Best Of Solo Albums CD
- Australia1980
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Best Of Solo Albums CD
So IDK if Best Of Solo Albums was ever released on CD, but I recently came across my cassette from back in the day and decided to make a CD of my own. I had a hard time finding good scans of the vinyl, so I opted to make my own cover. For the front, I took someone's digital rendering and replaced the images by shrinking down some very high quality scans that I had of the actual solo albums and pasting them in. Also, I pasted in a logo from a scan of a vinyl reissue.
The back cover...I just took a decent scan and cleaned it up and pasted in the Phonogram logo from another scan because i thought it was cool. Also I moved a couple things and cropped the edges so that the artwork/tracks end up bigger when printed. Also I numbered each track because it's for CD.
Anyway, I ended up spending some time on these, so I figured I'd share. If you're inclined to make your own Best Of Solo Albums CD, they'll give you a head start.
https://imgur.com/a/ZxfjLnJ
PS was Best Of Solo Albums ever released on CD?
The back cover...I just took a decent scan and cleaned it up and pasted in the Phonogram logo from another scan because i thought it was cool. Also I moved a couple things and cropped the edges so that the artwork/tracks end up bigger when printed. Also I numbered each track because it's for CD.
Anyway, I ended up spending some time on these, so I figured I'd share. If you're inclined to make your own Best Of Solo Albums CD, they'll give you a head start.
https://imgur.com/a/ZxfjLnJ
PS was Best Of Solo Albums ever released on CD?
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- Four-Who-Are-One
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
Good job! Here's a nice version with original logo:
I'm partial to the Australian release with different member configuration and no red border. But decent scans are hard to find:
I'm partial to the Australian release with different member configuration and no red border. But decent scans are hard to find:
Last edited by Four-Who-Are-One on Fri Jun 26, 2020 8:22 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
Good work! Is that song list your own doing?
The Australian release of BOTSA I had featured several different songs.
The Australian release of BOTSA I had featured several different songs.
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
Different track listings for different counties.
http://www.kissmonster.com/discography/bestsolo.php
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
Ah thanks for that. So this is the Euro version. See You In Your Dreams threw me for a loop. I never knew it made any of the versions.savage_dreams wrote: ↑Sat Jun 27, 2020 5:42 amDifferent track listings for different counties.
http://www.kissmonster.com/discography/bestsolo.php
- Australia1980
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
Thanks for the positive feedback, glad you like.
I guess the problem I kept seeing was the same problem that plagues most solo album scans. Too dark on most, with the color and contrast boosted to "juice things up". But a lot gets compromised when you do things like that. The detail gets lost because there's too much contrast. Eraldo Carugati spent a lot of time on little things which is why those album covers (the 12", in 1978) were so amazing. If you compare the 2nd scan posted with mine you will see what I mean. Especially the hair. And the left side of Gene's face, etc.
PS I have a question. The 2014 KISS vinyl reissues of the solo albums...were they faithful reproductions? or do they look like the 1997 CD remasters (too dark, color and contrast boosted, detail lost)?
I guess the problem I kept seeing was the same problem that plagues most solo album scans. Too dark on most, with the color and contrast boosted to "juice things up". But a lot gets compromised when you do things like that. The detail gets lost because there's too much contrast. Eraldo Carugati spent a lot of time on little things which is why those album covers (the 12", in 1978) were so amazing. If you compare the 2nd scan posted with mine you will see what I mean. Especially the hair. And the left side of Gene's face, etc.
PS I have a question. The 2014 KISS vinyl reissues of the solo albums...were they faithful reproductions? or do they look like the 1997 CD remasters (too dark, color and contrast boosted, detail lost)?
- Hi I'm Witz
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
Do you guys think the right songs were chosen for this compilation? I know I wouldve picked quite a different song list.
- tasmith72
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
Awesome job! I did my own a few years ago, I included 20 songs for mine
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
Man, I remember that now. I think I might even had it. I don't feel like looking through my collection. It's all over the place.
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
It was my introduction to Kiss.
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
Australia1980 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 28, 2020 2:47 pmI guess the problem I kept seeing was the same problem that plagues most solo album scans. Too dark on most, with the color and contrast boosted to "juice things up". But a lot gets compromised when you do things like that. The detail gets lost because there's too much contrast. Eraldo Carugati spent a lot of time on little things which is why those album covers (the 12", in 1978) were so amazing. If you compare the 2nd scan posted with mine you will see what I mean. Especially the hair. And the left side of Gene's face, etc
I admire your quality control. Don't suppose you'd consider turning your hand to the Australian version?
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
Ask and you [sometimes] shall receive...Four-Who-Are-One wrote: ↑Mon Jun 29, 2020 4:21 pmAustralia1980 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 28, 2020 2:47 pmI guess the problem I kept seeing was the same problem that plagues most solo album scans. Too dark on most, with the color and contrast boosted to "juice things up". But a lot gets compromised when you do things like that. The detail gets lost because there's too much contrast. Eraldo Carugati spent a lot of time on little things which is why those album covers (the 12", in 1978) were so amazing. If you compare the 2nd scan posted with mine you will see what I mean. Especially the hair. And the left side of Gene's face, etc
I admire your quality control. Don't suppose you'd consider turning your hand to the Australian version?
There were problems because I had to take the title from the one you posted but that was way too small so I had to enlarge it. The result is that the title is blurred. And it's still undersized, I only enlarged the title at 150% because if I made it full size it would have looked even blurrier
Also, I had to darken eveything to match the title's black background. Much detail is lost, but a lot does remain. Also nothing is in the right place because I had no template of any kind to work with (unlike the red one). I just winged it. I do think it's better than what's on available on Google. Not as good as the red one I did though.
So here it is. I suspect that it might look pretty good when printed at CD size.
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
Australia1980 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 30, 2020 6:26 pmAsk and you [sometimes] shall receive...
There were problems because I had to take the title from the one you posted but that was way too small so I had to enlarge it. The result is that the title is blurred. And it's still undersized, I only enlarged the title at 150% because if I made it full size it would have looked even blurrier
Also, I had to darken eveything to match the title's black background. Much detail is lost, but a lot does remain. Also nothing is in the right place because I had no template of any kind to work with (unlike the red one). I just winged it. I do think it's better than what's on available on Google. Not as good as the red one I did though.
So here it is. I suspect that it might look pretty good when printed at CD size.
Awesome work!! Thank you kindly.
- Australia1980
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
Glad you like it. I took a minute to move things around and change the cropping. The positioning of everything is now really close to the positioning on the one you posted. I figured out that in slideshow mode they would both appear at the exact same size and I could toggle back and forth between the two and really see what's what.Four-Who-Are-One wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2020 4:11 amAustralia1980 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 30, 2020 6:26 pmAsk and you [sometimes] shall receive...
There were problems because I had to take the title from the one you posted but that was way too small so I had to enlarge it. The result is that the title is blurred. And it's still undersized, I only enlarged the title at 150% because if I made it full size it would have looked even blurrier
Also, I had to darken eveything to match the title's black background. Much detail is lost, but a lot does remain. Also nothing is in the right place because I had no template of any kind to work with (unlike the red one). I just winged it. I do think it's better than what's on available on Google. Not as good as the red one I did though.
So here it is. I suspect that it might look pretty good when printed at CD size.
Awesome work!! Thank you kindly.
Hopefully the one you posted is the way the actual album is...
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
Australia1980 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2020 11:20 amHopefully the one you posted is the way the actual album is...
Actually I hate to say it, but I just noticed the original release has their portraits bigger/closer together:
But you've done enough! Thanks again
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
Also a few hi-res pics from the iTunes Store. May or may not be as good as the ones you have...
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
I never get tired of looking at those images! Those are such amazing portraits!!
I asked earlier but got no response. What do you guys think about the songs that were chosen for The Best of Solos compilation? I feel like they really missed the mark in terms of choosing the best material from each solo album. If I were doing this compilation I would have chosen the following songs from each...
ACE:
1. Rip It Out
2. Snow Blind
3. New York Groove (this is not my 3rd favorite song from Ace's album but considering the success of the single you can't really leave it off.)
Gene:
1. Radioactive
2. Tunnel of Love
3. See You Tonight
Paul:
1. Tonight You Belong To Me
2. It's Alright
3. Wouldn't You Like To Know Me
Peter:
1. I'm Gonna Love You
2. Hooked On Rock and Roll
3. Easy Thing
I asked earlier but got no response. What do you guys think about the songs that were chosen for The Best of Solos compilation? I feel like they really missed the mark in terms of choosing the best material from each solo album. If I were doing this compilation I would have chosen the following songs from each...
ACE:
1. Rip It Out
2. Snow Blind
3. New York Groove (this is not my 3rd favorite song from Ace's album but considering the success of the single you can't really leave it off.)
Gene:
1. Radioactive
2. Tunnel of Love
3. See You Tonight
Paul:
1. Tonight You Belong To Me
2. It's Alright
3. Wouldn't You Like To Know Me
Peter:
1. I'm Gonna Love You
2. Hooked On Rock and Roll
3. Easy Thing
- Four-Who-Are-One
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
I didn’t buy the individual solo albums for literally decades after I got this so I never questioned the Aussie track list.
After hearing Ace’s album I agree there were lots of other strong tracks on there. And yes, See You Tonight is a good ‘un from Gene, but Mr Make Believe is probably my favourite track from all four.
After hearing Ace’s album I agree there were lots of other strong tracks on there. And yes, See You Tonight is a good ‘un from Gene, but Mr Make Believe is probably my favourite track from all four.
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
Thanks, man!
- Australia1980
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
No, mine is way off from the actual album. I suspected that everything was too small, but didn't know what was what.Four-Who-Are-One wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2020 2:36 pmAustralia1980 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2020 11:20 amHopefully the one you posted is the way the actual album is...
Actually I hate to say it, but I just noticed the original release has their portraits bigger/closer together:
But you've done enough! Thanks again
So I fixed it again. I couldn't leave it the way it was. If you're going to do something, do it right. Everything is real close now, and the titling is almost the correct size.
Anyway, here it is. i think this thing came out pretty good after all.
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
These are really nice! Thanks for posting them. I think they're pretty comparable to what I have, but they're bigger!Four-Who-Are-One wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2020 2:50 pm Also a few hi-res pics from the iTunes Store. May or may not be as good as the ones you have...
PS i-Tunes...do you need to sign up and have an account to get album artwork?
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
Okay this really is the final version here, I pasted in new names because they were blurry on mine and because the newest pic you posted had good ones.
- Australia1980
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
Replaced blurry titling with the one from your post. All done now
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
final final.
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
Awesome!!! Thanks for your tireless efforts
And you don't need to be an iTunes member to get the artwork, you can search for it here: https://bendodson.com/projects/itunes-a ... index.html
(If you search under Germany it even has the alternative logo!)
And you don't need to be an iTunes member to get the artwork, you can search for it here: https://bendodson.com/projects/itunes-a ... index.html
(If you search under Germany it even has the alternative logo!)
- Australia1980
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
Glad you like it. I actually printed it last night, put it in the CD I made, I guess as an alt. cover. It prints real nice, the overblown contrast actually translates pretty well to the cardstock. Same with the bright red in the Euro version I didFour-Who-Are-One wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2020 6:28 pm Awesome!!! Thanks for your tireless efforts
And you don't need to be an iTunes member to get the artwork, you can search for it here: https://bendodson.com/projects/itunes-a ... index.html
(If you search under Germany it even has the alternative logo!)
Thanks for the link!! what a great site
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
Here's another higher-res version, not as high-res as then individual ones, but interested to see how you feel about the quality...
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
This would have been a great cover for the recent vinyl box set nice!Four-Who-Are-One wrote: ↑Sun Aug 09, 2020 1:19 am Here's another higher-res version, not as high-res as then individual ones, but interested to see how you feel about the quality...
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
Cancel that, repost!
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Re: Best Of Solo Albums CD
That track listing isn’t what I would call the best of the solo albums.Australia1980 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 25, 2020 1:42 pm So IDK if Best Of Solo Albums was ever released on CD, but I recently came across my cassette from back in the day and decided to make a CD of my own. I had a hard time finding good scans of the vinyl, so I opted to make my own cover. For the front, I took someone's digital rendering and replaced the images by shrinking down some very high quality scans that I had of the actual solo albums and pasting them in. Also, I pasted in a logo from a scan of a vinyl reissue.
The back cover...I just took a decent scan and cleaned it up and pasted in the Phonogram logo from another scan because i thought it was cool. Also I moved a couple things and cropped the edges so that the artwork/tracks end up bigger when printed. Also I numbered each track because it's for CD.
Anyway, I ended up spending some time on these, so I figured I'd share. If you're inclined to make your own Best Of Solo Albums CD, they'll give you a head start.
https://imgur.com/a/ZxfjLnJ
PS was Best Of Solo Albums ever released on CD?