Can someone explain different Japanese re-issues...are they worth it?

Can someone explain the different re-issues for Japan on compact discs? I understand that there are three times they have been done in 1998, 2001, and 2004. Is there any significant type of difference in these? Why were they re-release three times? It also seems like they do not say the year on them or at least the re-issue year on them for the 2004 re-issues from what I can see on the front and back sleeves as well as the c.d.s in some pictures. Thanks for all of the information you all can give and have a good day!

I've also been wondering about these. More specifically about Live Killers from one of these, which is supposed to be one of the best masters out there. The problem is I don't know what to look for to find the specific version.

I learned the hard way that you should not bother with most of the remasters. Google and you tube "loudness war". The newer the remaster, the louder it is. And not in a good way. Honestly, most of the early pressings non-remasters are best on cd. I bought the 2001 Japanese remasters and they don't sound as good as the non-remasters. The 2011 remasters on SACD are a waste because they are way too compressed and loud. Don't waste your money on these like I did.

The exceptions to what I was saying are here. In other words, the good remasters
A Night at the Opera (DCC version), MFSL comes 2nd.
The Game (MFSL version)
Otherwise, search for "first pressings"

The new remasters trick you at first because of the loudness, but by the end of the albums, the harshness of the compression literally leave you ear fatigued

Are there any other features with the re-releases besides sound such as packaging, artwork, liner notes? I am confused for example between the story as to why there are some releases for a 25th anniversary of Queen. Are those the same as the others that were remastered and released in 1998?

Also I don't know what "DCC" or "MFSL" mean. Sorry.

I do hear what you are saying concerning the "loudness" issue. I am going to have to do my own studying I suppose in comparisons though I must say it has frustrated me quite a bit in the past how Queen would have such quiet music and then become WAY too loud and within the context on specific songs at times. Is this what people are talking about that has been changed where the music does not do that? That sounds actually good to me. I suppose that it depends on what your preference is.

Other than what you are saying (and I DO appreciate it) does anyone know what the difference is between the three years I was originally talking about 1998, 2001, and 2004? Are those all seperate remasterings? I thought that Japan only got two years (1998 and 2001) where the catelog was re-released and remastered each time.

There really does need to be someone somewhere on the internet (and where ever else) that explains why Japan got these extra re-release remastered releases and what their differences are so that people don't have to keep asking (such as myself).

This is a thread where a few of us dug deep into analyses of various remasters, specifically addressing loudness / compression severity...

http://www.queenzone.com/forums/1234121/the-best-remasters-track-by-track.aspx?page=1

The (EMI) first pressing of A Day at the Races is to be avoided. The initial piano intro to "You and I" fades in instead of being a clean, key-hit intro.

How can you tell a first pressing? And why do those tend to sound better than second pressings, etc? Sorry if that's a dumb question!

2004 re-issues use 2001 Remasters, so there is no diffrence between 2001 and 2004.
Actually, 2004 reissues CDs say "These reissues apply Queen Digital Remastering Series which was released in 2001."

I always thought that the ONLY difference between the 2001 remaster and the 2004 remasters is that 2001 editions were released as vinyl replicas and the 2004 editions were released in normal jewel cases

[QUOTE] [b]pittrek wrote:[/b]

I always thought that the ONLY difference between the 2001 remaster and the 2004 remasters is that 2001 editions were released as vinyl replicas and the 2004 editions were released in normal jewel cases[/QUOTE]

That's not true...
2001 editions are in jewel cases, 2004 editions are in card mini-LP sleeves.

My 2001 editions are all in mini-LP sleeves and the 2004 I had were all in jewel cases

Is an original cd (not released as a remaster) considered a first pressing?

Is an original cd (not released as a remaster) considered a first pressing?

the 2001 japanese remasters are very nice in my opinion. they were in my playlist until we got the latest remasters with the extra tracks.

However, the widely regarded best versions of Queen albums are

DCC - Anato
MSFL - Anato Adatr Notw The Game
West Germany Target (First pressing) - Notw The Game

[QUOTE] [b]pittrek wrote:[/b]

My 2001 editions are all in mini-LP sleeves and the 2004 I had were all in jewel cases[/QUOTE]

As far as I know, EMI Music Japan didn't release mini-LP sleeves in 2001 nor jewel cases in 2004.

I thought; (from '90s, in Japan)
Mini-LPs were released in 1998, 2004, 2008.
Jewel cases were released in 1994, 2001, 2005, 2011, 2012.

http://www.emimusic.jp/st/kami/queen/