After one session with the full album, I can safely say that this is just stunning, maybe even a top 10 surround mix for me. Just gorgeous, flawless (bar the keyboard in the rear on the funk coda of When I Look Into Your Eyes is a touch too loud). Now where is that poll thread so I can vote a big fat “10”?
Santana "Welcome" 7-inch Sony Japan MultiCh SACD coming November 29th, 2023
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According to the description of the release, "The SACD layer uses a DSD master converted from the original "Quadraphonic (4ch)" master. The CD layer uses the master from SACD (latest remastering)."
I find that a bit confusing. Which mastering is used for the stereo versions on the redbook and the SACD layer? Was there a previous SACD release of Welcome by Santana?
I find that a bit confusing. Which mastering is used for the stereo versions on the redbook and the SACD layer? Was there a previous SACD release of Welcome by Santana?
I dont' know, but I can confirm it is not the 2003 remaster, which I have on CD. It must be another JP release.
JediJoker
Audio Engineer/Enthusiast
The only SACD listed on Discogs is this one, so perhaps the "latest remastering" is a new mastering for this release? Otherwise, this was the latest CD release:
https://www.discogs.com/release/12596681-Santana-Welcome
By the way, this remaster sounds reasonably good. Better than the 2003 remaster on CD. My favourite is the HDtracks version. It’s got more bass and has a better tonality. This album can sound a bit harsh at times.
Progfiend
Well-known Member
My copy arrived today. I ordered from CD Japan, but this time I decided to try the airmail shipping option, as it's been recently reinstated. Previously, I picked the DHL option which is about $10 more expensive, and I would always have to pay DHL an extra $25 in some kind of Customs/Duty/Excise charges before they would deliver it. So, for roughly $35 less, I only had to wait an extra 10 days for the package to arrive via airmail. Totally worth it, I'll be choosing the airmail option from now on.
When the poll becomes available I will give this release a 10. The music is Santana at their finest, the recording sound quality is fantastic, no noticeable tape hiss, the mix is one of the best legacy quadraphonic presentations and the packaging is a brilliantly faithful mini version of the original. Just going back to the mix, on my first listen I was not sitting in my normal seat but at the side of the room between front and rear left. After a while I realised that I could hear every instrument clearly located and that there appears to be no sweet-spot as there can be with many quad mixes. I may of course be overstating but I think it could be one of the best mixes from the quad era. Fabulous!
Indeed, mine arrived today too in Edmonton (with no extra charges), and now Japan Post has resumed airmail to Canada, airmail took just 11 days and was only about CAD$11.
Those in the USA may wish to choose that now instead of FedEx and DHL, given Japan Post has resumed airmail there from Oct. 1:
Shipping Restriction Updates
Anyone have any news on a Sony Borboletta release?
50 years ago this month, and it's almost a year since Welcome now, am getting worried.
50 years ago this month, and it's almost a year since Welcome now, am getting worried.
I'm excited for it, if they announce it! This would be the last of Santana's great quad mixes.Anyone have any news on a Sony Borboletta release?
50 years ago this month, and it's almost a year since Welcome now, am getting worried.
There was also this one from 1976, but perhaps not a great Quad mix
https://www.discogs.com/release/1879655-Santana-Amigos
https://www.discogs.com/release/1879655-Santana-Amigos
“Borboletta” would look nice in the 7” series, as it already came originally with the foil cover design, I’d expect it to look amazing like original LPs did in the US.
It would be the last Santana quad mix I’m interested in.
It would be the last Santana quad mix I’m interested in.
It's a fantastic quad mix!
Edit: Opps, I misread your post I thought we were still talking about Borboletta! Sadly Amigos is not a great mix. I would still get it if it came out however.
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Yeah I'm sort of surprised they haven't announced Borboletta yet, but they have occasionally been late in the past. Maybe they'll announce it at the same time as the Santana/Alice Coltrane Illuminations album.
Both Amigos (from 1976) and Festival (from 1977) are fake quad mixes, I have no interest in either of those.
Both Amigos (from 1976) and Festival (from 1977) are fake quad mixes, I have no interest in either of those.
I already have Illuminations from Dutton Vocalion. Aside from the extras in a Sony 7” package, do I really need another copy?
These sound like the words of someone who is still considering getting it regardless. lolI already have Illuminations from Dutton Vocalion. Aside from the extras in a Sony 7” package, do I really need another copy?
Well I'm obviously biased, but for me the mastering on the D-V SACD can't be bettered, unless you favour a a "thumpier" modern-style mastering with the high end goosed a bit as well.
I'm certainly happy to have all the Sony Japan SACDs that feature quad mixes not otherwise available digitally, but I'd rate the masterings somewhere between very good (Beck Bogert & Appice, Welcome, Abraxas) and decent (Santana III) to not very good at all (the overly-bright Caravanserai) which is pretty good going for a major label in the 2020s but hardly perfect. Based on how the Sony Japan mastering of Carlos Santana & Buddy Miles Live! sounded compared to the D-V mastering of the same (thumpy, jacked up top end) I'd presume Illuminations will sound similar and I have no interest (nor the financial muscle) to spend north of 50 bucks just for some fancy packaging when I already have a god-tier mastering of the album.
Also with the D-V release you obviously get some, ahem, illuminating liner notes, but I'll leave it for others to weigh in on the value of those.
I'm certainly happy to have all the Sony Japan SACDs that feature quad mixes not otherwise available digitally, but I'd rate the masterings somewhere between very good (Beck Bogert & Appice, Welcome, Abraxas) and decent (Santana III) to not very good at all (the overly-bright Caravanserai) which is pretty good going for a major label in the 2020s but hardly perfect. Based on how the Sony Japan mastering of Carlos Santana & Buddy Miles Live! sounded compared to the D-V mastering of the same (thumpy, jacked up top end) I'd presume Illuminations will sound similar and I have no interest (nor the financial muscle) to spend north of 50 bucks just for some fancy packaging when I already have a god-tier mastering of the album.
Also with the D-V release you obviously get some, ahem, illuminating liner notes, but I'll leave it for others to weigh in on the value of those.
The odds of that happening in my case are slim to none. The shipping alone would cost me more than I paid for the DV version.
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