Universal Releases Surround Sound SACDs by Lionel Richie and Diana Krall

Universal Music continued its August Surround Sound Super Audio CD releases today with new SACDs by Lionel Richie and Diana Krall. The Lionel Richie album was released earlier this year on Stereo CD and represents its debut in Surround Sound while the Diana Krall album has appeared in Surround Sound twice before. Also of interest today from Universal Music was news about upcoming Surround Sound Super Audio CDs featuring Marvin Gaye and Nick Drake.

Just For You
Lionel Richie
SACD Surround Sound/SACD Stereo/CD Stereo

(Island Records B0002562-36)

Just for You is Lionel Richie’s latest album and his first new release in three years. The disc features the work of several different producers including the team of Paul Barry and Mark Taylor (the production team that worked on Cher’s hit single “Believe”), Daniel Bedingfield, 7 Aurelis and Lennie Kravitz, among others. Bedingfield and Kravitz also perform on the album as well.

The SACD Surround Sound mix of Just For You was done by veteran producer and engineer Al Schmitt at Capitol Records Studios in Hollywood. The SACD was mastered by Doug Sax at The Mastering Lab in Ojai, California and produced for SACD by Paul Bishow and Michel Etchert at Universal Music’s eLabs.

Surround Sound fans will enjoy this album. Schmitt makes extensive use of the entire sound field with tracks 11 (Do Ya) and 12 (In My Dreams) being particularly worth a listen in full 5.1 Surround.

Album Selections
1. Just For You
2. I Still Believe
3. Long Long Way To Go
4. Just To Be With You Again
5. Heaven
6. She’s Amazing
7. Ball And Chain
8. Time Of Our Life (featuring Lenny Kravitz)
9. Outrageous
10. Road To Heaven
11. Do Ya (Duet with Daniel Bedingfield)
12. In My Dreams
13. One World

Love Scenes
Diana Krall
SACD Surround Sound/SACD Stereo/CD Stereo

(Impulse B0002841-36)

Love Scenes is Diana Krall’s fourth album and features Krall performing a number of well known love songs selected by the singer and her producer Tommy LiPuma. Like the album before it, Love Scenes was nominated for a Grammy Award and received much critical acclaim by reviewers.

This is the third time the album has been released in Surround Sound with earlier releases in 5.1 DTS Music Disc and DVD Audio formats. The SACD Surround Sound mix was also done by veteran producer and engineer Al Schmitt at Capitol Records Studios in Hollywood. The SACD was mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering.

The Surround Sound mix on Love Scenes places the emphasis on clearly capturing the musicians backing Krall. This is particularly true in the way that the mix captures both the tone and deep bass of Christian McBride’s performance. I don’t think I’ve heard a mix give the bass so much focus in the past. It’s a very interesting take on the recording.

Album Performers
Diana Krall – Piano & Lead Vocal
Russell Malone – Guitar
Christian McBride – Bass

Album Selections
1. All Or Nothing At All
2. Peel Me A Grape
3. I Don’t Know Enough About You
4. I Miss You So
5. They Can’t Take That Away From Me
6. Lost Mind
7. I Don’t Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You
8. You’re Getting To Be A Habit With Me
9. Gentle Rain
10. How Deep Is The Ocean (How High Is The Sky)
11. My Love Is
12. Garden In The Rain

Availability
The new Surround Sound SACDs by Lionel Richie and Diana Krall are now available and in stock at Best Buy and Tower Records music stores. They are also available from the Acoustic Sounds, Elusive Disc and Music Direct web sites.

SACDs from Nick Drake and Marvin Gaye
Turning to the list of upcoming Super Audio CD releases from Universal Music, there are two changes worth noting. The first is the addition of the album A Treasury by Nick Drake on Island Records. It is listed as being available in stores on September 28th. Also worth noting is that Universal Music is currently showing the SACD of A Treasury as a Single Inventory SACD release with the SACD serving as both the CD and SACD edition of this album.

Also arriving on September 28th is The Marvin Gaye Collection in SACD Surround Sound. This SACD featuring Marvin Gaye’s Greatest Hits was previously due in stores on September 14th but has now moved back two weeks to debut along side the Nick Drake SACD.

Upcoming Universal Music SACD Release List
Here’s the complete list of upcoming SACDs from Universal Music with the additions and changes mentioned above included:

August 24, 2004 SACD Releases

  • Allman Brothers Band – Live At Fillmore East (Mercury)
  • Monica Mancini, Stevie Wonder, Kenny Rankin, Joey De Francesco, Tom Scott, Gary Burton, Take 6, Michael Lang & Plas Johnson – Ultimate Mancini (Concord Records)
  • Snow Patrol – Final Straw (Interscope)

    August 31, 2004 SACD Releases

  • Toby Keith – Shock ‘n’ Ya’ll (Dreamworks Nashville)
  • Lee Ann Womack – Greatest Hits (MCA Nashville)

    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 (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 (Decca Classics)
  • Antal Dorati, London Symphony Orchestra – Stravinsky: The Firebird (Complete); Tango; Scherzo а la Russe (Decca Classics)
  • Byron Janis, Antal Dorati, London Sympohny Orchestra, Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra – Rachmaninov: Piano Concerti 2 & 3; 2 Preludes (Decca Classics)
  • Paul Mc Creesh, Gabrieli Consort & Players – Music for San Rocco (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Paul Paray, Detroit Symphony Orchestra – Suppй: Overtures (+Auber) (Decca Classics)
  • Janos Starker – Bach: Six Suites For Solo Cello (Philips)
  • 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)

    November 9, 2004 SACD Releases

  • 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)

    SACD Releases Coming Soon

  • Chet Baker – Baker’s Holiday: Chet Baker Plays & Sings The Billie Holiday Songbook (Verve)
  • Count Basie & His Orchestra – April In Paris (Verve)
  • John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman – John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman (Impulse)
  • Dorati, Enescu, London Symphony Orch – Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies (Decca Classics)
  • Frederick Fennell, Eastman Wind Ensemble – Sousa Marches (Decca Classics)
  • Renee Fleming – Handel (Decca Classics)
  • Juan Diego Florez – Great Tenor Arias (Decca Classics)
  • 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 (Philips)
  • Joe Henderson – Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn (Verve)
  • Shirley Horn – Here’s to Live: Shirley Horn With Strings (Verve)
  • 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)
  • Tonu Kaljuste – Te Deum (ECM)
  • Eleni Karaindrou – Soundtrack: Ulysses’ Gaze (ECM)
  • 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)
  • Anna Netrebko, Claudio Abbado, Mahler Chamber Orchestra – Sempre Libera (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Zimerman, Polish Festival Orchestra – Chopin: Piano Concertos No. 1 & 2 (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Linda Ronstadt – Humming to Myself (Verve)

    Just For You by Lionel Richie (Island B0002562-36) and Love Scenes by Diana Krall (Impulse B0002841-36)Just For You by Lionel Richie (Island B0002562-36) and Love Scenes by Diana Krall (Impulse B0002841-36)