Cropredy Capers box set

[Jules Gray]

Hi all

I picked up a copy of Cropredy Capers yesterday.  Terrific music, really enjoying it so far, but...

...the discs refuse to play on my hi-fi.  They're fine on the PC and on the DVD player hooked up to the TV, but no joy on the stereo.

Anyone else had this problem?  Any thoughts or suggestions?

Jules

[Andy]

That Garrard SP25 Mk II of yours needs a new needle.

Older CD players can be rather sensitve to dust. Try cleaning the CD's from the inside outwards with a soft cloth, having "herred" on them without actually spitting.

[Jules Gray]

That Garrard SP25 Mk II of yours needs a new needle.

Older CD players can be rather sensitve to dust. Try cleaning the CD's from the inside outwards with a soft cloth, having "herred" on them without actually spitting.

Done that.

I've had this problem before with CDRs but never with a commercially pressed silver disc.  I guess I'll have to make copies for the hi-fi and see if they work.

The boxed set itself is fabulous - some of the performances so beautiful that I was somewhat emotional.  In fact I'd say not only is it the best Fairport-related box thus far, but one of the best boxed sets I've ever heard.

Jules

[GubGub (Al)]

It is quite wonderful and, dare I say, a good deal more listenable than some of Free Reed's other collections in terms of sound quality. I did not have any trouble with it but I did have a similar problem with Scrumhalfbricking which was also a Free Reed product. I contacted them and they replaced the disc for me. Worth a try possibly.

[Jules Gray]

It is quite wonderful and, dare I say, a good deal more listenable than some of Free Reed's other collections in terms of sound quality. I did not have any trouble with it but I did have a similar problem with Scrumhalfbricking which was also a Free Reed product. I contacted them and they replaced the disc for me. Worth a try possibly.

Thanks Gub, I may try that, though I think it's the same thing with at least 2, maybe 3 of the discs.

Totally agree about the sound quality issue.

Jules

[Keith]

I had the same problem -- the disks haven't been properly finished and, AFAIK, are not proper CD audio. My player, a Marantz, isn't designed to play some types of CD-R and only rejects non-audio disks.

[Jules Gray]

I had the same problem -- the disks haven't been properly finished and, AFAIK, are not proper CD audio. My player, a Marantz, isn't designed to play some types of CD-R and only rejects non-audio disks.

So it was the same problem with your Cropredy Capers specifically?

Jules

[Jules Gray]

So I called up the Free Reed guys and they said they'd replace the CDs no problem.  Only thing is - is it worth the bother?  Surely the replacements will be exactly the same, no?

Jules

[Keith]

I had the same problem -- the disks haven't been properly finished and, AFAIK, are not proper CD audio. My player, a Marantz, isn't designed to play some types of CD-R and only rejects non-audio disks.

So it was the same problem with your Cropredy Capers specifically?

Jules

Yep, all 4 disks.

[Jules Gray]

I had the same problem -- the disks haven't been properly finished and, AFAIK, are not proper CD audio. My player, a Marantz, isn't designed to play some types of CD-R and only rejects non-audio disks.

So it was the same problem with your Cropredy Capers specifically?

Jules

Yep, all 4 disks.

Thanks, Keith, interesting.

Weirdly I haven't had the same trouble with any of the other Free Reed box sets.

This whole business puzzles me.  And irritates me too.  Listening to music on the computer is all very well, but it's not my number one preference by a long shot.

Jules

[GubGub (Al)]

It might just be a batch that haven't been finished properly. Worth exchanging them I would have thought. Mine have all always played fine on any player that I have put them in. I know my brother has a copy too and his is also ok.

Weird though as you say.

If they still don't work, I guess your only option is to rip them on to CDR to use on the hi fi.

[Jules Gray]

It might just be a batch that haven't been finished properly. Worth exchanging them I would have thought. Mine have all always played fine on any player that I have put them in. I know my brother has a copy too and his is also ok.

Weird though as you say.

If they still don't work, I guess your only option is to rip them on to CDR to use on the hi fi.

Thanks Gub, I think you just persuaded me.

I thought about the rip option, but it's just not the same somehow.

Jules

[Keith]

It might just be a batch that haven't been finished properly.

I bought mine two years ago -- hell of a batch  

[David W]

Being a bit of a luddite with suxh things am I reading this correctly - Free Reed have - for whatever reason, sold a bunch of CDs that can't actually be played on a CD player?

[Goaty]

Yes & no it seems, depends on the player by the looks of it, all the discs from my copy play on my main separate CD player, my ghetto blaster, my DVD player, my PC CD drive and even on my car stereo which is very fussy indeed!

[Jules Gray]

It might just be a batch that haven't been finished properly.

I bought mine two years ago -- hell of a batch  

Mine looks like it could well have been sitting around on the shelves for two years, Keith, so it may be the same batch.

Jules

[Goaty]

Weren't the first 2000 signed ?  Mine's #1695 according to the little hologram on the signatures label so first batch I'd imagine.

[Jules Gray]

Weren't the first 2000 signed ?  Mine's #1695 according to the little hologram on the signatures label so first batch I'd imagine.

Mine has a hologram and a label but no signatures.  Maybe it's a higher number.  I can't recall offhand.

Jules

[Edthefolkie]

My box was signed and the CDs play OK on both my - ahem - Linn player, also on my car CD.

At least they did play in the car - the blooming thing ate another disc and I now need a Torx screwdriver to get it out, with no guarantee the player will ever work again. The usual pliers, coathangers and lump hammer have had no effect. So if the software doesn't get yer, the hardware will.  

[Harbottle (Martin)]

I had the same problem -- the disks haven't been properly finished and, AFAIK, are not proper CD audio. My player, a Marantz, isn't designed to play some types of CD-R and only rejects non-audio disks.

Commercial CDs are Pressed from a master and not burnt, though - which means that there's no real concept that they aren't finished off properly (As in the CD hasn't been closed and the TOC written - which is what happens if you don't close an Audio CD you've burnt on your PC.)