I am so excited about the upcoming 24-karat gold reissue of Stevie Wonder's undisputed 1976 masterpiece, Songs in the Key of Life. Audio Fidelity does a fantastic job in the remastering department, in terms of sound and clarity. I thought that the 2000 reissue was fine, but it lacked the warmth and depth of the vinyl, which wasn't also perfect in the sound area either. I hope Kevin Gray and Audio Fidelity gets this right. So far, I have the AF versions of Talking Book and Music of My Mind and they are both superior in sound. The list price is expensive, but what the hell...it's worth it.

From Audio Fidelity site:

[Edited 3/9/11 19:08pm]

Nice!

I don't have anything of Stevie's remastered, only the original first CD versions.

Fauxie said:

Nice!

I don't have anything of Stevie's remastered, only the original first CD versions.

I don't recommend you getting them with the exception of Fulfillingness' First Finale and Hotter Than July. They got the rest of them wrong and I'm looking for the Mo-Fi Gold version of Innervisions, which used the original tapes instead of the master tape that the 2000 version used. I hope AF eventually work on the rest of his 70's work. By far, I say they're doing a superb job. I'm gonna be knocked out when they get to Journey Through the Secret of Plants....

[Edited 3/9/11 19:33pm]

Shit that looks expensive

phunkdaddy said:

Shit that looks expensive

phunkdaddy said:

Shit that looks expensive

Shelling out $49 bucks is a lot I know, but I'm definitely picking it up. They only make a few of these anyway, they're limited editions.

This was out btw..

[img:$uid]http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51tmVoGquOL._SS500_.jpg[/img:$uid]

I wanna get it, but I'm skeptical about those remasters, and plus, it doesn't have any additions needless to say, this is one of my all-times fave album.

Harlepolis said:

This was out btw..

[img:$uid]http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51tmVoGquOL._SS500_.jpg[/img:$uid]

I wanna get it, but I'm skeptical about those remasters, and plus, it doesn't have any additions needless to say, this is one of my all-times fave album.

It definitely restores the depth and clarity of the vinyl. You hear instruments more clearly and the synthesizer work sounds as vibrant as ever. It's better than the 2000 remaster and unremastered CD from the 90's, which was too bright and brittle. The AF version has great bass too and it sounds great on a quality CD player. I definitely recommend it, but it's a little steep for a gold disc. Mines costed $25 bucks...umm!

Nice! This is my favorite album of all time so I'll be picking this up.

silverchild said:

Fauxie said:

Nice!

I don't have anything of Stevie's remastered, only the original first CD versions.

I don't recommend you getting them with the exception of Fulfillingness' First Finale and Hotter Than July. They got the rest of them wrong and I'm looking for the Mo-Fi Gold version of Innervisions, which used the original tapes instead of the master tape that the 2000 version used. I hope AF eventually work on the rest of his 70's work. By far, I say they're doing a superb job. I'm gonna be knocked out when they get to Journey Through the Secret of Plants....

[Edited 3/9/11 19:33pm]

Word. Fauxie, don't be ashamed of your original CD's! I absolutely despise the Remaster of SITKOL, it's has horribly overdone high end. I def liked the original CD of it better! Turn it up loud with perhaps a nudge on the treble and it sounds sweet!

wow! i'm gonna tell my friend celeste about this one.

$50 is a lot though... i think i have a '90s reissue of talking book, and yeah, it sounds a bit empty. i have four copies of talking book, two of innervisions and two of 'songs' all on vinyl, and i've just always preferred those. it's interesting to see how the sound deteriorated with even later editions of the vinyl.

i would be interested in hearing these audiofidelity albums... i wonder if they sound like the audiophile/half-speed editions of 'off the wall' and 'thriller', which actually DO sound amazing, in comparison to other 'half-speed master' releases at the time.

i especially would LOVE to hear 'you've got it bad girl' get the audiofidelity treatment.

silverchild said:

Fauxie said:

Nice!

I don't have anything of Stevie's remastered, only the original first CD versions.

I don't recommend you getting them with the exception of Fulfillingness' First Finale and Hotter Than July. They got the rest of them wrong and I'm looking for the Mo-Fi Gold version of Innervisions, which used the original tapes instead of the master tape that the 2000 version used. I hope AF eventually work on the rest of his 70's work. By far, I say they're doing a superb job. I'm gonna be knocked out when they get to Journey Through the Secret of Plants....

[Edited 3/9/11 19:33pm]

that would be one of the greatest things ever presented. that album is MEANT to be played on a cinematic system. like a bose or something. HA!

MJJstudent said:

wow! i'm gonna tell my friend celeste about this one.

$50 is a lot though... i think i have a '90s reissue of talking book, and yeah, it sounds a bit empty. i have four copies of talking book, two of innervisions and two of 'songs' all on vinyl, and i've just always preferred those. it's interesting to see how the sound deteriorated with even later editions of the vinyl.

i would be interested in hearing these audiofidelity albums... i wonder if they sound like the audiophile/half-speed editions of 'off the wall' and 'thriller', which actually DO sound amazing, in comparison to other 'half-speed master' releases at the time.

i especially would LOVE to hear 'you've got it bad girl' get the audiofidelity treatment.

The AF gold cd of Talking Book is worth seeking into. Hearing "You've Got It Bad Girl," "I Believe (When I Fall In Love)," and "Maybe Your Baby" is like hearing them for the first time. I was impressed by the stunning sound of the entire album and they even put restored the braille cover. The Music of My Mind reissue is great also. They are not compressed or tiny as the previous versions. They almost sound like the original tapes, even though Stevie isn't letting anyone use them. The AF gold cd of Fulfillingness' First Finale was released recently too, but I love the 2000 remaster of that disc so much. It seems that they did that album and Hotter Than July correctly, when it comes to sound.

[Edited 3/10/11 1:28am]

silverchild said:

The AF gold cd of Talking Book is worth seeking into. Hearing "You've Got It Bad Girl," "I Believe (When I Fall In Love)," and "Maybe Your Baby" is like hearing them for the first time. I was impressed by the stunning sound of the entire album and they even put restored the braille cover. The Music of My Mind reissue is great also. They are not compressed or tiny as the previous versions. They almost sound like the original tapes, even though Stevie isn't letting anyone use them. The AF gold cd of Fulfillingness' First Finale was released recently too, but I love the 2000 remaster of that disc so much. It seems that they did that album and Hotter Than July correctly, when it comes to sound.

[Edited 3/10/11 1:28am]

WOW!

Speaking on this gold CD reissue, I finally found the 1993 MFSL version of Innervisions and I'm floored. The bass and clarity is impeccable and it even rivals the vinyl version. And Stevie used the original tape for the reissue, which makes it the best version of this classic. OH MY GOD! Anybody checked this version out?

I'd prefer a 5.1 mix. That would be awe-inspiring.

AlexdeParis said:

I'd prefer a 5.1 mix. That would be awe-inspiring.

Yeah a SMH-SACD version of SITKOL dropped a couple of weeks ago and it's been getting alot of praise. Not buying it because it's hella expensive.

http://www.amazon.com/Son...amp;sr=8-2

http://www.stevehoffman.t...p?t=242977

AlexdeParis said:

I'd prefer a 5.1 mix. That would be awe-inspiring.

I'm with you, Alex. That would be GREAT!!

nd33 said:

silverchild said:

I don't recommend you getting [the remasters] with the exception of Fulfillingness' First Finale and Hotter Than July. They got the rest of them wrong and I'm looking for the Mo-Fi Gold version of Innervisions, which used the original tapes instead of the master tape that the 2000 version used. I hope AF eventually work on the rest of his 70's work. By far, I say they're doing a superb job. I'm gonna be knocked out when they get to Journey Through the Secret of Plants....

[Edited 3/9/11 19:33pm]

Word. Fauxie, don't be ashamed of your original CD's! I absolutely despise the Remaster of SITKOL, it's has horribly overdone high end. I def liked the original CD of it better! Turn it up loud with perhaps a nudge on the treble and it sounds sweet!

Hmm, interesting comments, as I saw yesterday that the 2000 remaster of SITKOL is now on Amazon for £5 ($8), and was thinking of getting it to replace my trusty old original cd version. Maybe I'll hold off for now.

deebee said:

nd33 said:

Word. Fauxie, don't be ashamed of your original CD's! I absolutely despise the Remaster of SITKOL, it's has horribly overdone high end. I def liked the original CD of it better! Turn it up loud with perhaps a nudge on the treble and it sounds sweet!

Hmm, interesting comments, as I saw yesterday that the 2000 remaster of SITKOL is now on Amazon for £5 ($8), and was thinking of getting it to replace my trusty old original cd version. Maybe I'll hold off for now.

It's the only CD version I've heard by far and I've gotten tired of the tinny and uneven sound. And the hiss...

silverchild said:

I am so excited about the upcoming 24-karat gold reissue of Stevie Wonder's undisputed 1976 masterpiece, Songs in the Key of Life. Audio Fidelity does a fantastic job in the remastering department, in terms of sound and clarity. I thought that the 2000 reissue was fine, but it lacked the warmth and depth of the vinyl, which wasn't also perfect in the sound area either. I hope Kevin Gray and Audio Fidelity gets this right. So far, I have the AF versions of Talking Book and Music of My Mind and they are both superior in sound. The list price is expensive, but what the hell...it's worth it.

Now HERE's an album that needed the remastering treatment if ever there was one! I look forward to hearing this.

Harlepolis said:

This was out btw..

[img:$uid]http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51tmVoGquOL._SS500_.jpg[/img:$uid]

I wanna get it, but I'm skeptical about those remasters , and plus, it doesn't have any additions needless to say, this is one of my all-times fave album.

This is one of those "remasters" that's done RIGHT! I can safely recommend this one.

This is one of my all-time fave albums....classic. I'll probably get this.

PDogz said:

Harlepolis said:

This was out btw..

[img:$uid]http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51tmVoGquOL._SS500_.jpg[/img:$uid]

I wanna get it, but I'm skeptical about those remasters , and plus, it doesn't have any additions needless to say, this is one of my all-times fave album.

This is one of those "remasters" that's done RIGHT! I can safely recommend this one.

Exactly! Audio Fidelity got it right for Talking Book, even though the original master tapes weren't used. It was really hard to tell though because it sounds like a whole nother record from the various reissues throughout the years. That's why I'm so excited about the new gold remastering for SITKOL.

Can't wait till Prince gets this treatment.......

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Can't wait till Prince gets this treatment.......

I hope that Prince and I are both still alive by the time he maybe gets this treatment, and that it won't be something that only future historians will have the pleasure of listening to.

PDogz said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Can't wait till Prince gets this treatment.......

I hope that Prince and I are both still alive by the time he maybe gets this treatment, and that it won't be something that only future historians will have the pleasure of listening to.

want 2 b put on that list 2....

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

PDogz said:

I hope that Prince and I are both still alive by the time he maybe gets this treatment, and that it won't be something that only future historians will have the pleasure of listening to.

want 2 b put on that list 2....

Has anyone picked this up yet? It came out today!!! I will be considering picking this up in a few weeks. It seems to be selling out everywhere, including Amazon.com.

I'm gonna grab a copy this weekend