Stealing a post from Progressive Ears again, this time from Bill Plummer:

Gerhard said:
I have the One Way reissues that came out in 1999, and it says in both booklets: Audio enhancement and digital remastering by Kit Watkins.

I've always wondered, not having the Musea releases, if they are sonically the same as the One Way versions. Does anyone know?

How will the Esoteric versions differ from the One Way and/or Musea versions?

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AFAIK - These would be the Kit Watkins remasters unless someone did some re-remastering.

If the original masters are available, I'd love to hear a proper HiDef digital version master (96k/24bit) of both HTM albums.

Better yet would be a nice 5.1 mix of the two by Ken Scott but he has told me it is not likely that the multitracks survive to this day. I hope that he is mistaken.

BTW - Kit Watkins is mastering the new Oblivion Sun CD due soon.


Well, Bill surelly gets my vote for the 5.1 mix.

What would be better than the old original LP, in case you have a good turntable. I know CD can sound good but not as the ol' LPs. But then you dont get 5.1 mixes : )

Speaking of Kit Watkins mastering of the OS album which is awesome, as i find Kit to be very good at that, - is about to be released at the end of this month (september). I am happy if it's released this year, as i know things can take time, so well see. I truly believe it's going to be awesome.

More news on these re-releases on the new designed website of Esoteric Recordings: www.esotericrecordings.com/
"These reissues have been newly remastered and feature booklets that fully restore all original album artwork with new essays with an exclusive interview with Rick Kennell."

From the esoteric website:

Crafty Hands

FIRST EVER UK RELEASE OF REMASTERED EDITION OF THE CLASSIC 1978 ALBUM BY US PROGRESSIVE ROCK LEGENDS HAPPY THE MAN
· BOOKLET WITH FULLY RESTORED ARTWORK & NEW ESSAY
Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce the first ever UK release of the classic 1978 album by American Progressive Rock group HAPPY THE MAN.
Formed in Harrisonburg, Virginia in 1973, the band was influenced by British progressive groups such as Genesis and King Crimson. By 1976 they came to the ear of PETER GABRIEL who considered utilising the band on his first solo album. Although this failed to materialise, the band came to the attention of Arista Records, securing a deal the same year. With a line-up of STANLEY WHITAKER (Guitars, Vocals), KIT WATKINS (Keyboards), FRANK WYATT (Sax, Flute, Keyboards), RICK KENNELL (Bass) and MIKE BECK (Drums), the band recorded their first album under the production supervision of KEN SCOTT (who had worked with Supertramp and David Bowie).
Greeted with excellent reviews, the band recorded their second album for Arista in 1978, produced once more by KEN SCOTT, and featuring RON RIDDLE on Drums. Arguably their finest hour, the album featured only one vocal track and ranks as one of the most important in US Progressive Rock history. This Esoteric Recordings reissue has been newly remastered and features a booklet that fully restores all original album artwork with a new essay.

Release Date: 29/10/2012

Happy The Man

FIRST EVER UK RELEASE OF REMASTERED EDITION OF THE CLASSIC 1977 DEBUT ALBUM BY US PROGRESSIVE ROCK LEGENDS HAPPY THE MAN
· BOOKLET WITH FULLY RESTORED ARTWORK & NEW ESSAY
Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce the first ever UK release of the classic 1977 self- titled debut album by American Progressive Rock group HAPPY THE MAN.
Formed in Harrisonburg, Virginia in 1973, the band was influenced by British progressive groups such as Genesis and King Crimson. By 1976 they came to the ear of PETER GABRIEL who considered utilising the band on his first solo album. Although this failed to materialise, the band came to the attention of Arista Records, securing a deal the same year. With a line-up of STANLEY WHITAKER (Guitars, Vocals), KIT WATKINS (Keyboards), FRANK WYATT (Sax, Flute, Keyboards), RICK KENNELL (Bass) and MIKE BECK (Drums), the band recorded their first album under the production supervision of KEN SCOTT (who had worked with Supertramp and David Bowie).
Featuring excellent pieces such as ‘Mr. Mirror’s Reflection on Dreams’ and ‘New York Dreams Suite’, the album ranks as one of the great American Progressive rock albums. This Esoteric Recordings reissue has been newly remastered and features a booklet that fully restores all original album artwork with a new essay.

Release Date: 29/10/2012

I just wondering who remastered the albums. I think the cd's where great sounding allready, but if these are better i may consider purchasing them.

Most albums by Esoteric note that the remastering was under supervision/co-ordinated of/by Mark Powell, while the actual remastering is done at The Audio Archiving Company. A name mentioned a couple of times of doing the actual remastering is Paschal Byrne. Another is Ben Wiseman, but I suppose they're working for the Audio Archiving Company.

I should do that more often: play those albums on my turntable. I'm sure they sound great, better than a lot of CD's.

There's also some news about these on the new Happy The Man-site: www.everythinghappytheman.com/news.html

Everything Happy The Man feels like the new official site.. anyway, so it's re-mastered versions of the first two HTM albums, now that is really cool even though i think that Crafty Hands is all great allready. The first "self titled" are a bit "thin" and could be more dynamic and that's what i am hoping with this release. Well see!

I didn't receive the promotional-copies of the remasters this time; a colleague will write the review now. Don't know if I will buy these again. I already have three copies.

I noticed they changed the back-side of the HTM-album. The clouds have been replaced by the picture that was original on the inner-sleeve, you know, the one on which you only see the heads and hands of the members.

Accourding to a reviewer the new mix sounds somewhat more clear in the high regions and a bit broader. Not much though. He didn't notice the bass sounded better, like Rick mentioned. Well, I guess all ears are different, not to mention steamingears....