Eric Clapton and Mercury Living Presence Headline 11 New SACDs on Universal Music Release List

The Universal Music Group started off September with a bang by adding 11 new Super Audio CDs to their list of upcoming releases. Included in this week’s additions to the SACD Release List from Universal are two of three long-awaited Surround Sound SACDs by Eric Clapton, the five remaining albums from the first batch of Mercury Living Presence SACD Remastered Series discs and four additional Classical Music SACDs. Here are the highlights of this week’s additions to the SACD list.

2 Eric Clapton Surround Sound SACDs Slated for October 26th
This week’s big news is that the albums 461 Ocean Boulevard and Slow Hand by Eric Clapton on the Polydor label have received catalog numbers and an official in-store availability date of October 26th in the latest edition of Universal Music’s Release List. Also noteworthy is the news that the next 5 Surround Sound Super Audio CDs from Elton John have now also received catalog numbers and are listed on the official list as well for October 26th. These seven Surround Sound SACDs will be joining the previously scheduled Surround Sound SACD of the Carpenters Greatest Hits entitled Singles: 1969-1981 on that date.

  • Eric Clapton – 461 Ocean Boulevard (Polydor)
  • Eric Clapton – Slow Hand (Polydor)

    17 Super Audio CDs Slated for Release on November 9th
    Two weeks later, Universal Music plans an even larger release of Super Audio CDs with 17 new SACDs slated to debut on that date. New to the list for November 9th are the second group of five Mercury Living Presence SACD Remasters. You will recall that Universal Music indicated that these SACDs were expected to reach U.S. music stores in November, perhaps as early as November 9th. That is now indeed their release date.

    In addition to the five Mercury Living Presence SACDs, Universal Music is also adding four more Classical SACDs to the Super Audio CD titles already scheduled for release on that date. These albums include performances by Charles Dutoit, Anna Netrebko, Claudio Abbado & the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Hilary Hahn with Colin Davis & the London Symphony Orchestra and Seiji Ozawa.

  • Antal Dorati, London Sympohny Orchestra – Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol (Mercury Living Presence)
  • Charles Dutoit – Poeme (Philips Classics)
  • Frederick Fennell, Eastman Wind Ensemble – Sousa Marches (Mercury Living Classics)
  • Hilary Hahn, Colin Davis, London Symphony Orchestra – Elgar: Violin Concerto Op. 61 & Williams: The Lark Ascending (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Howard Hanson, Eastman Rochester Orchestra – Hanson: Symphonies No. 1 (Nordic) & 2 (Romantic); Song of Democracy (Mercury Living Classics)
  • Los Romeros, Victor Alessandro, San Antonio Symphony Orchestra – Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez (Mercury Living Presence)
  • Anna Netrebko, Claudio Abbado, Mahler Chamber Orchestra – Sempre Libera (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Seiji Ozawa, Saito Kinen Orchestra – Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 (Philips Classics)
  • Paul Paray, Detroit Symphony Orchestra – Chabrier: Espana, Rhapsody & Roussel: Suite in F (Mercury Living Presence)

    Upcoming Universal Music SACD Release List
    Here’s the complete list of upcoming SACDs from Universal Music in the U.S. market that includes the 11 new Super Audio CDs now on the release list:

    September 14, 2004 SACD Releases

  • Pierre Boulez, Berlin Philharmonic – Ravel: Bolero (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Ray Charles with Norah Jones, James Taylor, Diana Krall, Elton John, Natalie Cole, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Michael McDonald, B.B. King, Gladys Knight, Johnny Mathis & Van Morrison – Genius Loves Company (Concord Records)
  • Anne Sofie Von Otter, Thomas Quasthoff, Claudio Abbado, Chamber Orchestra of Europe – Schubert: Lieder With Orchestra (Deutsche Grammophon)

    September 28, 2004 SACD Releases

  • Nick Drake – A Collection [Greatest Hits] (Island)
  • Marvin Gaye – The Marvin Gaye Collection (Motown)

    October 12, 2004 SACD Release

  • Argerich & Pletnev – Cinderella Suite from the Ballet for 2 Pianos & La Mere (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Antal Dorati, Philharmonia Hugarica Orchestra – Respighi: Ancient Airs & Dances for Lute (Mercury Living Classics)
  • Antal Dorati, London Symphony Orchestra – Stravinsky: The Firebird (Complete); Tango; Scherzo а la Russe (Mercury Living Classics)
  • Byron Janis, Antal Dorati, London Sympohny Orchestra, Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra – Rachmaninov: Piano Concerti 2 & 3; 2 Preludes (Mercury Living Classics)
  • Paul Paray, Detroit Symphony Orchestra – Suppй: Overtures (+Auber) (Mercury Living Classics)
  • Janos Starker – Bach: Six Suites For Solo Cello (Mercury Living Classics)
  • Bryn Terfel, Claudio Abbado, Chamber Orchestra Europe – Mozart: Don Giovanni (3 SACD Box Set) (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Jaap van Zweden, Residentie Orchestra – Beethoven: Complete Symphonies (5 SACD Box Set) (Philips)

    October 26, 2004 SACD Release

  • The Carpenters – Singles: 1969-1981 (A&M Records)
  • Eric Clapton – 461 Ocean Boulevard (Polydor)
  • Eric Clapton – Slow Hand (Polydor)
  • Elton John – Captain Fantastic (Island)
  • Elton John – Elton John (Island)
  • Elton John – Honky Chateau (Island)
  • Elton John – Madman Across The Water (Island)
  • Elton John – Tumbleweed Connection (Island)

    November 9, 2004 SACD Releases

  • Chet Baker – Baker’s Holiday: Chet Baker Plays & Sings The Billie Holiday Songbook (Verve)
  • John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman – John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman (Impulse)
  • Cotrubas, Domingo, Kleiber, Bayerischer, Staatsorchester – Verdi: La Traviata (2 SACD Set) (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Richard Croft, Minkowski, Les Musiciens du Louvre – Gluck: Orphee et Eurydice (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Antal Dorati, London Sympohny Orchestra – Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol (Mercury Living Presence)
  • Charles Dutoit – Poeme (Philips Classics)
  • Frederick Fennell, Eastman Wind Ensemble – Sousa Marches (Mercury Living Classics)
  • Paul Mc Creesh, Gabrieli Consort & Players – Music for San Rocco (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Hilary Hahn, Colin Davis, London Symphony Orchestra – Elgar: Violin Concerto Op. 61 & Williams: The Lark Ascending (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Herbie Hancock – Gershwin’s World (Verve)
  • Howard Hanson, Eastman Rochester Orchestra – Hanson: Symphonies No. 1 (Nordic) & 2 (Romantic); Song of Democracy (Mercury Living Classics)
  • Joe Henderson – Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn (Verve)
  • Shirley Horn – Here’s to Live: Shirley Horn With Strings (Verve)
  • Los Romeros, Victor Alessandro, San Antonio Symphony Orchestra – Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez (Mercury Living Presence)
  • Anna Netrebko, Claudio Abbado, Mahler Chamber Orchestra – Sempre Libera (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Seiji Ozawa, Saito Kinen Orchestra – Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 (Philips Classics)
  • Paul Paray, Detroit Symphony Orchestra – Chabrier: Espana, Rhapsody & Roussel: Suite in F (Mercury Living Presence)

    SACD Releases Coming Soon

  • Count Basie & His Orchestra – April In Paris (Verve)
  • Dorati, Enescu, London Symphony Orch – Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies (Decca Classics)
  • Renee Fleming – Handel (Decca Classics)
  • Juan Diego Florez – Great Tenor Arias (Decca Classics)
  • John Fogerty – Deja Vu All Over Again (Geffen)
  • Tonu Kaljuste – Te Deum (ECM)
  • Eleni Karaindrou – Soundtrack: Ulysses’ Gaze (ECM)
  • Keane – Hopes and Fears (Interscope)
  • Christina Milian – It’s About Time (Island)
  • Motley Crьe – Greatest Hits (Hip-O Records)
  • Anne Sofie Mutter, Andre Previn, London Symphony Orchestra – Tchaikovsky & Korngold: Violin Concertos (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Nine Inch Nails – Downward Spiral (Interscope)
  • Zimerman, Polish Festival Orchestra – Chopin: Piano Concertos No. 1 & 2 (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Linda Ronstadt – Humming to Myself (Verve)