Roots Archives Forum

I recently bought a copy of Gregory Isaacs "Extra Classic" LP. It's on Micron (blue Micron label and logo on sleeve) but has the Conflict Matrix COLP 2002. My copy is ok for listening, but the mastering could have been better: loudness and overall sound quality vary from track to track.
According to RA and Discogs there have been many pressings of this LP, most recent two re-issues on Trojan and Earmark in 2005 - the latter featuring an additional record with the dub versions.
Any opinions on the mentioned re-isuues? Are they remastered (for better or worse)?

Can't speak for the vinyl, but I have the Trojan reissue and it is marvelous! The only track that suffers is "Loving Pauper" which is VERY quiet... otherwise, brilliant.

earmark is via via a subsidiary of trojan (or at least affiliated) if I´m not mistaken

I think the earmark release was intended for the Italian and southern European market and the trojan release for the UK (would make sense.. )

The Trojan CD with version sounds fine, although I don't have any LP to compare to.

I can't speak for the reissues, but I have a vinyl copy on the Shark label (not listed on RA. It is on Discogs as the only record on that label, supposedly 1980 though no year anywhere on the package). It's a decent quality pressing, consistent mastering job throughout the different productions.

(i) sound quality vary from track to track because the lp is compiled from singles released over different yrs from different producers / different studios etc - there's also been little re-editing/re-mastering that some times happens

(ii) ive got the "shark" one too - probably close to an original so would have come out earlier than 1980

I have it on Echo and that one sounds good to me.

hi nilo. i have the same copy as yours, except it has a black label. sounds perfect to my ears. (but i'm probably half deaf at this stage of my life). gregorys best LP i.m.o.

I also own the Micron with the black label. It sounds very good (no big mastering problems), and yes Ital Kemar, I also think this is Gregory's best solo album, followed by "The Sensational Gregory Isaacs" on Vista, and Gregory together with Dennis Brown on the showcase album "Two Bad Superstars" on Burning Sounds.
IMO these are Gregory's 3 musthaves!