Zombies Redbook vs. SACD

I noticed that Columbia House carries the original redbook Zombies CD (released in 1990, as stated on their site). I'm thinking of picking this one up, but am wondering if I should hold out for the SACD version (hard to find around here). The SACD has a redbook layer, correct? How would this compare to the original CD pressing?

 

NO....
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.He'll LOVE it! It's amazing

 

What Steve said! If you're gonna do it, do it right...

 

I just picked it up yesterday ($11.99 at J&R in New York). I don't have an SACD player, but the redbook version was to die for.

 

I haven't heard the earlier CD, but the hybrid SACD is wonderful. While the SACD layer is amazing, the CD layer is very good in its own right.

 

has the SACD version with the new cover art come out?

 

monkboughtlunch, Best Buy stores in my area still have the Zombies SACD with the older cover. Then again, I'm not sure they restock any SACDs.

 

I know that this is heresy on this board, but the recent British Big Beat 2 CD set of stereo mixes of the Decca material (cleverly titled "The Decca Stereo Anthology"- I bet somebody won some kind of award for that) is also very good and includes some classic tracks not on the SACD. Don't rule it out.

 

just from a marketing standpoint, steve you might sell more of these sacds with better graphic design.

not an insult, just an observation.

when i first glanced at the zombies and cal tjader covers, i almost passed them over because they looked like budget releases.

 

monkboughtlunch, on the plus side, the Audio Fidelity SACDs are budget-priced! The Zombies SACD is just $12.99 at Best Buy and $10.99 this week!

 

Steve mentioned recently that AF has redesigned their covers - including new issues of older releases (Zombies, Buddy Rich etc.) Could make the old ones collectors items.
I quite agree with you that the current graphics are not the most eye-catching/visually pleasing.

 

Steve I had just read that whole other thread you posted the link to!

So there's something strange going on, I'm glad you caught on as I must admit, I think I'd have to go out and buy that other set but after reading the other thread, I can't understand how much better The Zombies could possibly sound. The SACD is perfect, but I'd gather that it's just either an opinion for comparison's sake.

I have never heard your DCC version either so I'm sure that's got to be pretty nice to say the least.
Night of the Living Zombie Beatle Terr

 

Steve:

I'm a big fan of the Zombies and also of your work. The SACD is phenomenal and I leaped at the chance to buy it when it first came out (as I did with your DCC greatest hits compilation, your McCartney discs, Badfinger, Eagles, etc.). I also enjoy participating on this board, not only when I get to open my mouth to express my opinion, but also, far more often,when I can sit back and learn things from others who obviously care as much as I do about the music that has been a big part of my life.

That said, however, I sometimes find some of the posts on this board tend to approach hagiolatry of you and your work, sometimes cringingly so. This thread was a good example. The guy who initiated it, obviously intrigued by the work of the Zombies, asked where he could get a good taste of their work. Everybody who posted raved about your greatest hits SACD. I agree that it's fantastic, but it's not the only thing that's available by the group. My tongue was in my cheek with the heresy comment. I thought it appropriate to mention the Big Beat collection, which boasts 48 tracks, many of them classics not found on the Audio Fidelity set, probably because it would have been prohibitively expensive to have licensed and included them and would have driven the cost of the SACD far higher than the price for which it sells. Odessey and Oracle is something else, too. The Zombie Heaven box is swell, but it's 80 bucks.

I didn't mean to be a rude guest and don't think that I was. I just wanted to help the guy. You're right. He could have done a search, but I looked at it as if I was in Tower and somebody was considering buying something by an artist that means a lot to me and whose work I know very well. If he asked me what's good by, say, the Who, I'd volunteer an answer. While I'd mention your Who's Next issue, if I didn't recommend others, he'd never hear So Sad About Us, Pinball Wizard, I Can See For Miles, The Kids Are Alright and a host of others. That's what I tried to do here. I wish you mastered everything, but you haven't.

Sorry if I offended you or anybody else. I come in peace.

 

My view on this whole Zombies thing is very simple. The SACD sounds wonderful. I may track down the Big Beat collection for the extra tracks. If it sounds good, then that's a bonus. If it is not to my liking soundwise, well I still have the extra tracks. That's it!

 

Bill,
I had just said that I thought you mentioned it for comparrison sake as well as the extra tracks. However, the SACD is just a good deal especially right now on sale at a Best Buy. Thanks for mentioning the other collection also, I didn't even know it existed either until I had read the other thread that I also didn't know existed until Steve posted it.
However we all come in peace and to learn. Thanks for your post

 

Hey, Bill. Cool explanation. One question, though . . . where in the world did you come up with "hagiolatry"? Did you use a thesaurus? Are you by any chance a Catholic priest?

 

Dictionary. Pretty scary, eh?
Peace be witcha all.

 

I bought it a few weeks ago. I didn't release you did it until now. I don't usually read labels and instructions.

Yet...

I don't like it. I really like it. It's too early to speak of such things as love.
Not too crazy about the cover job. Whomever did that could atleast have found a sharper more colorful photo. It looks like a 35K imagine they found on the internet. Or is that the cover from something previously released?

 

ok, so solely based on the comments on this thread, I went out to Best Buy in NYC and picked up this SACD at the discounted price of $10.99. (Also picked up Glengarry Glen Ross at the 2 for $15 deal). This is in spite of the fact I already have the three big Zombies songs on various compilations and don't know any other songs by them.

So someone tell me I made the right choice and got a good deal!

 

Ok, you definitely made the right choice and got a great deal! Feel better now.

Sorry, couldn't resist. BTW it is "the best sounding Zombies of all time"...IMHO of course.

 

For now, it is mine also!!! However I've not ever heard Steve's DCC or the others, but I just can't think these songs in particular could have been done that much better. This is IMHO also reporting the news of the Zombies SACD!

 

Picked up the Zombies hybrid yesterday at BB for $10.99. Sounds fantastic and I didn't think the DCC issue could sound better. It does.

Joe