The Day the Music Died

[Albrecht]

23 hours ago, NOMBEDES said:

 

+1  You got that right.  I cannot believe the DR on the Blue and Lonesome (Rolling Stones)  CD.  Who records this shite.

 

 

The specific answer to that is the mastering engineer at the direction of the label. Compression was largely applied with RIAA settings and EQ to Lacquer masters at the mastering/manufacturing facility. If the label didn't like the sound of the test cassette (usually on the equivalent of a boombox) at the daily listening session, - they sent it back K-Disk, or whatever mastering/manufacturing plant. Record label A/R guys and Execs listen for compression, - if they don't hear compression, - they send it back.

[Albrecht]

50 minutes ago, gmgraves said:

I have always had a theory about the decline in the quality of popular music.

 

And, each generation tends to stick with their generation's music for their entire life. That's why cable and satellite music sources have separate feeds for the music of each decade. There's a 50's channel, a 60's channel, a70's channel, and so forth. How many audiophiles do you know (and perhaps you are one of them) who have elaborate and expensive stereo systems solely to listen to the pop music that was popular when they were teenagers!  I know several. 

 

It it is a peculiar imbecility of the notion of "change for the sake of change" that it inevitably causes entropy. 

I very much disagree with your opinion there, but will defend your right to have it. IMO, - it's all art, - and all undefined. Depending on how one chooses to define that art, one can cite examples of how one form may be "better" than an another. IMO, - there was great art existing alongside crap art in every time period.