Customer Reviews

Trick of the Tail (Bonus Dvd) (Hybr) (Reis)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I don't have a working SACD player, but the dvd, in dts, is incredible. I've heard this album a thousand times before, but I was constantly hearing instruments I never noticed before. Crystal clear sound, better than a lot of "new" releases.

I didn't look at all the extras, but the main one is a 40 minute concert from 1976. The picture and sound aren't all that great, but seeing Bill Bruford playing drums makes it all worthwhile.

Throw away all your other versions of this classic and replace it with this one. You won't be dissapointed.

Very impressive package wich covers most areas in audio/video from that period.

Audio: (SACD Surround and stereo mixes,DVD Audio(Dolby Surround,DTS 96/24).
Video:(1976 rehearsal concert with Bill Bruford (stereo only, letterbox), Music videos:Ripples, Robbery,Assault and Battery,A trick of the Tail (Dolby or DTS surround) plus 15 mn. interview with the band in 2007.

I am a long time Genesis fan (1971-1980) and i am very pleased after seeing every major band putting a vast array of products on the market,to note that Genesis did not inundate us with very similar or diluted compilations but seem to have got it right with this series of remasters.

Hopefully,the rest of the back catalog will be on par with the "Trick of the Tail" package.

I've waited a few weeks to offer up an opinion on this release, because there is so much to compare. One disc has a SACD layer that plays in stereo and 5.1 surround. There is a standard CD layer as well. On the second disc there are two more surround versions; in DTS and Dolby Digital. And then there is the "Definitive Edition Series" remaster from 1994. I've listened to the different versions many times. So, which one sounds best?

I prefer the SACD surround. The sound is very clear, more so than you have ever heard before. There really is no reason to use the stereo SACD layer (unless you only have two speakers), as the surround mix uses the rear speakers sparingly. I'm sure that the engineer, Nick Davis, intended it to be that way. You don't notice the surrounds most of the time, unless you turn them off. They just provide a fuller sound than the stereo version. I heard that Peter Gabriel sent Nick Davis back to redo at least some of the Lamb Lies Down on Broadway mix because he felt that Davis was being too conservative. Of course Mr. Gabriel had no say in this mix.

The SACD is not perfect, however. I hear a lot of talk about "compression" from people who think that the extended range sounds unrealistic. I'm not sure if that is fair, although Phil Collins' voice is much more "front and center," and the cymbals on the percussion are quite pronounced; much more so than on the prior remaster. This is one of my favorite albums, but it is not my favorite surround recording. I do prefer it over the prior remaster, however. I just wish that I could say that this new one "blows away" the old one, and I can't. I am sure that vinyl lovers might tend to even prefer the 1994 release, which sounds softer (they would say "warmer," I'm sure). The details are there in the older mix, it just doesn't sound as bright as the newer SACD (or the CD, for that matter). Remember, the 1994 release was a remaster itself, and it was a good one. If you compare the new CD mix with the older one, the new mix is much louder (which have led some to the rush judgment that they are hearing more detail). Louder does not, necessarily, mean that it is better. I don't see the new CD mix as much of an improvement.

The DTS 96/24 mix on the DVD was surprisingly good. In fact, for those who think that the SACD mix is too bright, the DTS might be more appealing. It is not as detailed, however. On my system, the low end was "fatter." This made the heavier songs like Squonk and Dance on a Volcano sound quite good. On the other hand, Entangled was less impressive. The Dolby Digital surround version was probably the worst of the three surround mixes: brighter, but less detailed. I felt that it was a little harsh.

The extras were great: a "mini concert" circa 1976, a short interview with the band about the circumstances surrounding the recording of the album, and even a couple of videos. (Does anyone know the replacement singer that the band rejected in favor of Collins? It is not revealed in the interview...) Bottom line here is that if you have a SACD player, this is the version to get. I can't understand why people who don't are paying extra for this version when the U.S. version doesn't cost more that a standard CD.

I'm a huge fan and have an outstanding system. This SACD/DVD-A will disappoint if you understand what breathing is when it comes to audio. Someone got overzealous with a compressor and made the vocal so bright that there are times when the music is gated in order to make way for it. If you want to hear what surround is capable of, purchase any Porcupine Tree disk or pick up the first Crowded House disk. Measure for measure, this disk is great if you are a die hard fan, but overdubbed concert footage and poorly engineered productions don't make up for what you can get from the first stereo remaster even if it was only at CD sampling rates.

Many great reviews on this already. It was a treat to see the videos. You can play this in your regular CD player and you will hear SO many different parts. I can only imagine what this would sound like on a SACD player.

Whatever they did to enhance the sound of this Cd,its wonderful! The packaging of this is very nice too. One CD music, the other Cd the Enhanced version of Trick plus the DVD section.

The DVD is comprised of interviews about Trick and footage of the band. On this particular DVD, it has "Robbery, Assault & Battery", which was played on MTV many moons ago. That was great! Genesis in this stage of their musical journey was just getting over the departure of Peter Gabriel.Watch the interview part,they explained how Phil was not to be the original singer. They had many singers, but just could not make that unity. I am sorry back to DVD concert footage. This is the first time you have a great view of Bill Bruford playing extremely well.(looks like a young kid!)

This is going to be a series of all the Genesis music, including The Lamb. I saw on the internet everything, Foxtrot,Nursery Crime..etc.. I suggest only the best one Trick of the Tail.Guys this is worth getting!

I`m usually skeptical about remastered editions of albums. Usually, it`s an artist/record company ploy that entices the consumer to spend money on an album he/she already has.And usually, the sound of the remastered cd isn`t any more spectacular then when you had it originally,
A Trick of the Tail is a noted exception. I loved this album immediately when I heard it on cassette fifteen years ago,and it wasn`t because of the remastered sound that I purchased this cd. But I must tell you that the remastered sound is a vast improvemt over the previous cd reissue of this album. The original production by David Hentschel is excellent and the clarity was a vast improvemnt over the Gabriel Genesis albums . `You could hear the drums', as the Genesis biogrpaher, Amando Gallo pointed out at the time.
The selling point for me was not the reamstered sound , although I must say Im impressed wit the remastering job done here. I did not think they could produce any more clarity out of this album than what was already bourne out. When you hear Phil Colins sing on this album, it sounds as if he`s standing right next to you. And there are instrumental details of the songs I never picked out before. Mike Riuhterford`s bass guitar is more upfront than it ever has been.
Im sure for those of you who are reading this have heard a Trick of The Tail before and you know that the album is an example of great songwriting. I wouldn`t call it an overly progressive effort such as Selling Engalnd By the pound, but the album is a great collection of songs that stood the test of time, well before Phil Collins became a purveyor of lite Fm and Disney soundtrack music. His singing is compelling and convincing, especially on tracks such as Mad man Moon and Ripples where he`s believable and vulnerable.And as I said before, the drum sound is vastly improved and hearing Collins play reminds you that this man was an underrated player,
Much of the credit of this album belongs to Tony Banks, who is vastly underrated as keyboard player and this was a man who was not given to onstage histrionics such as Emerson and Wakeman. His forte was good, concentrated songwriting. It`s no surprise that most of the writing crdits on this album belong to him.
The major selling point of the album for me happened to be the extras. You get the three promo videos for the album; Robbery, assault and battery, Ripples(the best track on the album ,IMO. The interplay between Hackett and Banks during the instrumental section is stirringly beatuiful), and A Trick of The tail. I knew you could get these videos on the Genesis video collection, but since much of it is culled form the 80`s and 90`S, I didn`t purchase that dvd since Im not a huge fan of Genesis during that era.
In addition, you get the `Genseis Live in concert `76 film, which is a good document of the band before Steve Hackett departed the follwing year. You also have the prog vetaran drummer Bill bruford augmenting Collins. Unfortuantley, the film is marred by the director inserting silly silent movie and world war 2 footage during some of the songs. But when the director focuses on the band playing, it`s really exciting. The interplay between Collins and Bruford is astonishing. Banks keyboard work is impeccable , Rutherford holds his own on bass,and Collins is a pro behind the microphone and drums.
I must reitierate ; Its not often I`m a sucker for remastered albums, but I caved in on this one. Although knowing the quality of the songs defintely helped. Let`s put it this way; You wont see me forking over bucks for Abacab. I do have my standards.
Now, if only they remaster the Lamb, perhaps I can be lured into buying that one.

This Japanese mini-lp replica version of Genesis, Thick of the Tail, the most classic album of Phil Collins era, is simply a work of art! Very beautifully designed with all the lyrics included and with a sound quality SACD remastered to perfection.
This is by far the best version of this album that is out there; great sound quality, great packaging, great extra material with videos, making off! A must have in any CD collector's library.

Brilliant, just brilliant, what more can I say. For lovers of 70's Genesis, just brilliant.

For those who already know and have this album don't hesitate to buy this new version on hybrid SACD.
Even on a regular CD player the sound is amazing much more details and clarity. Also the DVD bonus are very good and interesting. Ray Shulman (from Gentle Giant) made all the DVD authoring, it's great to see his name along the credit with this long time contemporary band. Probably with Wind and Wuthering, and Selling England by the Pound their finest musically effort. You will apreciate this piece of art. Go for this version even if it's more expensive then the regular.
Hybrid SACD are superior then CD, again even on regular player.