Elton John Diamonds (SDE Blu-Ray #31) Dec. 27th, 2024

[Michael Marshall]

I couldn't wait that long. I bought the entire 2-disc "Tommy" soundtrack just for that one track!

Although I did end up really enjoying the entire thing very much.

In 1975, I was 8 years old and the Tommy soundtrack wasn't on my radar! I did see pictures of Elton as "the Pinball Wizard" and thought those were cool but otherwise, I waited until 1977 for his Greatest Hits Vol 2 release. I did (or rather mom bought them for me!) buy the "Philadelphia Freedom" and "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" American 45's at Tower of Records in Sacramento, CA.

 

[esimms86]

I want to start by saying the new atmos diamond recordings are superb. I have countless 5.1 dvd scad disc and Elton’s were far superior to them all in the quality of the recording. The same with his concert 5.1 dvds with the single exception of red piano one of the worst audio recordings I have heard With that in mind I would like to talk about auro3d. I have listened to diamonds in this format and it takes it to another level of Elton’s music. Let me explain I am in no way a professional sound engineer but I think I have a good ear for music. I listen to music and concerts at least 4 hours a day in between my golf days. I have 3 home theaters set for atmos audio not auro3d. Two are 7.1.4 the other one 5.1.4. I do not have a vog speaker in my system. All three systems have a marantz sr8015 running the auro3d mode. Elton sounds great in atmos but even better to me in auro3d. I will tell you I placed my ceiling speaker where I thought they should go I disagreed with all the professionals idea of where they should go. Of course your room dimensions can limit some places you can place your speakers. My auro3d movies and concerts sound great without the vog speaker installed in system. They are more realistic sound than atmos. The above is just my opinion but of course your equipment speaker placement room dimensions all play a part on your overall sound you will get from your system. I have one of my rooms that have two different sound systems in them because I wanted to keep my original 5.1 system so I can still enjoy all of my 5.1 material dvdaudio sacd etc.

So, let me understand what you are doing with your system. You are running the 5.1 layer through the auromatic upmixer. You also have a non conventional speaker setup such that the height speaker placements do not conform with the standard Auro 3D configuration. Further, you do not utilize a VOG speaker. Please correct me if I’ve gotten any of this wrong. Assuming that I understand you correctly, then, you are enjoying a significant variation on the Auro 3D template. I’m happy to hear that you are very much enjoying listening through your system and it would be very cool to hear another forum member’s experience of listening to music in your room.

 

[key_wiz]

In 1975, I was 8 years old and the Tommy soundtrack wasn't on my radar! I did see pictures of Elton as "the Pinball Wizard" and thought those were cool but otherwise, I waited until 1977 for his Greatest Hits Vol 2 release. I did (or rather mom bought them for me!) buy the "Philadelphia Freedom" and "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" American 45's at Tower of Records in Sacramento, CA.

Watt Ave Tower? Or Broadway? I practically lived at both those stores when I was living in Sac and going to college at American River c. 1980.

I went on to work for Tower for several years including a 3 year stint in the mid-90s at the Sunrise location. Good times.

I was 14 in 1975 and while I was certainly familiar with The Who (my older sister had a copy of "Who's Next") I was unfamiliar with Tommy except by name and reputation. "Oldies" didn't get played on the radio much in those days as "classic rock" wasn't yet a thing.

I, of course, had no way of knowing in 1975 that there would eventually be a GH V II with Pinball Wizard on it, but even if I had I doubt I'd have waited. I was simply too big an Elton fan and HAD to have a copy of it for myself. I would even buy all his singles in those days just for the b-sides.

I've still never seen the movie but I did really like the soundtrack. It took me awhile to eventually get used to the original Who versions of all the songs. In fact, heresy as this probably is to say in front of big Who fans, but I still prefer the movie versions for most of them.

 

[Michael Marshall]

Watt Ave Tower? Or Broadway? I practically lived at both those stores when I was living in Sac and going to college at American River c. 1980.

I went on to work for Tower for several years including a 3 year stint in the mid-90s at the Sunrise location. Good times.

I was 14 in 1975 and while I was certainly familiar with The Who (my older sister had a copy of "Who's Next") I was unfamiliar with Tommy except by name and reputation. "Oldies" didn't get played on the radio much in those days as "classic rock" wasn't yet a thing.

I, of course, had no way of knowing in 1975 that there would eventually be a GH V II with Pinball Wizard on it, but even if I had I doubt I'd have waited. I was simply too big an Elton fan and HAD to have a copy of it for myself. I would even buy all his singles in those days just for the b-sides.

I've still never seen the movie but I did really like the soundtrack. It took me awhile to eventually get used to the original Who versions of all the songs. In fact, heresy as this probably is to say in front of big Who fans, but I still prefer the movie versions for most of them.

I grew up in the Sierra Oaks area of Sacramento (American River Drive between Watt and Howe Avenues) so mom would drive me to the Tower Records on Watt Avenue. Tower of Books was in the same strip mall so I got my rock magazine fix (usually CIRCUS or CREEM) at the same time! I later worked at the Record Factory (1986) on Howe Avenue until the chain was purchased by the Wherehouse and I quit when I figured out that it was going to be pretty much only a video store. I landed at an independent record store (Spirit Records) in Rancho Cordova until I graduated from CSU, Sacramento in May of 1991.

 

[key_wiz]

I grew up in the Sierra Oaks area of Sacramento (American River Drive between Watt and Howe Avenues) so mom would drive me to the Tower Records on Watt Avenue. Tower of Books was in the same strip mall so I got my rock magazine fix (usually CIRCUS or CREEM) at the same time! I later worked at the Record Factory (1986) on Howe Avenue until the chain was purchased by the Wherehouse and I quit when I figured out that it was going to be pretty much only a video store. I landed at an independent record store (Spirit Records) in Rancho Cordova until I graduated from CSU, Sacramento in May of 1991.

1980 I lived in an apartment on Edison between Watt and Howe. Was at the Watt store all the time except to go to the Tower on Broadway most Saturday nights to hang out at that store until midnight (or whenever it was) and then walk across the street to the Tower Theater to see Rocky Horror Picture Show.

I remember Spirit Records well.

Good times back then, for sure.

 

[Michael Marshall]

I was lucky in that my parents would take me to Tower on a Friday or Saturday night, sometimes rather late, as I liked walking around the store and "exploring". In the late 70's, it wasn't unusual to find "vendors" selling concert photos and other music related stuff outside of the front door to Tower Records and they did so without incident. Different times for sure!