Bill Evans OJC vs. XRCD vs SHM-SACD (Bill Evans Trio - Definitive digital versions?) *

Those APO SACDs are not my cup of tea...
AP Gold CD of Debbey is absolutely fabulous.

 

But the SHM-SACD's aren't from APO?

 

Yes, it was another story. I just said my impressions.

 

Hehe, what's your preferred versions?

 

I've written about them in some threads. And IMO as everybody has own his/her favorites, you'd better listen as many as possible to find your versions.

The candidates are;
XRCD
OJC
SHM-SACD
VDJ
Complete Village Vanguard session

 

Are there different versions of the Moon Beams XRCD? I recently found a Japanese XRCD (VICJ-60214) which is mastered by Alan Yoshida. Are the earlier Bill Evans XRCDs that were done in the US different than those from Japan? Thanks !

Bill

 

I have JVCXR-0036-2 (Manne-Hole) mastered by Yoshida, but I'm not sure what is meant by "earlier....done in the US". I thought all XRCDs were Japan market. I have from time to time made an effort acquire all Yoshida mastered, but there remains a few missing.

As for Moon Beams, I find it hard to believe that any digital will beat the SHM-SACD.

 

I have several Bill Evans XRCDs. There are some with Japanese text on the back cover and others are do not have that. Bill Evans at Shelly's Manne-Hole (JVCXR-0036-2) and Everybody Digs Bill Evans (JVCXR-0020-2) are I believe US releases. Those two have totally different packaging than the ones I have with Japanese text. Some come with OBI strips and others do not. So IMO there are different Bill Evans XRCD releases with some being from the US and others from Japan.

Bill

 

All Victor XRCDs, including the early ones with the gatefold covers, were manufactured in Japan.

 

Hans,

Thanks for your thoughts. Any input on why the difference in the packaging? As I mentioned earlier some have Japanese text and plastic trays where others are all in English and do not have the plastic trays. Then some come with OBI strips and others do not. Would it be that some were for the US market and others were for the Japanese market? Just curious .

Bill

 

I have no background info on the difference in the packaging. Perhaps the gatefold covers turned out to be too expensive to manufacture, but that's pure speculation on my part.

 

I just went through my XRCD collection and found three different types of packaging. All of those with the Japanese text have the plastic trays. Then there are ones with the gatefold with a flap to keep the disc in place and another that has the gatefold for the disc but no flap. I wish I could post pictures but my I-Phone will not cooperate.

Besides the packaging the question I still have is why some do XRCDs have Japanese text and others do not. I have to believe that there was different packaging for the US and Japanese market. That is why I thought some were produced in the US and others in Japan.

* (Actually four types of packaging if you include the Audio Wave Blue Note series)

Bill

 

Is there a list of all of the Bill Evans XRCDs? I believe I have them all but wanted to be sure. Thanks !

Bill

 

I also have Workin' and Cookin' and Steamin' and Relaxin' as LP Facimile / mini lp XRCDs.

 

So the original XRCD is not the best sounding "Waltz for Debby"?

 

Haven't heard that one, but I love the sound of my gold AP CD.

 

Bill bump

 

Doing a search on Discogs for "Bill Evans XRCD" I came up with the titles listing in the link below. Not sure if that is all of the XRCDs from Bill Evans. I have all of them except "Know What I Mean". Although I'm not sure if I have the "Waltz for Debby" XRCD. The one that's not listed is the Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album XRCD. I do have that one as well.

Searching for "bill evans xrcd" within on Discogs

 

Excellent bill great job !

 

One that's missing from the Discogs list is The Tony Bennett - Bill Evans Album XRCD.

Tony Bennett / Bill Evans - The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album

 

How do the Bill Evans XRCD and SHM SACD discs compare?

 

This is almost a threadcrap, but "The Complete Village Vanguard Sessions" is cheap and sounds great.

 

Opinion on XRCD vs SHM-SACD vs other for the classic Bill Evans titles?