The Layla Sessions: 20th Anniversary Edition

Artist: Derek & the Dominos
Label: Polygram Records
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Box set
Media: Audio Cassette

UPC: 042284708340
EAN: 0042284708340
ASIN: B00000ESJA

Release Date: 1990-09-13

The Layla Sessions: 20th Anniversary Edition

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Tracks:

I Looked Away
Bell Bottom Blues
Keep on Growing
Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out
I Am Yours
Anyday
Key to the Highway
Tell the Truth
Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad?
Have You Ever Loved a Woman
Little Wing
It's Too Late
Layla
Thorn Tree in the Garden

Tracks:

Jam I
Jam II
Jam III
Jam IV
Jam V

Tracks:

Have You Ever Loved a Woman [Alternate Master #1]
Have You Ever Loved a Woman [Alternate Master #2]
Tell the Truth [Jam #1]
Tell the Truth [Jam #2]
Mean Old World [Rehearsal]
Mean Old World [Band Version, Master Take]
Mean Old World [Duet Version, Master Take]
(When Things Go Wrong) It Hurts Me Too [Jam]
Tender Love [Incomplete Master]
It's Too Late [Alternate Master]

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Customer Reviews:

Technical review of the remix..........2007-02-17

Originally, I purchased the single Anniversary Mix disc that had been separated from the rest of it's set at a used CD store. Hey, I was in college at the time and was trying to broaden my palette. So, this newer mix was what I got to know over the years and really was none the wiser to the original.

Now, being 10 years after first having purchased the CD, I am comparing the two mixes side by side, switching between the two, and have come to a personal conclusion that is at odds with most of the other reviewers.

It's pretty clear to anyone who does a comparison between the two where you can rapidly swap between the two mixes, that the original mix is more dynamic; it just jumps out at you more. It also contains more high frequency content. There are a couple of possible reasons for this.

Someone probably surely more about the actual equipment history of this album. But from what I can gather, Criteria Studios at that time should have been outfitted with MCI consoles and tape machines built by Jeep Harned with "philosophical direction" provided by Tom Dowd. While the MCI consoles that became marketed later across the world (which later evolved into Sony's consoles) are solid state designs, it is possible that these early MCI consoles that Layla would have been recorded and mixed through were tube designs. Again, I might be wrong here and it is strictly open for conjecture from someone who absolutely knows for sure. For recording engineers like myself, older (more simple) console designs of that period and before are revered for their unique sonic character.

Now that brings us to the studio where the Anniversary CD was mixed: The Power Station. Today, The Power Station is now Avatar Studios in New York and Studio A (housing a very good sounding Neve 8068 console) has been mostly left the way it was in the days of the Power Station, with the exception for whatever the flavor of the month is when it comes to recorders. However, the time period of the late 80's and early 90's was a time when digital mixing was rampant (it's back unfortunately) and this is most certainly the case with the Anniversary Mix with it's ADD designation (the second D denoting that it was mixed to a digital format). The original mix was definitely an analog reel to reel (either 1/4 or 1/2 inch master) tape.

This is significant for when you mix to analog tape, an interesting phenomenon called "crosstalk" alters the mix ever so slightly. What happens is that the left and right channels of magnetic information stored on the tape interacts with one another as higher bursts of energy on each track often co-mingle in the space between them (and sometimes even bleed over to the other track ever so slightly). The result is, believe it or not, a much more strong center image which, when done properly, creates an even sound field. A technical engineer would say that this is a negative and undesirable side-effect of analog mixing since it is not what the engineer was hearing at the console outputs. However, a musical engineer would recognize that crosstalk is a beneficial thing to the music and the listener and would listen to the mix through the repro heads on the machine as it is being recorded so as to know exactly what is being committed to tape.

Digital mixes of the time of the remix are often sterile and severely lack the dynamic range and character present on that old "inferior" analog tape. What I have noticed in the Anniversary mix is a more cautious mix that fears sounds that jump run and play. The original tracks and comps were so good and whole (as well as limited; the drums were premixed to L and R tracks only) that only balancing, some compression here and there, and some time based effects were needed to complete the remix. However, the compression is perhaps a tad overdone, thusly preventing the mix to "live" as much as the original.

The original mix's reverb (really noticeable on the guitars) take more risks (and wins) and is either an EMT plate reverb or a live chamber (if Criteria had one). The predelay on the reverb might have been provided via a spare mix deck's repro head before the signal went to the reverb. While digital reverb was the rage at the time of the Anniversary Mix, I feel that it is likely that a plate reverb was used, but that the highs were rolled out more than on the original mix.

Give them both a comparison side-by-side and decide for yourself. Be sure to use a good copy of each (I would use at least a recent printing [Re-Master] of the original mix since the Analog to Digital converters and digital clocking are MUCH better now than at the dawn of the CD age - perhaps yet another strike against the Anniversary Mix).

Inspired jamming!!.......2007-01-17

I must be one of the few middle-aged people not terribly familiar with the original recordings. Sure, I've heard Layla (you'd have to live in a cave to have missed it) but had not given the full album much of a listen. The remastering is a dramatic improvement in sonic quality. But, the real bonus in this boxed set are the jams, especially the second disc. The interplay is inspiring and makes for just plain great listening pleasure now, nearly 30 years later, and probably 30 years from now.

Removing The Veil.......2007-01-07

I would have to disagree with the gentleman below who likes the Original better. I have the original CD & the MSFL gold CD. I am currently listening to the SACD Hybrid which is undoubtedly the source for this remastered double CD (Disk 1). Man it is so much smoother. The veil is lifted. You can not put treble back where there was none but nevertheless this goes down like Johnny Walker Blue Label. Smooth. I much prefer this to the original. I have lived with the original for 30 years & I like it but todays electronics are so much better. Thanks to whoever spent the time to restore this classic album. This & Wheels of Fire sort of define an era. EC will be here in Bangkok the night of Jan 15 2007. Yeehaw!! Love you Duane.

Better than most "Deluxe Editions".......2006-03-07

Unlike the Disraeli Gears and Blind Faith "Deluxe" expanded reissues (both of which I loved) all of this material is previously unreleased. The first disc is all remixed and I love it. The second and third discs are all unreleased material that is mind blowing Clapton at his very best. I cannot endorse this collection highly enough. Anthony Yanow, Music.com

For Collectors.......2006-03-02

The Layla Sessions 20th Anniversay is for people like me who cannot get enough Eric Clapton.
Layla is his finest solo effort of his career.
What you get is a re-mastered version of the original release.
The sound is great, and of course you get the songs we have all come to know and love.
You also get a CD with different jam sessions. Personally I find this particular CD not interesting. Some of the guitar work is nice.
The Real gem in the box is the Alternate Master, Jams and outtakes.
You get two versions of Have you Ever Loved a Woman. You get two versions of Tell the Truth.
You get three versions of Mean old World with Duane Allman.
The best of the lot are When Things Go Wrong (It hurts me Too).
Tender Love is another good song.
He finishes with a fabulous version of It's Too Late, that is very similar to the version on the album. There are not background vocals and I like the slide guitar solo.

Music Album:

Music Album

Music Album

Music

The Very Best of Jean-Luc Ponty ~ Jean-Luc Ponty

Jazz Biography Series ~ Charlie Parker

Sweet and Saxy ~ Kim Waters

Devoid of Color ~ The Hidden Hand

Trillion ~ Trillion

Dos Guitarras Flamencos en Estereo ~ Paco de Luc%C3%ADa, Ricardo Modrego

Festival of India: A Hindustani Sampler ~ Various Artists

Nhk Bs Oi Nippon Hokkaido ~ Various Artists

Chieftains: Authorized Biography ~ The Chieftains & Nancy Griffith

Collezzione Signoli 68/70 ~ Fausto Leali