Hollywood, CA (February 24, 2012)—Audio Fidelity has completed James Taylor’s Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon at Marsh Mastering in Hollywood.
Working from the original 1971 analog master tapes, engineer Steve Hoffman from Audio Fidelity, a specialist in audiophile remastering of classic rock and pop, joined mastering engineer Stephen Marsh for the remastering sessions in preparation for a limited edition of 5,000 numbered 24K gold CDs.
“Our goal at Audio Fidelity is to deliver the optimum remastered compact disc from an analog recording that was done a long time ago,” said Hoffman. “We are maintaining all of the integrity of the original sound, while creating a recording that sounds exceptional on good listening systems.”
Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon marks the fourth James Taylor album remastered by Audio Fidelity at Marsh Mastering. Other limited edition titles include Sweet Baby James (1970), One Man Dog (1972) and Walking Man (1974).
“We are trying to create today’s definitive version of the record,” explained mastering engineer Stephen Marsh, “to get as close as you could possibly get to the master tape and honestly capture the artist’s original vision, using modern technology to present the music in an unadulterated fashion.”
“It’s a very delicate process,” added Hoffman. “In some cases, we have to carefully dehydrate or ‘bake’ the analog tapes that are unplayable otherwise.”
Stephen Marsh adds, “Every particle of oxide that falls off is part of a song that you will never hear again.”
“Luckily, all the James Taylor analog master tapes have been in fantastic shape,” says Hoffman, “well stored by the archival folks at Warner Bros. Audio Fidelity is in contact with James Taylor before these reissues and he is very pleased with our work. That’s the ultimate compliment—if he’s happy, we are happy.”
Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon will be available as an Audio Fidelity 24K Gold CD in Spring 2012.
Marsh Mastering • www.marshmastering.com
