Bloomfield/Kooper/Stills - Super Session is the next Sony Japan 7" quad SACD (Sept. 13, 2023)

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I have the AF SACD, but I never play it as the music don't grab me and I'm more of an Atmos music guy now. ;) No buy for me.
 
I'm excited to hear how the quad master of this one sounds, hopefully it won't be as harsh as last year's Caravanserai SACD. I thought all these Sony Japan discs sounded great until that one, not sure what happened (different mastering engineer?).

The quad mix is quite different than Kooper's 5.1 remix in that it maintains all the hard-pans from the original stereo version - Bloomfield's guitar is off to one side on the first two songs, whereas it was centered in the 5.1 mix. Drums & bass are frequently placed in the rear speakers, sometimes each pushed off to opposite corners.

The experimental 'four-corner' approach is kinda fun for the instrumental jam tunes - you really feel like you're in the studio surrounded by the band - whereas some of the other tracks, like "Season Of The Witch", work much better in the 5.1 remix for me (Kooper placed the drums & bass upfront and guitar in the rear, while the quad has the drums & bass panning back-and-forth between the rears).
 
Are you saying something is wrong with the AF 5.1?
Yes, it lacks the "punch" of the original quad and of the stereo version. I had the same complaint of the "Roxy Music" disc. I haven't listened to it in a long while but did post my thoughts in the pole thread. The guitars are buried in the mix not prominent like they should be.

https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/fo...-steven-stills-supersession-sacd.19458/page-5
https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/fo...eld-stephen-stills-super-session-sq-q8.32010/
 
Yes, it lacks the "punch" of the original quad and of the stereo version. I had the same complaint of the "Roxy Music" disc. I haven't listened to it in a long while but did post my thoughts in the pole thread. The guitars are buried in the mix not prominent like they should be.

https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/fo...-steven-stills-supersession-sacd.19458/page-5
https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/fo...eld-stephen-stills-super-session-sq-q8.32010/
I don't remember having that issue but it has been awhile.
 
That's how I used to get mine, but sadly I don't think they've had any of them since Santana III. I'm not sure I've seen any since then from any European/North American importer, so it makes you wonder if Sony Japan has imposed some kind of export embargo on these titles given that they're obviously a popular series.
 
Notes from CDJapan:

To commemorate the 55th anniversary of the release of "Super Session," Quadraphonic (4-channel mix), which first appeared in 1972, has been revived for the first time in the world as an SA-CD multi-hybrid disc after 51 years.

The multi-channel SA-CD layer is the latest remastered version using DSD mastering in Japan of the high-resolution files dropped from the original master tapes of the Quadraphonic LP, and the CD layer also uses the SA-CD stereo high-resolution master. Features 7-inch cardboard sleeve packaging, faithfully replicating its Japanese Quadraphonic LP design. 2023 remastering.
 
I ordered along with a couple of stereo SACDs, Blind Faith/Blind Faith & Pat Metheney/Offramp to make the P&P more 'cost effective'.

But good news for those of us in the UK, and also I expect the EU, CDJapan now add VAT at source so we won't have to pay the exorbitant/rip-off tax gathering fee
 
I decided to pass on this for the time being. Too much stuff coming out. It’s a pretty cool album, but not a really great one IMHO. LDS on the other hand…
 
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