As an Aussie I’m so happy they included INXS. Love to see Listen Like Theives and The Swing in the background, one of my favourites was Shaboo Shoobah ❤ waiting for my copy to arrive in the next couple of days, can’t wait to spin it!
As a huge fan of this record, this was my most anticipated release for the AP Atlantic 75. I love the $1 thrift store copy I have and I thought RKS was going to give me maximum aural pleasure, resulting in an eargasm. Alas, this is the first Atlantic 75 that has been just ok. I expected it to blow me away at first listen, but I’m two spins in and it has not lived up to my probably-too-high expectations. It’s a solid, dead quiet pressing, but something is missing. My thrift store copy is just fuller and more dynamic. Chad and RKS are analog gods, but the KICK analOG reigns supreme for me.
So, most people in the comments, along with both Steve and I, voted in this order: B, A, and C. Here is the REVEAL: " A" was Ryan K. Smith/Sterling Sound AP 45, "B "was Miles Showell, Abbey Road half-speed master, and "C "was the original US promo LP cut by Tim Young. Thanks everyone for participating!
When I knew the AP 75 was coming out, I took my US original out and listened to it for the first time in many years. I thought, DAMN this sounds great! Then, people are raving about the AP 75, so I took it out again just the other day to give it another listen, and yeah, honestly, it sound perfectly fine to me, I mean REALLY good! And, it your friend there is right, if Tim Young did it in the UK and that's what I'm hearing, I am NOT surprised because he is one of the VERY best mastering engineers who is very highly praised. So, yep, original too for me 😊
After many back and forths, I am fairly certain that C is the original pressing. A and B are both more detailed, less muddied in the complex, layered moments of the 1st track. B seems to be cut a bit hotter than A, which tends to benefit it at times and be a detriment at others. My ears and brain lean towards the B pressing as the overall best. It does the best job with both the subtle 2nd/3rd layer musical elements as well as the left/right channel overdubbed vocals, harmonies, etc.
Just an FYI the UK original version has two different cuts, there is the TY (Tim Young) cut (used in this test) and also the DB (Denis Blackham aka Bilbo) cut. Quite often you will find DB on side one and TY on side two, my copy is the other way around, but there are copies out there with DB or TY on both sides.
Completely agree with you on the numbered copies. Although, I do enjoy getting a numbered copy when I get my AP order in. To your point on the randomness of the numbers, I received my AP Kick the day this video aired and it was #1656.
Heh, just checked the 3 samples, took me about 30 seconds on my SECONDARY system, which is no great shakes. Eliminated 'C' immediately as far weaker than the others. 'A' is pretty clear, I'm thinking the Rhino. And 'B' *OBVIOUSLY* had way more punch, so going by what our fellow said above, I'm guessing that must be the Abbey Road. If so, then yes, it is by FAR much more punchy. Again, only took me about 30 seconds.. Of course, if I'm wrong... DOO DOO Face time! 😁
Fyi: Tim Young is a very highly regarded mastering engineer in the UK with an impressive discography including London Calling, The Pretenders, Elvis Costello etc. he became the first non-American engineer to win a Grammy, for his work on the Beatles "Love". He often signs off as TimTom
Here are my results: A: Good detail and sound stage. Not exactly how I remember this record sounding so my assumption is it is one of the reissues. Seemed to lack a bit of the driving snap the original pressing had. B: The vertical sound stage narrowed for this one. Mix seemed to punch in a straight line in the middle of the mix. This pressing sounds like what I remember this redoing sounding like. Lots of snap and energy. Not as detailed as the prior mix. If I had to guess this is the original LP. C: This sounds more similar to pressing A. Very detailed. I was able to glean some elements in the recording I’ve never heard before. I very much appreciate much enjoyed this pressing. Only because it was interesting. But it lacked the drive and energy of the original mix. I think because of the bias I have for the original mix I prefer B. While not as detailed it conveyed the feel and intent of the song. That said, it is interesting to hear how different mastering and pressings can influence the presentation of a song.
Sir Steve great VID. I have a 2017 remaster version of KICK, on clear 180g vinyl manufactured in Czech Republic. It had an Atlantic original 75 hype sticker. Not sure who remastered the 2017 versions.
steve - from info from Co-pilot Microsoft search: The 2023 reissue of INXS’s “Kick” on clear vinyl (RCD1 81796) was mastered by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios1. Showell is known for his expertise in half-speed mastering, which enhances the audio quality and fidelity of vinyl records.
Turntable was a freshly recapped and Krebs uprgaded Technics SP-10MKII, VPI JMW-10 tonearm, Ortofon Cadenza Black cartridge (upgraded from Shibata to Microridge by VAS Audio), Musical Surroundings Phonomena II+ and Linear Power Supply into VTL 5.5 preamp, out to Tascam SD-20M rack mount digital recorder at 96/24.
Probably completely wrong. A- Atlantic 45. B- Miles Showell's Abbey Road 45. C-OG 1987.Now the one I am using to hearing for the last 37 years??? was the UK OG, but I believe the US 87, and UK 87 are cut from same source? But to my clapped out ears, this is what I think. B-the dynamics are too OTT for me.Tim;'s riff too heavy, and loud for the rest of the mix, as is Garry's bass. Even Michael's vocals must have been up in the red for me, when recording this to disc?To my ear not much difference between C and A. Both sound superb, and all levels that I am use to hearing with these tracks.C maybe slightly noisier as the track fades out? But you would find that with an OG 87??? Anyway like I stated, probably completely wrong!!
I have an original Australian pressing and it's almost unlistenable, it sounds compressed and just hideous. I have the 75 Atlantic and it smokes it. To be fair its not the best production, it's good but not great and there is only so much they can do without making it worse like so many do. I have an original Listen Like Thieves and the production is brilliant.
I just got my Atlantic 45 of INXS Kick and I find it unacceptable. Bright and thin as s***. Horrible. They are starting to go the way of Rhino HiFi with all that hyper detail and devoid of warmth and musicality. Oh yeah the other Atlantic is garbage too. The Bad Company Straight Shooter.
As an Aussie I’m so happy they included INXS. Love to see Listen Like Theives and The Swing in the background, one of my favourites was Shaboo Shoobah ❤ waiting for my copy to arrive in the next couple of days, can’t wait to spin it!
As a huge fan of this record, this was my most anticipated release for the AP Atlantic 75. I love the $1 thrift store copy I have and I thought RKS was going to give me maximum aural pleasure, resulting in an eargasm. Alas, this is the first Atlantic 75 that has been just ok. I expected it to blow me away at first listen, but I’m two spins in and it has not lived up to my probably-too-high expectations. It’s a solid, dead quiet pressing, but something is missing. My thrift store copy is just fuller and more dynamic. Chad and RKS are analog gods, but the KICK analOG reigns supreme for me.
So, most people in the comments, along with both Steve and I, voted in this order: B, A, and C. Here is the REVEAL: " A" was Ryan K. Smith/Sterling Sound AP 45, "B "was Miles Showell, Abbey Road half-speed master, and "C "was the original US promo LP cut by Tim Young. Thanks everyone for participating!
When I knew the AP 75 was coming out, I took my US original out and listened to it for the first time in many years. I thought, DAMN this sounds great! Then, people are raving about the AP 75, so I took it out again just the other day to give it another listen, and yeah, honestly, it sound perfectly fine to me, I mean REALLY good!
And, it your friend there is right, if Tim Young did it in the UK and that's what I'm hearing, I am NOT surprised because he is one of the VERY best mastering engineers who is very highly praised. So, yep, original too for me 😊
After many back and forths, I am fairly certain that C is the original pressing. A and B are both more detailed, less muddied in the complex, layered moments of the 1st track. B seems to be cut a bit hotter than A, which tends to benefit it at times and be a detriment at others. My ears and brain lean towards the B pressing as the overall best. It does the best job with both the subtle 2nd/3rd layer musical elements as well as the left/right channel overdubbed vocals, harmonies, etc.
Just an FYI the UK original version has two different cuts, there is the TY (Tim Young) cut (used in this test) and also the DB (Denis Blackham aka Bilbo) cut. Quite often you will find DB on side one and TY on side two, my copy is the other way around, but there are copies out there with DB or TY on both sides.
Completely agree with you on the numbered copies. Although, I do enjoy getting a numbered copy when I get my AP order in. To your point on the randomness of the numbers, I received my AP Kick the day this video aired and it was #1656.
Heh, just checked the 3 samples, took me about 30 seconds on my SECONDARY system, which is no great shakes. Eliminated 'C' immediately as far weaker than the others. 'A' is pretty clear, I'm thinking the Rhino. And 'B' *OBVIOUSLY* had way more punch, so going by what our fellow said above, I'm guessing that must be the Abbey Road. If so, then yes, it is by FAR much more punchy. Again, only took me about 30 seconds..
Of course, if I'm wrong... DOO DOO Face time! 😁
A clean Bob Ludwig YES 90125 OG is *MUCH* better sounding than the latest 45rpm Atlantic.
Fyi: Tim Young is a very highly regarded mastering engineer in the UK with an impressive discography including London Calling, The Pretenders, Elvis Costello etc. he became the first non-American engineer to win a Grammy, for his work on the Beatles "Love". He often signs off as TimTom
Thank you for the information! Greatly appreciated.
He also did the UK Diamond Life by Sade and that sounds stellar.
Here are my results:
A: Good detail and sound stage. Not exactly how I remember this record sounding so my assumption is it is one of the reissues. Seemed to lack a bit of the driving snap the original pressing had.
B: The vertical sound stage narrowed for this one. Mix seemed to punch in a straight line in the middle of the mix. This pressing sounds like what I remember this redoing sounding like. Lots of snap and energy. Not as detailed as the prior mix. If I had to guess this is the original LP.
C: This sounds more similar to pressing A. Very detailed. I was able to glean some elements in the recording I’ve never heard before. I very much appreciate much enjoyed this pressing. Only because it was interesting. But it lacked the drive and energy of the original mix.
I think because of the bias I have for the original mix I prefer B. While not as detailed it conveyed the feel and intent of the song. That said, it is interesting to hear how different mastering and pressings can influence the presentation of a song.
Check out which are which in the latest show.
@@stevewestman7774 whoa! I was wrong about which was the original pressing! Interesting results. We need more of these!
I might give my promo a spin it's such a classic album I like the original pressing I might have to by the 45-RPM just for need you tonight 😂
Sir Steve great VID. I have a 2017 remaster version of KICK, on clear 180g vinyl manufactured in Czech Republic. It had an Atlantic original 75 hype sticker. Not sure who remastered the 2017 versions.
steve - from info from Co-pilot Microsoft search: The 2023 reissue of INXS’s “Kick” on clear vinyl (RCD1 81796) was mastered by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios1. Showell is known for his expertise in half-speed mastering, which enhances the audio quality and fidelity of vinyl records.
@@patmeadows4759 According to Discogs, this is a GZ Media pressing, likely also mastered by GZ Media. Miles is not scribed in the dead wax.
For me A sounds more dynamic with better separation between the instruments and vocals.. question: how did you transfer these?
Turntable was a freshly recapped and Krebs uprgaded Technics SP-10MKII, VPI JMW-10 tonearm, Ortofon Cadenza Black cartridge (upgraded from Shibata to Microridge by VAS Audio), Musical Surroundings Phonomena II+ and Linear Power Supply into VTL 5.5 preamp, out to Tascam SD-20M rack mount digital recorder at 96/24.
@@michaeltrochalakis6526 thank you!
Probably completely wrong. A- Atlantic 45. B- Miles Showell's Abbey Road 45. C-OG 1987.Now the one I am using to hearing for the last 37 years??? was the UK OG, but I believe the US 87, and UK 87 are cut from same source? But to my clapped out ears, this is what I think. B-the dynamics are too OTT for me.Tim;'s riff too heavy, and loud for the rest of the mix, as is Garry's bass. Even Michael's vocals must have been up in the red for me, when recording this to disc?To my ear not much difference between C and A. Both sound superb, and all levels that I am use to hearing with these tracks.C maybe slightly noisier as the track fades out? But you would find that with an OG 87??? Anyway like I stated, probably completely wrong!!
Nothing wrong with sentimental bias. That’s the way the record was made to begin with.
I agree. 👍
Good shootout I could never get into this band as I’m not a fan of the drum machine sound and the synth Sounds dated to me Nice review though
I really like the 45 rpm the best. I just think it explodes on my system. My US original is good, but the 45 RPM beats it!
which 45, the new AP or the Miles Showell half speed? There are two....
@@michaeltrochalakis6526 the AP. I love it!
I have an original Australian pressing and it's almost unlistenable, it sounds compressed and just hideous. I have the 75 Atlantic and it smokes it. To be fair its not the best production, it's good but not great and there is only so much they can do without making it worse like so many do. I have an original Listen Like Thieves and the production is brilliant.
I just got my Atlantic 45 of INXS Kick and I find it unacceptable. Bright and thin as s***. Horrible. They are starting to go the way of Rhino HiFi with all that hyper detail and devoid of warmth and musicality. Oh yeah the other Atlantic is garbage too. The Bad Company Straight Shooter.