Blu-ray Audio (BD-Audio) is an up and coming premium audio package loved by the audiophiles that are willing to go the extra mile to relive their favorites. and I support it highly. And while I’m a Stereo purist, I do love the 5.1 for my friends that love it. And there are many of you. Of course, not all BD-Audios boast of 5.1.
Today, I’m told that Pet Sounds, the 1966 Beach Boys classic that delivered “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”, and “God Only Knows” to a generation of appreciative fans, will be reissued as a BD-Audio come December 9 via Capitol Records. There is not enough information to determine whether there will be a 5.1 mix, but at least we know that this album in Stereo purity will be ours.
Lucky fans!
Will this have the original mono mix too?
Ed, I know very little at this point. When i find more out, I’ll be sure to post it as an Update. Still, exciting potential!
I’d say this might have a fair chance of including a 5.1 mix since there is already a dvd-a with a 5.1 mix. Just a hunch,
By the way, December also sees Universal in Japan releasing Platinum SHM-CD and SHM-SACD releases of most 1960’s Beach Boys albums…plus the 1970’s John Lennon albums….and the Capitol Studio albums by The Band. Wish that I could afford all this stuff. On each Beach Boys Japanese disc, the album will appear only once, either stereo or mono, but not both. This Beach Boys SACD series may render the proposed(but never released) Analogue Productions SACD series unnecessary.
As for “Pet Sounds”, I’m quite content with the DVD-Audio disc. I have many editions of “Pet Sounds” in my collection: 3 CD editions,DVD-Audio, CD+DVD, “Pet Sounds Sessions” box, two vinyl editions and two bootleg 4-CD boxed sets of outtakes. And that may not be all. I’m just recalling from memory. Enough “Pet Sounds”, already.
I own the DVD-A with the 5.1 mix.
Have to say…not impressive.
I agree. The separation is vague.
I agree, Gene. The 5.1 mix has very vague separation.
Also have to agree that the PS DVD-A was disappointing. I can adjust my speaker volume levels to make it better, but still overall it is not a good surround mix, certainly not when compared to other 5.1 mixes done around the same time (“Love,” “LA Woman,” the Elton John SACDs, etc.).
I thought I read somewhere that Brian Wilson was himself quite upset with the DVD-A release as he had heard what he thought would be the final 5.1 mix a little while before the official release and loved it, but when he later heard a copy of the official release, it was completely different.
If they do release PS on Blu-Ray audio, maybe they can find the mythical, hopefully “better” 5.1 mix to put on it :) .
I’d re-buy if this were to be the case!
Jon
But, can Brian properly judge a 5.1 mix? One of his ears hears normally, but the other ear has only 6% hearing, which may or may not have been caused by an alleged childhood injury inflicted by his father Murry Wilson.