My concern is the 1999 mastering for the cd. 1 version. Its heavily criticised online. Does anyone here have or heard about this version?
The 1999 mastering is worthless. Find a run of the mill vintage Polydor Europe or Reprise North America CD. Your ears will be happy and your wallet full.
Here's a rundown of the various CD masterings for the self titled debut. The list is in no particular order.
Note that discs with 10 tracks have "Virginia Plain" added to the original album, those with 9 have the original tracklisting.
Mastering 1: 92.8/77.3/76.2/(95.4)/60.9/71.4/54.2/83.1/74.0/74.3
UK Virgin/EG 0777 7 86480 2 4 EGCD 6 / Matrix: 786480 2 3 EMI SWINDON
US Reprise 9 26039-2 matrix: SRC=04
Mastering 2: 95.7/95.9/94.6/(95.7)/95.9/95.9/91.3/95.2/95.6/76.0
HDCD Remaster EU?
Mastering 3: 88.2/75.9/88.1/(68.5)/71.9/92.8/45.5/84.8/60.9/71.8
West Germany Polydor/EG 821522-2 / Matrix: 821522-2 01
Mastering 4: 98.1/81.7/81.2/65.0/78.0/59.2/90.2/79.0/76.9
Japan 32VD-1103 Black Triangle / Matrix: ?
Mastering 5: 98.1/81.7/81.2/75.1/65.0/78.0/59.2/90.2/79.0/76.9
E’G/Virgin 0777 7 086480 2 4 EGCD6 Matrix: DADC AUSTRIA EGCD-6 22 A2
This 1991 Picture CD appears to be the same as the Black Triangle but with Virginia Plain inserted.