HiRez Poll John, Elton - DIAMONDS [Blu-Ray Audio (Dolby Atmos)]

[fetchmybeer]

Others have touched upon many of the same things already about song selection, but this album was already released and presumably sequenced in the order it is in and the Atmos experience is just a bonus for us.

I'm one of those people who looks at Elton as pre and post 1980 Elton. Basically, I love so much of the stuff before then and don't even like much of the stuff after that. And that doesn't change listening to this collection.

But it's one helluva collection for the price, and the Atmos on the old tracks (through my 5.1 system) sounds pretty great to me for the most part, and I have most of the old SACDs in 5.1. I probably prefer the 5.1 mixes, if only because they seem a bit more consistent and of course the sequencing from song to song makes more sense on those albums than it does on a hits collection.

Yes, there is variance between the Atmos tracks here, as you would expect of songs recorded over a span of about 50 years. There are some 5s in there and some 10s. But ultimately I think I have to rate this one highly in spite of its flaws. I would still recommend seeking out the SACDs in 5.1 though if you don't have them. They are-- or were at least until I bought my last one a few years ago-- readily available and at good prices.

Oh, one more minor complaint-- I wish there was something on the insert that said which albums (and years) the songs were from, especially since the order of the songs gets a bit out of whack.

 

[kfbkfb]

Music Content: 9

Surround Mix: 8 (DD 5.1 downmix of Atmos on my 4.1 basement system [see "About"])

Fidelity: 9

(average 8.67, rounds to 9)


I bought my 1st EJ album, Caribou, at the JC Penney store in the Blue Ridge Mall in the summer of 1974, checking Wikipedia, I see I have most of his albums and videos/concert videos on LP, CC, CD, SACD, VHS, CED, LD, DVD, Blu-ray.


Kirk Bayne

 

[Guy Robinson]

While I am waiting for my physical copy to get posted I borrowed it from someone else in the meantime. This is outstanding. The mixes are incredible. Love the volume of the backing vocals in the back channels like on " Someone Save My Life Tonight". This is a 10.

 

[jaybird100]

When my copy arrived, I started by listening to my favorite tracks. This was especially eye-opening on the tracks that weren't on the SACD's. In fact, I still have a bruise on my chin from where it hit the floor! This may have been in Atmos, which I'm not set up for, but the 5.1 fold-down was more than enough to satisfy, True, some were better than others, but overall, I have to give this disc a 10.

 

[mrcond]

Oh, one more minor complaint-- I wish there was something on the insert that said which albums (and years) the songs were from, especially since the order of the songs gets a bit out of whack.

The Wikipedia entry for this collection is a good source for this information. I agree they should have included it in the booklet but this is still convenient.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamonds_(Elton_John_album)

Or, you could just ask @fredblue, he will know!

 

[fredblue]

for the Atmos tracklist, the album & year info is as follows;

1.) "Elton John" (1970),
2.) "Madman Across The Water" (1971),
3.) "Honky Château" (1972),
4.) "Honky Château" (1972),
5.) "Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player" (1973),
6.) "Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player" (1973),
7.) "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973),
8.) "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973),
9.) "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973),
10.) "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973),
11.) "Caribou" (1974),
12.) Single / Bonus Track on CD Remaster of "Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy" (1975),
13.) "Rock Of The Westies" (1975),
14.) "Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy" (1975),
15.) Single / Bonus Track on CD Remaster of "Rock Of The Westies" (1976),
16.) "Blue Moves" (1976),
17.) "21 at 33" (1980),
18.) "A Single Man" (1978),
19.) "Jump Up!" (1982),
20.) "Too Low For Zero" (1983),
21.) "Too Low For Zero" (1983),
22.) "Breaking Hearts" (1984),
23.) "Ice On Fire" (1985),
24.) "Reg Strikes Back" (1988),
25.) "Sleeping With The Past" (1989),
26.) "The Big Picture" (1997),
27.) "Songs From The West Coast" (2001),
28.) "The Lion King" (1994),
29.) "The Thom Bell Sessions" (1977/1989),
30.) Single / Bonus Track on Deluxe 2-CD reissue of "Peachtree Road" (2005),
31.) "The Diving Board" (2013),
32.) "Wonderful Crazy Night" (2016),
33.) "The Lion King" (1994),
34.) Single / Bonus Track on CD Remaster of "Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player" (1973),
35.) Single / Bonus Track on CD Remaster of "Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy" (1974),
36.) Single / Bonus Track on CD Remaster of "Caribou" (1974),
37.) "The Thom Bell Sessions" (1977/1989),
38.) "A Single Man" (1978),
39.) "Jump Up!" (1982),
40.) "Too Low For Zero" (1983),
41.) "The One" (1992),
42.) "Duets" (1993),
43.) "Made In England" (1995),
44.) "The Big Picture" (1997),
45.) Single / "Aida" (1999),
46.) "Songs From The West Coast" (2001),
47.) "Good Morning To The Night" (2012),
48.) Single / Bonus Track on CD Remaster of "Caribou" (1973).

 

[esimms86]

for the Atmos tracklist, the album & year info is as follows;

1.) "Elton John" (1970),
2.) "Madman Across The Water" (1971),
3.) "Honky Château" (1972),
4.) "Honky Château" (1972),
5.) "Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player" (1973),
6.) "Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player" (1973),
7.) "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973),
8.) "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973),
9.) "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973),
10.) "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973),
11.) "Caribou" (1974),
12.) Single / Bonus Track on CD Remaster of "Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy" (1975),
13.) "Rock Of The Westies" (1975),
14.) "Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy" (1975),
15.) Single / Bonus Track on CD Remaster of "Rock Of The Westies" (1976),
16.) "Blue Moves" (1976),
17.) "21 at 33" (1980),
18.) "A Single Man" (1978),
19.) "Jump Up!" (1982),
20.) "Too Low For Zero" (1983),
21.) "Too Low For Zero" (1983),
22.) "Breaking Hearts" (1984),
23.) "Ice On Fire" (1985),
24.) "Reg Strikes Back" (1988),
25.) "Sleeping With The Past" (1989),
26.) "The Big Picture" (1997),
27.) "Songs From The West Coast" (2001),
28.) "The Lion King" (1994),
29.) "The Thom Bell Sessions" (1977/1989),
30.) Single / Bonus Track on Deluxe 2-CD reissue of "Peachtree Road" (2005),
31.) "The Diving Board" (2013),
32.) "Wonderful Crazy Night" (2016),
33.) "The Lion King" (1994),
34.) Single / Bonus Track on CD Remaster of "Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player" (1973),
35.) Single / Bonus Track on CD Remaster of "Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy" (1974),
36.) Single / Bonus Track on CD Remaster of "Caribou" (1974),
37.) "The Thom Bell Sessions" (1977/1989),
38.) "A Single Man" (1978),
39.) "Jump Up!" (1982),
40.) "Too Low For Zero" (1983),
41.) "The One" (1992),
42.) "Duets" (1993),
43.) "Made In England" (1995),
44.) "The Big Picture" (1997),
45.) Single / "Aida" (1999),
46.) "Songs From The West Coast" (2001),
47.) "Good Morning To The Night" (2012),
48.) Single / Bonus Track on CD Remaster of "Caribou" (1973).

Adam, you’re the best! I don’t care what Ralphie says about you!