Previously Unknown Q8 - Arista VA Sampler

Quadwreck · Jul 21, 2014

I found another Q8 from Arista with some previously unknown quad mixes, although they may not all be real quad mixes, it's worth pointing them out. The Q8 has no claims to be quad, but it does have the quad notch, and the two programs have four channels. Most sound like they could be stereo mixes put through a QS decoder, there is definitely EQ manipulation, a lot less bass on the rear channels, and a bit less treble also. Once I adjusted EQ on the 4400, there was less difference between the rears and fronts, but the rears had more separation than the fronts. One track, Gil Scott-Heron's "Johennesburg", sounds like it could be real quad.
New Release In-Store Play Sampler -GRT-8501/Arista-203
Tony Orlando & Dawn - Skybird
Barry Manilow - Could It Be Magic (no "the")
Barry Manilow - I Write The Songs
The Bay City Rollers - Saturday Night
Urszula Dudziak - Papaya
Linda Lewis - This Time I'll Be Sweeter
Gil Scott-Heron - Johannesburg
The Outlaws - There Goes Another Love Song
Melissa Manchester - Just Too Many People
Tony Orlando - Tie A Yellow Ribbon
Eric Carmen - Never Gonna Fall In Love Again
Terry Garthwaite - Angel Of Love
There's also an announcer between songs, he makes Dick Clark sound like Tommy Chong.

cupboy · Jul 21, 2014

Quadwreck said:
....There's also an announcer between songs, he makes Dick Clark sound like Tommy Chong.

Robert W. Morgan?

Mark Anderson · Aug 26, 2014

Quadwreck said:
I found another Q8 from Arista with some previously unknown quad mixes,
New Release In-Store Play Sampler -GRT-8501/Arista-203

That is an interesting find. It is interesting that the titles that were released in quad were not from the discrete sources. When you have time some scans would be appreciated.

Q-Eight · Mar 13, 2015

A conversion would be great too!

Mark Anderson · Mar 17, 2023

Mark Anderson said:
That is an interesting find. It is interesting that the titles that were released in quad were not from the discrete sources. When you have time some scans would be appreciated.

Quadwreck said:
I found another Q8 from Arista with some previously unknown quad mixes, although they may not all be real quad mixes, it's worth pointing them out. The Q8 has no claims to be quad, but it does have the quad notch, and the two programs have four channels. Most sound like they could be stereo mixes put through a QS decoder, there is definitely EQ manipulation, a lot less bass on the rear channels, and a bit less treble also. Once I adjusted EQ on the 4400, there was less difference between the rears and fronts, but the rears had more separation than the fronts. One track, Gil Scott-Heron's "Johennesburg", sounds like it could be real quad.
New Release In-Store Play Sampler -GRT-8501/Arista-203
Tony Orlando & Dawn - Skybird
Barry Manilow - Could It Be Magic (no "the")
Barry Manilow - I Write The Songs
The Bay City Rollers - Saturday Night
Urszula Dudziak - Papaya
Linda Lewis - This Time I'll Be Sweeter
Gil Scott-Heron - Johannesburg
The Outlaws - There Goes Another Love Song
Melissa Manchester - Just Too Many People
Tony Orlando - Tie A Yellow Ribbon
Eric Carmen - Never Gonna Fall In Love Again
Terry Garthwaite - Angel Of Love
There's also an announcer between songs, he makes Dick Clark sound like Tommy Chong.

Here is a photo

Arista In Store Play Sampler. GRT-8501-203 (Q8).jpg

Mark Anderson · Mar 17, 2023

I recently heard from Nick Perugini in regards to another in store sampler that is not quad.

"Hi Mark, for a long time I wanted a copy of this Q8, at a reasonable price. I finally got one, new & sealed in the shrink. I hated to open it but without doing that I'd never know if it was really a Q8 or not.
Well, I am sorry to say that it is like those GRT classical tapes, with the quad notch but play in double stereo. I ran it through on both sides, listening and looking at the SH-3433 oscilloscope display. It's just double stereo, a 2-channel mix in the front and rear. I have no idea why it was made, or what this proves when played "in store" as they titled it. Thought I'd share the info in case you want to add it to the catalog."

This title is currently listed on the Quad Released Recordings that are NOT Quad page.
ARISTA In Store Play Sampler. GRT-8501-213 (Q8)

steelydave · Mar 17, 2023

Amazing detective work on this stuff, Mark - even if it turns out that it's only stereo it's good to have an answer. Kudos!

par4ken · Mar 18, 2023

I see no mention of Quad anywhere on that tape, very odd that it was made at all. Double stereo with a "quad" notch, what did that prove? Did they want a"universal" test/demo tape that would work (play as) quad as well as work for stereo decks? Still doesn't make a whole lot of sense!

Mark Anderson · Apr 11, 2023

Here is another one that I doubt is quad.

Don Nix – In-Store Play Sampler. GRT Music Tapes – 8501

Mark Anderson · Apr 11, 2023

Mark Anderson said:
Here is a photo

View attachment 89762

Here is a list of the albums the songs come from. Some Quad, others stereo. I would assume upmixes from the stereo albums but until we get a chance to hear it (Oh please
@Quadwreck) we will not know for sure

Contains:
Tony Orlando & Dawn - Skybird
{Available on the stereo only album "Skybird. Arista AL 4059"}
Barry Manilow - Could It Be Magic
{Available on the stereo only album "Barry Manilow. Bell Records BELL 1129"}
Barry Manilow - I Write The Songs
{Available on the Quadraphonic album "Tryin' To Get The Feeling. Arista AQ 4060"}
The Bay City Rollers - Saturday Night
{Available on the stereo only album "Rollin'. Bell Records BELLS 244"}
Urszula Dudziak - Papaya
{Available on the stereo only album "Urszula. Arista AL 4065"}
Linda Lewis - This Time I'll Be Sweeter
{Available on the stereo only album "Not A Little Girl Anymore. Arista AL 4047"}
Gil Scott-Heron - Johannesburg
{Available on the stereo only album "From South Africa To South Carolina. Arista AL 4044"}
The Outlaws - There Goes Another Love Song
{Available on the stereo only album "Outlaws. Arista AL 4042"}
Melissa Manchester - Just Too Many People
{Available on the Quadraphonic album "Melissa. Arista AQ 4060"}
Tony Orlando - Tie A Yellow Ribbon
{Available on the Quadraphonic album "Greatest Hits. Arista AQ 4045"}
Eric Carmen - Never Gonna Fall In Love Again
{Available on the Quadraphonic album "Eric Carmen. Arista AQ 4057"}
Terry Garthwaite - Angel Of Love
{Available on the stereo only album "Terry. Arista AL 4055"}

par4ken · Apr 11, 2023

Like the other tape. What was the point? They wanted a tape to demonstrate quad but (I assume) it's double stereo? Playable on stereo decks as well but the same song will appear twice as you switch tracks. Very bazar! What were they thinking?

fizzywiggs41 · Apr 11, 2023

Don Nix rings a bell for me , re quad.

Sure enough ....Billboard November 10th 1973 pg 110

"Don Nix (Enterprise Records) is to perform an FM quadraphonic live concert on his Midwest tour ".

In no way am I saying that tape is a Q8 , but I thought I'd mention this as his name regarding quad...... jogged my memory.

steelydave · Apr 11, 2023

None of these tapes are quad, or even simulated quad in my opinion.

The reason they did this was that by producing a tape with a quad notch and identical content on both programs it ensured that the tape was compatible no matter what kind of player was installed in the record store that received it.

This isn't unprecedented either for ABC/GRT - ABC released a handful of classical recordings using this double-stereo notched cartridge format, touting their compatibility with all players as a selling point.

par4ken · Apr 11, 2023

steelydave said:
None of these tapes are quad, or even simulated quad in my opinion.

The reason they did this was that by producing a tape with a quad notch and identical content on both programs it ensured that the tape was compatible no matter what kind of player was installed in the record store that received it.

This isn't unprecedented either for ABC/GRT - ABC released a handful of classical recordings using this double-stereo notched cartridge format, touting their compatibility with all players as a selling point.

Bizzare IMHO!

steelydave · Apr 11, 2023

par4ken said:
Bizzare IMHO!

Why? Cheaper to manufacture just one tape that you know will play back correctly on all decks, than not only manufacture separate stereo and quad tapes but also worry about sending the right tapes to places with the appropriate playback equipment.

par4ken · Apr 11, 2023

steelydave said:
Why? Cheaper to manufacture just one tape that you know will play back correctly on all decks, than not only manufacture separate stereo and quad tapes but also worry about sending the right tapes to places with the appropriate playback equipment.

A simple stereo tape will play on both decks no reason at all for double stereo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

steelydave · Apr 11, 2023

Yes but a stereo tape in a quad deck doesn't necessarily get you sound out of the rear speakers in a quad setup, at least not without some button pressing, whereas the tapes shown above get you sound out of all speakers in all deck/speaker configurations. (50 exclamation points).

Quadwreck · Apr 12, 2023

Mark Anderson said:
Here is a list of the albums the songs come from. Some Quad, others stereo. I would assume upmixes from the stereo albums but until we get a chance to hear it (Oh please
@Quadwreck) we will not know for sure

Contains:
Tony Orlando & Dawn - Skybird
{Available on the stereo only album "Skybird. Arista AL 4059"}
Barry Manilow - Could It Be Magic
{Available on the stereo only album "Barry Manilow. Bell Records BELL 1129"}
Barry Manilow - I Write The Songs
{Available on the Quadraphonic album "Tryin' To Get The Feeling. Arista AQ 4060"}
The Bay City Rollers - Saturday Night
{Available on the stereo only album "Rollin'. Bell Records BELLS 244"}
Urszula Dudziak - Papaya
{Available on the stereo only album "Urszula. Arista AL 4065"}
Linda Lewis - This Time I'll Be Sweeter
{Available on the stereo only album "Not A Little Girl Anymore. Arista AL 4047"}
Gil Scott-Heron - Johannesburg
{Available on the stereo only album "From South Africa To South Carolina. Arista AL 4044"}
The Outlaws - There Goes Another Love Song
{Available on the stereo only album "Outlaws. Arista AL 4042"}
Melissa Manchester - Just Too Many People
{Available on the Quadraphonic album "Melissa. Arista AQ 4060"}
Tony Orlando - Tie A Yellow Ribbon
{Available on the Quadraphonic album "Greatest Hits. Arista AQ 4045"}
Eric Carmen - Never Gonna Fall In Love Again
{Available on the Quadraphonic album "Eric Carmen. Arista AQ 4057"}
Terry Garthwaite - Angel Of Love
{Available on the stereo only album "Terry. Arista AL 4055"}

I'm close to getting back into audio projects, my place has been something of a warehouse these past years, but I've slowly been reconditioning equipment and preparing records and tapes for sale, in addition to household projects and running my record store. I'm seeing the opposite side of every room now (there's still the attic and basement, eek), there's also the occasional girlfriend...anyway, it's on my list of priority audio projects.

par4ken · Apr 12, 2023

steelydave said:
Yes but a stereo tape in a quad deck doesn't necessarily get you sound out of the rear speakers in a quad setup, at least not without some button pressing, whereas the tapes shown above get you sound out of all speakers in all deck/speaker configurations. (50 exclamation points).

All the quad 8 track decks that I have ever seen output double stereo, both home and auto units. IMHO it's most important that they do so in automobiles!

Wagonmaster_91 · Apr 13, 2023

I don't think the purpose of the tape was to demonstrate quad, just highlight the label's new releases that month. I agree with Steelydave as to why they used a quad cart. I am surprised they used an 8-track rather than an LP.

Previously Unknown Q8 - Arista VA Sampler

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Here is another one that I doubt is quad.​

Don Nix – In-Store Play Sampler. GRT Music Tapes – 8501​

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Here is another one that I doubt is quad.

Don Nix – In-Store Play Sampler. GRT Music Tapes – 8501