he's listening to... He has a decent hifi system... This is another reason I at least try to explain how different versions sound, rather than just 'this one's best'...
@@DaveDenyer Actually, what I learned from your video is that, while the ORG/BG and the Pallas/BG stampers might descend from a shared lacquer, their progeny are unequal. Mike was referring to the ORG and I assumed the Pallas would be the same. I can tell you there is a world of difference between the few Pallas pressings I've had and the Sonopresses I've had. Never heard the ORG (and don't need to). Thanks!
"FWIW, the monkey is the right side up..." If I had a nickel for everytime I've heard that... 😁 Excellent review, thank you Dave! The one you have is a later run 1991 EU misprint. I'm glad to hear how good it sounds! It has a median price of about $95 I think checking Discogs. I just happen to have the very 1st US pressing (I can' take any real credit, like many of my other albums, I simply just bought them when they came out 😊) this one I guess is considered the 'Holy Grail' of the pressings with I guess a median price of $800! With ones even approaching NM (mine is NM like new) over $1700! No one is more surprised than I am. It is likely my most valuable album, and honestly I doubt that even in my 2600+ albums or so that I really have that many worth anywhere near anything like that. Just a few here and there by happenstance... This is the Deadwax of mine: MASTERDISK DGC-24425-A-GL1 It is absolutely the very 1st US pressing.
Glad you enjoyed the review. I'm rather envious of your NM MASTERDISK original. I'd love to hear one, just to compare against my EU original, although if it did sound that much better I'd then want one...
@@DaveDenyer Heh, well... I am quite SURE that this will likely be the *ONLY* time you will ever be envious of me, I promise! 😁 Like I say, I was just buying stuff at the time. Check out the comments on Discogs under my pressing, there are some interesting comparisons there.
Ha about 5 mind in I was holding my breath as I wS sure you would pull out the original German copy! I have one and it is just phenomenal and I'm not even a grunge lover but that pressing is one of the best rock records ever cut it has so much air and really dynamic but hits hard. Bought mine second hand 93 for £4
Enjoy your reviews! You have a marvelous record collection! Do you have any idea how many records you own in your collection and do you ever have to purge any records for more room????
I bought the day it came out. 91’. It was out two weeks before cd. I never played the record because I got the tape too. Just got it out of the attic. It’s super clean. I want to sell it
Broke my heart in two ways. Took me till last year to revisit. I was a Bleach kid record store clerk nerd. Mine is a bit murky. Got the Pallis press. I’ve yet to clean it. I will check my matrix. You near Leeds? WTF? Albinis In Utero sounds uhhhg! Great. Do albums ever ‘burn in’….My latest Smile record got better after some ultrasonic/play time. Stills murky in the fly sound with great music. Couldn’t believe that this was a choice. Nigel where are ya? Compression fatigue vs dynamics.
Hi, as was the case with Nevermind, I found both Bleach and In Utero quite hard to get into. Unplugged was the only Nirvana album to hit the spot with me at the time of release. However having now found that copy of Nevermind that does it for me, Bleach and In Utero are next to reassess and find the ultimate best-sounding copies of...
The B-side matrix info is: 110 DMF-5752 B-2 C (I think, it's very feint!). There's also an embossed 'bass clef symbol' near the spindle hole, which is another identifier.
It seems to me that on the EU original you have a PVC outer sleeve at the moment. I guess that's PVC because of slight wrinkling I see. Please toss that outer sleeve away and put the record in a non-PVC outer sleeve, because PVC gives off-gassing that sticks to vinyl and once that happens, it's game over. This is a well known phenomenon nowadays. Numerous videos on YT about it and it's absolutely not a myth.
Well spotted: I had only recently purchased this LP, and that's the sleeve it came in. I will replace it with a new 'blake sleeve' before it goes on the record shelving.
The original USA and the original Korean quiex press (has the different back cover & tracklist split) are my 2 favorite pressings of this album. They are both the most ALIVE soundstages. In your face and certainly NOT polite which is critical when buying this lp in addition to their other records. Must have a soundstage that comes at you. The represses are too polite.
There seems to be a lot of confusion over the ORG and what people are referring to as the BG. Because BG mastered the ORG as well as the Pallas and RTI presses and the 320 "back to black" reissues. So when people say BG, what BG pressing are they talking about? That Pallas pressing you have there looks like a 2013 press to me and my understanding is that it used the same stampers as the 2009 ORG, i could be wrong though. Also, imo all shootouts should be done without knowing what pressing you're listening to, notes should be taken, you should pick the pressing you prefer and then you should discover last of all what that pressing is. Knowing what the pressing is beforehand introduces bias.
Indeed: as is so often the case I couldn’t find any conclusive information about these BG remasters. That’s why I bought them both… As I said in the video it is possible the difference in sound quality is down to degradation of the metalwork over the intervening years, but I very much doubt it. The ORG is much better than the later issue. Also, there’s no similarity of run out groove information, so I would conclude that they are completely different cuts. My suspicion that my copy is a later pressing from that 2013 cut (I'm only guessing at 2019) is due to the crossed out '2013' stamped numbers and scratched in new information. Shame this information wasn’t already out there as it would’ve saved me a couple of hundred pounds. That’s why I made this video: hopefully it will be helpful to someone.
@@DaveDenyer The initial wave of Pallas sticker pressings in 2013 did actually use the original ORG metal work (with the "ORG 032" etchings X'd out, NOT 29047 crossed out). At some point they must have exhausted the metal work and Bernie apparently did another cut, almost certainly from digital since it was never advertised as being analog, and that is what you're referring to as the 2019 version. Mike at the In Groove is responsible for all this confusion, because he stated in multiple videos with tens of thousands of views that the later "2019" cut in print at the time was the same ORG cut when it simply wasn't.
@@sweetserviettes Thanks for this input. This would somewhat explain the suggestion that these 'Pallas' labelled copies are worth seeking out. However as is so often the case it doesn't indicate that at all: you need to get down to the matrix number to ascertain whether it is a repress of the ORG master or indeed a later (possibly from digital) mastering...
@@DaveDenyerYeah, if you look at Discogs, it seems like the users there have sorted it out as best as they possibly could have. I bought the "Pressed at Pallas" version during the original run in 2013, and I definitely got one from the ORG stampers with the ORG parts of the deadwax crossed out. It sounds excellent and was an absolute bargain selling at $24 U.S. or whatever it was at the time. It's too bad that the Pallas hype sticker version stopped being an indicator of the Grundman ORG AAA mastering. A legit 2013 probably still runs cheaper than the ORG branded one, but clearly it's not worth buying these sealed anymore.
If you are storing your lps in pvc jackets, you’d better check them because pvc outgass thus causing hazy vinyl or some would describe as bag rash…too many UK dealers use pvc jackets, which is a damn pity…
Thanks for the advice. I typically store them in Blake Sleeves. However having just purchased most of these they are still in whatever outer jacket they came in. Before any of these get filed away on the shelf they’ll go in new inners and outer sleeves.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
Can't believe I missed this video. Finding the best sounding NEVERMIND has been a somewhat expensive and tedious passion of mine. Not sure if I've gone through more copies of DSOTM or NEVERMIND, but probably the latter. And we ended at the same place - the 1991 Sonopress (DE). I've never heard the US OG and, while I'd like to, I will never shell out that amount - especially when I have a Mint perfect copy of the Sonopress pressing (with the treble clef on Side B). I started out with the run of the mill pressings in the beginning and then got the ORG/BG pressing, which I had heard so much about and which really underwhelmed me (it's Mike Esposito's shootout pick, 2nd only to US OG). Somewhere along the way, I heard about the Sonopress and went through two or three copies to find a flawless pressing. It is probably my favorite record in my collection to whip out. So visceral and satisfying on my setup. I feel actually honored and fortunate to own it. It's very special. Search over. It's moments like these that makes this is such a fun hobby.
Hi Austin, I'm so glad you found the video, eventually... ;-)
I'm even more pleased to discover that we've reached the same conclusion. I have spent SO much money buying these other 'best' versions...They are all sitting in my ever expanding 'out-pile'.
The ORG/BG for example: It's one of the reasons I rarely read other peoples reviews (obviously I did regarding Nevermind). The fact that Mike Esposiito (and many others) thinks this one is best makes me wonder what on earth he's listening to... He has a decent hifi system... This is another reason I at least try to explain how different versions sound, rather than just 'this one's best'...
@@DaveDenyer Actually, what I learned from your video is that, while the ORG/BG and the Pallas/BG stampers might descend from a shared lacquer, their progeny are unequal. Mike was referring to the ORG and I assumed the Pallas would be the same. I can tell you there is a world of difference between the few Pallas pressings I've had and the Sonopresses I've had. Never heard the ORG (and don't need to). Thanks!
I 100% agree. I scored the same 1st EU pressing here in Canada, I only had the bg before and it wiped the floor with it.
Glad you’ve had the same experience as me. The original does indeed ‘wipe the floor’ with the BG.
Very interesting. Thanks for the review. Have ORG and Pallas one. Sounded pretty darn great to me. May have to seek out the one you have. Thanks!!!!
That’s very interesting. Would you agree that the ORG sounds better than the Pallas?
There is no contest.
"FWIW, the monkey is the right side up..."
If I had a nickel for everytime I've heard that... 😁
Excellent review, thank you Dave! The one you have is a later run 1991 EU misprint. I'm glad to hear how good it sounds! It has a median price of about $95 I think checking Discogs. I just happen to have the very 1st US pressing (I can' take any real credit, like many of my other albums, I simply just bought them when they came out 😊) this one I guess is considered the 'Holy Grail' of the pressings with I guess a median price of $800! With ones even approaching NM (mine is NM like new) over $1700! No one is more surprised than I am. It is likely my most valuable album, and honestly I doubt that even in my 2600+ albums or so that I really have that many worth anywhere near anything like that. Just a few here and there by happenstance...
This is the Deadwax of mine: MASTERDISK DGC-24425-A-GL1 It is absolutely the very 1st US pressing.
Glad you enjoyed the review. I'm rather envious of your NM MASTERDISK original. I'd love to hear one, just to compare against my EU original, although if it did sound that much better I'd then want one...
@@DaveDenyer Heh, well... I am quite SURE that this will likely be the *ONLY* time you will ever be envious of me, I promise! 😁 Like I say, I was just buying stuff at the time. Check out the comments on Discogs under my pressing, there are some interesting comparisons there.
Ha about 5 mind in I was holding my breath as I wS sure you would pull out the original German copy! I have one and it is just phenomenal and I'm not even a grunge lover but that pressing is one of the best rock records ever cut it has so much air and really dynamic but hits hard. Bought mine second hand 93 for £4
You got a good bargain there, back in '93. I had to spend a LOT more than that for my '91 original. ;-)
Enjoy your reviews! You have a marvelous record collection! Do you have any idea how many records you own in your collection and do you ever have to purge any records for more room????
Thanks Dave. I think I’ve around 2000 - 3000 LPs, and yes, space does require the occasional purge.
I bought the day it came out. 91’. It was out two weeks before cd. I never played the record because I got the tape too. Just got it out of the attic. It’s super clean. I want to sell it
Hi Nicholas, I can’t imagine you’ll have any problem selling your Original LP!
Thank you very much for this, got the pallas repress (without the ORG matrix ), may have to seek out and OG 😅
Glad you found it useful. You won't regret getting an OG, if you can find and afford one!
My favorite is the Howie Weinberg/Masterdisk cut US original press.
I’d love to hear this vs. an EU original…
Broke my heart in two ways. Took me till last year to revisit. I was a Bleach kid record store clerk nerd. Mine is a bit murky. Got the Pallis press. I’ve yet to clean it. I will check my matrix. You near Leeds? WTF?
Albinis In Utero sounds uhhhg! Great. Do albums ever ‘burn in’….My latest Smile record got better after some ultrasonic/play time. Stills murky in the fly sound with great music. Couldn’t believe that this was a choice. Nigel where are ya?
Compression fatigue vs dynamics.
Hi, as was the case with Nevermind, I found both Bleach and In Utero quite hard to get into. Unplugged was the only Nirvana album to hit the spot with me at the time of release.
However having now found that copy of Nevermind that does it for me, Bleach and In Utero are next to reassess and find the ultimate best-sounding copies of...
Hi Dave, Perhaps I missed it. Is the 108 on both sides? Can you please provide runout from side B too?
The B-side matrix info is: 110 DMF-5752 B-2 C (I think, it's very feint!). There's also an embossed 'bass clef symbol' near the spindle hole, which is another identifier.
@@DaveDenyer thanks Dave!
It seems to me that on the EU original you have a PVC outer sleeve at the moment. I guess that's PVC because of slight wrinkling I see. Please toss that outer sleeve away and put the record in a non-PVC outer sleeve, because PVC gives off-gassing that sticks to vinyl and once that happens, it's game over. This is a well known phenomenon nowadays. Numerous videos on YT about it and it's absolutely not a myth.
Well spotted: I had only recently purchased this LP, and that's the sleeve it came in. I will replace it with a new 'blake sleeve' before it goes on the record shelving.
Good call.
The original USA and the original Korean quiex press (has the different back cover & tracklist split) are my 2 favorite pressings of this album. They are both the most ALIVE soundstages. In your face and certainly NOT polite which is critical when buying this lp in addition to their other records. Must have a soundstage that comes at you. The represses are too polite.
Agree the repressings simply miss the point.
There seems to be a lot of confusion over the ORG and what people are referring to as the BG.
Because BG mastered the ORG as well as the Pallas and RTI presses and the 320 "back to black" reissues.
So when people say BG, what BG pressing are they talking about?
That Pallas pressing you have there looks like a 2013 press to me and my understanding is that it used the same stampers as the 2009 ORG, i could be wrong though.
Also, imo all shootouts should be done without knowing what pressing you're listening to, notes should be taken, you should pick the pressing you prefer and then you should discover last of all what that pressing is.
Knowing what the pressing is beforehand introduces bias.
Indeed: as is so often the case I couldn’t find any conclusive information about these BG remasters. That’s why I bought them both…
As I said in the video it is possible the difference in sound quality is down to degradation of the metalwork over the intervening years, but I very much doubt it.
The ORG is much better than the later issue. Also, there’s no similarity of run out groove information, so I would conclude that they are completely different cuts. My suspicion that my copy is a later pressing from that 2013 cut (I'm only guessing at 2019) is due to the crossed out '2013' stamped numbers and scratched in new information.
Shame this information wasn’t already out there as it would’ve saved me a couple of hundred pounds. That’s why I made this video: hopefully it will be helpful to someone.
@@DaveDenyer
We really need better information from these labels, and everyone involved in the process, it's not good enough
@@DaveDenyer The initial wave of Pallas sticker pressings in 2013 did actually use the original ORG metal work (with the "ORG 032" etchings X'd out, NOT 29047 crossed out). At some point they must have exhausted the metal work and Bernie apparently did another cut, almost certainly from digital since it was never advertised as being analog, and that is what you're referring to as the 2019 version. Mike at the In Groove is responsible for all this confusion, because he stated in multiple videos with tens of thousands of views that the later "2019" cut in print at the time was the same ORG cut when it simply wasn't.
@@sweetserviettes Thanks for this input. This would somewhat explain the suggestion that these 'Pallas' labelled copies are worth seeking out. However as is so often the case it doesn't indicate that at all: you need to get down to the matrix number to ascertain whether it is a repress of the ORG master or indeed a later (possibly from digital) mastering...
@@DaveDenyerYeah, if you look at Discogs, it seems like the users there have sorted it out as best as they possibly could have. I bought the "Pressed at Pallas" version during the original run in 2013, and I definitely got one from the ORG stampers with the ORG parts of the deadwax crossed out. It sounds excellent and was an absolute bargain selling at $24 U.S. or whatever it was at the time.
It's too bad that the Pallas hype sticker version stopped being an indicator of the Grundman ORG AAA mastering. A legit 2013 probably still runs cheaper than the ORG branded one, but clearly it's not worth buying these sealed anymore.
If you are storing your lps in pvc jackets, you’d better check them because pvc outgass thus causing hazy vinyl or some would describe as bag rash…too many UK dealers use pvc jackets, which is a damn pity…
Thanks for the advice. I typically store them in Blake Sleeves. However having just purchased most of these they are still in whatever outer jacket they came in. Before any of these get filed away on the shelf they’ll go in new inners and outer sleeves.
The original has a black label whereas the reissues are brown labels