Marc Cohn • Marc Cohn
Mobile Fidelity Sounds Labs/Atlantic Records MFSL 1-291
33-RPM 180g LP
Has it really between 20 years since Marc Cohn’s eponymous debut LP was released? Wow, time sure flies: I remember singing along with the opening track, Walking in Memphis, which was released as a single in the UK all those years ago (it was followed up with Silver Thunderbird). Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs (MFSL) remastered this record a couple of years ago, which give me the perfect excuse to re-visit this old favourite.
Walking in Memphis kicks off side one’s collection of clean, simple, arrangements. Most of the songs tell a story, in the best tradition of the singer-songwriter. Side two starts with Miles Away’s more rocky tempo, and the songs gradually slow down until the final two ballads, Perfect Love (featuring backing vocals by James Taylor) and the upbeat True Companion.
The sound quality is fine, with appropriately deep bass and sparkling highs. Left to right imaging is pretty good too—the simple arrangements help here, I’m sure—but the image is somewhat flat. The latter isn’t too surprising, given that it’s a multitrack studio recording.
I have an original pressing of this record, so I compared it to the MFSL version. The original is surprisingly good, but perhaps a touch more forward than MFSL’s version. Also, instrument and voice separation isn’t quite as good as MFSL’s remastered version, and the bass on the original isn’t quite as deep and well-defined.
With its great music and good sound quality, it would be hard not to recommend this one, especially when the dead-quiet pressing on 180g of virgin vinyl and heavy duty gatefold sleeve are taken into account. It is a worthwhile upgrade from the original, but if you have an original in mint condition you could be excused for wanting to spend your money on other new records first. On the other hand, if you don’t already own an original pressing of Marc Cohn, this MFSL release is a definitely worth considering!