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At Apple Music I came across a Shadows album from 2020 with many new recordings from 1989 of well-known titles ("Dreamboats & Pettycoats - The First 60 Years"). I don't like any of them better than the originals. I wonder if they really re-recorded it all themselves, and if so, why?

Weren't these the recordings that were used for The Shadows At Their Very Best, recorded by Dick Plant at Honeyhill ?
I have the album and quite like it.

I like that album too - and I can see the point of it, as it gave them a chance to not only own the recordings but also capture their more mature sound on an album of tracks that were meant to be heard as a collection. Plus it's recorded for more modern listening equipment and of course you get Brian on drums on all the tracks, as audiences were used to in concerts.

I listen to these versions quite a lot although I think Cavatina is less powerful than the original.

The re-recordings on the "Dreamboats & Pettycoats - The First 60 Years" CD are indeed those originally released on the 1989 Polydor studio album "At Their Very Best".

iefje wrote:The re-recordings on the "Dreamboats & Pettycoats - The First 60 Years" CD are indeed those originally released on the 1989 Polydor studio album "At Their Very Best".

...which of course was itself re-issued a few years ago on double red vinyl.

The same rerecordings were used for the top 10 album Life Story in 2004.

When compiled together with the later Polydor recordings it is a smoother listening experience - although the more rough and ready energetic originals contain a lot more spirit.

Just my opinion. I didn't know most of the versions on this album. After listening I removed most of them from my media library because they just sounded too modern and smoothed out for my taste. In particular, I consider the instrumental versions of vocal numbers to be background music. A lukewarm infusion, so to speak. Just my opinion.

I must admit I really like the ‘At their very best’ album, but then again, I like the modern Shadows sound.

I assume they were using Roland RE-301’s for these recordings.

Yes I believe Hank did use the Roland 301, but I'm sure Dick Plant mentioned that they used some other devices too on that album and he should know as he was the engineer.
One thing that was definitely used was a Vox AC30.

I have the DVD and think it's absolutely brilliant.