Creedence Clearwater Revival – Willy and the Poor Boys (180 Gram Vinyl Edition) (Fantasy/Concord)

This new version blows the original vinyl away

As a lifelong collector of vinyl, I will often tell you that “older is better.”  I’d rather search out an original pressing of an album than buy some new version.  The reason is that, in my experience, a lot of new vinyl is done with very little quality control.  Well, here comes Craft Recordings to, once again, prove me wrong.

Craft Recordings has recently re-issued both Green River and Willy and the Poor Boys on vinyl in celebration of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s 50th anniversary.  They sent us Willy and the Poor Boys and we compared it to an original vinyl copy in our library.

The results are stunning.

While the original vinyl sounds pretty good, this new, 180-gram, edition is far superior in every way.  First, this new version is very quiet – the pressing was done with a great deal of care.  Second, and really the biggest difference, is that there is so much more depth to this new pressing.  The guitar at the beginning of “Down on the Corner” is rich, there’s more punch to the drums on “It Came Out of the Sky,” and the acoustic guitars on “Cottonfields” are warm.  

The album was created using the half-speed mastering process, meaning the original audio was played back at half the speed and the cutting lathe was also slowed down, allowing the grooves to be cut more precisely.  

Everything from “Fortunate Son” to “The Midnight Special” jumps out of the speakers.  These classic recordings have never sounded this good on their original, vinyl format.

As an added bonus, the album comes packaged in a heavy weight cardboard sleeve, replicating the original, tip-on jacket.  

CCR were one of the original, roots-rock American bands.  It makes sense then, that they should be enjoyed in analog.  

I sincerely wish that all vinyl reissues were given the same treatment as this Willy and the Poor Boys edition.  Vinyl fans rejoice!  —Tony Peters