MoFi Vinyl

[Get off My lawn]

Hi everyone

Newbie on the forum.

Wondering if anyone owns/has heard the MoFi Pressings of The Unforgettable Fire and Dream of The Blue Turtles.

I've only recently got into vinyl, but I'm now not looking back, and I'm trying to put together a collection of my favourite albums on high quality vinyl pressings.

Both of these are up there in my favourites, and available in mint/unopened condition but at a significant cost.

Are they appreciably better than the standard pressings?

Cheers

[davidsss]

No idea about these 2 but MoFi are generally good but not always. Hopefully someone here will chime in with experience of these particular albums. You could also try at The Vinyl Engine.

DS

[mondie]

Pine,

There are two distinct Mofi phases. They produced albums throughout the 80's and 90's before going bust and being resurrected around 5-6 years ago. The output form the original mofi is very patchy, not sure if the two albums you are asking about are from this first phase but i think so and if that's the case I recommend you do some reading on the Steve Hoffman forum before buying them. If they are form the recent Mofi then you can be almost assured that they will be excellent as they are meticulous with their mastering and pressings these days and haven't released a dud I can recall.

[Gruffnutz]

Not vinyl; but surely this was Mo-Fi's finest hour...

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Porkys-Revenge-CD-Mobile-Fidelity-Sound-Lab-/261123682046?pt=Music_CDs&hash=item3ccc2f2efe

[Get off My lawn]

Thanks for the hints - will look at the Steve Hoffman forum

Gruffnutz, Porkys Revenge on Mofi - I'm afraid that's not in my collection but I'll have to look for it - maybe they've done a matching Blue Ray remaster so it will be available as a delux box set!!

Cheers

[ZEN MISTER]

Mr Weasel, I can recommend YEAR OF THE CAT and TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN. As being top of the tree. Both pop up on flea bay for around $45-50 for near mint. I actually enjoy all my Mofis and really could not point to one as being subpar.

[mondie]

The Stones 'Sticky Fingers' is a good example of a sub par job by the original Mofi.

[ZEN MISTER]

Yup, Mondie, I have heard that about STICKY FINGERS, but do not own that one, and have not heard it. That said, I am such an outstanding humanitarian, I am willing to give a good home to an unwanted copy- I will pay postage, and promise to love and respect it for all time.

ZM.

[Get off My lawn]

Thanks everyone.

I've had a look at the Hoffman forum - lots of good info there.

I must admit, I didn't do any research into Gruffnutz' Porky's Revenge Mofi release - maybe tomorrow when I have a few quiet minutes at work!

I wonder if there's already a thread about the most useless music ever to be remastered,re-released or specially pressed on vinyl, or perhaps the most embarrassing album you have in your collection

This is mine ; bought it about 10 yrs ago at a garage sale just for the gloriously bad cover art but have never actually played it. I dont think anyone plans to re-master it.

[mondie]

Very respectful Zen, now just to find someone who dislikes their copy enough to take you up

[davidsss]

Zen Mister, it ain't a great version of that record but mine stays with me. Part of the problem is when the original recording isn't fantastic and I think that is the case with Sticky Fingers. My Aus pressing is muddy, the MoFi is clear but lifeless, the Japanese pressing is very good. As you can see it depends on the particular album and that depends on the original recording. Good idea to look at reviews.

DS

[Kensell21]

I buy all the MoFi releases... Can't help myself....

Have most of their earlier pressings... Not all.. (Yet) Including box sets...

Found that the Japanese pressed ones a lot quieter than the US ones.

One of their best earlier releases Rickie Lee Jones. Can go for a bit if you can find it...

Edited November 9, 2012 by Kensell21

[soundfan]

I've a couple of MOFI releases, but I really think that it's all marketing hype to be honest.

I've heard some excellent ones over the years, but have heard many more "standard issue" records released by different labels that sound just as good.

My take.

[deniall]

Pine,

There are two distinct Mofi phases. They produced albums throughout the 80's and 90's before going bust and being resurrected around 5-6 years ago. The output form the original mofi is very patchy, not sure if the two albums you are asking about are from this first phase but i think so and if that's the case I recommend you do some reading on the Steve Hoffman forum before buying them. If they are form the recent Mofi then you can be almost assured that they will be excellent as they are meticulous with their mastering and pressings these days and haven't released a dud I can recall.

Just bought a new Tears for Fears re-issue on mofi's silver label. The vinyl is discoloured and skips through my two favourite songs. I emailed them and they basically said too bad. If I wanted a replacement I had to send them the record back and pay for shipping both ways which exceeded the cost of the record to begin with.

This was my first mofi purchase and it left a very bad taste in my mouth.

[mondie]

I believe the Silver series is a newish line Mofi started for albums where they could not access the master tapes. The pressings are also of a lesser quality and the RRP is much less than the non silvers (whatever they are now called). The lack of customer service is poor and not excusable, I have read a few posts on SNA from other US vendors basically saying the same thing when being asked to replace a bad pressing, pay postage both ways. Ridiculous and shows they really dont want to mess around sending a few LP's to Oz occasionally.

[andyr]

Just bought a new Tears for Fears re-issue on mofi's silver label. The vinyl is discoloured and skips through my two favourite songs. I emailed them and they basically said too bad. If I wanted a replacement I had to send them the record back and pay for shipping both ways which exceeded the cost of the record to begin with.

This was my first mofi purchase and it left a very bad taste in my mouth.

Then perhaps you should buy your records locally, instead of OS! Quality Records here in Melbourne certainly stocks them - as does "Music Without Frontiers" in Hobart (which I visited last Monday). Shirley there must be one place in Perth which stocks them?

Regards,

Andy

[deniall]

Then perhaps you should buy your records locally, instead of OS! Quality Records here in Melbourne certainly stocks them - as does "Music Without Frontiers" in Hobart (which I visited last Monday). Shirley there must be one place in Perth which stocks them?

Regards,

Andy

If there is a place in Perth that stocks mofi I haven't found it. I'm absolutely going to start buying high quality records locally after this experience.

[loki65]

I've bought from mofi, shipping was expensive. Don't know any one that stocks them in perth.

Also bought them from vinyleye. By the time you factor in shipping theres not that much difference.

[ZEN MISTER]

if you choose to import the albums yourself, MUSIC DIRECT will allow the less expensive option of USPS. At the bottom of the order form, in the buyers comments box, indicate your preference for USPS and they will get back to you with a quote within a few days. MoFi seem to insist on the expensive method, which is useless for tracking anyway.

Failing this, remember Vinyl Eye will bring in most titles, and get them to you well packaged and at a sensible price. remember to include your special SNA code for the member discount.

ZM.

[deniall]

if you choose to import the albums yourself, MUSIC DIRECT will allow the less expensive option of USPS. At the bottom of the order form, in the buyers comments box, indicate your preference for USPS and they will get back to you with a quote within a few days. MoFi seem to insist on the expensive method, which is useless for tracking anyway.

Failing this, remember Vinyl Eye will bring in most titles, and get them to you well packaged and at a sensible price. remember to include your special SNA code for the member discount.

ZM.

Music Direct was who I ordered my recent albums from. Nearly every album was warped and one box set was so warped it looked like it had been shaped around a bowl. Their response to this? Send them back at my own expense and pay for new ones to be shipped to me.

I'm buying local from now on.

[ZEN MISTER]

Bad news on that score deniall, but credit where due, my packages have been pristine, and mail costs minimized.

ZM.

[Get off My lawn]

I ended up getting the MoFi "Unforgettable Fire" - very, very good, and appreciably better than the recent (2009) pressing or the CD. Is it worth the significantly higher price? For me, yes, as it's one of my favourite albums which I've listened to many, many times, and so far, this is the best its sounded.

 

My wife, who likes music but tolerates my hobby with good humour, listened to both without knowing which was which and much preferred the MoFi pressing.

 

I'm now waiting for Dream of the Blue Turtles to arrive ( hopefully Monday or Tuesday!)

[blackangus]

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="loki65" data-cid="794254" data-time="1352501829">

Also bought them from vinyleye. By the time you factor in shipping theres not that much difference.</p></blockquote>

+1 on purchasing mofi releases from vinyleye, priced exceptionally reasonably and arrived super quick.

As to actual quality of releases, I think I prefer the sound of the Australian pressing of The Cars debut selftitled lp, the mofi is very good but a bit less impact, slightly cleaner, less gutsy sounding.

The Band's 'rock of ages' sounds awesome.

Edited January 13, 2013 by blackangus

[jeromelang]

Just bought a new Tears for Fears re-issue on mofi's silver label. The vinyl is discoloured and skips through my two favourite songs. I emailed them and they basically said too bad. If I wanted a replacement I had to send them the record back and pay for shipping both ways which exceeded the cost of the record to begin with.

This was my first mofi purchase and it left a very bad taste in my mouth.

 

oh ****....!

 

Are these mofi titles under the silver label as well?

 

cyndi lauper - she's so unusual

yazoo - upstair at eric's

tears for fears - songs from the big chair

 

compared the cyndi lauper debut album against its original 80s pressing on my ELP and my gyro se/sme v/lyra skala.

the thicker reissue sounded warmer on the gyro, with richer body and bass volume.

the thinny 80s pressing sound lean, although I noticed that vocals has fuller-body length.

 

but the results were totally different when played on the ELP.

the 80s pressing did not sound as lean as heard on the gyro. the tonal balance on both LPs sounded more similar.

On the 80's, bass was tighter, there's more punch and deeper bass extension without the bloom.

I also noticed vocals maintain that full-body length and there is more direct connectedness with more concise imaging.

the Mofi has truncated body length imaging (only from the neck up)

 

maybe the neutralization of the VTA differences on the ELP has allowed the 80s pressing to sound more optimum, and while at the same time, it revealed that the mofi reissue was derived from digital masters?

 

i have yet to try the yazoo debut album and tears for fears' songs from the big chair on both mfsl and original uk pressing...

[colinm1]

i have a friend who has an unforgettable fire, mfsl ,still sealed number 0597 i think!! on ultradisc

so if any body wishes to know more just p/m me ,oh ye it isnt cheep but cheeper than inporting from the us!

he is in perth