Writing on the wall for SACD?

the_pauley · 27-06-2005, 12:46 AM

Is Sony abandoning the SACD format?

Remember those 15 Bob Dylan albums that Sony released as Hybrid SACDs in digipaks a couple of years ago?

Then for some mysterious reason they released these as remastered CDs in jewel cases, when there was no need to as the SACDs had the remastered CD layer on already.

Well for anyone else who is waiting for the second wave of Dylan SACDs, don't hold your breath.

"Bob Dylan" (the first album) and "The Times They Are A Changin'" have just been reissued, but straight on to remastered CDs with no SACD release.

Is this a sign of the oft rumoured abandoning of the format by Sony?

Just a thought - before abandoning a new format, wouldn't it be an idea to promote it properly first?

Mandel · 27-06-2005, 3:05 AM

To be honest, SACD has been running along for a while now without much support from Sony Music. Sony don't seem to have figured out yet that continuously producing new products then not supporting them properly isnt going to do them any favours in the long term

Kenny Glasgow · 27-06-2005, 6:48 AM

SACD versions due October....whcih October I don't know

the_pauley · 27-06-2005, 12:03 PM

Thanks fo rthe heads up Kenny - almost bought these on CD. Any other SACD Dylan titles coming with these two in October?

Kenny Glasgow · 27-06-2005, 12:10 PM

Pauley

I don't know and my source isn't from Sony. They keep changing their minds. For instance Blood on the Tracks was mixed in 5.1 but at the last minute the went for the stereo mix!

Mandel · 27-06-2005, 4:54 PM

While we are on the subject of Dylan, whats a good place to start giving his stuff a listen? Also whats the song where the video is just him with sheets of paper with the lyrics on?

the_pauley · 27-06-2005, 5:48 PM

Kenny - my Blood on the Tracks SACD has a 5.1 mix.

Mandel - the song you are talking about is Subterranean Homesick Blues from the album Bringing It All Back Home.

This is an excellent album and as good a place as any to start. Dylan has worn many different musical hats over the years and this is a 1965 album that saw him in transition from acoustic troubador to rocker. In its LP form the album had one side acoustic, in the familiar style of the previous three years or so, and one side the new electric Dylan. So it gives you a taste of both.

The two albums that followed this are absolute classics and should be part of any decent music collection, namely Highway 61 Revisited (1965) and Blonde On Blonde (1966). The above mentioned Blood On The Tracks (1975) is another gem.

If you want to get an overall feel of 60s-70s Dylan try Greatest Hits and More Bob Dylan Greatest Hits. More... is a double CD with quite a few classic tracks exclusive to only that album, and both have been superbly remastered lately and can be picked up quite cheaply - regularly sale items in HMV, Virgin and Music Zone. Plenty of other good stuff too, but you've enough to be going on with there.

Later years from the '80s onwards have been patchy but the odd gem has emerged. For example his last album Love & Theft is one of the greatest things he has ever done - raw and raucous at 60 years of age!

Rock Da Bass · 27-06-2005, 7:39 PM

Sony seem to have a surprisingly bad track record with establishing AV formats. Betamax, Minidisc, SACD and next probably Blu-Ray.

RDB

MartinImber · 27-06-2005, 9:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rock Da Bass

Sony seem to have a surprisingly bad track record with establishing AV formats. Betamax, Minidisc, SACD and next probably Blu-Ray.

RDB

Looks at AV Rack

Betamax - check (950) - and I have a Sanyo HiFi jobbie next to the PC
Minidisc - yup - and in the car
SACD - and DVD-Audio - yes

FeisalK · 28-06-2005, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rock Da Bass

Sony seem to have a surprisingly bad track record with establishing AV formats. Betamax, Minidisc, SACD and next probably Blu-Ray.

RDB

its probably just because their successes have been spectacular in comparison - CD, Walkman, PlayStation

PJTX100 · 28-06-2005, 7:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartinImber

Looks at AV Rack

Betamax - check (950) - and I have a Sanyo HiFi jobbie next to the PC
Minidisc - yup - and in the car
SACD - and DVD-Audio - yes

At least you didn't go for DCC... or DAT... or did you?

...PJ

stasis · 28-06-2005, 7:45 AM

It would be a sad day if SACD format was to dissappear.

Could not imagine loosing the quality multi-channel mixes of classics such as Dark Side OF THE MOON and Peter Gabriels UP.

DVD based systems need this type of format to sound good.
High prices and lack of material are holding it back.

Would love the Wall and other classics on this format.

Why are new releases not out automatically on this format.

the_pauley · 28-06-2005, 8:36 AM

Exactly. If they're hybrids then there is no need to release a standard CD version. Joe & Josephine public have their CD layer and the enthusiasts have the SACD.

Making a single disc rather than two versions would seem to make more financial sense too from a manufacturing point of view.

A couple of years back lots of people were buying the Dylan and Stones reissues, blissfully unaware that they were buying SACDs. Quite a few of my mates were surprised to find this out, but were more than happy with the superb sounding, newly remastered CD layer.

Nothing to stop manufacturers releasing everything as hybrids. Sony should be leading the way in this.

FeisalK · 29-06-2005, 1:55 AM

I think there was a kerfuffle with the royalties supposedly to be paid for two (or even 3) copies of the work on a single release - redbook, sacd stereo and sacd multichannel