Surroundablog

....And then there were 3 box sets

....warm up your credit cards....DVDmusic.com has a deal for you...

Title: Genesis Box Set SACD : 1970-1974 - Genesis 5 Disc SACD/ DVD

Artist: Genesis

Region: N/A

Sound: Hybrid Stereo / Multichannel

Price: £89.95

Genesis Box Set SACD : 1970-1974 - Genesis 5 Disc SACD / DVD
Awaiting Release

SACD Albums :

Trespass
Nursery Cryme
Foxtrot
Selling England By The Pound
The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway

In addition, it will contain a bonus SACD / DVD (North-America: CD / DVD) with the Non-Album Tracks :
- Twilight Alehouse
- Happy The Man
According to Nick Davis, The Jackson Tape will be released on the Bonus SACD. This would include the tracks
- Provocation
- Frustration
- Manipulation
- Resignation

This Super Audio disc set is a Stereo SACD, Multichannel SACD and contains a CD layer which allows the SACD to be played on any CD player or DVD player with SACD capability.

Three Brand-New Releases Coming From Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab

The Pixies - Surfer Rosa ULTRADISC UHR™ SACD Numbered, Limited-Edition Mini LP Style Packaging $24.99 PREORDER NOW! SHIPPING APRIL 2007! Originally titled "Gigantic", this 1988 release was the Boston quartet's first full-length recording. It established the Pixies almost instantly as an exciting and essential band on the national indie scene and a distinct place in the history of Punk. Producer/Engineer Steve Albini created both a compulsive and hypnotic 'in your face' rush in the economy of each song, while still retaining the band's cryptic quirkiness.The late Kurt Cobain frequently cited Surfer Rosa as one of his major musical influences. Surfer Rosa is being re-mastered by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab from recently discovered, first-generation analog original master tapes.

Marc Cohn - Marc Cohn ULTRADISC II™ 24 KT GOLD CD Numbered, Limited-Edition Mini LP Style Packaging $24.99 PREORDER NOW! SHIPPING APRIL 2007! Marc Cohn (born July 5, 1959 in Cleveland, Ohio) is a sophisticated singer-songwriter, famous for his song "Walking in Memphis" from his self titled debut. The album is masterfully produced and features brilliantly crafted musical arrangements that perfectly accentuate Marc's soulful, rich baritone timbre and graceful, contemplative piano performances - all tastefully brought to full and exceptional sonic fruition via the Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab proprietary G.A.I.N. (Greater Ambient Information Network) 2™ mastering process. Songwritng styles vary from the Memphis/Elvis/Graceland mythic imagery of the hit single to the seemingly Springsteen inspired writing of "Silver Thunderbird".

Milt Jackson - Milt Jackson Sextet ULTRADISC UHR™ Stereo SACD Numbered, Limited-Edition Mini LP Style Packaging $24.99 PREORDER NOW! SHIPPING MAY 2007! Discovered by Dizzy Gillespie (whose 40's rhythm section left to form the initial line-up of the esteemed Modern Jazz Quartet) , Milt "Bags" Jackson was a preeminent vibes virtuoso and enjoyed over forty years as one-fourth of the MJQ. Jackson also enjoyed decades of solo work for great jazz labels such as Savoy, Riverside and Atlantic and one of his crowning achievements occurred over a three day session booked for Riverside in 1962. Answering his 'invitation' were fellow all-stars Kenny Dorham, Jimmy Heath, Ron Carter and Tommy Flanagan. The trumpet / tenor tandem uniquely augment Jackson's vibraphone, creating a driving, free-wheeling, classic blowing session.

Genesis Back Catalog Re-mastered in 5.1 With Focusrite

Editor's note...borrowed from Pro-sound news....yeah yeah...I'll put it back after you've all read it..

High Wycombe, UK (March 12, 2007)--Nick Davis has spent nearly three years re-mastering the entire Genesis back catalogue in 5.1. Davis wanted to keep the type of processing used on the project in line with the style of the original recordings, so he didn't bring in too much digital processing, choosing instead a host of analog gear including a Focusrite ISA215 EQ. He also used Focusrite's Liquid Mix toward the end of the mix process.

Nick Davis

On the Focusrite ISA215 EQ, Davis commented, "It's fantastic, I really like it. I also did an album with Will Topley from The Blessing and recorded all of his vocals through a Voicemaster Pro. It's very good I was really impressed with that as well."

The Liquid Mix, meanwhile, helped in some of the more unusual areas of the project. "I used the Liquid Mix for some rarity stuff and bootleg material that came in from various sources around the world. One of them was this interview Genesis did for an American chat show in the 70s and the sound on it was terrible so I used the Liquid Mix to EQ and compress that for the DVD. I do like having so many compressors and EQs on hand to switch between, and I love the fact that the processing is on board. It is a big selling point that the box doesn't drain your computer processing power."

Davis started his career as a tape op back in 1983, recording early demos with Tears For Fears for Polygram. He moved to Air Studios and then Westside where he became chief engineer. After going freelance he engineered Mike And The Mechanics' The Living Years LP, which was the start of a long relationship with Genesis.

"I've just kind of stayed within the family," he said. "Once they find people they like to work with they stick with them. I've done some of their live albums and produced a couple of their later albums. They decided to remix the catalogue in 5.1 and it's been a fantastic project albeit one that's been almost three years in the making!"

"Various members have been more or less involved," Davis continued. "Tony Banks very much so. He's come in and heard every mix and helped me finish them off. Mike [Rutherford] has heard about 20-30 percent. Steve Hackett has been very good on the stuff he's on and Peter Gabriel has been very good too. Phil [Collins] has probably been the least involved and has just let us get on with it. He trusts us not to screw it up!"

On his surround mixing philosophy, Davis shares, "I try and avoid doing anything gimmicky. It's great with Genesis because they have these big moments and you can just get a load of stuff out of all the speakers but I generally don't like stuff flying around too much. For example I would usually have the drums at the front or half way but never all the way behind you. The other thing with 5.1 is if you spread it too much you actually lose the power. It's a bit like people saying mono sounds more powerful than stereo because with mono it's concentrated in one area. So if you start spreading it too much in 5.1 you sometimes lose the power because it's the way that it sticks together that makes it sound so powerful."

And, on how the mixes turned out, Davis adds, "It is fantastic. I know I would say that as I'm working on it, but I've just been listening back to And Then There Were Three. It's not my favorite album but it does sound fantastic. Some of the big moments are very exciting."

For more information on the entire range of Focusrite products please visit www.focusrite.com.

Genesis sacds coming closer

....just a reminder, the first batch of the Genesis catalog sacds are due on April the 2nd. The good news is they are all in multi-channel...the bad news is the accompanying dvd is in PAL format only...although Elusive disc claims to have the sets in NTSC...

Speaking of remastering, here's another article from someone who makes a plea to the labels for more Hi-Rez...

Genesis sacds closer to reality than revelation

Got a tip this week from Marty of 5.1 heaven...The remastered Genesis sacd titles are coming this spring....apparently they are coming out in 3 different batches. Unfortunately though; the titles are all mixed up and aren't coming out chronologically. The bad news is none of the live albums are scheduled....even worse..."Calling All Stations" is coming out too...

Little Richard "WOOOS" SACD

Editor's note: Here's a bit of news that just came to light recently. Mobile Fidelity is ready-teddy-ing this Little Richard collection for August 22nd, 2006. Hopefully; it doesn't get delayed to '07. After that...I would love LOVE to see\get the Hoffman remastered "Buddy Holly" on SACD...

LITTLE RICHARD/HERE'S LITTLE RICHARD/LITTLE RICHARD (HYBRID MONO SACD)

2 Complete LPs on One SACD!

• Featuring two albums HERE’S LITTLE RICHARD (1957) and LITTLE RICHARD (1958) on one SACD. Twenty-four tunes in all!
• Featuring the original versions of Little Richard’s biggest hits!
• HERE’S LITTLE RICHARD - #50 on Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Albums

Comprised of Little Richard’s first two 12” LP releases on the Specialty label, Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab is proud to reissue these seminal chart toppers by rock and roll’s most enduring legend and a true American musical pioneer. Featuring twenty-four of Little Richard’s most memorable hits, this is an essential collection of superior sounds and songs by a primary architect of rock and roll. Mastered from the original analog masters from various single and EP sessions, this inimitable legacy is now perfectly preserved, enhanced and protected for future generations by MFSL’s heralded GAIN 2™ mastering process.

Contains twenty-four songs including the original hit versions of: Tutti Frutti, Ready Teddy, Slippin’ And Slidin’, Long Tall Sally, Miss Ann, Rip It Up, Jenny Jenny, Keep A Knockin’, Good Golly Miss Molly, Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey, The Girl Can’t Help It, Lucille and many more! 

Moody Blues for you

Five classic albums by the Moody Blues will be released in Super Audio CD 5.1 Surround Sound this March in the U.K. The Surround Sound SACDs will arrive as Deluxe Editions of the group's original albums and will include Days of Future Passed, In Search of the Lost Chord, On the Threshold of a Dream, and A Question of Balance. The news means that the long-awaited series of Moody Blues Deluxe Albums are finally coming to market. To read more....click

The Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man Ultradisc UHR™ Stereo SACD (shipping February 7, 2006)

On June 21st 1965 The Byrds released the album Mr. Tambourine Man, which changed folk rock forever. This album was produced by Terry Melcher and engineered by Ray Gerhardt at Columbia Studios Hollywood between January and April 1965. The singles released from this breakthrough album are “Mr. Tambourine Man" / "I Knew I'd Want You " and "All I Really Want To Do" (alt.) / "Feel A Whole Lot Better".

Hear the Byrds like they sounded back in 1965! Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab used the mono masters for the original album. And as an added bonus utilized Bob Irwin’s and Vic Anesini’s stereo remixes for previously unreleased tracks and alternate versions. For the first time in history, Mr. Tambourine Man will be released in its entirety via The GAIN 2™ System on the Audiophile Limited Edition ULTRADISC UHR™ Dual Layer Hybrid SACD format.

Original 1965 Mono mixes

1. Mr. Tambourine Man
2. I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better
3. Spanish Harlem Incident
4. You Won't Have To Cry
5. Here Without You
6. The Bells of Rhymney
7. All I Really Want To Do
8. I Knew I'd Want You
9. It's No Use
10. Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe
11. Chimes of Freedom
12. We'll Meet Again

Bonus Tracks - Stereo (1996 remixes)
13. She Has A Way
14. I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better (alternate version)
15. It's No Use (alternate version)
16. You Won't Have To Cry (alternate version)
17. All I really Want To Do (single version)
18. You and Me (instrumental)

Genesis' Producer Gives Update On The Genesis Remixed 5.1 Back Catalog

Nick Davis, Genesis' long-time Producer, recently provided an updated on his remixing of the Genesis back catalog. Davis stated that he recently completed the 5.1 remix of Wind And Wuthering. He added the remaster was "probably the greatest difference in 'sound' of all the albums" he has remixed so far. Davis also shared that he remixed the Spot The Pigeon three-song EP in 5.1. He is currently working on the 5.1 remix of 1978's And Then There Were Three along with the non-album tracks from that LP, "Vancouver" and "The Day The Lights Went Out." Once completed, all of the Genesis studio albums from the 1970s will have been remixed in surround sound.

To date, no release date has been confirmed and there has been no confirmation as to whether these non-album tracks will be added as bonus cuts or if they will be part of some other release. Davis commented in the forum of the official Genesis site that he suspected that the newly reissued and remixed Genesis back catalog may be released all at once and may coincide with another project. While this was a vague sentiment, one would suspect that he is referring to the much talked-about possibility of a Genesis reunion concert or tour. More on this when we get it! 

Frankenstein reassembled on SACD

Thank goodness for Mobile Fidelity. In this; our summer of Hi-performance audio discontent, comes word of a new pressing of Edgar Winter's "They Only Come Out At Night" on SACD. I received a notification of it from the SA-CD site yesterday. Next month, Mobile Fidelity are releasing SACDs from the Byrds and Earth Wind and Fire as well as a polished up version of Frank Zappa's "We're Only In It For The Money" on 24kt Gold.