OMR CDs v. Remasters

["David C. Olstein" <born2run@pipeline.com>]

On Thu, Mar 9, 1995 5:21:18 AM TheWho Digest wrote:  
  
>I was wondering about the "Original Master Recording" cd's  
>of albums that have been out ( Tommy, Who Are You, etc )  
>Now, are these albums that are "OMR" the same as anything  
>that is, or is going to be, presented "new" as a "remaster' ?  
>I own "Who Are You" "Original ..", but, I was wondering if  
>it would be best for me to pick up the OMR of TOMMY..  
>Are these any different then what is "re-mastered" ?  
>I bought the WHO ARE YOU before I heard that the whole  
>catalog was going to be remastered, and I figured that  
>I wouldn't need to purchase a "re-master" if the OMR  
>cd is just as good.  
  
Unfortunately, you may end up having to pick up both the Mobile Fidelity 
CDs and the remasters, at least if you want EVERYTHING on CD in the best 
quality.  The Tommy gold disc has an alternate version of Eyesight to the 
Blind, and I doubt that the remastered version will have that (at least I 
hope not, since I already own the gold disc).  Of course, if they remix 
Tommy, you'd want the gold disc for the original mix.    For now, the 
Mobile Fidelity Quadrophenia CD is the only way to get all the original 
packaging (including the picture booklet)--at least in the U.S.  I had UK 
version that also had the picture booklet, but I traded it in when I got 
the gold disc.  I suspect there will be a limited edition version of the 
remastered CD that will have an LP-sized booklet.  Quadrophenia is 
reportedly going to be remixed, however, so you may still want to get the 
gold disc, since it's the best sounding version of the original mix.  
Polygram has also released the Quadrophenia soundtrack on CD.  Although the

tightwad morons left out some of the artwork, the sound quality is pretty 
good and the disc includes remixes and a few Who tracks not found anywhere 
else (Four Faces, Joker James, etc.).  The remastered Who are You will 
probably sound no better than the gold disc you already have, but it will 
probably be worth getting anyway if they include bonus tracks.  Personally,

I hope they include one of the two live versions of Who are You performed 
with Keith Moon on drums.  And they might not include the original speed 
version of Guitar and Pen that's found on the gold disc.