Customer Reviews

Live at the Fillmore East (Hybr) (Ms)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I cut my teeth on jamming listening to Cream. So the Allmans' Live was not a revelation just a stunning album and purchased on release in Australia. I know it all by heart -just burnt into the synapses.

In 1992 Tom Dowd did a full concert remix and remaster as "The Fillmore Concerts". This is where the controversy starts cause it sounds different and so it should - Tom transferred the original 16 track master tapes to digital and remixed. Taking advantage of the wider dynamic and frequency range, he produced a mix with the bass guitar stronger and drums clearer and more dynamic. Unfortunately the guitar freaks found the relatively lower level guitar sound unacceptable but the bass freaks loved Berry's sound (more bottom end).

Now we have the SACD stereo, multi-channnel and Audio Stereo remaster release of the original 2 record set accurately split over 2 cds. It should fit on one but there is marketing to us baby boomers. But I gotta say they did perform split sets so it does reasonably capture the night.

And more controversy - the stereo CD layer is a remix closer to the original LP release. Drums are further back but the bass guitar bottom end is retained. The tracks are identical to the original release but not on the SACD layer with the Fillmore Concert's "Stormy Monday" used, which is the unedited version including the harmonica break, and a different edit to end "Whipping Post". On the SACD layer the tympany start to "Mountain Jam" is rapidly faded out and applause overdubbed which is annoying if you want the sonic continuity when following up with the jam from the "Eat A Peach" SACD.

Sound of both layers is excellent with SACD preferred because you can adjust the bottom end via the sub control. The surrounds give some reverb and audience noise - "Play all night". The centre has plenty of bass guitar, some drums and some of Greg's vocals (reinforcing the original centre-left positioning of the vocals). I would have preferred the drums a bit higher in the centre.

I can feel the SACD Deluxe "Fillmore Concerts" is on its way - the wallet is already feeling lighter.

One of the best live albums of all time, I was hoping for more when they released this as a Hybrid 5.1 SACD.
1) Its now 2 cds again. And you would think they would have 2 seperate holders for the cds. They just piled them on top one another.
2) The surround sounds don't use the backs enough. I think the quality of the recording hinders the effectiveness of surround sound. I never feel like I am at the concert, unlike other surround sound discs.
Update:
I had a problem with the back speakers on my stereo.
Now, it sounds like the audience is behind you.
I now feel like I am at the concert. It's amazing

I've been a major fan of The Allman Brothers-Live at the Fillmore since it originally came out in vinyl. The interplay between Duane and Dickie as well as Butch and Jaimoe was unbeatable to this day. I believe in the 90's, the late,great producer, Tom Dowd went through the original master tapes and improved the recording even more by splicing songs together from different performances seemlessly as well as remixing/remastering the entire recording. It also included tracks that originally appeared on EAT A PEACH as well as the song, DRUNKEN HEARTED BOY with Elvin Bishop. All these tracks are missing from the Hybrid SACD version. The titles are as they originally appeared when the lp was first released.
Personally if a cd is going to get the deluxe SACD treatment, it should have had the material that Tom Dowd labored so hard to improve. Now that he's gone he must be spinning in his grave seeing the original recording being used.
Sure sonically it's simply phenomenal but it could've been over 2 1/2 hours long yet the first cd clocks in at about 37 minutes far below the 80 min. capacity of any cd. Universal, the company that distributed the cd should be ashamed. They'd have sold many, many more had they used the aformentioned improved tapes rather than the original. All in all however, it still sounds fantastic but it could've been SO much better.

The Fillmore Concerts that came out in the 90's was actually "corrected" from the spliced versions of the original, to include the full, uncut versions. It pretty much is a different album altogether from the first. Both are great, but many would consider the first release to be the definitive and "best" version. There is no grave rolling or shame in releasing this greatest live album of all time in SACD.

Great music, and a great transfer to SACD multichannel. It seems to be much easier to allow your ear to focus on the various instruments as the band plays. You get much more effect of being in a small concert hall with this mix. Even though it's the original mix, anyone with the right equipment (SACD Player and a decent 5.1 surround system) shouldn't be dissapointed in getting this SACD.

The reason the material is on 2 discs is because hybrid SACDS hold more information (SACD material plus red book CD material) and thus cannot fit 80 minute of music on them. That is why this album is spread over 2 discs. It made more sense to split the album in half, just like the original LP, rather than put all but one song on the CD and then put the last song on the 2nd disc. The entire album would not have fit.

The same thing happened with Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Bring Road SACD - while the redbook CD is on 1 disc, the SACD version wouldn't have fit.

Don't think you're being ripped off. It's the price you pay for an audiophile listening experience.

THE best live classic rock album, ever! This new SACD remastering of the original Lp release, is just great! Far superior to the 90's release of the same recordings as "The Filmore Concerts", and WAY better than the mixes available on the "Dreams" box set.
I am a HUGE Duane Allman fan, and have studied his recordings for years. This SACD takes these live performances to a whole new sonic level. The clarity is amazing, and the live feel and sound of the Filmore hall is right there. You can hear the tiny nuances of Duane's finger picking, and BO's bass is incredibly powerful in a way it has never been represented before. Match this one up with "Eat a Peach" and get ready to be blown away by the Brotha's in their prime.

I think this is an album that represents a lot of an era that is very hard to come back again. Long solos, very well orchestrated, it's worth having this album and I recommed it to anyone with taste of rock/jazz, because in this early stages, the two types of music collided. The recording is somewhat clean (taking in count the available technology in the time) and in SACD, it sounds really live. My personal favorite is Whipping Post.

OK, I'll start off by saying I am real biased FOR this receording. I used to work at the Fillmore East and I was there for the weekend this concert was recorded. If you're an Allman Brothers fan there is no reason to have to convince you that this has some of the best live songs ever recorded. The band was hot and tight. One thing I loved was getting the long jams that are very different than the studio equivalents, if any. The Allman Brothers defined Southern Rock.

For the SACD abilities... The original recording was mastered by Tom Dowd and he had a hand on the SACD too. The only adjustments I make are when I want to emphasize something. Otherwise it's clean, open and mellow. At times you realy feel to be in the audience.

This recording is must for any Allman Brothers fan. For SACD/high resolution music/Allman Brothers fans, what are you waiting for?

nothing needs to be said about the music or the performance. the SACD DST version brings it to life. excellent sound and mix.