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Spot the Difference: Roger Waters Amused to Death / 2LP reissue

By Paul Sinclair

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25

As explained back in June, the recent Roger Waters Amused to Death reissue actually comes in two very similar vinyl pressings; one issued by Sony and the other by the US audiophile label Analogue Productions. But how can you tell the difference and which one have you got?

To recap, Amused to Death was originally going to be reissued by Analogue Productions on double LP and stereo-only SACD. That was announced WAAAAY back in January 2013. It was supposed to come out in November of that year – but didn’t. Then an April 2014 release date came and went and it was at that point Analogue Productions announced that the SACD would now feature a brand new 5.1 mix. Very positive news, but no sign of the actual product and no mention of Sony stepping in.

A year later in April 2014, Sony announced that *they* would be reissuing the album on CD+Blu-ray, 2LP black vinyl and 2LP picture disc. They would ‘collaborate’ with Analogue productions on the release and give AP, and their pressing plant Quality Record Pressings, the job of manufacturing the vinyl. However, AP still wanted to produce and distribute their own version of the vinyl in slightly enhanced packaging and that is what has happened. In theory, the AP vinyl is limited to the US market, but it was widely available for pre-order over the last few months. Analogue Productions also continued with their plans to produce an SACD and leave the CD+Blu-ray version to Sony.

Now we’ve got that straight, what actually is the difference between AP’s vinyl and Sony’s version. To help, here’s an brief SDE FAQ:

• My vinyl has Analogue Productions and Quality Record Pressings stickers on the front, so I must have the AP version, correct?

> No, both the Sony vinyl and the Analogue productions vinyl have the same stickers on the plastic covers with the ‘tear off’ strip at the top.

• I have two 200g records in high quality anti-static QRP-branded sleeves, so this surely means I have an Analogue Productions 2LP set?

> No, the Sony issued vinyl and AP vinyl both have 200g records and both have identical inner sleeves (as below).

roger_vinyl
AP and Sony vinyl all pressed at QRP and look like this (click to enlarge)

• If I look at the inner grooves, my record has ‘APP 468761’ on it. This obviously isn’t the Sony version…

> It could be. Both Sony and APP vinyl records are pressed at QRP or Quality Record Pressing. There is no difference in the vinyl records AT ALL. They are identical.

 • My gatefold vinyl has a very shiny gloss finish –  is that significant?

> Yes. It means you have the vinyl version produced by Analogue Productions. The Sony version is by no means ‘matt’ but it simply lacks the gloss varnish. If you can’t see your reflection then you probably have the Sony version.

gatefold
Gatefold comparisons – click to enlarge

• My gatefold vinyl is housed in a very thick card gatefold sleeve…

> Then you have the Analogue Productions ‘version’. The card is extremely thick. Also the AP jacket has the cover art printed onto paper which is then mounted onto board. Whereas the Sony gatefold is printed straight onto thinner card. The giveaway is that the inside of each ‘pocket’ is white on the Sony version, whereas it has a natural hessian colour on the AP edition.

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Gatefold pocket comparison – click to enlarge

• I have an Analogue Productions booklet in my gatefold sleeve…

> This is the other big giveaway. The Sony edition doesn’t have this booklet.

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This ‘promotional’ booklet doesn’t come with the Sony 2LP (funnily enough)

There are a couple of other minor differences. On the spine of the AP version the cat number APP 468761 is more or less right at the edge, whereas the Sony packaged vinyl uses a small font and is indented from the edge by about half an inch.

Amused to Death is out now. Below are some comprehensive links for ordering and below that are some more photos.

pre-order

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CD+Blu-ray deluxe with hi-res 5.1 surround mix

Hybrid SACD edition (Analogue Productions)

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2LP Black Vinyl Edition (Sony version)

2LP Black Vinyl Edition (Analogue Productions version)

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2LP Limited Vinyl Picture Disc Edition

morephotos

blu-raybluray_frontangleblu-ray_backanglebluray_backopen

twodiscsspreadcd

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25 Comments

25 thoughts on “Spot the Difference: Roger Waters Amused to Death / 2LP reissue”

  1. My copy is the Analogue Productions version purchased directly from Acoustic Sounds. It is noisy (surface) noise. I own both the 2015 remaster and the 1992 master on 1/4″ reel to reel. Interesting to hear the difference. The gentleman that provided me with the tapes said this about the 1992 mix, “I did a comparison between the 1992 and the 2015 release of Amused to Death. The hires 1992 mix I have is an unusual mix, possibly an early test mix that was never released. It sounds weird in some areas. “

  2. Whatever version you have, many of the tracks have been remixed/re-recorded and are different to the original cd/vinyl. A lot of Jeff Beck’s guitaring has been removed as well as missing hammond organ intros etc. You’ll be shocked how much the album has been changed once you compare.

  3. Pingback: Roger Waters / Amused to Death / Analogue Productions 2LP | superdeluxeedition

  4. I own both AP and Sony issues (indeed issued by Quality Record Pressings).
    There are some interesting and very important differences between the two editions.

    1- US BARCODE 8 8843090581 8
    EU BARCODE 8 8875075471 4

    2- One of the most important difference is WEIGHT. Given that both of the two editions I own are still sealed, I weighted the two editions and the result is the following.
    – TOTAL WEIGHT OF THE US EDITION 750 grams
    – TOTAL WEIGHT OF THE EU EDITION 600 grams
    I don’t think that a difference of 150 grams is due only to the booklet on the AP version.

    3- Another minor difference is obsevable on the back cover:
    Compared with the EU edition, on the US edition the wheels of the wheelchair are slightly higher from the bottom edge.

  5. Pingback: Deal alert / Roger Waters Amused to Death Analogue Productions 2LP | superdeluxeedition

  6. Thanks for this information, Paul and I will be ordering the SACD/hybrid next month and still debating on ordering the AP edition of the vinyl. Anyone know if the 2LP set is all analog? Thanks…

  9. Another way to spot the differences between the 2 vinyl pressings, (I don’t think this has been mentioned) the AP version uses a larger font size for the label info at the bottom of the spine (much easier to see when they are side by side).

  10. Brilliant piece of comparison analysis once again. This has enabled me to confirm that I have the Analogue Productions vinyl release without even needing to break the seal on the plastic sleeve packaging – well done sir!!

  11. If you’re after the analogue productions version, snvinyl.co.uk have it for £42.99. I too was very confused about the release until reading paul’s earlier “how to buy” guide and plumped for the ap version in the end.

  12. I reckon I know what happened. Acoustic Productions ask to re-release AtD, SONY thinks to themselves “RW hasn’t done anything remotely interesting in years, no money in it for us… let them.” and signs the contract. RW then tours The Wall to great critical and public acclaim. SONY goes “Oh, shit, we let that one out” and haggles and delays and eventually reaches an agreement with AP to release together – hence major delay and weird split release. I’m after the BluRay, have just discovered “It’s not been released in New Zealand – only CD available”. Will have to get from Amazon. great website Paul, great service.

  15. From the horse’s mouth:

    “As you may know, both the North American and EU pressings were pressed at Quality Record Pressings. Both versions are 200 gram, 2 LP sets. To clarify the difference between the two versions, our Analogue Productions version has the highest quality deluxe thick tip-on gatefold jacket manufactured at Stoughton Printing.”

  17. Finally we have a good comparison write up of what is a very confusing release. I’ve been trying to find this info since it came out… I have the Sony issue, definitely. Thanks Paul!
    I ordered my SACD from Amazon Canada way back in 2013 for $25 and still don’t have it or any idea when I will get it!

  19. This is a great article! I have been racking my brain for weeks over what the differences have been!? Thank you for the clarity and finally i can see exactly what’s what. Cheers Paul! :-)

    1. wrong! the only difference that we should care is WHICH SOUNDS BETTER? who care’s if is one is more collectable but sounds worse than the other? ;)

    1. Either, you won’t notice any difference.

      Audiophiles are like the religious, they think they can hear what others can’t. Be it God’s voice or extra nuances in music.

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