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The Graceland 1976 Masters

July 25, 2012 | Music

Over the years, terms like ‘digitally remastered’ and ‘improved sound’ have become virtually meaningless, due to their overuse by the records labels, whose product more often than not does not really deliver in the audio department. Enter Retro Audio, a sound expert who has developed a remarkable new technique for improving the audio on vintage recordings. Retro Audio is not some guy fiddling around on a computer, he is the real deal, and some of his masterings currently in circulation in the Elvis world are creating quite a furore. Fans have expressed great surprise at what they are hearing, and have wondered how it is possible that Retro Audio was able to improve on even the best sources so far in such a significant way.

Hearing his audio work is like suddenly seeing a b&w photo in color; there is much more dept in the recording, more definition, Elvis’ voice reveals more details the results are nothing less than startling. Retro Audio has now turned his attention to Elvis’ most misunderstood work, the Graceland sessions from 1976, and this is arguably his finest audio work so far. Get ready to hear these recordings in a whole new light, as this remarkable procedure has breathed new life into these masters. Hear Elvis’ voice as you have never heard him before, it’s like you can almost reach out and touch him.

Get surprised by details you never heard before. If you buy only one Elvis CD this summer, then make sure that it’s this one, because this audiophile release WILL surprise you. Presented in a deluxe 2-wing digipack with relevant photos and session details, this is one release that you simply MUST hear!

Tracklisting:

Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall / She Thinks I Still Care / The Last Farewell / Solitaire / Moody Blue / I”ll Never Fall In Love Again / For The Heart / Hurt / Danny Boy / Never Again / Love Coming Down / Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain / It’s Easy For You / Way Down / Pleding My Love / He”ll Have To Go.

Source:Essential Elvis
GEORGE (GK) wrote on July 25, 2012
Unless he has the master tapes seperated on tracks, not sure, how much he can do?
Lex wrote on July 25, 2012
Why don't use good recordings for this special treatment?
You Dont Know Me wrote on July 26, 2012
HUH if that's ALL this release is i can save my money THANKS!~
burton wrote on July 26, 2012
Yeah! but it doesn't say where can you buy it in the U.K. when it comes out.
Tony C wrote on July 26, 2012
This is a bootleg so no details about purchase will be stated online for everybody including EPE and Sony to read, the usual suspects will be able to supply copies.
thenexte wrote on July 26, 2012
Don't waste your money, the term "remastered" is used very loosely here, none of these tracks are remastered from original "vintage" tapes (as the description and cover art would seem to indicate). The source of this product are the official TCEPM digital masters which have been run through analog gear to "soften" the sound.
Jamie wrote on July 27, 2012
Hello, well I'd love to hear the dept of his remasterings on Pleding My Love. I only hope his sonic skills are better than his linguistic ones.
Lefty wrote on July 28, 2012
Probably a straight copy of the material from The Complete Masters.
benny scott wrote on July 28, 2012
Hi Lefty, I don't own The Complete Masters . I'd like to know your opinion about the sound of this release. Was it soundwise a big improvement compared with the earlier (original ) mixes ? Thanks in advance for the info! Always El.
Lefty wrote on July 28, 2012
Hey Benny! I don't own The Complete Masters either. However, the Elvis Information Network website has a comprehensive review. The reviewer thinks the sound is utterly fantastic! I've worked with the reviewer, Piers, from time to time, and he doesn't sugar coat anything. If he says it's fantastic, then I trust that it is. In regards to this new bootleg, I find it impossible to believe that a bootlegger could produce something better than The Complete Masters.
benny scott wrote on July 28, 2012
Thanks for the info Lefty ! I'll try to get a copy of this import, in spite of The Last Farewell and He'll Have To Go. I know that many fans are not so keen on these '76 recordings, but I kinda like 'em, except for the two above mentioned titles .But.. to each his own . Always El.
Lefty wrote on July 29, 2012
Benny, let me know if you like this release. The first Elvis album I bought on CD was From Elvis Presley Blvd, closely followed by Moody Blue. I absolutely love the work he did on those 1976 sessions.
benny scott wrote on July 29, 2012
Lefty, I'll let you know, you can count on it, but it could take a little while before I can lay my hands on it. Hope they release it (very) soon. Best regards. Always El.
NONE000000 wrote on September 05, 2012
I have to chime in on this one, though I do not have this particular cd. I have, however, downloaded other Retro Audio titles, and indeed, I have been blown away! This guy has me listening to the Harum Scarum soundtrack on repeat in my car!!! Seriously, he made it sound that good. Animal Instinct is mind-blowing. It really is, though I know it is hard to believe. I was a very serious doubter when I ran across the stuff over on Pirate Bay, but I really was shocked at the clarity. I know a lot of you do not download music--and I have a few moral qualms about it too--but when it's just clearer versions of things I bought 100 times, I feel no guilt. So if you can find anything by Retro Audio---even movie soundtracks!---I totally, whole-heartedly recommend it! (and I am pretty critical of stuff. This guy improves on things I thought were perfect already. But there is nothing artificial-sounding. It sounds like someone removed a layer of dirt and film from the Mona Lisa; nothing new added, but the original shines like never before. I'm a big fan of what I have been able to find!)