The Who's new compilation Amazing Journey: The Story of the Who gets released this week on Vinyl and Best Buy (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8757099&st=the+who&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1836942) has it in their Sunday ad. I've never seen vinyl at a BB before and it will be fun to walk in and buy a copy and have the clerks look at me and ask, "what is that, I've never seen one of those before". I guess vinyl really is going mainstream (again) if it's at BB. :yes:

Looks like their online store is ramping up to carry vinyl as well with most titles showing pre-order. On one hand it's nice that a major retailer like BB (and Amazon) are starting to carry vinyl but that doesn't help our independent retailer friends that have been feeding us vinyl for the past two decades.

I saw that, and I was very excited! Vinyl is going mainstream-er. I highly doubt it will go back to even 10% of its heyday in the 70s, but still, its better than dead! I know Circuit City has vinyl at its online store, and so does Amazon, but vinyl in store at a mainstream retailer I have yet to see. Except for Hot Topic.

I dream for the day when I can waltz into Best Buy and pick up a rerelease of Sgt. Pepper's on vinyl... :music:

The only problem with mass-marketing anything is quality. The vinyl shops we've known and loved for years will probably be THE source for really good pressings for a long time. My $.02.

I really hope the thrift store near me don't catch on. One sells them for 3/$1 another 4/$1 and the one closest to me 10/$1.

Vinyl is currently 2% of all music sales I have heard and on the rise very quickly. The 70's weren't the hey day of Vinyl it was much later I want to say 84 but I could be wrong. Business is business and big business will always follow profit. And small business's at least the majority of them will fail after something like 7 years. So there will always be an eb and flo

Mixed emotions from me. Thrilled that it's making a "come-back" (never gone for some), but I don't give my money to box stores anyway (I will drive 20 extra minutes and spend $2+ per item to avoid shopping at Wally-world). I've heard that Pete Townsend is a big vinyl/tube audio nut, so it makes sense that The Who would push for vinyl re-releases. With the rumors of the WB vinyl catalog release for their 50th ann...2008 should be an interesting year for vinyl....better late than never I guess.

James R.

The release day is April 1. I hope is not some cruel April Fools joke. It's to the advantage of the music industry to have vinyl make a come back. They wear out faster, it's harder to make a carbon copy of it, harder to shop lift. I just hope is not recorded extra loud like most CD's. I'll be picking up my copy on Tuesday regardless. I haven't bought a new vinyl record in 20 years. I can't wait to slice the shrink wrap open.

The release day is April 1. I hope is not some cruel April Fools joke. It's to the advantage of the music industry to have vinyl make a come back. They wear out faster, it's harder to make a carbon copy of it, harder to shop lift. I just hope is not recorded extra loud like most CD's. I'll be picking up my copy on Tuesday regardless. I haven't bought a new vinyl record in 20 years. I can't wait to slice the shrink wrap open.

My friend bought a record of a band that he like called Bad Brains, just a couple of weeks ago. Had the ever living crap compressed out of it so don't get your hopes up. :no:

I love that vinyl is coming back strong... I think its great for music and musicians. But just with cd's, I hope the big box stores dont come along and undercut the local record shops that I have been shopping at and take them out.
Some of the best days of my life are hitting the shelves up at local record shop, KISS THE SKY records, having really great conversations about music with the staff, heading home excited with my purchases, cracking open the brand new vinyl, putting it on LOUD accompanied by my coffee and cigarettes and just enjoying my favorite things in life.

I have to agree with you all. I just hope the big box store also don't undercut the local record shops. I too like having conversations with the clerks and having them hold stuff for me that I might be interested in....I always did think cd's sounded cold.....

I always did think cd's sounded cold.....


You , sir , have a higher opinion of CDs than I......

My friend bought a record of a band that he like called Bad Brains, just a couple of weeks ago. Had the ever living crap compressed out of it so don't get your hopes up. :no:
With Bad Brains.... Depending on which album it is, the compressed sound could be from their early days when their punk sound was very much late 70's DIY recording. Anything before and possibly including their stuff on SST/Caroline may be just poor original recordings...

My thought is that when I buy any re-issued vinyl, I research first. Some albums arent given proper justice- For example, I bought NIN's pretty hate machine on 180 gram vinyl and it sounds AMAZING! But there are some, especially new albums that either aren't mastered right for vinyl.

So there may be a learning curve for artists that have never released vinyl or recorded with the intent of releasing vinyl. Maybe i'm wrong. just my 2 cents.

I'a a Bad Brains fan, love their music, but have never been impresseed by who ever engineers their music. From day one with them, their music hasn'f sounded the greates on what ever medium it came on..

I have to agree with you all. I just hope the big box store also don't undercut the local record shops. While I'm sure this will happen I don't expect it to be widespread. Vinyl is a niche market and while it may get more popular than it is today it will still be a niche market.

BTW, BB stopped selling SACD's so they do have some extra shelf space for vinyl. :yikes:

Exciting to hear this but I hope it doesn't cause the small record shops to start jacking up their prices.

If the word gets out they are selling crap this will be another failed marketing attempt. I feel the people in this market demand good copies and will stop buying alltogether. Those buying vinyl are not interested in vinyl mp3's imho. It will suffer a very quick death if that happens and hope it doesn't affect the quality of vinyl currently being produced.

Exciting to hear this but I hope it doesn't cause the small record shops to start jacking up their prices.

If the word gets out they are selling crap this will be another failed marketing attempt. I feel the people in this market demand good copies and will stop buying alltogether. Those buying vinyl are not interested in vinyl mp3's imho. It will suffer a very quick death if that happens and hope it doesn't affect the quality of vinyl currently being produced.


:thmbsp: :thmbsp: :thmbsp: :thmbsp: +1

So, vinyl is the new darling of the Big Box. Who'da thunk that? Wal-Mart wants the price of cd's cut, and is shrinking floor space devoted to same. What kind of crazy, mixed up world are we living in? Me likey.............

So, vinyl is the new darling of the Big Box. Who'da thunk that? Not quite. I was in BB this morning and asked the music manager about the Who LP being released on Tuesday. He confirmed that it was coming and that it is the one and only LP at this time. He said more are coming but not many. I'll go back on Tuesday and buy the Who LP.

Wal-Mart wants the price of cd's cut

They'll probably get their way , too. Think that will save you any money?

I will stick to the specialty stores for quality pressings.......:music:

I will stick to the specialty stores for quality pressings.......:music:Who says this isn't going to be a quality pressing? So the specialty stores won't carry this LP?

The release day is April 1. I hope is not some cruel April Fools joke. It's to the advantage of the music industry to have vinyl make a come back. They wear out faster, it's harder to make a carbon copy of it, harder to shop lift. I just hope is not recorded extra loud like most CD's. I'll be picking up my copy on Tuesday regardless. I haven't bought a new vinyl record in 20 years. I can't wait to slice the shrink wrap open.

New releases always come on Tuesdays.

One of my concerns with vinyl at mass market retailers is no one will know how to properly handle vinyl! Hope they don't destroy them before they make it to the shelf!

Who says this isn't going to be a quality pressing? So the specialty stores won't carry this LP?

I am sure they will carry it. But it is hard to comment on the quality. The description doesn't give any details on the weight of the vinyl or mastering. Time will tell....

Early word is quiet vinyl and mostly original mixes.

Early word is quiet vinyl and mostly original mixes.Do you have it yet? I'll be picking up a copy on my way home from work this afternoon.

I intend to summon up all the courage I can find and check my local BB in about an hour. :sigh:

Good Luck. I was at BB by 4:00 p.m. 1 copy, now mine. Went across town to the other, all gone. Salesdude said they only received 4 or 5 copies. Sold out on the website. He rainchecked one for me. I'm gonna score the cool promo poster they have on the end cap, all four members and "Turntable Required" across the top. It is for now, a BB exclusive. It's a double-LP, gatefold by the looks of it. More details to follow. Oh, 30 bucks on ebay. $11.99 in the store.

Oh, if I should receive the raincheck LP, it's for me son. Honest! 'Course if I was a REAL dad, I'd give him my copy. Right???????

I'a a Bad Brains fan, love their music, but have never been impresseed by who ever engineers their music. From day one with them, their music hasn'f sounded the greates on what ever medium it came on..

FWIK Spot used to mix some of the early BB on SST records.

Does anybody know if the album ihas DRM ?

Ok guys be careful and make sure you play your copies! I went back 3 times as on record 1 side 2 was pressed on both sides. I went through all 3 copies at my Best Buy got tired and kept it and bought the cd at target. Asides from being a little factory warped and covers semi-crushed and badly shrink wrapped...it's a good album

Does anybody know if the album ihas DRM ?

:lmao::lmao::lmao:

Just picked up my copy and there were only two on the shelf. I asked the check-out clerk if she had sold any and she said no I was her first. :smoke: But if they received 4 or 5 they must have sold a couple already. Maybe I should to back and buy the other one. :scratch2:

Ok guys be careful and make sure you play your copies! I went back 3 times as on record 1 side 2 was pressed on both sides. I went through all 3 copies at my Best Buy got tired and kept it and bought the cd at target. Asides from being a little factory warped and covers semi-crushed and badly shrink wrapped...it's a good albumBoth copies at my local BB had the same look on the shelf. I grabbed the better looking copy of the two but it's warped a bit and I don't think the other copy will be any better. It sounds fine and all four sides are different. But it looks like we are getting what we paid for. What was the cost of a double album in 1978? I can't remember but I'm thinking it was close to $11.99.

I just came from my local Best Buy. First I looked around and could not find it. So I asked a girl that worked there if they had the new vinyl record from The Who. She said that they don't sell vinyl. I said you do today and had to show her on the flyer. So she looks on the computer and they show that they only got two in and they only had one left, but nobody knew where it was. So I asked to speak to the manager and after a few minutes, the manager hands her the record and she gives it to me. Apperantly he had it in the back somewhere. Maybe he was saving it for himself or something. I just got home and haven't even opened it yet, but I am getting ready to.

I intend to summon up all the courage I can find and check my local BB in about an hour. :sigh:

Well, I went into the local BB and figured I would have a hard time finding it, but there it was on the end cap at the front of the store! :yes:

There was only 1 LP left! Of course, I grabbed it before looking at the other 2 offerings, a CD and a 3 DVD set.

Armed with my new vinyl "shield", I felt brave enough to have a look at the back of the store. The selection of "Stereo" speakers was distressing, and on the way back to the register, a sales associate that I estimate to be about 30 years of age asked if he could help me find anything. I told him that I was good, but I did have a question for him.

I held up the LP and asked him if he knew what it was. He looked it over and said that he did not. I told him it was a vinyl LP, a record. He had a puzzled look and said "I didn't think we sold those here!"

I replied to him "This is probably one of the first records to ever be sold in this store!"

More fun to come. As I reached the register, there was a trainee and an associate manning (or maybe womanning) the register. The trainee says "ohmigod, it's a record, I didn't know we sold them here!". I explained that it would be the first since the store had been there.

She went on to tell me that she had over 1000 albums and a turntable that went with the stereo her Dad had given her.

The associate did not know what it was, she said that she would have thought it was a calendar!

On the way out of the store, I saw the manager and regional manner on their way back from what probably was their dinner break. I asked the regional manager (I knew by the name and title tag each had on) if he knew what it was. He knew that it was a record, and I told him that perhaps he should check and see if BB was planning any more forays into vinyl sales, that it was an untapped market. We talked for a minute and he said he would pass my comments "up the chain".

Took it home and opened it. It has a 12 page booklet that is pictures taken throughout their career and a page listing the tracks. The label on the record says "Track Record" and Polydor Records. The back of the jacket says "Geffen Records" distributed by Univeral Music Distribution.

As I am in the middle of putting my "Stereo Den" together, just had the carpet installled recently, I do not have my TT set up now.

We will have to get a review on the sonic qualities from another lucky buyer! :music:

Looks like Best Buy may need a little more shelf space for vinyl....

Elvis Costello will be releasing his newest album on Vinyl and download only! NO CD!

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003728188

Both copies at my local BB had the same look on the shelf. I grabbed the better looking copy of the two but it's warped a bit and I don't think the other copy will be any better. It sounds fine and all four sides are different. But it looks like we are getting what we paid for. What was the cost of a double album in 1978, I can't remember? But I'm thinking it was close to $11.99.

So true about the $11.99 price....however I think we all would be running back to the store if the album had the smallest warp? Ok so why is it when records are pressed now they have that warp??? Is is a quality control issue? No one inspects them anymore like before?

Any reviews on sound quality?

What about the "live" tracks?

Inquisitive minds want to know! :yes:

Any reviews on sound quality?

What about the "live" tracks?

Inquisitive minds want to know! :yes:I've only listened to the first three sides. The first two sides sounded very good and quiet with no pops or other noises. Side three had lots of pops. I have not cleaned the LP's other than a carbon fiber brush. Side four has the live tracks on them so I'll have to report back when I listen to it. The first few tracks on album one side A are the early recordings that have the typical sound of the time. They might be mono as well and do not appear to be remastered into stereo. I might be wrong but that's my impression. I have not read any articles on what was done to these tracks for this pressing and if anybody has a link to an article please post it.

Do you have it yet? I'll be picking up a copy on my way home from work this afternoon.

I cannot locate one. I was relying on hearsay.

I cannot locate one. I was relying on hearsay.Maybe I should buy the other one at BB if it's still there today. I'll be in the area at lunch time.

BUMP-

I started thinking today that I just cant have a large group of music enthusiasts willingly shop at BB when there is a great online vinyl only store-

www.auralexploits.com

Check it out- I've ordered from them in the past- quick shipping, excellent packaging, very reasonable prices. I may not be able to contribute a lot to AK in technical aspects, but I am willing to give a heads up to good deals... especially vinyl

Cheers - cb

BUMP-

I started thinking today that I just cant have a large group of music enthusiasts willingly shop at BB when there is a great online vinyl only store-

www.auralexploits.com

Check it out- I've ordered from them in the past- quick shipping, excellent packaging, very reasonable prices. I may not be able to contribute a lot to AK in technical aspects, but I am willing to give a heads up to good deals... especially vinyl

Cheers - cbDon't forget our sponsor SoundStage Direct. :thmbsp:

Don't forget our sponsor SoundStage Direct. :thmbsp:


Doh!

Wow, they have tons of great stuff too!

I listen to all the albums last night, but since my wife was sleeping I had it real low. All the tracks sounded nice on my albums, but I wont be able to crank it up till this weekend. I will probably go back and get the CD and compare the two.

You have a good point there, but............................................... .....

it was just so neat to walk into BB, the bastion of most everything that us vintage guys dislike and buy a new vinyl release.

It was............................................... ..........................................

a small victory! :thmbsp:

You have a good point there, but............................................... .....

it was just so neat to walk into BB, the bastion of most everything that us vintage guys dislike and buy a new vinyl release.

It was............................................... ..........................................

a small victory! :thmbsp::thmbsp::yes::D:smoke::music::banana:

The cd pales in comparison to the vinyl in my oppinion. It sounds a little compressed and muffled...where as the vinyl just brings the music to life...just my observation....when you crank up the vinyl it sounds really good!!!!

The cd pales in comparison to the vinyl in my oppinion. It sounds a little compressed and muffled...where as the vinyl just brings the music to life...just my observation....when you crank up the vinyl it sounds really good!!!!

Preach brother, preach!!

Well I went to my Best Buy with a gift card I still have from Xmas and they had sold out Sunday they said. So I had the guy check stock, there were none but the Emeryville store had 3. The guy tells me to go there and get it and I am glad I asked him to call and verify they still had them and to hold one for me. So he calls and they tell him yes there are 3 in their inventory but they never saw them and had no idea where they could be. :D
Sooo, I had him check to see if there were more on order to this store, he said there wasn't but it also showed that they had more in the warehouse again with free shipping like before so I put an order in for one to be shipped. Hopefully.


Carl

If I had known there would be high demand and low supply I would have purchased the second copy when I had the chance. I stopped by BB on my way home today and they were sold out.

i wonder if this is due to the fact that so many people are buying mp3's - the retailers are realizing that those who want something tangible would rather have vinyl than CD's...

..or that they consider CD and mp3 releases interchangeable, so Vinyl is an alternative medium.

My sister works at the local BB. They had the endcap display with the little poster that said "turntable required" but they didn't receive any vinyl. They had a couple dvd's and about 5 cd's. Sister said that they are supposed to get some vinyl but she didn't know when... I want to spend my BB gift card from x-mas, so I'll report back (hopefully) when I get the record.

I just got my shipping email with tracking number so the online with free shipping is good to go again it seems.


Carl

I just finished listening to Pinball Wizard on my TT and my SACD player. The SACD I have is the Rolling Stone compilation SACD they did a few years back when they came out with the top 500 songs. This recording sounds amazing and I use Pinball Wizard to demo my system because it sounds soooo gooood. While the track on the LP is very good it can't match the openness, clarity, and dynamics of the SACD. On the SACD is sounds like Pete and the boys are in the room with me.

Regardless the LP sounds great and represents a terrific value at $11.99. What do you rest of you think of it?

My best buy only got 2 copies in and they were sold out by the time I got there.

Me: Do you have the Who album on vinyl?
Snotty Punk: We don't carry vinyl.
Me: Right Here. (Points to ad)
Snotty Punk: Uh......

Um... Er... I'm not sure why it's called 'Amazing Journey Vinyl' however, it's still in CD format.

I just picked it up at my local BB. I ordered it online and did a store pickup. When I went to pick it up the girl at the customer service desk just kept turning it over and looking at it. I started smiling and I was waiting for her to say something as she had a puzzled look on her face but she never did :D
The record actually sounds great and you can't beat a new double LP nowadays for 11.99 :banana:

Well, my experience was certainly a bad one. My local BB didn't receive any copies and didn't think they'd get any. My sister said that the other store 30 minutes away had a copy. After we phoned them to confirm, I went and picked one up. When I got it home and tried to play it, the warp was so bad that the needle kept jumping out of the groove. The inner tracks where playable but they sounded like ass. The bass was muddy with no extension and the mids sounded very harsh. Extremely compressed FM rock stations sound better.

This garbage gets returned tomorrow.

Mine sounds just ok.Its tracking really funny.I get sibilance out of my left speaker for the entire first side of the record.The rest sounds pretty good.
But dont worry about BB honing in on your local independent record store any time soon:
I go to my local BB,and ask if they have the Who Vinyl release,and the kid says,"Yeah,we do,cause Im the one who put it out."He checks,and informs me that both copies have been sold.I was bummed.So I asked if he would check the computer,and lo and behold,it shows several stores have a few copies,but it also showed that this particular store had both copies still.I finally found them propped up against the cd boxed sets in the corner.I take it to the checkout line,and the guy up front informs us in line that he can only accept visa or master card,no cash,but another register will open soon.A few of us wait for about 15 minutes,then finally,I rush home,and get back with my card just before they close.
New media,same BB bullshit.
Jimmy

Does anyone know how many copies were pressed? I ordered a few copies off of best buy's webite yesterday and a few hours later mine had shipped but the album is now listed as sold out.

Where are these LP's pressed? US or Europe?

And is it a different label on the vinyl as on the cover? I read that the LP label is a Polydor yet the cover is Warner? Is it the classic red Polydor label of the 70's?

I finally decided to get a copy, but all the BB's in NJ seem to be out.

I finally made it out to the BB nearest to me. I waited for at least 7 minutes for girl working in music dept that was helping another person. Finally my turn I asked her if they had any of the new who albums-records/lp's left and she took off around the corner so I was excited. I follow quickly and she stops on a end cap and with a big smile she hands me a CD. I said I was looking for the record you know the big black round things and she get this very funny look and says sir we don't sale those. So I went through the whole spill on how most BB got a couple of these in on vinyl version and she still thinks I'm crazy. We go back to her computer and she is just looking at BB.com for it but she keeps looking in the cd's I have to show her where the vinyl that they sale online our at on the site. I said a manager might know where they are if she would ask one but she just gave me a look like I was stupid so I told her not to worry about it. I left empty handed and a little frustrated.

That's one thing that's always bothered me with retail stores. The workers have no idea what is in the sales papers. If I was the manager I would make sure the employees are familiar with what is in them. I mean these are going to be some of the main things sold and asked for. "Hey we've go a vinyl album for sale this week. First time ever. Don't look at the customers like they're stupid when they ask about it." How hard is that.

I've had problems like this a few times at best buy before. It's been worse at sears where they don't even have the items in stock. I bought a weight bench from sears about 5 years ago that came with a free set of weights. Needless to say the weights weren't in stock. I got to look at my bench for 2-3 weeks before I got the weights to use with it.

Bought mine the day it came out. Just opened it up today. Little off-center on disc 1, disc 2 a bit warped but playable. Sounds alright! Picked up the DVD set, also. Long live The Who!

so nobody but me got a bum copy with Side 2 pressed on both sides of record one? Must be sabotaging San Diego Best Buy...LOL....would be interesting to see if anyone had any defects besides the customary "warp"....