Stones SACD reissues delayed in Canada?

A buddy of mine who manages a music retail store advised me that the Stones reissues will be coming out in Canada but he has not been solicited on them yet (ordering info). He indicated that a deal was being worked out for Canadian release on Universal.

HMV Canada website shows the August 20 release date.

I would assume that with todays online purchasing options, gone are the days of delayed releases in different countries.

With our devalued currency, ordering online and paying US cost/shipping prices is definitely the least desirable option.

Anybody have any inside scoop on Canadian release dates?

 

Don't be suprised if the release dates for the Stones sets will be pushed back for everyone not just Canada. One plant is working crazilly to do the work...

 

Beagle: when it comes to SACD and DVD-Audio, I have to respectfully disagree. Here in Canada, when you do the math, we pay less than Americans for regular CD's. However, as Canada is usually slow to progress on audiophile technologies (and the lack of population), products such as SACD and DVD-Audio are actually cheaper when buying online from the States. HMV is simply ridiculous. Amazon.ca (a new entitity) has the single Stones discs for $29.88 CDN while Amazon.com has them for $13.99 US. Future Shop has good prices but no stock. It would be great if the Stones CD's are released domestically in Canada but given that they are SACD hybrids, they will likely be imported from the States like all other SACD's and DVD-A's (and you can expect to pay import prices - $$$). I used to buy all of my MSFL discs from the US ($24.99 US), either online or on trips. In Canada, they were $45 CDN plus.

Cliff

 

I'd love to bring $200 over the boarder for record shopping. I could possibly eat two meals with the change left over. Canada's VERY cool.

 

Hi Cliff & welcome.

Admittedly the SACD prices do suck up here, but you've been paying too much for your MFSL's as I've been getting them for years at $39.99 + Can.

As far as having to order from the US., don't you have a local audiophile cd distributer there in Toronto that can get your MFSL & SH desires? I would think so being that we have 2 here in Van. Heck, I've already seen the new CCR vinyls here.

 

He is correct. I was just e-mailed this afternoon that Universal will be bringing them out here as "domestic'. They are just awaiting final approval from ABKCO. Apparently its taking some time to "ink" the deal.
I received this info immediately after I placed my order with J&R. Oh well, the prices were too good to pass on.

Hmmm....wonder if this (our) info source timing is just a coicidence....

 

The Stones may get special treatment as a big artist, and hence regular pricing on a domestic release (in Canada), but currently the label "SACD" makes retailers boost the price (that's if they actually carry the product). I still expect the domestic single discs to be over $21, and who knows how much the multi-disc sets will be. I'll stick with my hybrid J&R / CD Universe purchase (detailed in another thread - basically the single discs from J&R, the multi-discs from CD Universe).

Thanks for the welcome Dave. This forum is an awesome source of information. OK, I don't agree that the old Led Zep CD's are better, but that's another thread!! I don't really frequent audiophile music stores but I'm sure there is one in Toronto. I buy most of my hardware from the States (other than speakers which are competitively priced here). The Stones releases have gotten me into SACD - I just picked up a cheapo Sony player to start on. There are a few good deals online in Canada (I'm awaiting my first multi-channel discs - Carole King, Peter Tosh, Mike Oldfield, Billy Joel). I have DVD-Audio as well, but most of my discs were from HMV when they had the liberal exchange policy (I'll say no more!).

Cliff

 

I think they have been pushed back somewhat idefinitely, becasue my local "hip" independent record store no longer has them listed under August 20th and they haven't re-listed a new date.

 

I don't know what is going on in Canada, but all indications I have are that the 22 Stones SACDs are on track for release in the US on August 20th.

In fact, I was in a record store today that had a sign about the Stones on SACD Coming on 8/20. So they certainly are planning for that.

And the actual manufacture of the Stones Hybrid SACDs must be done (or close to it) because I'm now getting firm release dates that start in early September for some non-Stones Hybrid SACDs. Looks like some good listening for the SACD player owners out there !

 

The only issue as far as Canada is concerned is distribution, and that's something they are setting up to correct as we speak.

 

The whole idea is to mass market hybrid popular SACDs as "regular discs". Most buyers of the upcoming Stone's remasters won't even have a clue as to, or ever heard of what an SACD is. Do you think for a moment that these people are going to pay huge premiums for something they know nothing about or care about? It is hoped that after they build a library of new and reissued hybrids some of them will want to investigate the "better sound quality" that they read about on the tray cards and inserts.
Don't forget that we who are educated as to what SACD is all about are in the minority to such a degree that our market share is practically meaningless. Seamless marketing of SACD is the objective so I think you will see competitive pricing on popular titles. A lot of the "Audiophile" stuff such as the Gold Hoffman Remasters will always demand and be marketed as a premium product to folks like us.

 

Hi Cliff...

I agree with you on pretty much all of your original points. Sony SACD's retail for around $35 in Canada, but Future Shop will almost give them away at $26.

I was thinking in terms of the Stones reissues being regular domestic items with a bonus SACD layer, with regular domestic CD prices. If this is indeed the case, it would not be worthwhile ordering them from the US, factoring in shipping and the exchange rate.

 

Yes. To quote Jody Klein:

 

In the US, the Stones SACD Remastered series carries a list price of $18.98 for the single disc titles. Which is the same list price we see at Tower Records for new Regular CD titles.

The good news is we are starting to see some labels, albeit smaller ones, issuing new titles on Hybrid SACD only - check for example the Canadian jazz label Songlines (5 SACDs to date) and Artegra (3 SACDs to date). Those are all single inventory SACD titles.

 

I have all 5 Songlines SACDs and can recommend them. You can get them from Black Swan Records in Vancouver for $12.99 if you buy a few at once. The latest releases contain some very avantgarde jazz, but if you are interested in that sort of music, you'll be happy with the Songlines. The audio quality on Songlines SACDs is excellent.

After the first two Songlines releases (Wayne Horvitz and Micha Mengelberg) came out I wrote to Songlines and asked if they were planning to make more SACDs. They said at the time that they were not. So I was a little surprised that only 4 months later they came out with three more releases. I guess the sales of the first two were satisfactory and that influenced them.

Regards,
Geoff

 

Check the Songlines homepage over at http://www.songlines.com/ They just added info there about their 3 new SACDs and give SACD quite an endorsement.

From what the Songlines folks have told me, more Songlines Jazz SACDs will be coming !

 

Beagle: I hope you're right and I'd really appreciate it if anyone finds out that the releases are going to be considered "domestic". The current situation in Toronto does concern me, though. I live in the largest city in Canada, about the fifth largest in North America. Presently, the retailing situation is pathetic. With Sam the Record Man on life support, HMV Downtown is the only game in town. The competitors are great for product that moves a lot of units, but don't have inventory on anything "unique" (i.e. SACD or DVD-A). HMV has always been more expensive than the others (bar Tower Records which died a self-inflicted death due to high prices). Heck, HMV won't even match its own prices (example: on-line Queen "Opera" DVD-A is $10 cheaper than the in-store price).

I'm at a loss as to whether I should wait or should I take advantage of the low prices being offered Stateside now. With my pre-order right now (factoring in exchange, shipping, taxes, and possible Rev Canada charges), I'm looking at about $21.34 CDN a disc (so double that for HR and MHR, triple that for London Years). For an import SACD, I consider that a good price. For a domestic release, not so good. I give up.

As an aside, the 2002 Supertramp remasters were being discussed in another thread. The previous remasters (from 2-3 years ago) have only been available in Canada as an import. Now, Supertramp has always been huge in Canada (much bigger than in the States), but yet those remasters were not available domestically. Does Universal / ABCKO think that 12X5 or even Aftermath will fly off the shelve to justify a domestic release? I just don't know.

 

Why do Americans always assume Canada is cold??? It gets very hot in the summer?

 

A small correction: including all taxes and charges, I'm looking at about $23.50 CDN per disc.

Cliff

 

Hi Cliff,

Welcome to the forum. We Torontonians know that the great competitive record environment that used to exist is gone. I think HMV had some part to play in reducing competition and raising prices.

If the music industry in Canada is going to provide poor service to us then let's take our business to the lowest bidder. The artists will still get their cut no matter where we buy.