Hi All,

The original concept recording of this album by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber and featuring Ian Gillan and Murray Head has to be one of my favourite albums. It's the one with the brown cover on MCA.

Last weekend I picked up a second copy with the intention of giving it to my brother. After a good clean i put it on to check the sound quality. It was very different to my first one. The vocals were more up front with the instuments more in the background. I put it down to groove wear until i looked at the deadwax.

The serial number on my first copy for say Record 2, Side 1 is MAP/S 2075/2/A6. My second copy from the same side is MAP/S 2075/2/A2. This leads me to believe that my first copy is a 6th pressing while my later aquisition is the second pressing?

Also directly opposite the serial number in the deadwax are two small letters (initials?). Sixth pressing is "DR" while the second pressing is "fh". Are these the initials of the guy who mastered it?

I'd be interested to know your feelings of this album and if you have a copy handy I'd love to know what numbers and letters you have on yours.

If my theory is right about the pressings being mastered differently, I'd have to say that the 6th is way more powerful on the whole than the second. Then again it may just be record wear after all?

Lee

Hi Lee.
I have this LP-Decca DXSA 7206. It's recorded in England and is by far much better than the USA release in my opinion. Additional info on the 1st LP: DL 79178 & LNMG 7-214/7-217. Second LP- DL 79719 & LNMG 7-215/7-216. It would also appear to be configured for a record changer with sides 1 & 4 being on the 1st LP, while sides 2 & 3 are on the 2nd LP.

I'll have to see if i can find my copy , not even sure what label mine is on , i would assume the amercan pressing .

Mine must be Australian pressings. On the bottom of the back cover it says " Pressed by the manufacturers of Astor radios, radiograms and television. Printed in Australia by Radio Corporation Pty Ltd"

I'll have to keep my eye out for a Decca release to compare.

Brown-covered MCA:

Record 1 Side 1 = 7-LN MG-214 W4

Record 2 Side 2 = LN 215 W1

Record 2 Side 3 = LN7 216 E11

Record 1 Side 4 = LN7 217 E8

I also have the movie soundtrack on MCA, as well as the Broadway Cast on Decca.

je

I have this LP-Decca DXSA 7206...Additional info on the 1st LP: DL 79178 & LNMG 7-214/7-217. Second LP- DL 79719 & LNMG 7-215/7-216.

This is the same copy as I have...good sounding recording, wonderful music. Preston

I found this link very interesting yet bloody complicated....all the money that must have been involved in these companies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MCA_Records

Original US will be on Decca, MCA issues were later pressings. UK was on MCA originally as well as the rest of Europe. Your Aussie pressing is most likely original. The UK has the best surfaces and sonics.

I think I just passed on a brown copy of this last week at goodwill. I may have to go back and check it. Thanks, John

Thank you KentTeffeteller....I was fairly confident I had something close to the first pressing...i've heard that the aussie pressings of the time under the uk labels was on par

brings me back to the deadwax numbers and letters mentioned in my OP...anyone have something similar?

sorry...favourite album stuff

lee

This is the same copy as I have...good sounding recording, wonderful music. Preston

Cool! :thmbsp:

I figure that the Aussie original set of this is as fine as any UK example pressing sound wise. The German set is also very nice. My wife has a UK and a German MCA set. Both slay the US Decca and US MCA sonically and have much quieter surfaces to boot. A favorite score! :tresbon:

My Father took me to the movie back in 73, and since then, have always loved the sound track.

I'll have to dig up my copy to see what the stamp is.........


"Just what do you think you're doing, Dave?


Bowman

I figure that the Aussie original set of this is as fine as any UK example pressing sound wise. The German set is also very nice. My wife has a UK and a German MCA set. Both slay the US Decca and US MCA sonically and have much quieter surfaces to boot. A favorite score! :tresbon:

Just bought a German MCA box set. I took Your words for it, should be mint so we´ll see.
/gusten

My dad brought home a copy when it was released. Its been a staple (especially during Holy Week) at our house since. Don't know which versions I own, will have to look and compare.

I asked my mother to buy me this in 1974 when I was.. umm 7. It had to be bought "under the counter'" is it were, since it was banned in this country. I still have that MCA-UK set, but re-bought an identical one (the one with a picture of a real star on the cover) much later, since at 7 years old I didn't pay much attention to keeping it in good & clean condition.

The first movie (with Ted Neely) was 'nice' (King Herrod a bit of a disappointment) but the second, more recent movie version is truly horrible.

I made sure this album was played last Friday during dinner prep. I have a B set of speakers in the kitchen (Sansui SP-1200) as that is where most of our listening takes place while cooking and doing the dishes. Every time this album is played we find ourselves singing and dancing around the kitchen.

Bought my third copy of this yesterday for $1 in NM condition. It's the second MCA Australian pressing and it answers my question in my original post. The other 2nd pressing I have which is below my 6th pressing must have been played with a bad stylus/misaligned cart. This latest copy is equal to my sixth.

Now which one does my brother get?