I attempted to make this album more dynamic and fix up its compression, bringing the dynamic range of the album from 6 to 12! Compare how you can clearly make out every instrument throughout the demo of “Parallel Universe” compared how little you can make out what the guitar is even playing on the rough mixes version or my dynamic edit of the track.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication (Vinyl Remaster Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication (Vinyl Remaster

There are many cases where heavy-handed compression was applied to classic records, where they were then resold as remastered and “improved” CDs. It wasn’t until later in life when I started also collecting the original Parlophone pressings that I realized just how poorly the Capital albums were mastered.

The RHCP of 1991 may have had "Under The Bridge", but it was a one-off - they would have simply been incapable of writing an album containing "Californication", "Otherside", "Scar Tissue", AND "Road Tripping" - all big hits, all great ballads. That being said, Meller again clipped the album for its digital mastering, making every instrument unable to really reach their full potential. This was a time when the Chili's were playing with each other, delighting in each other's ability, and pushing each other along, which is why this is probably the most satisfying post One Hot Minute record they have yet released. I dream of a day when this is reissued, digitally or otherwise, without the awful EQ choices, squished dynamics, and narrowed stereo image.

Californication [2LP VINYL] Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication [2LP VINYL]

If you want audio file quality Peppers on vinyl, Blood Sugar and Mothers Milk are the best sounding of their albums on Vinyl, Freaky and Uplift aren’t bad either. It suffers from the same inconsistency as all their albums do - nobody would have missed songs like "Purple Stain" or "Right On Time" - but this is the closest they've come to a solid, consistent listen. I’m still glad I own this, but I can’t go round saying that miracles have been worked with the re-master, because they haven’t. I haven’t found many half speed master versions, particularly out of Abbey Road Studios, very impressive. One Hot Minute, mastered by Stephen Marcussen, is the first Red Hot Chili Peppers album that can be described as a participant of the loudness wars.you need to adjust the weight and anti skate properly and it can be different setting for different records.