Fast-forward to 2015. Island Records, under Universal, launched a deluxe reissue campaign for Grace Jones’s Island catalog. The Slave to the Rhythm reissue (Cat. 4728676) was not a simple “louder” remaster. Engineer Tony Cousins (Metropolis Mastering) worked from the original 1/2-inch analogue masters and, crucially, the original 24-track digital master tapes (the album was an early hybrid: analogue synths dumped to digital multitrack).
What makes the 2015 FLAC superior to all prior digital versions (1985 CD, 1990s remasters, 2005 “Deluxe Edition”)?
Released in 1985, Slave To The Rhythm was not merely a pop album; it was a high-concept art project produced by the legendary Trevor Horn (known for his work with Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Yes). The album is a sonic biography of Jones, utilizing then-cutting-edge sampling, heavy synthesizer layering, and dense rhythmic textures. Grace Jones - Slave To The Rhythm -1985- 2015- -FLAC- BEST
While the vinyl original has a warmth beloved by purists, early CD pressings often suffered from the "Loudness Wars" of the 80s or lacked the dynamic range of modern mastering techniques. The original tracks were dense and aggressive, requiring a careful hand to translate properly to the modern digital era.
To appreciate the 2015 FLAC:
Examine the song/album’s musical, cultural, production, and collector-value dimensions, with practical guidance for researchers and audio collectors (FLAC-focused).
Why insist on FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) for this album? Because Slave to the Rhythm is a producer’s torture test. The track “Corporate Cannibal” from later albums is simple compared to the density here. Consider: Fast-forward to 2015
A BEST FLAC rip (even from a standard CD) checksums accurately against the original pressing. The 2015 FLAC is the gold standard.
| Feature | 1985 Original CD/Vinyl | 2015 Remastered Edition | |--------|----------------------|--------------------------| | Mastering | Dynamic, but with some vinyl-era limitations | Higher dynamic range, less noise, modern EQ | | Source | Analog tapes (1985) | High-resolution digital transfer from original tapes | | Available FLAC | Yes (often from older CD rips) | Yes – official high-res (24-bit / 96kHz) | | Artwork | Original LP gatefold | Digipak with restored art + liner notes | | Soundstage | Narrower, warmer | Wider, more precise bass/treble extension | A BEST FLAC rip (even from a standard
Verdict for FLAC listeners: The 2015 remaster is the superior choice in most systems, especially if you have high-resolution DACs.