SPIRIT self titled and "The Family That Plays Together" coming on Audio Fidelity SACD, SH mastered

I only have an old Columbia Best Of CD, so I will buy these SACDs. Then again, I buy every Audio Fidelity SACD (title, not copy).

 

Glad to Spirit get a little recognition. I'm in for these too.

 

Great news. I know you haven't started on 12 dreams yet, Steve, and you're committed to not remixing, but any chance to include multichannel? I think that could be done in the spirit of the album, pardon the pun.

 

I agree! A stereo/multichannel of Twelve Dreams... would be great. Were there ever a quad mix for that record?

 

Thanks Myke!

 

One of my favorite bands: a must purchase for me, even though I have the Sundazed vinyl re-issues and a few on original vinyl. I must have four or five copies of Dr. Sardonicus!

 

YEAH BABY! One of my favorite bands ever through their first four recordings.

I'll be curious to hear how tFTPT comes out. The masters were great judging by the Repertoire version that came out awhile back.

 

re: the azimuth issues on the segued songs

When playing these back, would you just notice a high frequency drop off between the two track? What all goes wrong when the azimuth is not set correctly?

I guess in a perfect world, the master is all compiled on one properly aligned deck. When it's not, in the LP days, would some songs just be slightly off, whereas now you can join aligned bits together in the digital domain?

Do you always have to align azimuth by ear with music, or can you do it with tones at the top of the tape?

Thanks!

 

Fantastic news. Spirit was a great band that deserved the attention.
The original lineup was a model example of interlocking strengths working together to create high art that still stands up.
All four albums are great, and at this point Dr. Sardonicus is probably more resonant to me than Pet Sounds. One of a kind, incredible record from start to finish.
An acquaintance of mind died two summers ago. Not too long after I heard the news, I was listening to this record, and When I Touch You came on. I started thinking about things from the perspective of his girlfriend and suddenly a song that was never one of my very favorites on the record became totally overpowering.
And good lord, Morning Will Come - how on EARTH was this not a hit? Are you kidding? It should have hit bigger than I Got a Line On You. Killer track off a very heavy, monster record.
OK, I'll stop now. But this is exciting news.

 

Well, like most folks responding here, I'm in the spirit all the way!



Cat

 

Spirited:

Spirit of "Spirit" lives on.
Spirit of Randy [Craig Wolfe] California lives on.
Spirit of "60's Rock" lives on.
Spirit of Gold CD's lives on.
Spirit of "The Breath of Life" mastering lives on.
Spirit of SA-CD lives on.

Great, great, news Steve; thank you & all the "True Tone" [TM] professionals who assisted in this project!

 

Chris just sent me the link for The Family... SACD !!! : Spirit - The Family That Plays Together

 

This is incredible news!

Of course, I will be picking all of these up but I have to say I can't wait until Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus is released. That is one of my absolute favourite albums of all time. What a record! It's hard to believe it wasn't bigger than it was when it was first released but I guess it's true that this band has such a unique sound, it either really grabs you or it doesn't.

I don't believe there was ever a Quad mix of this, was there? Too bad, really. I imagine it would sound fantastic. Even a new 5.1 mix would be great. I know that's not happening with this release but we can all dream, right? Maybe someday.

For now, I will be more than happy with these stereo SACD's. Whoever is responsible for getting this done, Thank You!

 

'Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus' is by far one of the wickedest stereo mixes I've ever heard. Gonna be fun mastering that one I'll bet. My old LP sounds incredible...

Spirit (8) - Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus

 

Just chiming in here to say that I will be buying all four of these Spirit SACDs.

 

I am good for all four SACDs as well.

While I prefer the other albums to "Twelve Dreams," I too would be eager to hear (and buy) a multichannel version of that album.

 

"Tin Man" is a NorCal Bay Area cover band that has 'spirit'!
So still dancing to "I Got A Line On You - Spirit"!!
Tin Man

 

The best Audio Fidelity reissues since a few months. I hope the original mixes sound good or (maybe) better as the remixes.

 

It's a matter of your personal listening taste. You won't find a needledrop of the Family That Plays Together (Ode pressing) on YouTube to do a comparison, so the only way to do it is to find a 1st pressing (not difficult), and get the 1996 "20-bit" remaster from Sony.

IMO, the original mix has a j'en ai se quoi that requires some relaxed but attentive listening to appreciate fully.
One example I can refer to is the piano in "Poor Richard"(elsewhere, too), which is a subtle part of the musical fabric that comprises Family in its original mix. On the 1996 remaster CD, you have a different tale. Good dynamic range(ditto for the original mix), and the re-mix certainly updates the sonics quite well (if you're into that...)...but much of the subtlety is brought straight to the surface, and that piano is suddenly slamming out the chords during the intro...and while the instruments are given some renewed clarity, something is lost. The magic is gone-over with a fine-tooth comb, and you have something a bit different, IMO. Other things, like fade-outs, can be different than the original. They got it right the first time, but I'll let you decide...

 

Steve, this new series of Spirit SACD titles is very welcome music to many ears here, mine included. Love this announcement.

 

Thanks for your info.... I never owned an original LP. Can't wait.......

 

Yep. The original vinyl/mix rules...on an old analog TT like mine.

But for a CD play in my ride, Steve's will be awesome I'm sure.

 

Absolutely. This is what I have wanted for a long time: The non-remixed versions on CD, transferred from the tapes. It's a new day for Spirit fans!

 

Thank you for this information.

Can you elaborate a little about What is the difference between the 1996, which is Remixed and the new Audio Fidelity which are not?