Remastering the Past

Written By Sylvie Rokoff

There is something so special about hearing your favorite classic songs brought to life in a new way—where the chords sound cleaner or the beats are more distinct. That is exactly what the craft of remastering is: music regeneration that focuses on utilizing technology to advance and add clarity to previously released songs. Remastering gives the opportunity for the preservation and restoration of older songs that may need a little more care and love to meet modern music standards. Remastering, first emerging in 1984, brought a fresh perspective to the music world, with known artists such as Bob Dylan and the Beatles among the first to have their music reproduced.

So why are songs given the opportunity for a do-over? One of the main reasons is that they’re being revived on a new platform, such as vinyl or digital streaming. These modern platforms require a much cleaner rendition of the song, or else it simply would not sound great. Technology plays a vital role in this extensive operation. Tools such as noise reduction can help remove unnecessary background sounds such as static, while equalization balances the differing frequencies and compression reduces the range between the loudest and quietest parts of the song. To the naked eye, noticing the difference between the original song and the remastered version can be difficult. However, take a listen to the 1971 version of Imagine by John Lennon and then listen to the 2010 version; you’ll notice one sounds much more clear.

Aside from the technical aspects of remastering, what role does the actual artist play? Typically, the artists themselves or the record label decide whether or not a song will be remastered. Today’s most popular artists usually make that call themselves. However, for older, well-established artists, their record labels make that decision. Some say it’s an intentional cash grab done by the record label to buy into people’s nostalgia, hoping people will purchase their favorite tracks with a new modern spin. 

However, this raises questions about the ethics of remastering, especially when the artist doesn’t have a say in this process. One primary example is Michael Jackson’s music. Known as the King of Pop, Jackson is one of the most influential musical artists of all time. His music, loved by many, was remastered countless times; however, it continued to be redone even after his death. For instance, Bad 25, an album released in 1987, was remastered in 2012, three years after he passed. While the remastering process is exceptional in many ways, it also raises controversy about whether it is ethical to reproduce an artist's work without their involvement, especially when they are no longer alive.

One of the biggest pitfalls of music remastery occurred in the 90s during a phenomenon known as the Loudness War—a time when artists and record labels intentionally cranked up the volume of songs convinced louder meant better. One album, in particular, fell victim to this: The Rolling Stones' Exile on Main Street. The early 90s saw the remastering of this 1972 album for CD release. However, listeners were quickly disappointed when the album they once loved turned into a loud, distorted, muddy mess. Thankfully, Bob Ludwig, a mastering engineer, was able to take the wheel and restore the album once more, significantly improving the audio.

Looking ahead to the future, it’s hard to say where the path of remastered music will lead. Technology is constantly changing and improving, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence. Already, AI has made significant strides in the music industry, as showcased with the new release in 2023 of Now and Then by The Beatles. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr were able to uncover one of John Lennon’s old lo-fi demo tracks, using AI to separate his vocals and add new backing tracks. While this isn’t quite the same as remastering music, it just goes to show the possibilities that AI has in today’s music industry. But does incorporating AI take away from the originality and authenticity of music? While some may view modern remastering techniques as a way to bring life to older tracks, preserving the past, others may see it as a distortion of the artist's original work. But who knows what the future of music holds; only time will tell.

Below, I’ve attached a playlist that features some of the biggest hits that have been remastered throughout the years. With artists such as The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, and The Smiths, each song gives a glimpse into what the world of remastering has to offer.

Sylvie Rokoff
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