Audiophile Digital

From Mingus to Mancini, The O’Jays to The Doors, Ken Kessler brings you an audiophile’s A-list of 20 brand-new surround sound albums ready to wrap you in all their 360° glory

Paraphrasing Mark Twain when he read his obituary, reports of the death of surround sound are greatly exaggerated. The ascent of decent soundbars and reticence among normal people to house five or more speakers have taken their toll, but – undaunted – 2L in Norway and Dutton-Vocalion in the UK have been producing surround sound discs for years, as have some Japanese labels. Last year, the Rhino division of major label Atlantic joined the club with its Quadio range.

For those so equipped, the riches of multichannel sound are worth exploiting. Here are 20 brand-new SACDs, DVDs and Blu-rays offering a mix of DTS and Dolby formats. Aside from 2L’s and Squeeze’s recordings, nearly all date from the original ‘quadraphonic’ era of the 1970s.

Dolby vs DTS

Quadio releases are DTS 24/192 ‘hi-res’ and use true 4.0 mixes, while most convert 4.0 to 5.1 or 7.1. A few appear in surround for the first time, having only been issued in stereo back in the day. And most genres are covered, from disco/funk to country rock, ‘proper’ jazz and more.

In ‘Off The Leash’ [HFN Aug ’24], I wrote that discrete digital sources free us ‘from the vagaries of matrix’d LP playback’ while ‘the sad realisation is that they were far more enjoyable than we knew back then’. If you’re surround sound-ready, you can compare DTS vs Dolby via discs with both. The get-out clause? If surround sound doesn’t impress you, all will play two-channel stereo so there’s nothing to lose.

Henry Mancini
The Best Of Vols 1 & 2/Concert Sound Of/Salutes Sousa
Vocalion 2CDLK4636 2xSACDs DSD stereo/quad

Providing four Mancini albums on two SACDs allows you to savour the wide-ranging scope of this genius’s work, and his prowess as a band leader/arranger. The albums include The Best Of Vols 1 & 2 from 1964 and 1966 respectively, both with 1971 quadraphonic mixes; The Concert Sound Of Henry Mancini, also from 1964 with the 1971 quad update; and 1973’s Mancini Salutes Sousa issued during the quad era. The last will knock you out if, like me, you enjoy huge marching bands without constraint, while the rest are feasts for those who love soundtrack scores. Sublime.

The O’Jays
Ship Ahoy/Message In The Music/Live In London
Vocalion 2CDSML8582 2xSACD stereo/quad

All three of these O’Jays albums from 1973-1976 were issued in quadraphonic form, with the live one benefitting the most from surround sound. Taste rules, so the studio albums also come across as smooth and enveloping. This quintessential Philly Soul outfit delivered music that was slicker than the previous decade’s funkier, grittier Stax/Volt/Atlantic-type soul, so the technology actually suits it. As for the material here, the themed Ship Ahoy hit No 1 and gave us ‘Put Your Hands Together’, while a No 1 was gained, too, by Message In The Music’s title tune. Classy stuff.

Nidaros Domkor
MOR
2L 2L-176 Blu-ray/SACD Dolby Atmos/DTS-HD Master Audio

Not MOR as in ‘middle of the road’ but another atmospheric, format-loaded two-disc set from 2L, the title meaning ‘mother’. This continues the label’s enabling users to try every type of surround up to 7.0.4. via Blu-ray and SACD, plus stereo (including MQA). It’s particularly interesting if you have two transports that are feeding the same processor, for A/B testing. The material here begs the capabilities of surround, creating a cavernous effect from performers including the Nidaros Cathedral Choir accompanied by cello and organ. The music celebrates motherhood from joy to tragedy, so it’s not for the fainthearted.

Squeeze
Live At The Liverpool Philharmonic
Love Records LVRCD007 2CDs/1Blu-ray DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0/5.1

Squeeze performed this set in Liverpool in 2019 with the same lineup that played at Glastonbury 2024, save for the bassist. Captured as audio-only on two CDs, the video Blu-ray contains the entire concert plus documentary scenes. As it’s a live gig, this lends itself to surround sound – in fact some would argue that concerts are the only music which should come out in multichannel. All the hits, and all superb.

Gordon Lightfoot
Sundown
Rhino/Reprise Quadio BA2 2177 Blu-ray DTS-HD Master Audio 4.0

Lightfoot was one of the singer-songwriter greats of the past half-century and this album’s title track ranks with classics like ‘If You Could Read My Mind’ and ‘Early Morning Rain’. Issued in 1974, this set was treated with supreme taste in 4.0 mode. The prime acoustic is folk-rock – one to accompany America’s Hideaway in this group for soft, introspective music. As for ‘Sundown’ itself? No-wasted-words storytelling to compete with Dylan.

Ensemble 96 & Current
Pax
2L 2L-174-SABD SACD/Blu-ray 2.0-7.1.4 options

Five performers each deliver a track with the Current Saxophone Quartet conducted by Nina T Karlsen. As they differ so much, it seems more like a compilation than a unified album, but all are new works by Norwegian composers in the ‘sacred space’ of Norway’s Uranienborg Church. The theme is peace, the goal ‘an immersive experience’ achieved through stereo modes up to various surround sound formats from DTS 5.1 to Dolby Atmos 7.1.4. Goal accomplished.

Charles Mingus
Mingus Moves
Rhino/Atlantic BA2 1653 Blu-ray DTS-HD Master Audio 4.0

As this involves a quintet – bassist Mingus plus Ronald Hampton on trumpet, pianist Don Pullen, George Adams on tenor sax and flute, with drummer Dannie Richmond – it might seem like an artificial audio event in surround sound. Looked at another way, this 1973 set delivers enhanced intimacy: the 4.0 mix places the listener smack in the middle of the group. Amusingly, there’s no LFE (‘0.1’) channel, but plenty of Mingus to savour.

Enoch Light
4-Channel Dynamite/Big Band Hits Of The ‘30s
Vocalion CDLK4655 SACD DSD stereo/quad

Two Enoch Light albums from 1972/1974 serve as reminders that he championed early audiophile sound and stereo, his original LPs and tapes being essentials in the late 1950s. A title like 4-Channel Dynamite mandates extensive use of the rear channels, which work superbly for big band covers of hits of the day, eg, The Beatles’ ‘Penny Lane’. The second set is more of the same, only pre-rock era material like ‘Stardust’ and ‘Caravan’. The sound? Killer!

America
Holiday
Rhino/Warner Quadio BA2 2808 Blu-ray DTS-HD Master Audio 4.0

America’s fourth from 1974 seems controlled in the surround sense because it was produced by genius arranger George Martin, who had immaculate taste and could rein in excess. I don’t own the rare quad open-reel tape, but the space via Blu-ray is warm and embracing, in places recalling the country-rock band’s unfairly dismissive image as Neil Young soundalikes. This album produced two US hits – ‘Tin Man’ and ‘Lonely People’.

The Doors
The Best Of The Doors
Rhino/Elektra BA2 60345 Blu-ray Dolby Atmos/DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

Here’s a late ’60s/early ’70s hits selection updated to 5.1 but with the hand of the original engineer – the legendary Bruce Botnick – ensuring authenticity. This is a surprisingly laid back, tasteful multichannel transition for a rock album of a poetic bent, and you will experience chills upon hearing ‘Riders On The Storm’ and ‘The End’ in proper surround sound. If you only buy one disc from this batch – even sticking to stereo – this is a serious contender.

Randy Newman
Good Old Boys
Rhino/Reprise Quadio BA2 2193 Blu-ray DTS-HD Master Audio 4.0

Newman’s satire on America’s South probably couldn’t be recorded today as it might trigger too many sensitive types, but it’s typical of his work and to be celebrated: wise, sarcastic and musically delightful. What’s unusual is the use of surround sound for what is primarily singer-plus-piano. The backing is mainly relegated to the surround channels, with Newman and keyboards the main focus – one of the better solutions to 4.0 mixes.

Joni Mitchell
The Asylum Albums (1972-1975)
Asylum Quadio BD2 680935 4xBlu-ray Dolby Atmos/DTS-HD Master Audio 4.0

This elegant box contains Court And Spark, the live Miles Of Aisles and The Hissing Of Summer Lawns with original 4.0 mixes and a fresh ‘2024 Quad mix’ on For The Roses, not originally offered in surround. Why the latter’s inclusion? Because this is the Quadio version of the visually identical stereo CD box, preserving a beautiful package. The surround mixes work superbly and it’s a rare Quadio release with DTS and Dolby Atmos.

Gil Evans
Svengali
Rhino/Atlantic Quadio BA2 1643 Blu-ray DTS-HD Master Audio 4.0

Quadraphony lent itself beautifully to live albums: this fabulous recording – regarded as one of pianist Evans’ finest releases of the 1970s – exploits the massive sense of space and the mix is perfectly atmospheric, this probably being the raison d’être of surround sound. The 1973 performance took place at Trinity Church, New York City, except for the closing track, ‘Zee Zee’, recorded in the NYC’s Philharmonic Hall, so soundstage aficionados will delight in studying the sonics of the venues. Better still is the use by Miles Davis’ occasional colleague of a full orchestra and instruments that are both acoustic and electronic.

Fleetwood Mac
Rumours
Warner Records BA2 3010 Blu-ray Dolby Atmos/DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

F-Mac completists will own the 2001 DVD-A with the first surround mix of 1977’s 40m-selling smash, with ‘Second Hand News’, and ten more hyper-familiar tracks. Perhaps it wasn’t issued in 4.0 because quad was on its way out in ’77, but this after-the-fact mix is legit because the same producers/engineers worked on the original. This Blu-ray immerses you in it – and yes, it beats the DVD-A

War
The World Is A Ghetto
Rhino/Avenue Quadio BA2 726002 Blu-ray DTS-HD Master Audio 4.0

Recently reissued in 4CD/5LP 50th anniversary deluxe packages with ‘making of’ material, this Quadio edition sneaked out without the box sets’ celebratory markings and doesn’t appear to be part of the CD set. It deserves to be extolled from the rooftops as it’s one of the best-sounding discs in this group, with the bottom-end defining 1970s funk bass. Ironically, it may be a cause of antipathy for those who blindly detest surround sound: whole instruments and sound effects cloak the listener. The title song has never sounded better, and this fierce political statement is the essence of soul/funk music of the decade..

Thin Lizzy
Vagabonds Of The Western World
Decca 00602458741131 Blu-ray Dolby Atmos/DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

Not issued in quad despite being born during its heyday – 1973 – this multichannel version dazzles, with whole instruments placed away from the front stage – hard rock heard with utmost clarity and detail. And note that the disc adds seven tracks from singles, also in surround. Make sure a screen is on – the graphics are dandy. There’s a four-disc set with John Peel sessions and other gems if you need more.

The Isley Brothers
The Heat Is On/Harvest For The World 3+3/Live It Up/Go For Your Guns
Vocalion CDSML8567 and 2CDSML8581 SACD/2xSACD stereo/quad

One SACD with two albums and three spread over two SACDs, the five titles dating from 1973-77. All have original quad sources, coinciding with the O’Jays’ release [see p32]. Here The Isley Brothers excel in their mellow, uptown soul/funk. You want classics? How about ‘Summer Breeze’, ‘(Who’s) That Lady’, ‘Harvest For The World’, ‘Fight The Power’? Truly magnificent, the surround element handled with restraint.

Tony Mottola
Tony & Strings/Close To You
Vocalion 2CDLK4647 SACD stereo/quad

One element defines this SACD: input from Enoch Light. As with his release, these are spectacularly recorded, 1970s big band interpretations of standards and hits of the day. Tony & Strings offers ‘The Candy Man’, ‘Nature Boy’ and The Godfather theme, while Close To You supplies the title track, ‘Didn’t We’, ‘Autumn Leaves’ and ‘The Christmas Song’. This differs from Light’s albums because Mottola was a top-flight studio guitarist, so that instrument dominates.

Average White Band
AWB
Rhino/Atlantic Quadio BA2 7308 Blu-ray DTS-HD Master Audio 4.0

Average White Band’s second effort contained a huge hit – ‘Pick Up The Pieces’ – making them one of the most sampled acts of all time. A ‘Scottish funk/soul outfit’ might now seem like cultural appropriation, but in 1974 nothing stopped AWB from hitting No 1 across the Pond while blue-chip credibility came from James Brown’s band, the J.B.’s, covering ‘Pick Up The Pieces’. Whole instruments appear in the rear channels, but judiciously so.

The Spinners
The Spinners
Rhino/Vanguard Quadio BA2 7256 Blu-ray DTS-HD Master Audio 4.0

Here, too, we find instruments at the back but it works as they are free of distraction, no sweeping channel-to-channel. The Spinners’ third album, from 1973, saw the group move from Motown to Atlantic, and the reward was a couple of hits, ‘I’ll Be Around’ and the silky ‘Could It Be I’m Falling In Love’. Listen for a sly version of ‘Don’t Let The Green Grass Fool You’, so unlike Wilson Pickett’s funky take from 1970 you won’t even recognise it as the same song