Can I Have My Money Back?

Is no longer a stand alone label. This is Universal Records catalogue division in the UK.

This label was sold to BMG recently. It is being claimed by some people on the SH forum that the US versions are all analogue. Frankly I doubt this. Konk in the Uk probably made new transfers from the tapes to hi-res digital. This was the case for the RSD Muswell Hillbillies licenced to Sony in US. Hard to tell it's not all analogue.

This is POPmarket's special for today and Tuesday morning and this is their description (their price is $80 for all 4):

The Kinks - First Four Albums vinyl bundle

“... the Kinks' early work is among the best British Invasion music...” – allmusic.com

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of The Kinks, this exclusive POPmarket.com vinyl bundle features The Kink’s first four studio albums – Kinks, Kinda Kinks, The Kink Kontroversy, and Face to Face – the band’s 1960’s classics as they were meant to be heard, on vinyl!

• The Kinks' first FOUR classic ‘60s studio albums for ONE great price!

• Standard weight black vinyl LPs with faithfully replicated artwork

• All four LP’s direct analog cuts from the original mono master tapes and pressed at URP

• Long out of print, these reissued landmark albums are FINALLY available again

• 52 tracks including some of The Kinks’ most timeless hits: “You Really Got Me,” “Stop Your Sobbing,” “Tired of Waiting For You,” “Till the End of The Day,” “Where Have All the Good Times Gone,” “Dandy,” “Holiday In Waikiki,” “Sunny Afternoon” and many more!

• These LP’s are part of a series of releases and reissues celebrating the 50th Anniversary of The Kinks

This is why I don't by new CDs or vinyl. Marketing + no pedigree = no sale.

They also don't disclose which source they use.
Only when they have the original source then they
hype that benefit.
Mofi has always been upfront about source.

It shouldn't be so hard to find out the information about the details as it is. I end up spending time searching the web before making purchases, and lots of times there are mistakes or conflicting information, or incomplete information that gives the wrong impression. For example the Rush reissues say "Newly remastered at Abbey Road Studios using the Direct to Metal Mastering (DMM) audiophile copper plating process, all from original analogue masters" What they don't say is that "newly remastered" process was digital. The primary source can be the original tapes, but a lot of manipulation can take place between those tapes and the vinyl pressing! For those who know all the steps, we want to know who/where/when/how those steps were handled.

I feel that all recordings should have a complete disclosure
in regards to the source. I didn't know that Mofi which says
Original Master Recordings were using copies of the original
mix down master. I have been buying audiophile type records
like Mofis-Nautilists-Century- Sheffields Direct to Disk etc.
since 1977.
That explains how inconsistent sound quality of the Mofis have
been. I also feel paying top dollar for reissues that don't have
the best sound to be a poor business practice.

...because finding original pressings of early Kinks LPs is difficult and very expensive. Why haven't they had a proper AAA reissue of these classic LPs? I purchased Face To Face, Something Else and Arthur a few years ago when they were reissued on 2x colored vinyl for 2012 Record Store Day. One LP was the mono version and one was the stereo version. I ordered them from an online retailer located in Pennsylvania. I wanted to buy Village Green Preservation Society as well but that was sold out because they only released 500 copies of each album. On Discogs for these releases it says "Remastered" "Limited Edition" "180 gram" but I still have no idea how they were pressed. The only reason I bought them was because I didn't have any Kinks albums on vinyl. They were such an important band and for some reason they don't get proper reissues like their peers do. I don't understand it. I will not buy these new reissues because I've learned my lesson buying vinyl reissues that don't come with any mastering, pressing information. Those 2012 reissues that I have sound ok because I'm in the dark on the source material and my assumption is that they are just digital transfers which is a shame because The Kinks deserve better than ok.

... But when it's impossible to find original copies in even the poorest condition, almost any decent sounding copy is better than nothing. I bought the UK RSD copies of Face to Face, Something Else and Arthur myself and they're not too shabby--plus having both mono and stereo mixes in the same 2LP set is nice.

These records were mastered by Kevin Grey. Perhaps he could confirm they were a analog source or the original tapes. Either way I am reading favorable comments about these pressings. Saw them at my local store and almost bought Kinda Kinks to fill my collection.

I only have the first album, they were easy to buy, and I assume they are not AAA. For the price I can take a chance on the fidelity.
Paul

If one needs analog mastered UK Kinks, hunt down 1980 era Pye reissues. All analog sourced, good pressings. Cheaper than originals, sounded at least good, and easier to find in well cared for condition.

being someone old and having great taste in music i have most of the kinks records on vinyl.a couple in mono. ;-)

An industry insider who is part of a small audio group I participate in says that Kevin Gray cut these, from tape. Maybe you can our should change your headline. These are "safe to buy".

We need truthful descriptions of mastering done for new vinyl. They are charging plenty for this vinyl and I don't need to waste money on cd quality vinyl.