Will two-channel SACD's be re-issued? (1 Viewer)

[ReggieW]

.....down the road as possibly multi-channel hybrids? Just curious, as I wouldn't want to waste money on a ton of two-channel discs which will be re-released later in multi-channel. Btw, I have no prejudice against multi-channel mixes, and often times prefer them.

Thanks,

Reg

 

[KeithH]

Reggie, your guess is as good as mine. Sony has re-issued a fair number of stereo titles in multi-channel, and I expect them to continue to do so. If you don't have one already, try to pick up a Sony 9/01 SACD brochure at an SACD kiosk at Circuit City. The brochure shows a fair number of titles in the Sony multi-channel section that are already out in stereo but have not been released in multi-channel yet. An example is Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble Texas Flood. Time will tell if such titles are released in multi-channel. As for other labels, again, your guess is as good as mine.

 

[Mike Broadman]

Sony has re-issued a fair number of stereo titles in multi-channel

Keith, can you think of any examples?

So far, the only SACD that I re-bought because it was released as multi-channel is Jeff Beck's Blow By Blow, and it now looks like I'll do the same with Texas Flood when it comes out. However, I'm not going to stop buying SACDs, especially since most of what I get is classical, and I'd be surprised if they re-release that.

I've seen Couldn't Stand the Weather as stereo, will that also be re-released as multi-channel?

NP: Miles Davis, In Concert, CD

 

[Phil A]

Mike, I think that "Kind of Blue" and "Tapestry" were 2 of the titles that have been released on multi-channel and I heard that others are slated for multi-channel too.

 

[KeithH]

Reggie, Phil is correct that Carole King Tapestry and Miles Davis Kind of Blue were originally released as stereo SACDs but re-released in multi-channel (with stereo tracks). Here are others from Sony:
Celine Dion All the Way...A Decade of Song
The Dave Brubeck Quartet Time Out
Herbie Hancock Head Hunters
Jeff Beck Blow by Blow
Billy Joel The Stranger
Billy Joel 52nd Street
Also, www.sonymusic.com/sacd lists Marvin Gaye Midnight Love and Toto Toto IV as upcoming multi-channel re-issues (they are already out in stereo).

 

[Paul.S]

ReggieW, Mike Broadman et al::
Last night at Tower in the Marina, I stumbled across a multi-channel Toto IV (originally released in stereo) (per KeithH's tip above). The main/only distinguishing packaging quality you may notice at a glance is that the disc features the gold wrapping that some SACDs have (at least the copy I saw did), whereas the stereo SACD (which Tower also had) featured just the grayish carboard slip cover/sleeve.
Mike, it seems like what are obvious perennial catalog favorites/big sellers is arguably a good indication of what may get re-released as a (multichannel) SACD. For instance, it seems to me like what Sony released on their Super Bit Mapping gold disc line are all probably strong candidates. Heck, there have now been at least four remasters of Toto IV: in addition to their vinyl release, Mo Fi did an Ultradisc, the SBM (which I have and like), the original SACD and now Eliott Scheiner's 5.1 remix has been released on multichannel SACD.
I'd love to hear from anyone with comparative sound quality and packaging/liner notes comments on the various Toto IVs.
This sorta makes me glad I didn't rush out and buy all the early SACDs I was/am interested in . . .
Cheers,
Paul

 

[Mike Broadman]

When I re-bought the Blow By Blow SACD, I was able to sell the stereo version quickly on e-bay for the same price I paid, so nothing is lost. Unless we hear about plans and release dates for specific titles, I personally would rather not wait hoping for a re-issue.

Mike, it seems like what are obvious perennial catalog favorites/big sellers is arguably a good indication of what may get re-released as a (multichannel) SACD).

Yes, this is true. I suppose I just don't quite know what are "perennial catalogue favorites." I didn't realise that Toto is so popular. What about Couldn't Stand the Weather?

NP: Bill Bruford, The Bruford Tapes, CD

 

[Danny Tse]

I actual saw the multi-channel SACD version of Toto IV this past weekend at the San Mateo Tower Records. Since I am considering a SACD player, I was checking out the software selection. I had to do a double-take between the stereo and the multi-channel versions of Toto IV.

 

[Paul.S]

Mike et al.:

I don't think it is so much that Toto is so popular as much as it is that Toto IV is something of an audiophile favorite (celebrating a 20-year anniversary this year).
But beyond the label accountants looking at sales spreadsheets, who knows? I certainly can't rely 100% on my crystal balls. However, one thing I do dig is that Sony is pretty proactive in these software regards in terms of re-releases. Whoda thunk that there would be an SE of The Craft and a SuperBit Johnny Mnemonic? Not I.
Incidentally, regarding Can't Stand the Weather, does the SACD include the five previously unreleased tracks that were on the standard CD remaster? I've noted that the E, W & F Gratitude multichannel SACD (which original engineer George Massenburg did not do the new 5.1 mix of) does not include the "Live Bonus Medley" that is on the standard CD remaster. Although 'Face's The Day SACD includes the extended/different versions of cuts that are on the standard CD remaster (goody goody!), the Thriller SACD does not include all of the supplements from the standard CD "Special Edition," dammit. If you're 'anal' like me and want an all-inclusive/definitive release of a particular album, this issue--already messy enough when comparing standard-CD-to-stereo-SACD releases--will perhaps only get more confusing/vexing now that we're seeing stereo SACD titles re-released as multichannels. Grrrr.
Paul

 

[Mike Broadman]

Incidentally, regarding Can't Stand the Weather, does the SACD include the five previously unreleased tracks that were on the standard CD remaster?

Yep.
NP: Tony Gabelle, Native of the Rain, CD