Quadrophenia: "New" 4-channel versions of classic rock albums

Richard Metzger is the current Boing Boing guest blogger

The last time I was guest blogger here at Boing Boing, I innocently waded into a war of the words by doing a post on audiophile SACDs and DVD-A surround sound mixes of classic albums. But for those of you who care --not you haters-- I recently --not so innocently-- noticed that certain lovely people were putting up their own homemade DVD-A versions of four channel rips made from 70s quadraphonic 8-tracks, reel to reels and in rare cases, LPs on the various torrent trackers. Most of these mixes haven't been heard for years, by anyone and they're awesome! It's a quadraphonic treasure trove out there, I tell you: Joni Mitchell's "Court and Spark," and "Hissing of the Summer Lawns." Kraftwerk's "Autobahn"(!), "The Worst of the Jefferson Airplane" and "Volunteers" (which uses totally different takes from the stereo LP), Jeff Beck's "Wired." Black Sabbath's "Paranoid." "Band on the Run," "Venus and Mars Rock Show" and "Wall and Bridges" (mixed in quad, I am assuming, by Phil Spector --what would "#9 Dream" sound like in Quad? Heaven?). "Bitches Brew." "Aqualung." "Atom Heart Mother" and "Wish You Were Here." "Music from the Big Pink" and a King Biscuit Flower Hour recording of the Rolling Stones in 1973 in full glorious 4-channel surround with the audience in the rear speakers. Here's a review of Kraftwerk's "Autobahn" in quadraphonic sound. It's amazing to hear the way they mixed the automobile sounds pinging from speaker to speaker. You really feel like you're in traffic!

• [hadlock]

  The intro to Pink Floyd’s “Money” sounds fantastic in quadraphonic. The cash register noises sort of float around you/the room in the beginning with the bass line following them.

• [marence]

  Way back in the seventies WMMS radio (100.7 FM) in Cleveland actually broadcast in quadrophonic. Our Olds Toronado had a quad sound system, and for the year or two (? maybe? that time is a bit fuzzy…) that they broadcast, it was great to drive around while songs bounced all over the car.

• [pyxl8r]

  SHUTZ, I concur with ROMANOTRAX that actually-released quad versions of Dark Side of the Moon DO exist. I own a French import LP that has NEVER been played, for lack of ever owning a quad turntable. I bought it new in the mid-70s thinking the tech was going to take off, so I was an early adopter of the format… besides, the poster inside was different than the US stereo release!

  As others have asked, exactly HOW are you listening to these quad releases? 4 channels of a surround system somehow? Details please!

• [romanotrax]

  As someone who actually did several of the discs listed here, I am glad you like them. It is truly a labor of love to do these discs and I am really glad that others have the love of quad that I do.

• [Ugly Canuck]

  I have been wondering when these mixes would re-surface, what with the proliferation of 5.1 sound systems.
  Nice to see that they’re out there.

• [romanotrax]

  @SHUTZ

  For the record, Dark Side Of The Moon was released in real quad in the UK on Quad 8 tape while here in the US the mix was the SQ mix on Quad 8. Animals was never released in quad though it was rumoured. The DVD-A that is out there in the torrents is actually an upmix from a stereo source.

• [Ugly Canuck]

  But at heart I’m still an “original mix” kinda guy.

• [Telecustard]

  I weep for the future we’ll never have. You know, the one where we all have quad turntables since the late 70s, and analog HD television sets since the mid 80s.

  But then again, that’s much different than the alternate future we could have had if WW2 had never happened – watching science fiction on color Scophony TV sets with soundtracks recorded using Hammond Novachord synthesizers. For all of the advances in so many areas that war spawned, it had a positively chilling effect on home entertainment technology, and it’s distribution to the people.

• [Richard Metzger]

  @ Ugly Canuck:

  They ARE original mixes from back in the day, not remixes done today. These are sourced from 8-track tapes.

• [Anonymous]

  And let me add to the list Santana’s “Caravanserai” and Grover Washington Jr’s “Soul Box.”

  Actually, as far as the latter goes, a lot of the classic CTI albums seem to have been released in quad, but that’s the only one that’s found its way to fan DVD-A that I know of.

• [Anonymous]

  Regarding the first Synergy album (Electronic Realizations for ROck Orchestra), the way the CD version was made (QS quad tapes were used as the source) means that if you use your AV receiver’s ‘Dolby Pro Logic II’ function (most of them have it these days) and simply play the CD, it will ‘decode’ very well on a surround system. Try it and see

  (best to set your DPL II to ‘Music’ rather than ‘Movies’)

• [Ugly Canuck]

  Really, Richard?
  Hmmm, now I’m somewhat more interested in hearing them.

• [Hell’s Donut House]

  A few quad mixes have shown up as standard CDs; apparently even the mastering engineers didn’t know they were using quad tapes. I’d have to consult old issues of ICE magazine, but I remember them mentioning a Joni Mitchell disc among others.

  Remember Virgin Records’ old tag line?
  “In Quadraphonic sound, for people with four ears.”

• [jetfx]

  “Kraftwerk have to be, for me anyway, the most influential and inspirational band ever. Bar non.”

  Any review that starts with such a truth has already sold me on checking these things out. Although I prefer Trans-Europe Express.

• [Anonymous]

  “Obviously there is no fifth channel, so the…”

  What? NO
  The woofer better not drop out!
  Maybe the center speaker…

• [Kaden]

  Find the quad mix of the first Synergy album.

  Do it now.

• [jjj]

  I’ve heard these sound great in a car. hey, ‘member that tour when Emerson, Lake & Palmer played in quad? me neither

• [shutz]

  You’re missing probably THE most important quad mix ever: Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon. It was never officially released (unlike the recent 30th anniversary SACD) but it was created in ’75 by Alan Parsons, and it really sounds GREAT! For some reason, the drums are a lot more “in your face” than the stereo mixes, but the rest of album really takes advantage of the quad soundstage.

  Official 8-track quad releases of Wish You Were Here and Animals have also surfaced on torrent sites, as DVD-A encodes. WYWH has a few interesting moments, but in general, it mostly sounded the same as the stereo mixes. Animals has more interesting quad bits in it. But neither comes close to the revelation that the DsotM quad mix was for me.

• [Timothy Hutton]

  KADEN implored us to:

  Find the quad mix of the first Synergy album.

  As a service to others, could commenters please indicate where they are finding these recordings (above counter or torrent), and if any system set-up is required (making sure certain settings in Linux/Windows/OS X sound drivers are set properly) to enjoy these tracks.

  I’m very curious, and I think there are many others looking for a place to start – so suggestions please?

  (And a big Thank You for raising this topic)

• [Richard Metzger]

  @ #11 and #18,

  You get these on torrent sites. They tend to show up as ISO and image files which you burn to DVD using Toast or some such application, then play them in a DVD player w/ surround speakers set up.

  Obviously there is no fifth channel, so the woofer drops out in playback.

• [numbers]

  I have enjoyed this article for myself. This
  my era…for the fans. Of Quad unfortunately
  it was a fad nothing more. See most audio buffs
  including myself. Only had 2 channel and most
  speakers were insufficient. You most understand
  that the appreciation was in loud clear. Sound
  as since’ the 80′s with portable audio. Precise
  sound was the normal and yes Quad set up! Basically
  was for myself to purchase additional speakers. For
  those whom remember the technology it was allot
  of levers. And false equalizers believe me you
  notice. Every speaker had single speakers as
  oppose. Multi-speakers as of today now! Surround
  DVD-A and SACD Audio. Is true to multitrake audio
  the era. Was basically very an experiment on whom
  be eager to purchase. The either format Fleetwood
  Mac Rumors was slated. To be but due the success
  of stereo release. Warners Brothers records refuse
  to pay additional royalties. See this factor
  destroy the Quad format labels had to pay. Double
  royalties the reason it was surpress. But thanks
  for the yesteryears and I was part of it.

• [annoyingmouse]

  I spotted last week that the quad mix of Black Sabbath’s Paranoid (as mentioned in original post) was actually given an official release recently as part of a 3 cd/dvd special edition.

• [romanotrax]

  If you have a subwoofer then the bass management of your system will put the bass into the sub even though the discs are 4.0. If you have large full range speakers no sub is needed. There is no center channel.