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 The vocals don't match the music Oct 16, 2008
I would believe that I was doing something wrong, but the "Toys in the Attic" SACD that I bought at the same time sounds Very good, so the vocals in the center channel of this SACD being completely Off sounding was a big disappointment.
Hard to quantify, but there is -nothing- on the center channel except the vocals, no blending at all, and there is no reverb to match it to the rest of the music. Best comparison I can give is that the music is playing on "speakers" in a 40 foot room, and you're standing right next to Billy as he sings along, un-miked. Just bizarre.
system is oppo through 6 monster analog cables to Yamaha 2400's analog in, multichannel input selected for playback.
 Sounds like it was recorded yesterday Oct 06, 2008
This is simply a "must-have" item in your SACD collection. Stunning in every respect. While the surround effects are certainly filling and satisfying, they are in no way overbearing. This is the reference version of this album, whether you're a Joel fan or simply dig SACD/DVD-A hi-res surround albums. Kudos to the folks who handled this surround mix, they did a stellar job.
More detail than you could imagine in the 5.1 mix Aug 22, 2008
First of all, I'll echo what everyone before me has said... the sound of the 5.1 mix is mindblowing. If you're properly set up for 5.1, and you already love this album, you'll definitely want this. Don't even hesitate... just buy it, seriously.
What I will add is that I recently became 5.1-capable (I bought the Yamaha RX-V3800BL 7.1-Channel Network Home Theater Receiver (Black)) (also amazing) and this is the first 5.1 SACD that I've purchased that I also had the Redbook CD for. I've had the 8-Track, the cassette, the original issue CD, and the remastered CD releases of it.
What's incredible about this mix is how much information is on the master tapes from which this mix was made that simply has never been on any of the previous releases. There is so much more depth to the horns, strings, background vocals, drum work, acoustic guitars, etc. than has ever been shown in any previous version that it makes me want to cry. I can't believe what we've been missing for 30 years from this album. And it makes me wonder how much is missing from every other album with more than guitar, bass, and drums on it that I own...
The alternate vocal take on "She's Always a Woman" is also a highlight... it shows a different dimension to the song. I understand why the well-known take was selected for the album, but I'm glad to hear this one.
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Better Than the 30th Annivesary Reissue! Jul 29, 2008
With the recent release of the Legacy 30th Anniversary edition for The Stranger: 30th Anniversary [Limited Edition] (Deluxe Boxed Set - 2 CDs + 1 DVD),I thought it might be time to write a few words about this outstanding 5.1 SACD of one of Billy Joel's most successful albums.Despite the fact that Sony in partnership with Universal Music created this magnificent format for reproducing high resolution audio,they(Sony) have chosen to only include a standard cd with the aforementioned reissue.No doubt there is a wealth of bonus material contained on the second cd and dvd with the deluxe edition and this alone makes it an essential collectors purchase but why no hybrid SACD?This would most definitely be the final nail in the coffin of future Sony SACD releases!
Anyway,enough of my ravings and on to the music.As has been written by many other reviewers on this page,this is what multi-channel SACD is all about!The man responsible for producing most of Billy's platinum selling albums in the 70's and 80's,the great Phil Ramone,has done a stellar job at spreading the music contained on this disc around your room.It's amazing how wonderful this 30 year old album sounds when it completely envelopes you.I won't bore you all with a track by track analysis because they all sound like they were recorded yesterday.
For anyone out there who owns an SACD player,and you are a casual Billy Joel fan,this album is a must.No doubt all the mad keen Billy fans(like myself)already own a copy.The 5.1 mix of 52nd Street on SACD would probably be the next album I would recommend and An Innocent Man is also available although only in DSD 2.1 Stereo it sounds pretty good too and is most definitely worth a search.Great music from one of the most talented singer/songwriter performers of our time!
As a footnote to this review,I have now had the opportunity to listen to the 30th Anniversary edition and on checking the liner notes,do not believe that the album has been remastered again in 2008.This leaves me to conclude that the reissue is still using the 1998 DSD stereo master.No problem with that edition and it's the same stereo here on the SACD.I still believe this sounds better than the cd version!
The new stranger May 12, 2008
The 5.1 mix together with the sacd makes it a much better record.
Songs you thought you knew sound far better than the orignal recording.
This sacd goes into my personal top ten together with: dark side of the moon, tubular bells, in the flesh, tommy, hour glass, brothers in arms, gaucho, slowhand and Jeff Wayne's musical version of the war of the worlds.
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