John Lennon Mind Games Remix Vinyl | Something Is Wrong With My Copy

Our exploration of the incredible Mind Games album continues with the most in-depth review on YouTube of the double vinyl set. We look in detail at the quality of the vinyl, the packaging and the audio so you can make your own mind up whether or not this is for you. Have Czech manufacturers GZ upped their game or is it the same old story?

0:00 - Introduction
1:56 - Unpacking & examining my copy
14:37 - Audio/sound quality analysis and review
15:50 - Reviews on Discogs
17:05 - The quality control lottery
17:29 - Why we need poly-lined Inner-sleeves
18:08 - The limitations of packaging
18:33 - Conclusion and final thoughts.

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Thank you!

[mikeroberts]

Well good luck with the replacement- I’m now waiting on the 7th!! It’s a shame we don’t know how many were pressed and the return rate.

[johnblack]

A couple of years back I bought The Stones’ Sticky Fingers on LP, pressed in the Czech Republic, it was absolutely covered in greasy finger marks all over the album’s surface both sides.
I saw the irony that I I got actual sticky fingers, but I wasn’t amused.

[theunknown]

In the 80s there was a lot more vinyl around, most didn't have these issues and it cost less to buy. Today it shouldn't be worse than it was 40 years ago.

[Leicaphile]

I completely agree. Having a quality pressing trumps getting extras. Poorly pressed vinyl ruins the main event, which is listening to music.

[vinylarchaeologist]

For those wondering, that "666" is cut out directly off the cover art of Aphrodite's Child 1972 album of the same name, a psychedelic/prog band that featured Vangelis on keyboards.

[billleary]

Sorry that you received a copy with notable defects. It’s unfortunate given the high cost of vinyl that people have to contend with these types of issues. Unfortunately anyone that purchases records has experienced this in some form or another. Thanks so much for going through this with the viewers Andrew. I just got the CD set last week and am enjoying it. Take care!

[azorbz]

After watching your video and reading reviews elsewhere, I'm very glad I cancelled my pre-order earlier this month. At ~£50, lined sleeves and no scratches is the bare minimum people should expect.

[stevekirk]

My copy has almost the same marks as yours even down to the scuff on the edge. I've not listened to it yet but I will, as soon as I've got rid of the grandchildren.
Great video again by the way.

[glennishammont]

When CD’s arrived, I switched as soon as possible. Many years later some nostalgia is creeping in, after having seen this video it is completely clear to me that I will never return to vinyl. If it comes to sound quality it is a huge step backwards anyways.

[seamusfinnegan]

Keep showing the wave forms, Andrew! I, for one, appreciate it. The first thing I do when I get a new CD is to look at the wave forms of the songs to see if they were mastered correctly.

[jimc]

Disappointing, is putting it mildly. When I purchased new vinyl in the past, I demanded it be MINT! Covers, inner sleeves, inserts and the records. Why should I pay top dollar for a new product this only in VG condition? I would return said product for a full refund. I’d settle for a digital product, preferably a vinyl rip. One great thing about vinyl, you can’t brick-wall it. Great episode Andrew. Sometimes if it wasn’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.

[ordersredrawwear]

When I visited The Vinyl Factory (old EMI Hayes pressing plant) I was amazed. The place was filthy, oil everywhere and a machine shoving just pressed records into those inner sleeves! It's no wonder unlined inners cause so much damage. Records come off the stamper covered in debris and then shoved into rough inners. Might as well rub the vinyl down some sandpaper.

If there is any indication a new record is pressed at Gz I always check discogs first. Normally a stick on the back Made in Czech Republic.

My Rolling Stones in mono was not the best either.

And I really don't understand why most new vinyl is cut a such a low volume. Never was that way 60s/70s/80s and beyond. Most of us have decent turntables so would not have records jumping due to signal velocity. Its annoying as it shows up so many flaws in pressing quality.

I'm one of those who faced so many warps on new vinyl that I got a deal on an Orb vinyl flat and it's an amazing piece of kit. Even flatten records for friends in return for some beer!

Sorry for the rant but worked in music retail all my working life. Vinyl fanatics like us deserve better

Thanks, Ross

[Nymetssuck]

I’m 62 years old, the sound difference between a cd and lp to me is basically the skipping and or popping from vinyl.

[DeckerIV]

GZed has certainly jumped out to me when it comes to quality control over the past couple of years. I bought the Rolling Stones in Mono colored box set, and oh boy, what a lottery that was. I ordered my first box and found that on Let It Bleed, it had a scribble line pressed on the disc, which caused a really loud thud sound during a few songs. It was clear to me whoever pressed it didn't clean their pressing plate and allowed debris to get on it and pass visual inspection, which is just baffling to me. So sadly, I returned the box and got another which HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. Seriously, problems like this should NEVER REACH THE CUSTOMER.

[festivitycat]

My heart always drops when a record arrives and it has the Made in Czech Republic sticker on the sleeve.

[robertlandrum]

It’s just another reminder that CDs 💿 are much better than the audiophiles think. The quality control of CDs are much better than the vinyl, sad to say. I bought a brand new vinyl of Pink Floyd’s The Wall and there were multiple flaws on them that caused skips.

So when my wife wanted to buy me The Beatles Red & Blue 2023 Remastered albums, I asked her to buy me the CD version rather than the vinyl. Did not disappoint.

[eblackadder]

Back in the 1970s, when poorer quality vinyl was the norm, I'd buy a new album and it was almost guaranteed that it would be defective in some way: slightly warped, labels stuck on crooked, bits of paper embedded in the vinyl and scuffs or scratches.
When paying a typical $4-$6 for an album in those days, it wasn't as big a deal, but today, when you're paying a ridiculous $25-$50 for a single damned album, it had better be flawless! I remember paying $3.98 for my original copy of Mind Games in the 1970s!

[markstevenson]

This is so nostalgic! In the late 70s in the US, warped and otherwise defective records were a regular problem.

[ryandellarmo]

The fact the Uber Box comes with poly lined sleeves, yet the $50 2 LP can’t be bothered to really speaks volumes. The extras are cute and all but what good is it if the actual thing I bought the release for (the records themselves) are defective?

[mikec]

Outrageous! Just to put into perspective, I’m currently listening to a 1978 American reissue of the White album that I bought from secondhand record shop yesterday. Yep, in better nick than that 2024 Mind Games!