Wilson Pickett – The Exciting Wilson Pickett

I get how some people can be disappointed in the sound as objectively it's not recorded that well, but the music is undoubtedly great. However this pressing is by far the best I've ever heard the album. Even beating that recent clear vinyl reissue that I thought was quite good.

The bass is so full, and there's much more detail. Land of 1000 Dances has always sounded odd but on this pressing I never found it to be that strange relative to any other time I've heard it. If you're a big fan of the record then I highly recommend this. I can't imagine the album sounding any better than listening to the master tape. Though if you're just a casual fan I think the clear vinyl is still quite good for the price and better than any original I've ever heard.

Hesitated to pick this up d/t negative reviews but I gave in at last and I’m happy to report that my copy sounds great. Do not have an older pressing to compare it to, but scouring for flaws I found none except maybe the mix—separation is wanting. Punchy, dynamic bass, crystal clear vocals, and a very clean pressing to boot.

I think this release sounds great, especially compared to the other versions of this title that I have in my collection. I wonder if what other people are hearing is in the master tapes? Also, vinyl arrived clean, centred, and flat, which is a win these days. I do wish that AP would do a 33 1/13 release of these titles. With such short tracks on each side I’m starting to tire of the 2 record 4 side experience. The improvement in quality is overshadowed by the break in flow of the album.

Yes, Land of 1000 Dances sounds strange, almost muddy. And yes again, this release is clearly not as the same level as the other A75…
But, to my hears, all the other tracks are a really improvement in comparison with other copy that I have listen in the past. So I'm happy with it

Subpar release from AP. Not the same level of care put into this title as the other A75 releases.

I’ll echo the last review. Sonically, this is an extraordinarily disappointing release from Analogue Productions, which is usually the best in the business. It sounds flat, compressed, and distorted. Even if this is how the original tapes now sound, I am surprised that AP didn’t pull the plug after hearing a test pressing. I suppose this means that gone are the days when one could do a blind purchase of an AP album without waiting for reviews.

This is the first time I’ve ever been disappointed with one of the AP 45 rpm releases. The bass distorts often on my setup and sounds okay after making some adjustments but still not great and nowhere close to the quality of what the Otis releases sound like, stereo or not. Land of 1000 Dances sounds absolutely terrible. I have an OG press of this release and doubt I’ll keep this AP press. The quality of the jacket and vinyl itself is excellent, as you’d expect from AP but you can save your $60 IMO and get any other copy and be fine.

Flat, quiet records. Four of these songs are on a 2CD collection of Pickett hits I have listened to for most of my life. These songs sound noticeably better on vinyl. I hear details that I never noticed before. By far the biggest improvement over CD is "Land of 1000 Dances". This is mono. In general, I would prefer stereo, but at its best, this gives a decent illusion that there is a soundstage and some separation of voices and instruments. Some of the tracks come up sounding congested and flat, which I assume is due to limitations in the original recordings. One of the worst-sounding is "I'm Drifting", but nothing on Side 4 sounds great. I want to give special mention to the striking black and white photos of a very young Wilson Pickett on the inside of the gatefold...beautifully done.

I am very glad to have this. I think this is the only Wilson Pickett they are doing in this series; I wish they would have included "The Wicket Pickett" as well, which has "Mustang Sally".

Glad to see they went with the mono tape (not advertised as AS). Can anyone confirm it's truly a mono mastering?