Listening to Now (In Surround) - Volume 2

[Jim the Oldbie]

About to start working on dinner so this fave of mine is perfect to set the mood:

Nat "King" Cole - Where Did Everyone Go - SACD

What, are you cooking cabbage or something?

See, because it's... Where Did Everyone... Go...

< ahem >

 

[Simon A]

What, are you cooking cabbage or something?

See, because it's... Where Did Everyone... Go...

< ahem >

Funny guy! Nothing of the sort.

 

[Jim the Oldbie]

IMHO, Tumbleweed connection is Reg's best album...

Oh yeah, Tumbleweed is my fave too - it still takes me back to the better days of my misspent youth every time. After that it's a tie between Madman Across the Water and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Madman has somehow become Christmas music for me - I always listen to it while I'm wrapping presents, have been for years and years now. That and Emerson, Lake and Palmer's Works Vol. I. Funny how this stuff happens...@:

Like Simon, I started to lose track of Elton as we all entered the Disco years. And on that note I'll shut up before I start ranting. < shudder >

-- Jim

 

[Tornado Red]

Oh yeah, Tumbleweed is my fave too - it still takes me back to the better days of my misspent youth every time. After that it's a tie between Madman Across the Water and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Madman has somehow become Christmas music for me - I always listen to it while I'm wrapping presents, have been for years and years now. That and Emerson, Lake and Palmer's Works Vol. I. Funny how this stuff

Like Simon, I started to lose track of Elton as we all entered the Disco years. And on that note I'll shut up before I start ranting. < shudder >

-- Jim

Jim...it's probably Holiday Inn that puts you in that Christmas spirit....

 

[Jim the Oldbie]

Jim...it's probably Holiday Inn that puts you in that Christmas spirit....

I think it's "Levon" that ties this one to Christmas for me. If I remember correctly, it was all over the radio here in the US during the holiday season of '71. I was a 14-year-old sophomore in high school, just starting to get into some real trouble...

-- Jim

 

[Lute]

I only read it correctly the second time which is why I violently erased my silly remark...

Currently enjoying my last arrival of the day, my very first RCA Living Stereo SACD: Fritz Reiner - Scheherazade (Rimsky-Korsakov)

Tell me you classical lovers and experts (oh, and Lute, I'm looking at you right now), are the Analogue Productions SACD reissues of these already superb sounding RCA SACDs that much better that they are worth paying three times the price? Thanks for your input!

View attachment 22445

That's a good question. Both the original RCA SACDs (Sony/Sound Mirror) and the newer SACDs from AP offer first rate sound.

But, I feel AP's SACDs are better. They sound more natural with more depth and air. The tone and timbre of the strings, brass and other instruments is warmer and clearer. But... the original RCA SACDs don't sound bad. In fact, they sound very good. And some people feel there is little or no difference between the two SACD versions. Also, the original RCA SACDs have more music per disc and can be bought at very reasonable prices these days.

So, I wouldn't regret buying or hesitate to buy any of the original RCA SACDs. They are an inexpensive way to build a wonderful collection of Classical music. However; if these classic recordings from the early days of stereo and 3-channel hold a special place in one's heart, I would say by all means go ahead and try AP's fabulous SACDs.

 

[Tornado Red]

Just listening to Madman on SACD, it's so crankable, I find it hard to believe the DR value is so poor to middling. What's up with that?

 

[Clint Eastwood]

Just listening to Madman on SACD, it's so crankable, I find it hard to believe the DR value is so poor to middling. What's up with that?

Well...sometimes a great surround mix can do wonders with overly compressed material...a classic example of this is the Flaming Lips DVD-A....it's extremely compressed and yet it got 66 (10) votes on the poll HERE...it's not my cup of tea...but it shows what a surround mix can overcome...the obvious difference is that Madman doesn't sound as compressed as it is...

 

[Jim the Oldbie]

Just listening to Madman on SACD, it's so crankable, I find it hard to believe the DR value is so poor to middling. What's up with that?

I would hazard a guess that the low DR numbers are due in large part to that iconic ultra-compressed sound that Gus & Nigel achieved on the drum tracks. It's an obvious effect (I noticed it as a kid even before I understood what I was hearing) yet it works so well here. Doesn't look so good on paper, but it sure is an integral part of the distinctive sound of these records.

-- Jim ("You're gonna hear electric music, solid walls of sound...")

 

[bossfan]

Quite the day. Picked up Flaming Lips Soft Bulletin from my favourite "used" cd store and while I was there I noticed they had Anathema's 3cd 1 dvd package Fine Days 1999-2004 package there used so I could not resist getting that after recently buying Distant Satellites package.. Not a bad haul. But when I got home from eork my ELP Trilogy was there waiting for me. Which is a long way of going about saying that Trlogy is what I am currently listening to..

 

[quicksrt]

Well, to be honest, I am not a huge fan of this album so the four tracks that I really like sounded very good, if not a little bright compared to the other three Elton John titles I have. For the price, I'm glad I have it. Cannot wait to receive Tumbleweed Connection.

That's a nice diplomatic way if saying it. This was the album were I felt they had reached the end of the golden era. Caribou showed signs, but Capt. Fantastic was pure letdown for me. I still can't get into it fully.

But I remember that summer or '75 when this album shipped. It was an exciting time and tons of new releases coming out.

 

[wavelength]

Well, to be honest, I am not a huge fan of this album so the four tracks that I really like sounded very good, if not a little bright compared to the other three Elton John titles I have. For the price, I'm glad I have it.

I have 6 of the EJ's and IMO Yellow Brick Road is the brightest of them all and the only one where the brightness bothers me.

 

[himey]

I have 6 of the EJ's and IMO Yellow Brick Road is the brightest of them all and the only one where the brightness bothers me.

Check out the bluray, it sounds better.

 

[fredblue]

Just listening to Madman on SACD, it's so crankable, I find it hard to believe the DR value is so poor to middling. What's up with that?

iirc the DR avg of the Multichannel on all 5 of the standalone SACDs is in the region of "11".. the Stereo DR is a different matter..

 

[fredblue]

Well, to be honest, I am not a huge fan of this album so the four tracks that I really like sounded very good, if not a little bright compared to the other three Elton John titles I have. For the price, I'm glad I have it. Cannot wait to receive Tumbleweed Connection.

Oh.. Ok!

 

[fredblue]

Oh yeah, Tumbleweed is my fave too - it still takes me back to the better days of my misspent youth every time. After that it's a tie between Madman Across the Water and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Madman has somehow become Christmas music for me - I always listen to it while I'm wrapping presents, have been for years and years now. That and Emerson, Lake and Palmer's Works Vol. I. Funny how this stuff happens...@:

Like Simon, I started to lose track of Elton as we all entered the Disco years. And on that note I'll shut up before I start ranting. < shudder >

-- Jim

I know many fans love and cherish the EJ album, Tumbleweed and Madman above all his other albums.. but personally it's his commercial 70's peak I love best (Honky Chateau, Don't Shoot Me.., GYBR, Caribou and Captain Fantastic).. I also love Westies, Blue Moves, the Thom Bell stuff and A Single Man (Victim Of Love is the real EJ disco abomination and one of his all-time career lows imho!) but I accept he lost a lot of listeners 76 onward for various reasons.. Did anybody here check out his new single released just yesterday?

Its called "Looking Up"..

[video]http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qr0aCFDayyk[/video]

 

[Quad Linda]

IMHO, Victim of Love is Elton's ABSOLUTE WORST.

I waited impatiently for Captain Fantastic. Even though it debuted at #1, it was a major disappointment. Someone Saved My Life and Writing were high points on that album and among many in his career. Those two tracks and some KILLER bonus tracks are more than enough to redeem the SACD. IMHO, so much of the rest of Capt. Fantastic is tripe.

I'd love to see them release Rock of the Westies in 5.1. IMHO, even though it has low spots, it's light years beyond Capt. Fantastic.

I know many fans love and cherish the EJ album, Tumbleweed and Madman above all his other albums.. but personally it's his commercial 70's peak I love best (Honky Chateau, Don't Shoot Me.., GYBR, Caribou and Captain Fantastic).. I also love Westies, Blue Moves, the Thom Bell stuff and A Single Man (Victim Of Love is the real EJ disco abomination and one of his all-time career lows imho!) but I accept he lost a lot of listeners 76 onward for various reasons.. Did anybody here check out his new single released just yesterday?

Its called "Looking Up"..

[video]http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qr0aCFDayyk[/video]

 

[Tornado Red]

I know many fans love and cherish the EJ album, Tumbleweed and Madman above all his other albums.. but personally it's his commercial 70's peak I love best (Honky Chateau, Don't Shoot Me.., GYBR, Caribou and Captain Fantastic).. I also love Westies, Blue Moves, the Thom Bell stuff and A Single Man (Victim Of Love is the real EJ disco abomination and one of his all-time career lows imho!) but I accept he lost a lot of listeners 76 onward for various reasons.. Did anybody here check out his new single released just yesterday?

Its called "Looking Up"..

[video]http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qr0aCFDayyk[/video]

Nice little tune! Quite upbeat, hope the rest of the album is like this.

 

[skherbeck]

Never really liked this song 'till I heard the quad mix!

 

[wavelength]

Check out the bluray, it sounds better.

It's the bluray that I have. I'm blaming the Bob Ludwig mastering for my displeasure.