Stryper: "Fallen" limited vinyl edition announced

Some news that might be of interest to Stryper and vinyl fans.

Ulterium Records are proud to announce the release of a limited 2LP gatefold vinyl edition of the upcoming STRYPER album "Fallen". A deal was inked with Frontiers Records and the release dates are set to November 13th for Europe and December 4th for North America. The edition is strictly limited to 1554 copies worldwide. 389 copies comes with white discs and 1165 copies with standard black discs.

"Fallen" is available for pre-order at the Ulterium Records Store and from the band at the links below:
Ulterium Records Store: http://ulteriumstore.bigcartel.com
Stryper Store: http://stryper.portmerch.com/stores/home.php?cat=288



Track listing

Side A
01. Yahweh
02. Fallen
03. Pride

Side B
01. Big Screen Lies
02. Heaven
03. Love You Like I Do

Side C
01. All Over Again
02. After Forever
03. Til I Get What I Need

Side D
01. Let There Be Light
02. The Calling
03. King Of Kings

Very cool!

I'm not understanding the point of releasing a full album on the equivalent of 2 EP's.

Xid wrote:

I'm not understanding the point of releasing a full album on the equivalent of 2 EP's.

So you can charge more for it 

Also available are the Uber-Limited packages of 6 45's, 3 cassettes or 12 CD singles!

Xid wrote:

I'm not understanding the point of releasing a full album on the equivalent of 2 EP's.

So you can sell 1554 copies instead of 777?

It's however not because of the money. You make more money generally on releasing a 1LP vinyl, + that it's much easier to handle and everything than these heavy 2LP beasts.

But if the album lenght is over 50 minutes, then it's not possible to fit it all on one disc so 2LP is the way to go. And if you want the best sound quality, each vinyl side shouldn't be more than around 15 minutes.

Emil wrote:

It's however not because of the money. You make more money generally on releasing a 1LP vinyl, + that it's much easier to handle and everything than these heavy 2LP beasts.

But if the album lenght is over 50 minutes, then it's not possible to fit it all on one disc so 2LP is the way to go. And if you want the best sound quality, each vinyl side shouldn't be more than around 15 minutes.

Yes, I had wondered this myself with Jimi Hendrix "People, Hell & Angels". Only 3 songs on each side. So I asked around on the Steve Hoffman Forums and was told for the best sound quality and no inner groove distortion it is best to keep each side at 15-18 minutes. When you hit 20-22 minutes the inner groove distortion is easier to hear. Fleetwood Mac's "Rumors" vinyl repressing only has maybe 2 or 3 songs on each side and because of it some say it is the best pressing of Rumors:

While almost everyone interested in vinyl has a copy of this record in their collection, it has been re-pressed so many times that sound quality can vary widely, with some copies coming from sources other than the original tapes.  In preparation for this review, I've listened to several vinyl versions--including original Ken Perry-mastered Capitol pressings, a later Eighties Robert Ludwig-mastered vinyl reissue, and the recent deluxe edition compact disc.  


Mastered from the original analog tapes by the veteran team of Steve Hoffman and Kevin Gray, and cut at 45 RPM, this deluxe two-record set edition contains all of the hallmarks of a typical Hoffman mastering, with increased dynamics, full bass and lower mids, and smooth, somewhat restrained upper mids and highs. With this 45 RPM cutting, however, comes even more dynamics, utterly silent surfaces, quicker transients and more low level detail.


While sound quality of  earlier pressings of this album has undoubtedly varied depending upon the cutting, I've always thought the better sounding versions to be quite good--until I dropped the needle on this 45 RPM version. Even the best sounding original pressings sound compressed in comparison, with lesser versions sounding drenched in reverb, and possessing thinner vocals shrouded by echo and a splashy cymbal sound. 


In contrast to all of the earlier incarnations, this Hoffman/Gray mastering features much bigger bass, allowing the drums and bass to come forward, yet also manages to present more nuanced vocals, with individual backing vocals occupying their own spaces within the mix.


So I believe it is aimed more at the vinyl consumer who demands higher quality pressings on vinyl.

Emil wrote:

It's however not because of the money. You make more money generally on releasing a 1LP vinyl, + that it's much easier to handle and everything than these heavy 2LP beasts.

But if the album lenght is over 50 minutes, then it's not possible to fit it all on one disc so 2LP is the way to go. And if you want the best sound quality, each vinyl side shouldn't be more than around 15 minutes.

Thanks for the explanation Emil. 

I still struggle to understand the attraction to vinyl in 2015. It just mystifies me.

Follower of Jesus wrote:

I still struggle to understand the attraction to vinyl in 2015. It just mystifies me.

I just like the sound better. If you check the dynamic range site you will see 90% of the time vinyl has more range than a CD. Sure records can skip but I bet if you spent a day at my house with records spinning you wouldn't know the difference. I have some records that are 60 years old and they play like new. No pops, no skips. If taken care of they sound great. I have CDs a few years old and they skip and get stuck. Digital is fine I use those too. But I prefer vinyl because of the big artwork, lyrics that you don't need a microscope to read and the feel of a record in my hands. In fact we dont even have a working CD player in our home. We play records every day. Even my 14 year old daughter prefers the sound of vinyl to CDs or digital files. I only buy CDs these days if something catches my eye in the $5 bin or of its something "I gotta have" but I usually wait for the record. And I might just do that with this Stryper release if priced right for the US market.

Wow..sounds like maybe you should handle your cds with a little more care there, Mike 


I have cds that I bought back when cds first started coming out and they still play perfectly. I have NEVER had a cd start to have issues. I have seen other people have issues because they let their cds get scratched/fingerprinted/dirty because of poor handling...but it has always been the person's blame..not the cd's.

Follower of Jesus wrote:

I still struggle to understand the attraction to vinyl in 2015. It just mystifies me.

I'm with you on this one....in fact, I think I had a thread over in CMR about it.

I like the album covers...but that is it.

Portability, easier to rip to mp3, clarity, easier to store, easier to choose tracks... just some of the reasons I like cds better

Trust me, I do take care of them. Some CD's I have owned since 1984 and they are original pressings and play flawlessly. I also have vinyl from the 1940's that also plays flawlessly. I never put my fingers on the back side of a CD and I never touch vinyl (only the edges). I also clean all records with a mixture of lab quality water and 90% alcohol (3/4 water 1/4 non-rubbing alcohol). I dry it off with a microfiber towel which leaves no lint. 

As for CD's I am anal about them. I am the kind of guy who will replace a jewel case if it gets a crack or a scratch on it. However, I have had some players that have eaten CD's. The old one in my truck used to eat CD's all the time and would even scratch CD's. I never touch the back side of a CD. So I replaced it and haven't had any issues since then. Mainly I hook my iPod up to my truck deck and listen to that now and there is a LOT of vinyl on my iPod. 

And, as I stated earlier, we don't even have a working CD player in the house anymore (other than the PC). And every person in the home from 6 year old to 44 enjoys playing records.

Vinyl jackets also have better and bigger artwork and lyrics that you don't need a magnifying glass to read. I just like it better.

MikeInFla wrote:

The old one in my truck used to eat CD's all the time and would even scratch CD's. 

That's one thing that is a no-no that a lot of people do (or used to do)....take their cds in the car/truck.

Car cd players are notorious for getting debris inside of them and scratching cds.

When I used to play cds in the car (it's all USB flashdrives now) I used to make a copy of the cd I wanted to take and leave the original at home.

MikeInFla wrote:

And, as I stated earlier, we don't even have a working CD player in the house anymore (other than the PC). And every person in the home from 6 year old to 44 enjoys playing records.

Don't forget that DVD or BR players will play them, too.

I don't have a CD player at home anymore either. I simply use either my BR player or the PS3

NoOneIsHere wrote:

MikeInFla wrote:

And, as I stated earlier, we don't even have a working CD player in the house anymore (other than the PC). And every person in the home from 6 year old to 44 enjoys playing records.

Don't forget that DVD or BR players will play them, too.

I don't have a CD player at home anymore either. I simply use either my BR player or the PS3

Now that I think of it, we don't have a Blu Ray and rarely use the DVD player anymore. Now that we have a smart TV that streams in HD we normally just use that. I forgot the DVD player will also play CD's but we don't have a sound system on the TC so it would probably sound like crap playing thru TV speakers. 

I still occasionally play CD's in the truck. But most of the time it is a 3.5 jack into my iPod. If I get bored with music (which I do quite a bit these days) I will download podcasts and play those.

MikeInFla wrote:

NoOneIsHere wrote:

MikeInFla wrote:

And, as I stated earlier, we don't even have a working CD player in the house anymore (other than the PC). And every person in the home from 6 year old to 44 enjoys playing records.

Don't forget that DVD or BR players will play them, too.

I don't have a CD player at home anymore either. I simply use either my BR player or the PS3

Now that I think of it, we don't have a Blu Ray and rarely use the DVD player anymore. Now that we have a smart TV that streams in HD we normally just use that. I forgot the DVD player will also play CD's but we don't have a sound system on the TC so it would probably sound like crap playing thru TV speakers. 

I still occasionally play CD's in the truck. But most of the time it is a 3.5 jack into my iPod. If I get bored with music (which I do quite a bit these days) I will download podcasts and play those.

I found myself getting very bored with music, too...

That was one of the reasons I switched mostly to orchestra / classic / jazz / soundtrack genres

NoOneIsHere wrote:

MikeInFla wrote:

NoOneIsHere wrote:

MikeInFla wrote:

And, as I stated earlier, we don't even have a working CD player in the house anymore (other than the PC). And every person in the home from 6 year old to 44 enjoys playing records.

Don't forget that DVD or BR players will play them, too.

I don't have a CD player at home anymore either. I simply use either my BR player or the PS3

Now that I think of it, we don't have a Blu Ray and rarely use the DVD player anymore. Now that we have a smart TV that streams in HD we normally just use that. I forgot the DVD player will also play CD's but we don't have a sound system on the TC so it would probably sound like crap playing thru TV speakers. 

I still occasionally play CD's in the truck. But most of the time it is a 3.5 jack into my iPod. If I get bored with music (which I do quite a bit these days) I will download podcasts and play those.

I found myself getting very bored with music, too...

That was one of the reasons I switched mostly to orchestra / classic / jazz / soundtrack genres

Yep, me too which we have discussed elsewhere. Not to derail the thread but when I become bored with music I like to listen to podcasts from Jim Ross, Chris Jericho, Eddie Trunk, The Nerdist & Talking Dead. Will also occasionally browse podcasts with famous people interviews.