HeavyDistortion

Some of my favorite debuts are: King Crimson - "In The Court Of The Crimson King" Jimi Hendrix Experience - "Are You Experienced?" Jeff Beck - "Truth" Led Zeppelin - "Led Zeppelin" Traffic - "Mr. Fantasy" Dave Mason - "Alone Together" Family - "Music In A Doll's House" -------------------------------------------------------- Rick, By the way, "Abraxas" was Santana's 2nd release, "Live At The Fillmore" was The Allman Brothers' 3rd release, and "John Barleycorn" was Traffic's 4th release. Ed Hurdle HeavyDistortion

"Heavy Distortion: Welcome to the asylum! Is that a Wishbone Ash cover you use as your avatar?" bkrop, Thanks for the welcome. Yes, the avatar is Wishbone Ash's "Argus" cover. Ed Hurdle HeavyDistortion

Gary, I bet that you will hear some percussion sounds on "Abraxas" that you have never heard before. That is one excellent sounding SACD. Ed Hurdle HeavyDistortion

"Were any others made in '89 that you know of?" Gary, Are you asking about other MFSL silver CDs? If so, there were a number of them available, and the other available MFSL titles are shown inside the booklets on many of these CDs. Check out the "Mars Hotel" booklet and see if they list any of them. Some of the original MFSL silver CDs that I have and love are: Spirit - "12 Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus" Humble Pie - "Rock On" Loggins & Messina - "Sittin' In" Joe Walsh - "Barnstorm" Procol Harum - "Home" Procol Harum - "A Salty Dog" Others that I do not own, but have heard, and was impressed by, are: Al Stewart - "Year Of The Cat" The Youngbloods - "Elephant Mountain" Alan Parsons Project - "I, Robot" Procol Harum - "Live /The Edmondton Symphony Orchestra" Procol Harum - "Broken Barricades" Joe Cocker - "Mad Dogs & Englishmen" Rick Wakeman - "Journey To The Center Of The Earth" Booker T. & MG's - "McLemore Avenue" Quincy Jones - "Smackwater Jack" There are also some jazz and classical titles that were released on MFSL silver CDs, but I'm not aware of all of the titles. I can say that every one the discs that are listed above have excellent sonics. Ed Hurdle HeavyDistortion

"BTW - I checked my Mars Hotel CD we discussed and it is the 1989 silver version." Gary, If it's the silver MFSL disc, it's definitely the one to have, and you don't see them around too often. Ed Hurdle HeavyDistortion

"Right now Steely Dan's "Royal Scam" (regular CD) sounds pretty amazing. More detail then I've ever heard before." Gary, What version of "Royal Scam" did you listen to? It's been remastered several times, and to my ears the original MCA (Manufactured in Japan) CD is the smoothest, warmest sounding version of "Royal Scam". I've got the original MCA CDs of all of the Steely Dan titles, except for "Pretzel Logic" and "Gaucho", and they do sound awesome with tubes through Cornwalls. FYI, the original Steely Dan CDs were mastered by Roger Nichols directly from the original master tapes, with no added EQ and/or compression, which from what I understand, was used on the later remastered CDs. Also, Steve Hoffman of DCC fame, also mastered the very early versions of both "Katy Lied" and "Aja" for MCA, and they sound just as good, if not better than the Nichols' CDs. Ed Hurdle HeavyDistortion

Ed......"I want to give you an official welcome to the forum. I know you've been lurking for some time now. It's time to join in with the rest of us lunatics." Thanks, Gary; I'm sure that I will chiming in once in a while. Ed Hurdle HeavyDistortion

Gary, I'm glad that you are enjoying the 555ES SACD/CD player. Some of my favorite SACDs are: Blood, Sweat & Tears - "Self-Titled" 2nd LP Carole King - "Tapestry" Original Stereo Only SACD Santana - "Caravanserai" Japanese SACD Santana - "Abraxas" Jeff Beck - "Blow By Blow" Rolling Stones - "Beggar's Banquet" Stevie Ray Vaughan - "Couldn't Stand The Weather" The Zombies - "Greatest Hits" Miles Davis - "In A Silent Way"/"Jack Johnson" Japanese SACD Deep Purple - "Machine Head" Import SACD T. Rex - "Electric Warrior" Import SACD Mike Oldfield - "Tubular Bells" Import SACD Billy Joel - "The Stranger" Ed Hurdle HeavyDistortion