ZZ Top-Tres Hombres-45 RPM Vinyl Record

Lyra

Bridge Over Troubled Water 1A pressing & "Only Living Boy..." @45rpm

By: Michael Fremer

May 23rd, 2026

Category:

Editor's Choice

Tracking Angle's "Track Du Jour" Is S&G "Bridge Over Troubled Water"-1A pressing & 45rpm "Only Living Boy In New York"

there's a story behind the "Bridge Over Troubled Water" 1A pressing...

This Track Du Jour features a 1A pressing of the "Bridge Over Troubled Water". Significant because according to engineer/producer Roy Halee, shortly after the record's release, the master of the title tune was replaced with a not particularly good copy of the song, so every subsequent reissue has the less than outstanding title track. The 1A pressing guarantees the title tune is the original master tape. Also, "The Only Living Boy In New York" from the Classic Records 4 LPs @45rpm one-sided set. Should sound spectacular however you play back YouTube videos.

Comments

2026-05-23 10:36:59 AM

bwb wrote:

I've had audiophile pressings of this album. I was disappointed in them.. . . overall. My recollection is a large song-song variation in quality with some quite good and others not so much. Like recorded in very different ways. As I recall, "Bridge over Troubled Water" starts out hauntingly beautiful with the vocal, but becomes very congested and unpleasant as it nears the climax at the end.

is that a fair assessment of this version? I don't have a way to play the video except on my computer

thanks
- 2026-05-23 01:11:38 PM
  
  Malachi Lui wrote:
  
  i'd agree that the sound quality varies song to song, mostly because of how it was recorded. 'cecilia' is always gonna sound more immediate and realistic than 'the boxer' which is covered in a haze of reverb.
  
  the master tape has not held up well over the years. i have a 2-eye original, 1D/2A so not as early as what michael has, but it still beats the mofi one-step (blown up and exaggerated, sounds as if everything was taken apart then unconvincingly put back together) and is MUCH better than the 192/24 remaster used for the current mass market pressings, which sounds completely lifeless. and i bought that original copy for $5 from a dude selling records on astor place one summer day a few years back.
  - 2026-05-25 06:26:18 PM
    
    Come on wrote:
    
    How come that someone of your age owns records which usually are too boring for even most boomers? Is it scientific research?
    - 2026-05-25 11:21:02 PM
      
      Sam Casanzio wrote:
      
      Boring? You’ll be ok. I don’t believe that most boomers find this record boring, but to each his own. In regard to Malachi’s comments on the One Step being basically a Frankenstein concoction, I disagree. I listened to my 1F, 2D pressing and do agree that it’s fantastic. Vocals especially have a slightly more lifelike presentation than the one step, but ever so slightly. The One Step has wonderful depth and width and was EQed with great care so as not to exaggerate highs or lows. If you love this album, you need both. I guess I just don’t get how you feel it was “taken apart and unconvincingly put back together.”
2026-05-23 10:48:18 AM

Silk Dome Mid wrote:

"...the master of the title tune was replaced with a not particularly good copy..." Why? After all these years of listening to an inferior version, with the annoying distortion as bwb says, it would be nice to have an explanation.
2026-05-23 11:50:40 AM

Kevin Jones wrote:

Nice video and explanation of the history of these reissues, now to find that master…
2026-05-23 11:55:24 AM

Anders Sørensen Uth wrote:

I have three US copies of this album. A 360 label with 1K on side 1, a 360 label with 1AK on side 1 and a 70’s repress on “red with orange” label with 1AA on side 1. I think they all sound great on the title track and even better on The only living boy, which is just wonderful in every way. I agree with bwb that sound quality overall varies from track to track.
2026-05-23 08:36:23 PM

Willie Luncheonette wrote:

Yikes! I thought I sort of liked Bridge Over Troubled Waters but now I realize that was because I had only heard it on a transistor radio back in the day. Mikey just showed me what this track really sounds like and now I feel like I'm drowning and covered in whipped cream. Just found 4 reggae covers of the song on YouTube to help me dig out. Now if only there was a punk cover...lol... But of course, thank you Mikey! This series of posts is going to be terrific.
2026-05-24 03:30:51 AM

Martyn Samuels wrote:

very interesting. Is the Classic 33rpm the same as the Classic 45 other than the speed?
2026-05-28 09:25:38 PM

RickS wrote:

I just bought an early British CBS copy of this album, largely because of the video. (Also just bought a Masterdisc version of Tattoo You and the Supremes stereo LP for the same reason). The CBS GB verion sounds phenomenal and its a very quiet pressing as well. Best $10 Ive spent all year. Orange label. The record store did have a red label Columbia which had several big ol scratches I passed on.