Music Industry

Can Anyone Answer This Question About Vinyl?

An email from Chris from Ottawa arrived today.

Is there is any way to tell/know if a particular vinyl release  is sourced from the CD masters or the actual original masters? I have one album (a New Order bootleg EP) that was most likely just a CD pressed on vinyl. But I’m wondering more about 1) new album releases, 2) official label re-issues and 3) other re-issues (such as the label Music on Vinyl, which puts a lot of stuff out on vinyl that’s out of print or was never issued).

First, it’s no surprise that a bootleg was pressed from a CD copy. “Quality control” and “bootlegs” are two things that don’t go well together. And as far as I know, most new vinyl–the 180-and-200-gram versions–are sourced and remastered from the original masters. But I could be wrong.

Anyone want to weigh in on this?

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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