I got a bad Hot Buttered Soul.
Really loud pops. Cleaning on a good RCM a couple times didn’t help.

Their customer service is awful. Really bad. Deceptive.

I emailed for a replacement record. No phone number.
They asked for proof.
I sent them a recording of the loud pops.

Thats when they went silent.
I resent emails & asked if they needed anything else.

Then they started replies saying:

It's been a few days since we last heard from you!
I just wanted to check in to see if I can help with anything? I am happy to help if you have any questions or concerns.

I resent my emails with my phone number.
I resent several times. Same responses each time.

Had to file a dispute with Discover.
Then craft responded there was a dispute so they couldn’t do anything.

I just need a replacement record that’s not defective.

All LPs from the Terre Haute plant, initial, repress or reissue, have been superlative to my ears and this is no exception: this pressing was probably ramped up to capitalize on the popularity of "Shaft". As a bonus, there is the often clueless placement of the 'Gold Record' sticker on Mr. Hayes' head.

Hot and Buttered Sound with Excellent dynamic range. Recommend this 70’s pressing.

I know it would have been a bit crazy but perhaps this should have been split up on 2 lps to assist with the bass issue.

Overall a good sounding pressing. The Nix mastering. Who knows if it’s different from the other early ones, hard to tell. The bass guitar is great and the drums punch. A bit of sibilant stuff on the vocals but no biggie.

There are multiple volume drop outs of the organ during the instrumental section of the first track. Everything else is perfect.

It plays really well. Very large and defined stage, even if it sounds very hot. It's really good to listen to. I don't have other versions to compare it with, but I really like how it plays.

I mean, having listened to this and volume matching it with HBS' previous reissue cut at Elysian Masters... idk I feel like that one has more bite. This one feels kind of less revealing, guitars and vocals can be a tiny bit more upfront depending on the song, and there's also some subtle extra panning going on, but there is definitely less definition, detail and top end on Grundman's cut, more focus on mid range. It's not a night and day difference mind you, its a good cut but not worth the . Dynamics are overall kinda the same, and it is true that the hi-hats cut less through in songs like Hyperbolic but there's also lack of bass... I'd say stick to the previous Craft reissue. It was hard for me to believe at first but I think Dave Cooley did a better job this time around, or at least nothing mindblowing coming from Grundman's side like he did with the Are You Experienced UHQR for example.

My expectations were low for this but its a good'un.

Mainly i expected a horribly noisy vinyl compound but my copy is nigh flat, centered and close to silent throughout with the only notable thing being a few tics during the quiet spoken intro to Phoenix. Certainly any surface noise is drowned out by the music.... oh and the tape hiss!!

The sound is crisp and lively. Borderline hot on some sibilant vocal parts but not an issue really. Id sooner hve that than a dull sound anyday.

Yeah.... highly recommended!!

Very different to the US pressing. This is flatter, quieter but digital sounding :(