Heartland

hello, I make no excuses for joining just for an answer to my enquiry! But I'm sure someone here can help point me in the right direction..

A pal of mine who has a used record shop in London has come across a 1/4" tape with Sisters of Mercy written on it and No Time To Cry. We don't know the quality cuz he hasn't a 1/4" tape machine - but is it worth anything?

To me, it's a 1/4" master from a recording studio. Personally, I'd like to know where it was recorded. According to my innernet research, it was prolly produced by ex-Gang of Four's Dave Allen. Am I right?

Any thoughts anyone?
cheerz... crass x

It's probably worth something, aye. I'd imagine there's people willing to pay silly money for a one-of-a-kind Sisters tape like that. What it sounds like is probably a secondary consideration!

markfiend wrote:What it sounds like is probably a secondary consideration!

You need to research if that's a simple stereo recording (not much valuable) or a real, more than 2 channel based multitrack recorded studio tape (that could be a treasure).

At a guess - consideringthis was pre-DAT days in 85 - this type of format, the 1/4" tape would be the master mix off the desk. This would have gone to the pressing plant i guess.

Over the years I have seen many cases of masters not stored correctly. We used to cover them in foil in a cool, dry atmosphere and nowhere near any speakers - otherwise they demagnify and become useless. With this tape - no one has a tape player to test it's condition. Is there anyone one here around London - Essex perhaps who owns a tape machine that will play this? It might be okay...

So where was this recorded?

DocSommer wrote:

markfiend wrote:What it sounds like is probably a secondary consideration!

You need to research if that's a simple stereo recording (not much valuable) or a real, more than 2 channel based multitrack recorded studio tape (that could be a treasure).

crass wrote:At a guess - consideringthis was pre-DAT days in 85 - this type of format, the 1/4" tape would be the master mix off the desk. This would have gone to the pressing plant i guess.

Over the years I have seen many cases of masters not stored correctly. We used to cover them in foil in a cool, dry atmosphere and nowhere near any speakers - otherwise they demagnify and become useless. With this tape - no one has a tape player to test it's condition. Is there anyone one here around London - Essex perhaps who owns a tape machine that will play this? It might be okay...

So where was this recorded?

DocSommer wrote:

markfiend wrote:What it sounds like is probably a secondary consideration!

You need to research if that's a simple stereo recording (not much valuable) or a real, more than 2 channel based multitrack recorded studio tape (that could be a treasure).

mr marx might be able to answer thsi one... i'll drop him a line.

Well, I did some more research about this 1/4 inch tape stuff and it seems, that this kind of size can only contain 2 channels in a kind of studio quality.
Guess this is not a chance to remix your own sisters single.

Furthermore this tape-size has also been used for semiprofessional or high end home entertainment (e.g. Revox, Telefunken...),
so this also could be just a very simple and homemade vinyl>tape copy.

Another thing is that those tapes aren't sound better over the decades.

I suggest to fake some important look-a-like paper work to prove the authenticity and set the whole thing up to eGay

It would have been recorded at Strawberry Studios near Manchester. Place famed for Martin Harnett knobwiddling antics. It was produced by David M. Allen - not the guy from Gang of Four.

Karst wrote:Place famed for Martin Harnett knobwiddling antics.

Karst wrote:It was produced by David M. Allen - not the guy from the mighty Shriekback.

sorted

DocSommer wrote:Another thing is that those tapes aren't sound better over the decades.

Not correct. I've got a reel-to-reel machine which takes 1/4 inch tape and one time I was given a collection of tapes from the 1950's and 60's. The oldest was recorded in 1952 and was fantastic quality.

How many home-burnt cd's and dvd's will still be playable in 50 years? I'd say not very many.

How many home-burnt cd's and dvd's will still be playable in 50 years? I'd say not very many.

thats correct, indeed^^

The oldest was recorded in 1952 and was fantastic quality.

A proper storage can decrease the process of aging but I guess those tapes would sound better just after they got recorded - hard to find out^^

Any news on this?