Billy Joel SACD's Question (1 Viewer)

[Steve Meskell]

Are there both a multi-channel/stereo versions of The Stranger and 52nd St.?? And to those who own the mc versions, how are they?

 

[Justin Lane]

Steve,

Both The Stranger and 52nd Street were originally released in stereo only and have since been re-released as stereo/multichannel discs. Watch out when shopping at Best Buy as I have still seen the stereo only discs on the shelf.

I only own the multichannel The Stranger and after hearing the multichannel mix, I still go back and listen to the stereo track. This is not to say the multichannel track is terrible, just not one that adds a new dimension to the music like some others out there. To my ears, The Stranger SACD only offers a modest improvement over the most recent CD remaster which I also own. If you are a Joel fan, the purchase is a no brainer, but if you are only a casual fan with no desire to hear multichannel, the remastered CD will probably suit you well (of course if you don't own the CD, get the SACD by all means).

J

 

[Al B. C]

I think "The Stranger" M/C sounds great!

"Just The Way You Are" in surround is wonderful, and made me realize just how much better the original is over the Diana Krall cover version.

Sorry, I have to disagree with Justin on this one.

 

[Angelo.M]

Are there any other Billy Joel SACDs? I'd be most interested in Turnstiles, The Nylon Curtain and An Innocent Man...

 

[Rick Deschaine]

Angelo,

There are I believe 2 other Billy Joel SACDs;

Fantasies and Delusions and

An Innocent Man

these were both available at Towerrecords website.

Enjoy

NP: Public Enemy It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

 

[Larry Geller]

She's Always A Woman is one of the most impressive surround presentations out there---if you don't have a good center speaker you'll lose a lot with the 2 Billy SACDs, because many of the lead vocals are center only (and sound phenomenal). The Stereo is not a HUGE improvement, but the surround IS. My only complaint is the losing of the beneath tray artwork on these (and all other single Columbia), SACDs.

 

[Angelo.M]

Thanks. I'll definitely try to find An Innocent Man. I can live w/ the Turnstiles remaster, which sounds great to me. Has Songs from the Attic been remastered as well? I always thought that the original recording was rather good. It would be amazing to have an expanded edition of this album, with more live stuff from that era. I think his other live recordings are awful.

 

[KeithH]

I am not a multi-channel fan in general, but the multi-channel mix on The Stranger is pretty good. I still prefer the stereo track in terms of presentation, though the stereo track is not significantly better than the remastered CD.

The stereo track on 52nd Street is also good, but again, is not significantly better than the remastered CD. I don't have the multi-channel SACD of this one, so I can't comment on the presentation of this track.

 

[Joe Wong]

I agree with Al. Just The Way You Are M/C is excellent!!

This is also the longer version of the song, as opposed to the one on BJ's Greatest Hits I think (I may be wrong).

Joe