1-24-11
Multi-Channel Madness! Pt. 1
I first got interested in the SA-CD format when I obtained an inexpensive (non-hybrid) SA-CD of Peter Gabriel “Security”…and it wouldn’t play in my CD player. I didn’t get rid of it.
A short time ago, I got an inexpensive Sony DAV-DZ170 5.1 DVD / SA-CD player – and it took a short time to figure out which SA-CD’s had ‘surround” (5.1 sound). Boy, when it’s done right, it sounds amazing! It makes me want to research what other multi-channel rock music titles were done!
In 2011, there are some specialty labels doing jazz & classical SA-CD’s, but really only Universal Japan is doing any new ‘rock’ SA-CD titles – and, unfortunately, those are non-hybrid (single layer) titles – retailing at approx. US$50+ per disc!
The first 5.1 SA-CD I played was Peter Gabriel “Up”; it’s not an album I am familiar with, so I cannot compare it to a non-SA-CD version. The sound was fairly impressive, but I didn’t know any of the songs.
Sometimes, discs are labeled as “multi-channel”, and the rear channels are merely ‘ambience’ – while others are fully mixed into 5.1 (all the Elton John SA-CD’s etc.)
So, I get out the cartons of SA-CD’s that I have: None of the Can titles are multi-channel; almost none of The Rolling Stones titles are multi-channel; only about ½ of the Bob Dylan titles are multi-channel…If I really want to get further into the multi-channel titles, I suppose I could always investigate DVD-Audio…but here is a list of the multi-channel SA-CD’s that I have sampled so far:
ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND AT FILLMORE EAST MERCURY US
ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND EAT A PEACH MERCURY US
ART OF NOISE RECONSTRUCTED ZTT UK
BARTLETT, NATHANIEL PRECIPICE – MODERN MARIMBA ALBANY US
BERTIGNAC, LOUIS LONGTEMPS POLYDOR FR
BOWIE, DAVID ZIGGY STARDUST & THE SPIDERS FROM MARS VIRGIN UK
CLAPTON, ERIC 461 OCEAN BOULEVARD POLYDOR US
CLAPTON, ERIC SLOWHAND POLYDOR US
DAVIS, MILES KIND OF BLUE COLUMBIA US
DAVIS, MILES SEVEN STEPS TO HEAVEN (3-channel) ANALOGUE US
DAVIS, MILES SOMEDAY MY PRINCE WILL COME (3-channel) ANALOGUE US
DEREK & THE DOMINOS LAYLA POLYDOR US
DRAKE, NICK TREASURY, A ISLAND US
DYLAN, BOB ANOTHER SIDE OF BOB DYLAN COLUMBIA US
DYLAN, BOB BLOOD ON THE TRACKS COLUMBIA US
DYLAN, BOB BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME COLUMBIA US
DYLAN, BOB LOVE AND THEFT COLUMBIA US
DYLAN, BOB SLOW TRAIN COMING COLUMBIA US
ELFMAN, DANNY SERENADA SCHIZOPHRANA SONY CLASS US
EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER BRAIN SALAD SURGERY (Deluxe edition) SANCTUARY UK
G.V.S.U. New Music Ens. MUSIC FOR 18 MUSICIANS (Reich) INNOVA US
GABRIEL, PETER UP GEFFEN US
GAYE, MARVIN COLLECTION MOTOWN US
GENESIS 1970 – 1975 VIRGIN UK
GENESIS FOXTROT VIRGIN UK
GENESIS LAMB LIES DOWN ON BROADWAY, THE VIRGIN UK
GENESIS NURSERY CRYME VIRGIN UK
GENESIS SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND VIRGIN UK
GENESIS TRESPASS VIRGIN UK
GENESIS TRICK OF THE TALE, A VIRGIN UK
GENESIS WIND & WUTHERING VIRGIN UK
HARRISON, GEORGE LIVE IN JAPAN TOSHIBA JPN
JOHN, ELTON CAPTAIN FANTASTIC & THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY ROCKET US
JOHN, ELTON ELTON JOHN (1970) ROCKET US
JOHN, ELTON GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD (Deluxe edition) ROCKET US
JOHN, ELTON HONKY CHATEAU ROCKET US
JOHN, ELTON MADMAN ACROSS THE WATER ROCKET US
JOHN, ELTON TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION ROCKET US
KING, CAROLE TAPESTRY ODE/EPIC US
McQUEEN, JOE TEN AT 86 IsoMIKE US
MOODY BLUES, THE DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED (Deluxe edition) DERAM UK
MOODY BLUES, THE EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR THRESHOLD UK
MOODY BLUES, THE ON THE THRESHOLD OF A DREAM DERAM UK
MOODY BLUES, THE QUESTION OF BALANCE, A THRESHOLD UK
MOODY BLUES, THE SEVENTH SOJOURN THRESHOLD UK
MOODY BLUES, THE TO OUR CHILDREN’S CHILDREN’S CHILDREN (Deluxe ed) THRESHOLD UK
O.S.T. TALES FROM EARTHSEA TOKUMA JPN
PINK FLOYD DARK SIDE OF THE MOON TOSHIBA JPN
ROLLING STONES, THE SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL (Remixes) ABKCO US
ROXY MUSIC AVALON VIRGIN UK
TJADER, CAL LA ONDA VA BIEN CONCORD US
WATERS, ROGER CA IRA SONY JPN
WAYNE, JEFF WAR OF THE WORLDS, THE COLUMBIA US
WHO, THE TOMMY (Deluxe edition) MCA US
You will note that the Moody Blues section is missing “In Search of The Lost Chord” – that disc is stereo only!
Ronkanefiles's Blog 
So tell us about the Genesis multi-channel mixes. I read a very positive Goldmine review a couple of years ago that described them more like an amusing novelty, but apparently amazing little details are revealed. Your thoughts?
Brian,
So far, I would say the SA-CD Genesis multi-channel mixes are good, listenable – and true to the original mixes. This is more than I can say about many supposed multi-channel mixes to be found on some DVD-A releases. These are true multi-channel mixes. Not sure if they are available on the US boxed sets on the DVD or not…which is why I got a UK box specifically. I will have more time to listen soon-ish, I hope.
– Ron
I just saw that Kraftwerk’s live album, “Minimum-Maximum” was released as a DSD 2xSACD a few years years ago with aftermarket values through the roof.
http://www.amazon.com/Minimum-Maximum-Hybr-Kraftwerk/dp/B000F7CKGU
Fortunately, their video DVD also has a 5.1 surround mix if you’re game, of course it’s not DSD.