Erm... I guess it's time to make the thread mature and specific. I have grown up listening to melodies from the sixties. But never have I found the quality satisfying. I might have bought at least 40 albums so far, and the AQ ranges from mediocre to terrible.
The "Legends" series was released by Saregama. The box sleeves claim that the discs are digitally re-mastered. This doesn't hold true for all the discs released. Out of all, I only found the Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle set to be clearer and better than the rest. Most of the other sets had tracks sourced from cassette tapes. Hence, I refrained from buying them. One thing I've learnt from the past is that "DIGITALLY RE-MASTERED", these words are just marketing gimmicks. NEVER EVER FALL FOR SUCH TERMS ON AN INDIAN AUDIO DISC.
However, I find the Classics' Revival series by Saregama a better alternative. That is because the songs sound richer, and a sort of reverberation has been added to SOME tracks (can be heard in all the songs of the Lata ...forever (5 disc collection). Please don't misunderstand, these reverberations are not the terrible ones that are heard on so many songs from the 80s and 90s (i.e., the repetition of the sound.) but the audio lingers, giving it a pleasing effect.
I agree, like the others, that adding re-recorded percussions take away the authenticity of the director's intentions. As Dragun had once mentioned that the Revival tapes and CDs have annoying rerecorded percussions bouncing and disappearing, but the technicians discontinued this menace after the 21st volume. The latter albums sounded more authentication, cleaner and original. Some songs still had issues. Namely cassette tape sourcing, PAL speedup, improper re-mastering.
Generally, audio was clearer and way better than the atrociously handled Saregama OSTs.
Out of the 66 albums, these are the few ones worth owning :-
• Classics' Revival - Woh Bhooli Dastan
• Classics' Revival - Pukarta Chala Hoon
• Classics Revival - Dil Wil Pyar Wyar
• Classics' Revival - Monica, O My Darling
• Classics Revival - Yeh Ishq Ishq Hai
• Classics' Revival - Dil Jo Na Keh Saka
• Classics' Revival - Raina Beeti Jaye
• Classics' Revival - Aye Dil E Nadaan
• Classics' Revival - Yeh Kya Hua
• Classics' Revival - Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum
• Classics' Revival Lata ...forever 5 Disc collection
I'm not trying to promote/hype/advertise these products, but being a fan of the Vintage Classics, I'm making recommendations for the billion aficionados out here. I hope I've not been a waste, and you can ask me any questions regarding the Classics' Revival series.
Thank you!