Disc:
Region: FREE!
(as verified by the
Oppo Blu-ray player)
Total Music time: 1:16:11.000
Total
Disc Size: 18,098,020,613 bytes
Stereo: 9,905,338,368 bytes
Surround: 7,874,273,280 bytes
Audio: 2.0 Stereo LPCM or DTS-HD 24 / 96 (24 bit depth and
96 kHz sampling rate)
5.1 Surround 24 / 96
Chapters: 17 Tracks Stereo PCM 2.0 and DTS-HD Audio & 17
Tracks Surround 24/96
Case: Transparent Blu-ray case
Release date: March 24th, 2014
Recorded: May 1973 Château d'Hérouville, France & Trident
Studios, London
Originally Released: October 1973
Japan SHM-SACD
Deluxe Edition 2 SACD Set
RIAA Sales: USA certified gold in October 1973, 5× platinum
in March 1993, 8X Platinum in 2014
Singles:
Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting
Candle In The Wind
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Bennie And The Jets
Awards: Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame 2003 and
Rolling Stone #91 Greatest Album
Charting: #1 in UK, USA, Canada and Australia
Interesting trivia : The album was not planned to be a
double album. Taupin wrote the lyrics in under 3 weeks and
Elton John did the music in about 3 days. Staggering
considering they released 17 tracks (18 if you split the
opening track). The working titles for the album were
initially Vodka and Tonics and Silent Movies, Talking
Pictures
Description: This is widely regarded as Elton John’s
greatest album. There are a number of editions. Mobile
Fidelity released an audiophile gold CD and it has been
reissued on the 30th anniversary as SACD and DVD-Audio
discs. Hi resolutions versions have been out of print for a
while until there was a
Japan SHM-SACD
reissue and this
Blu-ray PureAudio. The
Blu-ray marks the return of the
surround track that was issued on the DVD Audio disc. There
is also a 40th Anniversary Super Deluxe 4 CD & DVD edition
that includes a 2 CD Live at the Hammersmith Odeon concert
as well as bonus material and DVD.
The album: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is an album of
tremendous breadth, ranging from dramatic orchestral rock
arrangements, glam, melodic arrangements and the rocking
Saturday Night track that became a staple of radio for Sir
Elton. The Marilyn Monroe tribute Candle In The Wind is one
of the more melodic and touching tracks on the album, and
remade as Goodbye England’s Rose for Lady Diana on her
death. The album has something that appeals to almost
everyone, reflected in the staggering initial response and
the enduring appeal that this album has. Further testament
is in the number of re-issues this album has seen. It cannot
go out of print for long. This year has also seen new vinyl
issues and a very hard-to-find deluxe 2 LP yellow vinyl
issue that includes a download code.
Audio: Once again, I must admit I have an issue with this
Blu-ray release. While it features the return of the surround
track, it lacks any of the video special material seen in
the DVD Audio and the Super Deluxe Edition. The mastering is
in keeping with the new more ‘aggressive’ style of mastering
pushed right up to the maximum with a definite cut in
dynamic range. While the sound is still good, in the loudest
passages it seems shrill and lacks the definition of the
SHM-SACD. Fortunately, it does not overwhelm the album
(except for those loudest passages). This has become de
rigeur in the industry, so I don’t know whether I’m wasting
my breath commenting on this, or if it will ever change.
Louder, it seems, is always considered to be better.
However, if you take the
SHM-SACD and adjust the volume on
your amplifier accordingly, I find it to be the superior
version. The
Blu-ray very closely resembles the US/UK SACD
from 10 years ago. The DVD Audio and SACDs from 2003 also
feature bonus tracks. No reason not to include them here. I
am disappointed there as well.
Analysis:
As
mentioned above, the mastering is a little
all-over-the-place. The US/UK SACDs and DVD Audio also had
evidence of compression but it seems worse to my ear with
the Bluray. It is tonally bright but I think a little harsh
and unnecessary in a recording that is quite well done. The
dynamic range scores vary from DR9 to DR 12 for the Japanese
SHM-SACD. There are so many versions out there that
comparisons become difficult, but I found the original SACD
and DVD Audio pleasing. The Japanese
SHM-SACD is just bliss
and the Bluray is somewhat of a disappointment: no bonus
tracks, and the sound seems no better to my ear. The only
reason to recommend it is the surround, but you can still
get the
Blu-ray with extra tracks.
Summary: My recommendations: The
Blu-ray could be argues to
be a lazy repressing with no bonus material and new
mastering. I see nothing that precludes the
Blu-ray from
having some of the video material or extra tracks of the
other edition. There is little to specifically recommend it
therefore.
If you want the best audio:
Japan SHM-SACD
– best DR
(Dynamic Range)
score, most balanced and accurate sound.
If you want the most tracks, live material etc.. get the
40th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition
If you want the surround track, your only current option is
the
Blu-ray
unless you can get the
2 SACD or DVD Audio
editions – The mastering on the
Blu-ray is the 40th
anniversary more ‘aggressive’ sound
If you want a balance of good audio, surround tracks and
bonus material: the
2 SACD Edition (or DVDAudio if you can
still find one)
If you just want a high resolution release in stereo, HDTracks has the 24/96 40th Anniversary remaster for
download with a similar DR score. As they advertise it as
the 40th Anniversary Celebration, I presume it is the same
master and you can choose your download format of choice (AIFF,
FLAC, Apple Lossless etc…)
