Simply Red – Stars

It seems I have a copy of this, with the exact same matrix numbers, in a wide spine rather than gatefold sleeve.
Has anybody else found this?

Maybe I was just lucky but I just got a sealed copy of this pressing. One clean in an ultrasonic machine and it is a really clean, really quiet pressing. Nice punchy base, good vocal clarity. The sound stage is a bit compressed into the centre but it’s definitely not the worst Ive heard. This is the first reissue of a SR album I have bought and I gotta say its as good a mastering as the originals of New Flame and Picture Book I have

Theres many reasons to avoid this one.... MPO for starters.... the "European Rainbo" as it were... yet again a bin job pressing owing to serious Non-fill distortion, clearly visible and audible (ripping) here, as is often the case on their pressings. People give GZ a hard time and yet ive only had one duffer from them, yet MPO is 90% likely to get it wrong and to be avoided like Rainbo.

If you listen past the ripping and farting sounds there lies some inconsistent mastering, the first half of each side sounds quite well mastered. Thrill Me and on during side one is distorted to buggery and a real hash of sound. Side two for me has the loudest non fill ive heard and again for some weird reason from track 3 it starts to break up and distort and sound compressed especially on the sax. Very unpleasant and you should deffo go for a good original or stick with the og CD.... they are far far superior editions.

Another great remaster by Bernie Grundman. Excellent gatefold artwork and inner liner notes.

Horrible pressing. Don't have the original but I do have a original 'A New Flame' which sounds superb and was done by Grundman. The original 'Stars' also was done by Grundman so I am totally convinced that one will blow away this pressing.

My pressing is very flat & not complimentary to this lp at all. I can't listen to it as it's just not good.

I have to disagree with the other reviewer, as the pressing sounds very punchy on my humble system. Wide soundstage and excellent dynamics.

Disclaimer: Not a seller.

Decent pressing, overall above average sound quality not dull but not powerful either, give it a very good cleaning before playing though..