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24 Karat Hits And Elvis Is Back On SACD And Vinyl

October 29, 2009 | Music

Steve Hoffman posted on his website that the albums "Elvis 24 Karat Hits" & "Elvis Is Back" will be re-issued on Super Audio CD and 45 vinyl.

This is his posting:

Don't know if this is a secret or not but the "Elvis 24 Karat Hits" album that I compiled for DCC back in the 1990's is coming out again on vinyl (12" 45 RPM) and SACD dual layer by Acoustic Sounds/Analogue Productions. "Elvis Is Back" (as wonderfully engineered by Bill 'DC to light' Porter in RCA-Victor's "Nashville Sound Studio B") is going to be reissued on both as well.

I will be doing the "Elvis 24 Karat Hits" remastering at AcousTech/Record Tech with Kevin Gray, from scratch again and it looks to be a bear of a job. Great music though.

Something to look forward to if you like Elvis. Also, the great "Elvis Is Back" album (his first album after the army) will be mastered at Sterling in NY from the "dash 1" stereo first generation tapes, flat (L2WY-1967-1 and L2WY-1968-1). Same tapes I used for the DCC. I think the DCC metal parts for the vinyl were reused somewhere in the world for a current pressing of "Elvis Is Back" so the old DCC is still available as well. The new AP version should be a different approach than my old DCC tube cutting so we'll see what happens!

Source:Steve Hoffman
I am Buffalo-Horn! wrote on October 29, 2009
Not sure if the two LPs will be on 45 rpm vinyl, or whether that is a typo from Steve H. & meant to read 33 rpm vinyl! Mind you, I suppose in theory an LP playing at 45 rpm ought to have superior sound to one playing at 33 rpm, although it would probably have to be a double album. A 45 rpm LP would certainly be another Elvis first!!
Herman wrote on October 30, 2009
Elvis on SACD, finally !
elvistruth wrote on October 30, 2009
The best news of last 10 years on Elvis world!! Sound on sacd is 5 times better that on cd; Sound on vinyl is 50 times better that on cd; Sound on audiophile 45 rpm 12 "vinyl is 100 times better that on cd!!!!!!!!! Please buy it and forget low bootleg products without minimal quality!!!! ( 99.99% of all releases) The real Elvis recorded in pure pristine quality sound, all his original vinyl output was a million times better that Elvis cds from 1984 on (even the good FTD products). So please be kind with these great things!! My very high level sound equipment don't lie. Elvis ANALOGUE sounds as a dream come true!!!
davrid wrote on October 30, 2009
Not the cd versus vinyl debate again - please! Elvistruth, don't know what your definition of 'very high level' is but my hifi cost me nearly £50,000 - an all digital (inc speakers) Meridian system - and believe me it is capable of producing more insight and transparency than any vinyl based systems Ive ever had including £25,000 Linn and Pink Triangle based systems. But, fundamentally, what is important is the mastering not whether its vinyl or digital replay.
Musicwizard wrote on October 30, 2009
When is this album supposed to make his appearance?
elvistruth wrote on October 30, 2009
Davrid, Ok. Not vinyl vs digital debate but only want to say that recently hearing a test of a 200.000plus euro system (Wilson audio-Audio research and more) was absolutely clear that analogue vinyl won by K.O. vs one of the better digital system in the world: the Esoteric most expensive one!!! and against Esoteric only with a excellent (not the best) Transrotor plate. No more words for begin debate. Human being is ready for cold digital? Maybe yes but not for me.. and thousands of audiophile people. Neither for the team people that made the test, with the best systems of the world and who give to people same messagge.
davrid wrote on October 30, 2009
A listening test! Sorry but i can't stop laughing. The whole point of a hifi system is how it sounds in your room over time - you want distortion, electrical interference, artifical warmth to top and bottom ends, fine, listen to your artificial. Over the years I have spent around £300,000 on hifi equipment, and nothing, absolutely nothing beats my Meridian system - not for nothing does hifi reviewer after hifi reviewer proclaim it the best system money can buy... Go and listen to it but in your living room over time not a listening test!
elvistruth wrote on October 30, 2009
Davrid, Makin tests also in my room, vinyl wins easily to sacd/cd (accuphase and top denon players), and my analogue system is only an acoustic signature final tool one. Humans ears are ready more for analogue that for digital. Anyway not knowing your great system, so I can't speak about it. The problem is the CD itself, born limited, losing quality in the transition between digital and analogue (Elvis was analogue originally, and the greatest too like Sinatra, Cole, Armstrong and many more). Anyway congratulations for your SUPERGREAT system of course.
RonBaker wrote on October 31, 2009
The great thing about SACD and vinyl is that they can also be enjoyed by low-dollar people on low-dollar stereos... Give it a rest!
skylowlow wrote on October 31, 2009
Awesome news. You obviously don't know who Steve Hoffman is. This guy has been the force behind some of the very best masterings ever done, CD and vinyl. Will certainly buy the new SACD!
RonBaker wrote on October 31, 2009
If you mean me, I sure do know who he is and I'm very much looking forward to these issues on SACD. I meant for the braggarts with the million dollar stereos to give it a rest. One doesn't need million dollar set ups to enjoy SACDs.
davrid wrote on November 01, 2009
A braggart? Thats the second mistake in your post -the other was the equally ridiculous statement that SACD sounds good on a poor hifi. It doesn't. A poor hifi is a a poor hifi regardless of the medium. Haing a decent hifi sytem is one of the most satisfying ways of spending money. If you've never enjoyed one, don't criticise those who have quality systems, as you have absolutely zero idea how music really sounds.
I am Buffalo-Horn! wrote on November 01, 2009
I didn't mean to start a Vinyl v CD discussion. Some interesting equipment being discussed, but my original 'Elvis is Back' was in Mono & played well on a Dansette! Didn't go stereo until 'Elvis Country' with a 'Boots' player sporting 2 speakers in lid! So frankly it doesn't matter too much what you play it on. My point was whether the LP would run at 45 & not 33? Steve Hoffman is indeed a good engineer, & his 90's version of Elvis is Back sounds great (By then I had a Beogram!) but it's worth adding that DCC was a company & he's not talking about Digital Compact Cassette! If you can get hold of the double LP of "24 Karat Hits" there are some excellent inside notes by Bill Porter, which will excite our audio specialists below!
elvistruth wrote on November 01, 2009
absolutely I'm agreee with you, Davrid! We need Elvis fans as you! Poor sound systems equal to pathetic and UNREAL audition. Sorry but with $2000-3000 sound systems or less, people will never NEVER hear the real Elvis Presley voice and Music. It's hard but it's true. Elistist? Maybe but sincere. I'm not a millionaire, only a consequent person. My sound system of more or less $40.000-$50.000 is one of the REAL ways to hear the singer Elvis Aaron Presley. Also Davrid with his FABOULOUS Meridian System. With thousands of cds and vinyl records is absolutely reasonable to buy a serious system, not only me, same with serious fans as Davrid or others. I have also sacd, reel-to-reel (fabolulous!!!!) vinyl, tapes, stereo8 (only curious), cartridge, minidisc.. Please Sony-FTD make all catalogue on SACD and audiophile vinyl. And forget poor releases. Elvis fans: Forget poor bootleg and illegal releases, buy a great sound system and hear for the first time in dozens of years, first time in your life perhaps, the real thing about Elvis and about the MUSIC with capital word. We need hundreds/thousands of Davrid fans.
davrid wrote on November 01, 2009
Elvistruth - agreed 100%. I have circa 10,000 Elvis Lps and 4,000 Elvis Cds - given the investment in that, spending £50,000 to hear the (cd) music at it's best seems relatively modest! Yes I also still have a separate turntable system based upon a Roksan Xerxes 20 Plus - I only buy British hifi! but rarely, if ever, does it get played - instead my cds and digital server are my choice, especially cd. Simply, the diigal active DSP8000 are the best hifi component ever! Closely followed by my Meridian 800 series dvd/cd. I simply can not imagine listening to Elvis on anything other than a 'proper' hifi.
elvistruth wrote on November 01, 2009
Davrid, Absolutely BEAUTIFUL your hifi components system, specially the DSP8000 digital active. Looking and reading for them in the net, I'm amazed of course!!! You was right. Hearing Elvis or any other artist on them will be an experience out of this world!!!! Congratulations also for your GREAT Elvis collection. But most of all thanks for your experienced comments.