All current SACD's coming out are exclusive hybrid and contain a redbook cd-layer for cd-player compatibility. People with actual MLP capable dvd-audio players are certainly not a majority amongst consumers, so the true HI-Res market is scarse.
Ah... see I didn't mean for you to assume I meant MLP. As shown by countless releases, PCM and DTS are perfectly capable, as is Dolby Digital. I also didn't mean surround mixes. So, if you think about it, PCM would be a very acceptable format to use. Straight compatibility for all players.
As for dual disc layers - I didn't realise there was a cd/dvd version. I was only familiar with the cd/sacd ones. Good to know. I still feel dvd is the most generally common format next to cd these days.
Reason why I'm a bit disappointed about the idea behind it is:
I was waiting for a beautifully released box, like Mercury one, with a book and all that stuff- I'm gonna get a jewel case...
And... Is 1 extra CD enough? If you think about QUEEN, that's awfully lot already- DeLaneLae demos, second BBC session, Polar Bear, Silver Salmon, I'm sure they have some out-takes from the songs they used on the first album, Mad The Swine, The Night Comes Down recorded in trident Studios... That's already quite a lot, isn't it? I wanted to have them all in one place- like a big anthology. What I'm also affraid of is the possibility that after releasing those special editions they're gonna put out BOX SETS anyway- wouldn't surprise me... With the same material?
AND the last but not least- why am I forced to buy original material again? (Ok- am not forced, but have to do it to get rarities)- it was being so strongly stressed that this is not going to be the case!!! Are we going to get new remasters? If so- than maybe fine, I may be OK with the idea. But somehow I expect same old 2001 japanese ones... Remember 100 bootlegs? There was a chance of making it right and release the soundboards. Blown. The project is dead anyway, they didn't updated it for 3 months now. I'm affraid it's gonna be similiar with those... Unless I see them on the shelf- I'm sceptical. But if- IF- this is true and is going to be done properly (no rip-off, quality product)- I'm going to be the happiest man on the planet.
The first release WILL be some time THIS year - "A Night At The Opera" 30th Anniversary special edition (heralded to a great fanfare) - possibly followed by "A Day At The Races".
I really don't get why it should start with A Night at the Opera. In my humble opinion, although it is a great album, it's not even in the top three! The rereleases should start wirth the first (and, in my opinion, by far the greatest) album.
Then again, I still think the boxsets would be way better, at least as an option! All that lovely Queen in one purchase.... drrrroooolll....makes me want to sell a kidney. Any takers?
>why am I forced to buy original material again.....
Well, if you just accept the fact that, with a 2-disc set, you're actually only buying 1 disc and paying say £15 for it, you're essentially getting a free disc. Pretend that the original album isn't in the package and just look at the contents of whatever disc 2 has on each set - then decide whether you want to buy *just that disc* and voila!
We have the rarities we have been after.
Work out that each album would eventually have 2 discs, that means that Queen *RELEASE* 15 rarities discs (if they do release each album as a Deluxe issue). This is opposed to a, what, 4 or 6 disc box set of studio rarities. That box set would also likely have to include the standard versions of the best-known hits in order to appeal to people outside of the collecting / die-hard community and, therefore, would mean less space available for the rare material we have all been after. Think of it more like a super-box set as opposed to what we all know to be the standard box set release for a band.
Perhaps this is a BETTER idea and something that THE BAND have perhaps proposed to the powers that be in order to get as much rare material to the fans as possible.
Personally, I think we need to get right behind this.
I am against this idea. I already own the original records, then I bought CD, and I even have started the DVD versions. We SHOULD NOT have to pay for the whole works AGAIN to get the rare stuff!!! The extras that were put on the first CD's absolutely sucked. Like we wanted to hear Queen's music ruined by making it rap!!!!!!!!!!!!! So What would be considered for the extras this time? More crap or some of the odd stuff we've been downloading to hear? (Can't get it any other way - can we!)
What kind of sound quality will it have? The CD I have of News of the World is god awful. I can't even listen to it!! I could see if they had done this when they release(d) the DVD versions...At least then we are not getting robbed...It's not much different than when we replaced the records with CD's.
PLEASE release the rare stuff all on its own!!! Stop robbing the fans. This is a big reason why downloading is so popular!!!!
I dont belive releasing the unreleased material in this manner WILL enable them to issue more material - this just aint in QPs interests... issue as little for as much money more like. If this 2 disc format does come to fruition, I can guarantee you the bonus discs won't run over 40 mins each.
and theres the issue of what theyll actually choose to issue... will they actually issue unreleased songs like silver salmon, the queen version of polar bear, feelings feelingg etc etc etc or will they stick to just demos & outtakes of albums tracks?
will they actually issue unreleased songs like silver salmon, the queen version of polar bear, feelings feelingg etc etc etc or will they stick to just demos & outtakes of albums tracks?
They will release stuff we have now in various trading circles(hub/mp3/bootlegs) and not what we really really want.
Hopefully they will follow the same path as both Fleetwood Mac [as suggested by John S. Stuart] and the new REM reissues.
Ideally, they will all be deluxe issues with nicely done cover art [in my view they should be done like Universal's Deluxe Editions - the Elton John GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD is excellent]. They should all have the original album done in:
1. Advanced Resolution DVD-Audio 5.1 Surround
2. Advanced Resolution DVD-Audio Stereo
3. DTS 5.1 Surround [playable on all DVD players]
4. Advanced Resolution stereo [playable on all DVD players]
The second disc should be a disc full of rarities/b-sides/demos etc.
In the case of the A NIGHT AT THE OPERA 30th Anniversary set, it should also include a bonus DVD which would include documentary material about the making of the album and also LIVE AT HAMMERSMITH ODEON 75. With all the other releases being 2 disc, this could be sold as an extra special edition.
Ideally, these would be issued as mentioned by Mr Stuart over the next 18mths in groups of 3 or 4 and would include ALL Queen studio albums. They could also sell a catalogue and box to house all of these new editions.
At some later date, an Anthology box set could also be released grouping a lot of this stuff together with any extras for those who want a Deluxe Box, but without any of the studio albums.
The Beatles Anthology set was greatly expanded when it was released on DVD, so maybe this could happen here too.
This way... we all get what we want!! <grin> Well.. mostly anyway. There are always going to be some who wont be pleased by anything.
What do you guys think? This would certainly be my ideal [well.. except for the Anthology box which I could live without, unless it was DVD with lots and LOTS of extra footage].
Cheers
I like the way that The Clash - London Calling was done
1. Original Album (remastered, natch)
2. Vanilla demos (pre-production demos including 5 unreleased songs)
3. DVD on the making of the album (including in-studio footage recently discovered)
1. will these be released in the US? I caught a reference to Hollywood in that first post.
2. is it guaranteed the entire back catalog WILL be released this way?
I think its a great idea for the fans to get what we want and for everyone to still make some money. Face it, a Queen anthology boxset would not fair well in the US market, least we are getting something.
As for the people complaining about DVDA, I agree, I love DVDA, but if you want to make money you have to adopt a consumer friendly format, DVDA doensn't look like its picking up speed anytime soon, and Queen cannot influence the DVDA market that strongly.
In fact with Dylan, The Stones, The Who and Pink Floyd releasing Hybrid SACDs, DVD Audio is tanking.
