Bob Dylan Blonde Sony gold vs. Sony Sacd

[spotlightkid]

Anyone have an opinion on the Bob Dylan-Blonde on Blonde
Sony 24k sbm gold cd vs. the Sony Sacd.what more detail do you hear in the Sacd if any.Which Dylan title will be next for Sacd,my guess is Blood on the Tracks.

[lukpac]

They are different remixes, for one thing. I've heard that the mix on the SACD is a lot better than the mix on the gold CD, although I haven't heard the gold CD (I do have a CD-R of the SACD).

[MikeT]

I have both the Sony Gold re-master and the SACD, but have yet to compare. Nonetheless, the Dylan SACD is good but not the best SACD out there.

I would hope Sony would get on the ball releasing more Dylan on SACD like they did with Miles Davis.

I would love to have "Blood on the Tracks", "Freewheelin'", "Street Legal", "Infidels", "Another Side of", "Love and Theft", "Time Out of Mind", "Desire", "Planet Waves", "Nashville Skyline (even though it is a very short album), "Highway 61" (although the Steve Hoffman DCC release will be tough to beat ;) ), ....

While we are at it, why not just release them all :D

[PsychFan]

I have Sony's gold CD and a CD-R of the SACD mix, and, while both sound good, I'd have to give the nod to the SACD mix.

It more closely resembles the sound of my original mono LP, which previously was my hands-down favorite.

[Steve Hoffman]

I agree with Jeff about the SACD version of "Blonde On Blonde". If only they had used a couple of tubes in the DSD mastering chain, Dylan's voice might have had more of the original stereo tube cut LP magic.

[TommyTunes]

There was a UK cd version released in Dec 2000 under the banner of "The Millennium Collection" that to my ears sounds the same as the SACD version and better than the CBS Gold release. I don't think this master has been used for the US cd issues. They (Sony UK) also did a Blood on the Tracks at that time which sounds very good. All titles in the series came in mini LP sleeves.

[David Powell]

Does anyone know what source tapes that Sony has been using for "Blonde On Blonde"? I remember reading a while back that the original stereo 2-track master couldn't be found.

[Steve Hoffman]

Three channel 1/2" original, mixed to DSD.

[lukpac]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
Three channel 1/2" original, mixed to DSD.
Eh...I believe that was a 4-track master...

[Steve Hoffman]

Yer right, pal. I've been typing "three-channel" all day, working on the Judy Garland package....

[Sckott]

I have to agree. I liked the SACD mix of "Blonde On Blonde" a little better than the ordinary stereo mix. Wonderful sound!

Can't wait for Sundazed to get the MONO lp out.

[Paul L.]

For an exhaustive examination of ALL the Blonde on Blonde versions on vinyl and disc, check out Roger Ford's site:

http://www.rdf.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

[Patrick M]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
I agree with Jeff about the SACD version of "Blonde On Blonde". If only they had used a couple of tubes in the DSD mastering chain, Dylan's voice might have had more of the original stereo tube cut LP magic.

Steve, gotta ask: is what you've posted here based on your insider info or your impression of the SACD, based on listening? I ask becauase I just recently got an e-mail from Roger Ford in which he indicated that Michael Brauer sometimes used tubes, sometimes didn't, depending on what he thought sounded best.

I don't like the stock gold CD at all -- harsh, bright, and flat (2D). Most people think the SACD is the best stereo mix available.

This may be heresy, but doesn't anyone know if Sony is planning a m-ch release of this title?

[Steve Hoffman]

Just my impression. I like the SACD, but compared to my original 1966 stereo LP cut, the DSD version needs a bit of "breath".

Still the best digital version out there!

[David Powell]

Word is that Bob Irwin's Sundazed label will be reissuing a mono 180-gram LP version of "B.O.B." later this year.

[Richard Feirstein]

Mr Dylan helped mix the mono USA release and it corrects several player mistakes. The initial stereo release not only lacks those corrections it also fails to follow any of the mixing clues in the mono mix. The UK mono mix is based upon that stereo mix (likely a mistake). Later stereo releases were a different mix. The initial mono and stereo mixed masters have been lost. Later stereo mixes and the cd mixes go back to the 4 track master. The SACD is based upon the later stereo vinyl release. It puts a lot of the bass back where it was missing and sounds great. I agree with Mr. Ford, it is the bast mix out there but for the orignal mono mix which is now lost. My kids immediately noticed the sonic improvement over the CD-R of the SACD mix and the Gold mix.

[PsychFan]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
Just my impression. I like the SACD, but compared to my original 1966 stereo LP cut, the DSD version needs a bit of "breath".

I just picked up a VG+++ 2-eye stereo a few weeks ago (for $1.99!), but only sampled Side 2. I should set aside some time to hear the whole thing this weekend ...

I'm also looking forward to Sundazed's mono Blonde. I have a clean mono original, but I've loved the other Sundazed Dylan titles so much that I don't think I'll be able to resist it.

[Richard Feirstein]

But the momo master Bob put together is lost. The edits Bob used from dubs are lost. It will not be a duplicate of what Bob created.

[Todd Fredericks]

Is the mono master gone? Bob Irwin said Sundazed is realising the mono album next month or March. Maybe he's using a copy?

Todd

[guy incognito]

Or maybe even a new mono mix...

[Richard Feirstein]

You can do a new mono mix but you can't duplicate what Mr. Dylan did because apparently the mono master is a missing and the editing elements Bob used are also missing. Mr. Robenson's missed guitar licks were carefully removed by Bob and Robbie but are back in various states on the various remixed reissues. The mono vinal sounds great (except for all that noise), but I love the SACD remix.

[TimB]

I have both copy's, and I would cast my vote to the SACD version. Much better all the way around, and closer to a "analog sound". While I have not listened to the vinyl version for several years, I would be glad to compare all 3 next time I have a listening session.

[John Carsell]

Originally posted by David Powell
Does anyone know what source tapes that Sony has been using for "Blonde On Blonde"? I remember reading a while back that the original stereo 2-track master couldn't be found.

It's a wonder that the Mastersound gold CD ever got released.

From what I've read Dylan HATED the mix on that one.

[Richard Feirstein]

Since the mono and stereo masters are lost all of the CD releases are derived from a new mix from the final 4 track master tape. Bob worked very hard on the mono mix and likely would like to hear a release that is based upon that. The SACD mix was an attempt to duplicate the sound of the initial stereo release but they apparently used a later stereo release to base it on. This is good because the initial USA stereo relese had some editing problems. Roger Ford has published on the web a rather comprehensive analysis of this and has spoken to the SACD mastering guy who is not the guy Sony listed on the disk's material. The Stereo vinyl release ignored Bob's mixing clues and failed to include the repairs made to mistakes made by Robbie Robinson on several tracks. It also lost the bass line that is quite present on that mono mix.