Bob Marley & The Wailers – Survival

Such a fine album and side 2 is peak BM&TW. These Half Speeds all sound between great to AMAZING. This one is closer to amazing. Only Kaya ive heard bettered and that was the Kaya 40 and its 3 track tapes remix. But this Survival Half Speed has it all.... MEGA BASS, wonderful depth and width and super clean uppers and smooth presence region.

The pressing itself isnt ideal.... i had to return one with non fills ruining Africa Unite and alot of groove roar. A second with groove roar alone. But finally ive settled on/kept the third which still has groove roar in the very quietest moments of track ins/outs but is otherwise silent and just sounds amazing.

Despite the pressing lottery its an easy recommendation on sound alone.

Beautiful remaster with scooped mids, creating a wonderful sense of both warmth and clarity. Much more fun than my first US pressing, I won't bother with the UK first pressing

Great press even in spite of a very minor dish warp. The record is nigh silent and the mastering is very crisp and fresh. There is of course the Half Speed master too and comparing the two they are near identical of tonal balance but the Half Speed offers a welcome bit of extra sweet cleanliness in the very uppers whereas this has a little dry crispyness. One may suit someones setup a little more than the other but on my most revealing AT microline the Half Speed edges it. With my olde Shure which smooths everything out this clear vinyl copy is at its best and closes the gap. Theres very little in it all round tbf and id be happy with either copy!

I guess this is a repress of the 2015 reissue. Vinyl sounds nice, with loads of low end, very crisp percussion, plenty of warmth to the vocals, and a rich, robust soundstage. My copy was purchased new and it plays flawlessly.

Picked up a used slightly dirty copy at Zia. Sounds incredible with some pops at the end of each side. Couldn’t be happier tbh; will clean soon but keep spinning this dirty great sounding thing. Picked it up at $12; no regrets! Have most of the half speed masters and this sounds just as good, sans the dirty popping at the ends

Survival is my favourite Bob Marley & The Wailers album. I bought a UK copy of the album new back in1982 and have recently bought a clean 2nd hand copy of the same pressing to replace it after buying this half speed mastered (HSM) edition.

This HSM edition is a very disappointing pressing and cannot compare with the superior UK original. Some points: 1) the vinyl itself is noisy – the original UK is dead quiet; 2) the top end is seriously lacking in the HSM edition (as it is on all the Bob Marley & The Wailers remasters issued on CD in the early 2000s from which I suspect this album is cut) – the original UK is crisp and clear with loads of inner detail, definition and bass – a classic trademark of producer and engineer Alex Sadkin; 3) there is occasional sibilance on the HSM – the UK original has no sibilance.

I suspect the people who have made positive comments about the HSM below have not heard the UK first pressing – there is a marked difference in sound quality between the two. Survival is such a great album which I love dearly – hearing the HSM for the first time left me cold and it wasn't until I went back to my original UK pressing that I realised why. I would highly recommend buying a clean UK original copy if they're still available – your turntable, your ears and your soul will thank for you it.

Don't go with this press. Very muddy and compressed sound. No dynamics at all. Avoid!!

Pulled this out to play...I have to say it is flat, next to zero background noise, & it sounds damn good on my modest system.

(Fluance RT-82 w/Acrylic Platter, ATN-XP cart/5 stylus. Nobsound T3 Phono Amp, Aiyima A07 Pro, Kicker KB6B, & Polk PSW10 Sub...Simple Low Cost Setup)...Happy Listening.

I got this and an Exodus 1982 at the same time from Japan, they’re terrific releases, 10/10 sound quality on my system. Beautiful bass and separation..

This album sounds incredible, packed with clear vocals from everyone on stage, heavy bass, sharp highs, all the goodness. So much packed into one regular weight record, none of this remastered on 3 discs coloured variant, 180g nonsense. Beautiful record.