Steve, are you a Sarah McLachlan fan at all?

[Steve w]

If so, would you remaster any of her titles on SACD or DVD-A?

[Steve Hoffman]

Which ones do you like?

[Claviusb]

...that's easy! All of 'em! :D

[Steve w]

Surfacing and Fumbling Towards Ectasy are both good. Both were done on vinal by Classic Records but neither was ever released on a Hi-Rez format. Do you ever listen to any of her material?

[Steve Hoffman]

Yes, some. She's cute too!

[Metralla]

"Touch" is coming out soon on vinyl. Classic Records RTH-2004 180 Gram. Should be superb.

I have all her CDs including the funky "Remixed" (well, hardly classified as "her", but interesting nonetheless).

The rarest one I have is a live Limited Edition CD on Nettwerk from 1992 - only 5000 of this one were made. This is a killer CD - stunning live version of "Lost" from her second release "Solace". Just fabulous sound. So much better than the sound on "Mirrorball", although I still enjoy that CD.

I've been tempted to get the Classic Records Gold double-CD "Fumbling Towards Ecstacy/The Freedom Sessions", but haven't done so yet. Nothing wrong with the sound on the normal ones of course.

Saw Sarah open for The Chieftains back in Australia quite a few years ago. Most of the audience was there for the well-known Irish group - I was there for Ms. Sarah. She performed solo, a couple of numbers at the piano and a couple with the guitar. I'm sure much of the audience wondered who she was, but I could tell from the applause and a few hoots and hollers that there were at least a few hard-core fans. She came on at the end of The Chieftains set and joined them for a couple of numbers. A very enjoyable concert.

She is extremely cute. I was very jealous of a friend of mine who played harp in a trio which was the warm-up act before Sarah McLachlan (harp, cello, violin). He told me later that she was sitting off to one side a couple or hours before the show started, and he had no idea who she was at the time. So he chatted to her for half an hour. I was beside myself when he related this story, as I was an intense fan at the time. Not even an autograph! Well, performers are a different breed; it never occured to him to ask.

Regards,
Metralla

[AliMorid]

"Touch" is to be released as a 24/96 DAD by Classic Records on June 15th.

p.s. I Love Fumbling Towards Ecstasy

[Blair G.]

Another rare CD by Sarah is the original Canadian release of Touch.

She records for Nettwerk in Canada. When she signed with Arista in the US the debut album (Touch) was re-issued by both labels in both countries with different cover art. A couple of songs were added and/or deleted and some different mixes involved too.

I would have to buy a copy of the revised version of Touch to outline the exact differences between the two and have no idea as to how many copies are out there.
The Live EP was pretty common here for awhile, I'd think there were more than 5,000 copies in Canada.

Is the Freedom Sessions EP, including CDROM extras, available in the US ?

[Metralla]

Originally posted by Blair G.
Another rare CD by Sarah is the original Canadian release of Touch.
I have the Arista release. Thanks for the info - I'll keep my eyes open for the Nettwerk release.

The Live EP was pretty common here for awhile, I'd think there were more than 5,000 copies in Canada.
You may not be thinking of the same one I have. It's not an EP - it's a full length live album. According to Stereophile, only 5,000 were made, but who knows. It's called "Live - Limited Edition" - Nettwerk W2-6313, made in Canada. It is not listed on www.allmusic.com. There are 7 songs, most around 6 minutes.

* Drawn to the Rhythm
* Back Door Man
* Home
* Lost
* I Will Not Forget You
* Black
* Ben's Song

Note that allmusic does mention that Nettwerk reissued "Fumbling Towards Ecstacy" in 1996 with an additional live disc. You may be referring to this.

Is the Freedom Sessions EP, including CDROM extras, available in the US ?
I have it. But mine is on Nettwerk W0-6321. It does have the multi-media first track. Again, I would not call this an EP. Aside from the multi-media presentation, there are 8 songs:

* Elsewhere
* Plenty
* Mary
* Good Enough
* Hold On
* Ice Cream
* Ice
* Ol' 55

I have a few of her EPs which have three songs.

Happy to talk to another fan, though.

Regards,
Metralla

[Metralla]

Blair G,

There's a copy of the Live CD on eBay. It has a picture of the cover, so you could follow the link and tell me if this is the one you believe sold more than 5,000.

Sarah McLachlan "Live - Limited Edition" (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=876871168)

Regards,
Metralla

[Blair G.]

Yes, this is the same 'Live' CD that I have. We are also talking about the same 'Freedom Sessions' release too, the catalog numbers match.

Maybe there were only 5000 copies, I don't know for sure. It was marked as being limited edition when I bought it though I remember seeing it floating around the local stores for quite awhile. That's the basis for my statement.

I call them E.P.'s though that's not entirely true. Perhaps the old vinyl term "Mini Album" would be more appropriate. These days it seems anything with only 7 or 8 songs and/or approximately 30 minutes playing time isn't considered full length.
Splitting hairs, eh ?

I have 7 or 8 Sarah discs with 3 or 4 songs, many tracks rare, though quite a few ended up on her Rarities compliation.

The Canadian version of "Touch" hasn't been in print for years. Nettwerk is based locally (Vancouver) and they don't even have copies.

Before they moved to their new location Nettwerk used to have garage sales where you could go down to their office and buy tons of discontinued CD's at very low prices
That's where I got most of the CD singles (EP's?).

I'll send a track listing of "Touch" so we can figure out what the differences are.

[Metralla]

Blair G,

Here's what I have on the Arista CD.

* Out of the Shadows
* Vox
* Strange World
* Trust
* Touch
* Steamin'
* Sad Clown
* Uphill Battle
* Ben's Song
* Vox (Extended version)

Good chatting with you.

Regards,
Metralla

[Blair G.]

Hmmm,

Looks like the Arista version isn't as different as I thought. My disc has almost all the same tracks, in a slightly different running order:

Out of the Shadows
Steaming
Strange World
Touch
Vox
Sad Clown
Uphill Battle
Ben's Song
Vox (Extended Remix)
Ben's Song (78 Version)

You will notice "Trust" isn't there, instead I get the second version of "Ben's Song".
I seem to recall reading that some, or maybe all, tracks had been remixed for the
US release. But I could be wrong on that account, my memory being what it is.

This one came out in 1988, catalog# : NTCD 45

I'd include a cover shot but I lack the necessary equipment.
It's a sepia toned picture of a very short haired Sarah leaning against a tree looking pensive. The picture takes up about half the cover, the other half is black. The Arista version, if I recall, has much more colourful artwork.

This reminds me of the Jeff Healey CD "Cover To Cover". The version released here in Canada was half blues covers, half originals. The US release was all covers.

[GoldenBoy]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
Yes, some. She's cute too!

Oh yes she is! :D and I would love to hear Surfacing, Solace, and fumbling Towards Ecstacy remastered well to SACD.

[GoldenBoy]

Originally posted by Metralla

I have it. But mine is on Nettwerk W0-6321. It does have the multi-media first track. Again, I would not call this an EP. Aside from the multi-media presentation, there are 8 songs:

* Elsewhere
* Plenty
* Mary
* Good Enough
* Hold On
* Ice Cream
* Ice
* Ol' 55

I have a few of her EPs which have three songs.

Happy to talk to another fan, though.

Regards,
Metralla

That's a great disc. It sounds pretty good to me, but I would still like to hear a Hoffmann remaster of this one on SACD.