Especially when one is supposed to know that show if they know no others. Sab credibility takes a major hit.
I'd like to think that they remixed it and it's a whole other world better. But probably the same mix just bricked.
And in this case the bonus material is only slightly related to the album. Far as I'm concerned, this might as well have been released as a new double live album, since I'm not hopeful the actual album will sound better than past releases.
As long as they don't get the same guy who mixed the live portion of Vol. 4. - You know, the guy who had limited knowledge of Sabbath and he had to get a "friend" to help him out, and said "friend" put up a Youtube vid salivating at his involvement.
I listened to Sabotage last night and noticed that weird pre-echo thing a few times on The Writ for the first time. Guess I never played it loud enough until then.
For me, it should be "listen to this great remix/remaster of Sabotage"! Then, "this bonus material is a really worthwhile!". I always felt that the box should have the remixed/remastered album as the strongest part of the package. It's not coming off that way.
well you're already setting yourself up for a disappointment. I don't think this is being remixed. Only remastered. You're not getting anything new in regards to Sabatage. And everyone already has the album, so anyone's really only buying it for the bonus.
I agree with Vinyl Diehard, it should be a case that a ‘Super Deluxe Boxset’ cd should have a definitive or at least amongst the better sounding masterings, with bonus tracks as exactly that - a nice bonus. I’ve read plenty of comments over this and the Vol 4 Super Deluxe about how they should be done like the latest Jethro Tull re-issues. I had a look on discogs and in fairness they look like the final word on those albums, fabulous looking sets with a lot of love and care gone into them.
Yup. Those sets have CDs and DVDs with lots of worthwhile stuff. They generally contain a flat transfer of the original mixes + new SW mixes for the album and other related tracks like singles, b-sides, outtakes and leftovers + live stuff, all in great sound quality, accompanied by a book packed with info: essays, interviews with relevant personnel, track by track analysis by Ian Anderson, chronology of the period with recording/mixing dates and tour dates, etc. Very complete, with balanced and dynamic mastering(*) and a friendly price tag. A fan's dream. Jethro Tull's booksets piss all over Sabbath's superdeluxes in every respect. (*) Album details - Dynamic Range Database Album details - Dynamic Range Database Album details - Dynamic Range Database
I would happily buy the 75 live set as a standalone release but will not be forking out for the box set.
Boat maintenance and marina fees ain't cheap, folk. Pony up your cash for these Sabbath deluxe boxes and keep your favorite record execs flush with rum and seaside joy.
About 15 years ago I was lucky to enjoy a listening/viewing session with a Sabbath collector. On the menu were Dumfries 69, Black Sabbath (studio outtakes), Paranoid (studio outtakes) and various pro-shot video. Dumfries was eventually made public and I can't remember how much of the studio stuff I listened to that day was included on the official expanded releases. At that time Sharon Osbourne was furiously attempting to block the material on the first few albums, which I believe Patrick Meehan Sr controlled. Anyway, my collector friend had just received the studio material and said that their would be more coming because as his contact informed him that all 8 original Sabbath tapes have "left the studio" and his contact was currently working his way through Sabotage. I haven't talked to my friend in quite a while, but during my past correspondence I would inquire about the rest of the studio stuff and he said that he never received any more items. He knew various people that were in contact with Tony, Geezer, Ozzy and Ronnie and said that besides Ozzy, none of them took much interest in recently unearthed audio/video gems from the 70s and 80s and didn't want it released because they only saw the flaws. That was 15 years ago. Hopefully, their attitudes have changed and the band is helping curate these deluxe packages, which incorporate archival material... One funny item I remember from our get together was him telling me that the Live at Last master reels were just found. I believe he said that Geezer's old roadie had them stored under his stairs...
Sample of the new remaster (or did somebody already post it?): Exactly, Rhino says the same thing: https://store.rhino.com/artist/black-sabbath/sabotage-super-deluxe-edition-4cd.html So three of the live tracks have already been released - which unequivocally confirms that the live recording is indeed Asbury Park 1975, three tracks of which were included on Past Lives. Thanks for sharing your story! Well, thanks to @Claus we know that Geezer and Tony were involved in the preparation of the Vol. 4 Super Deluxe release, and regrettably it doesn't look like that was helpful. I don't see any indication that they have changed their attitudes.
Right, and they also state from a complete concert so we know this isn't going to be a mix of some Asbury tracks with some tracks from other shows.
True! I am actually glad about that. I really wouldn't want 2 or 3 tracks from a previously unreleased live show. "Live in the UK 1973" was frustrating enough.
Someone did post it at one point. I think it sounds "off" but not as weird as 2012 V4 or Dio albums. I think it could be just that this track doesn't show up the weirdness as much. Will need to hear others. There is definitely something strange going on with it, though. The synthesizer is riding above everything else in a way that it doesn't in the other masterings I checked, including the 2016. I'm guessing compression and EQ in the 2021 is causing this and might cause more overall noticeable difference on more traditional tracks.
Not buying this is one of the easiest decisions I've ever made. I can't believe I am saying this about a release of my favorite band containing bonus material from a great live performance. But it is still true.
Well, maybe, but if that's the concept, it could be improved a lot by adding more and better, as well as better-sounding, bonus material.
For me, it is only if I find it at a drastically discounted price. By the way, that Am I Going Insane sample was bright, flat, and loud in my opinion.
