I purchased this CD (and Funhouse) primarily to give my modern stereo a work-out. Anyone who has the pre-remastered Stooges CDs knows how muddy the quality was on those past releases, especially compared to today's artists and their CDs.
Not only did Elektra do a phenomenal job remastering the tapes, they turned both albums into necessary collector's editions for any Stooges fan. In addition to a legendary album remastered and brought up to today's standards, you get a bonus disc full of unreleased material.
In the case of the self-titled debut, the bonus disc contains what would have been the Psychedelic Stooges' first album, had producer/Velvet Underground-er John Cale had his way. Cale's original mixes (too "arty," as explained in the liner notes) for "No Fun," "1969," "I Wanna Be Your Dog," and "Little Doll" are included; at their best, they're completely different songs from the versions we all know. "I Wanna Be Your Dog" is the stand-out, with Cale burying the guitar and bringing the piano and bells to the fore, creating something so familiar yet so different to what is probably the Stooges' most well-known song. Oh yeah, and the bonus tracks are all remastered, too.
Not only did Elektra do a phenomenal job remastering the tapes, they turned both albums into necessary collector's editions for any Stooges fan. In addition to a legendary album remastered and brought up to today's standards, you get a bonus disc full of unreleased material.
In the case of the self-titled debut, the bonus disc contains what would have been the Psychedelic Stooges' first album, had producer/Velvet Underground-er John Cale had his way. Cale's original mixes (too "arty," as explained in the liner notes) for "No Fun," "1969," "I Wanna Be Your Dog," and "Little Doll" are included; at their best, they're completely different songs from the versions we all know. "I Wanna Be Your Dog" is the stand-out, with Cale burying the guitar and bringing the piano and bells to the fore, creating something so familiar yet so different to what is probably the Stooges' most well-known song. Oh yeah, and the bonus tracks are all remastered, too.
Unlike the remastering job that Columbia did with Raw Power, Elektra kept the rawness and the energy intact and created a mix that sounds great. None of the over-modulation and distortion -- you can turn this mother up LOUD. A very clean mix that still manages to keep the volume, danger and intensity of America's greatest rock band. Ever. Martin Butler
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