Eagles/Hotel California US DCC Compact Classics LP Edition

This title answers the question: Which "Hotel California" has the best sound on LP and CD? This title answers the question! This release, produced by master Steve Hoffman on the "DCC Compact Classics" label and produced using an all-analog process, tracing back to the master tapes, boasts astounding sound quality that surpasses even the original US release! Enjoy this masterpiece in its pristine quality! "Hotel California" has been elevated to a historic masterpiece, representing not only the Eagles but also 1970s American rock. It's such an overwhelming album that it's likely every music fan owns a copy. Because of its status as such a classic and highly sought-after album, it continues to be released in various formats. While numerous high-quality versions have been released to prove this, the LP version released on the "DCC Compact Classics" label is a favorite among enthusiasts for its exceptional sound quality. As you may know, DCC (now bankrupt) is a company renowned for its continued release of CDs mastered with analog equipment, making them a premium item. Their focus on CDs is well-known to music enthusiasts. However, DCC also occasionally released analog LP versions, and this album caught their eye. Released in 1992, however, at the beginning of the CD boom, this LP was plagued by its underwhelming quality. However, the sound quality is truly superb. Renowned engineer Steve Hoffman's thorough analog processing makes this LP a masterpiece, and the rich, natural finish, traceable back to the master tape, truly speaks to his skill. "HOTEL CALIFORNIA" was originally a high-quality album, thanks to the studio technology of the late 1970s, and it complements the latest remastering work from 2013. In fact, the SACD version released in Japan before this release, as well as the more recent Mobile Fidelity SACD, were not as well-received as expected. Even the original 1976 LP, frankly, didn't offer particularly outstanding sound quality, perhaps reflecting the difference between the original LPs of artists from the 1960s and those from the mid-1970s, when recording technology had improved. In this context, the DCC LP boasts exceptional sound quality. As mentioned at the beginning, the natural feel of the pressing, which emphasizes Hoffman's signature purity of analog, is strikingly impressive. This is immediately apparent from the opening track, "Hotel California." The rich, expansive texture, combined with the weighty flavor of Don Henley's drumming and the accompanying band, is truly captivating! The 2013 remaster certainly is accessible to the average music fan, and is a truly universally appealing finish. However, when faced with this DCC version, the crisp, digitally-tuned sound is undeniably present, and while it's not overbearing, it still sounds well-organized and ceremonial. The DCC version's literally thick yet natural sound is exceptional. Yet, since this record wasn't widely available at the time, its current market price is quite high. It's not an item you can easily acquire (for reference, the listing price on Discogs is around ¥70,000, and as high as ¥140,000). Even more challenging is the playback of this album. Starting with the opening of "Hotel California," the album features many quiet tracks, including "New Kid in Town," "Wasted Time," and the finale, "The Last Resort." This album is already difficult to play cleanly, and the high-quality DCC LP version is no exception. However, once again, astonishing playback technology has resulted in an astonishingly clean transfer. The complete absence of scratch noise on "The Last Resort" is so super clean you'll wonder if it was really recorded from an LP. This single track, "Hotel California," clearly demonstrates the analog feel and naturalness of the entire album, a level of clarity that's hard to believe it was originally from an LP. Experience the rich, original sound of this historic masterpiece, perfectly preserved from the master tape, in a way that current remasters simply can't match! Taken from US DCC Compact Classics LP, LPZ-2043 (44:08) Side A: 1. Hotel California 2. New Kid In Town 3. Life In The Fast Lane 4. Wasted Time Side B: 5. Wasted Time (Reprise) 6. Victim Of Love 7. Pretty Maids All In A Row 8. Try And Love Again 9. The Last Resort