Customer Reviews

Layla (Hybr) (Ms)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I used to have the optimistic point of view that, in the digital age, old music could be infinitely improved if it was properly remixed and remastered. Time has shown that the best of the digital "redos" can only be as good as the original source tape, whether the original stereo master or the original multitracks.

It's obvious now, after at least six attempts at digital remastering (the original CD reissue, the boxed set in '90, the Mobile Fidelity release in '93, the '96 remaster and now the SACD edition), that the original tapes are not that well recorded. We've heard excuses for this, that everything was recorded live (and LOUD) and there was a lot of bleed between mics, that it was the beginning of multitrack technology and therefore noisy, that everyone, including the engineers, was stoned, etc., etc.

None of the excuses, except for the drugs, really holds up. They were working in a fine studio with state of the art equipment, a place where other artists made fine sounding records at that time. Also, I don't think they were playing all that loud, as Clapton was using a Pignose (small amp) for much of the session. But even if they were playing loud, I doubt that they could top the volume level of Who's Next, for instance, and that's a fine sounding LP.

Anyway, it is what it is. It's obvious now that there will be no significant improvement on the way this LP sounds. It will always sound claustrophobic, muddy and midrange heavy. You know they've gone back to the multitracks at least twice (20th Anniversery was remixed and they had to use the multitracks for the 5.1 on the SACD) with no significant improvement.

So I guess we just have to appreciate the subtle improvements, and, to disagree with several other reviews, I think they are here. I own all the other remasters, and I've felt like the best were the Mobile Fidelity and the '96 remaster. Tough to declare a winner there; each has their pros and cons, and the difference is definitely subtle. Last night, I did an A-B comparision of each of those with this SACD, and the SACD is a marked improvement on the bottom end. The drums also have more detail. When the tape becomes more saturated (i.e., when all those guitar overdubs kick in) like on Anyday, it still becomes a quagmire. But on sparser songs, like Have You Ever Loved A Woman, the improvement is considerable.

Our ears (and minds) are tricky animals. When looking for improvement in a recording such as this, it is not fair to compare to another recording. Layla will never sound like Who's Next or Abbey Road. Different musicians, different studio, different conditions. And Layla will never be a CD to demo speakers with. But when comparing apples to apples, I guarantee this SACD is the best sounding Layla yet.

I have the remixed, remastered version of this classic album. I always thought it still sounded flat regardless of the remix so, I gave the SACD a shot. What a difference even on a conventional player! If you love this album, do not hesitate to upgrade to the SACD version. You'll like what you hear!

I have the original LP and the remastered CD copies of this album--but it sounds like a whole new album with the SACD process. The sound is crisp and the separation is great--you can truly hear Clapton and Allman in separate speakers-- music heaven--the vocals are clear and the drums by Jim Gordon sound great--the guitars and organ are fantastic--if you have the CD or LP--I suggest you spend the money for this SACD copy--it sounds like a whole new album--This is definitely Claptons best album..Also look forward to the Cream reunion in January 2005--hope they tour--Clapton will wail---

Layla is one of the great albums of Rock Music and stands as Clapton's personal opus. The addition of Duane Allman at his peak is a huge bonus and the key catalyst in the creation of this masterpiece. Bobby Whitlock, Carl Raddle and Jim Gordon never played any better then on this.

I own two vinyl copies (Aust & US), CD release, Anniversary box set and now the SACD. I agree with other reviewers that the original CD release was the usual poor transfer from the equalized-for-vinyl master tape. The anniversary box set was a significantly improved transfer but this SACD raises the bar.

The extra spread across the front channels and sub clarifies the sound. What it clearly shows is that the recording was live in the studio plus overdubs and redubs. The guitars can be clearly heard through the drum mikes and the drums through the vocals mikes, which seem to be just left on most of the time. The bass is now present with a strong bottom end and with judicious adjusting of the sub, nicely balanced against the guitars. It's the clearer separation of the guitars that provides increased clarity (the rears are only used for ambience and I turn them well down). However it remains a sonically flawed recording due to its live-in-the-studio recording and jamming music style. But that's what also gives the brilliant music its distinctive sound - Tom Dowd was interested in capturing the music and admits he just kept the tapes rolling. Thus the sound is a bit raw and rough, which amplifies spontaneous feel to the process of creating the highly sophisticated music that is Layla.

No words necessary for the content so this will be for the sound of the disc. The surround is a very good mix that gives you a spread across the front of the instruments and especially in the first few tracks with Clapton's strat. Finally, you're able to hear instruments and vocals clearer than ever before. I agree with another reviewer that said if you wanted a state of the art demo disc for SACD, this wasn't it. But I will say this is the best version of this classic recording available now. Yes, it will sound great on the CD layer, but you need SACD to really appreciate this disc.

The Clapton/Allman/Gordon Rock 'n Blues in Surround Sound!? Fantastic! "Layla" and "Bell Bottom Blues" never looked or sounded so good! This album was the only studio album produced by Eric Clapton, Duane Allman and veteran drummer Jim Gordon. The SACD Surround Sound is less distinct than most, but still gives the strong feel of a studio presence. Classic songs with classic arrangements.

I have bought this album twice as an LP, and 4 times as a CD. The different versions all had one thing in common...when the song playing had a lot of tracks going, they became muddied. Also, treble and midrange seemed muted.

The SACD version, when played on my high end multichannel system, is a revelation. Folks, it sounds unlike any other version. Vocals come through the center speaker with all the nuances of the tone and breath control. You can make out the words in every song. For example, "Tell the Truth" and its previously slurred vocal by Whitlock and Clapton is now crystal clear. So THAT is what they were saying! 'Where You're going or been'....ah ha!

Rhythm and second guitars are clear in the rear channels, piano AND organ on most tracks, by golly, lots of unheard percussion tracks now stand out, things that were overwhelmed before you now hear. The mix puts different emphasis on some of the guitar parts that you had to really strain to hear before, changing how the song sounds. If you have "The Layla Sessions" track charts, you can now hear all the things claimed to have been laid down, but were just not discernible before.

I don't know if this is good or bad, but it does allow you to hear everything. How this jives with the original intent of the band, engineer or mixer's intents, I have no idea. Perhaps we got the mixes we did due to technological limitations from 38 years ago.

It is STILL Layla, there is STILL the awesome guitar interplay between the two all world guitarists. But, this version you get to hear it all, all the rest of the song. I simply view it as the version where you get to hear everything that was recorded. Good or bad, I don't know, but I know I like it, like it, yes I do.

The classic album from the days when Eric Clapton proposed marriage to Pattie Boyd. All songs were for her, but she said NO! -and he got a very long down period with drugs, alcohol and many girls who tried to comfort him. You can sense on this album the great love he had for Pattie. He created great creativity. I highly recommend this album.

Ole Nielsen / Denmark

I first bough this album on 8 Track, and it was amazing from the get go, but the guitar mix was murky at best. Still I played it till my ears rang. Next I got it on album, and the sound was better, but still a little muddy. I must have played the album 100's of times in college and know each guitar solo note for note. Since the plethora of "new" versions of "old" albums, I jumped on the bandwagon and purchased one of the first re-mixes of this album, on cassette. Whoever mixed it brought the guitars to the front, but to the detriment of all the other instruments, and, especially brother Duayne's guitar, bordered on the shrill. Still searching for the ultimate, I found a used copy of the SACD hybrid at my local record store and picked it up. I only had a regular CD player, but the CD mix was great, finally I could hear all the nuisances of the music, without being blown away by the sonic over load. Recently I finally broke down and bought an SACD compatible CD player when my old one died on me. Hammer Time! The SACD layer is without a doubt the best sounding CD I own. The sound is warm, and what I can only describe as "round". You can actually hear Clapton's head turn away from the mike as he sings. And all those multilayer-ed guitar solo's each take on a distinctive physical space and tone of their own. A must have for Claption fans, and anyone who loves this kind of blues tinged rock. Get it today.

Everybody knows this album, a classic in every sense, Clapton's finest band and finest work. I've owned every incarnation of this album from vinyl to CD, and this is ABSOLUTELY the best I've ever heard Layla sound. I don't have a multichannel set up yet, but the 2 channel SA sounds real fine. I'll put this on first when I do get a multichannel system. Get on The Stick and get this, because I'm reading it's been discontinued. I'm a late comer to the SACD scene, but I'm glad I arrived in time to get this. You'll be too.