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SACD

Alison Krauss – Forget About It (1999) [Reissue 2003] [SACD / Rounder Records – Rounder SACD 11661-0465-6]

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Alison Krauss - Forget About It (1999) [Reissue 2003]

Title: Alison Krauss – Forget About It (1999) [Reissue 2003]
Genre: Country
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Alison Krauss gets introspective and personal on her seventh album, one of her solo outings that shoves Union Station in the background while conventional country steps up to the spotlight. But Krauss is a little too sharp for Nashville standard, so Forget About It sounds more like an adult pop album with occasional notes of country grace. Unfortunately, the material here isn’t very inspired (despite a dip into the Todd Rundgren songbook and the fine title tune), and Krauss herself has a hard time elevating it. Still, her fragile, angelic voice is capable of working wonders, which it often does with even the weakest of songs. A marginal effort.

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SACD

Alice In Chains – Greatest Hits (2001) [SACD / Columbia – CS 85922]

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Alice In Chains - Greatest Hits (2001)

Title: Alice In Chains – Greatest Hits (2001)
Genre: Metal
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Giants of the early-’90s Seattle grunge scene, with Black Sabbath-style riffing and an unconventional vocal style, in many ways, Alice in Chains was the definitive heavy metal band of the early ’90s. Drawing equally from the heavy riffing of post-Van Halen metal and the gloomy strains of post-punk, the band developed a bleak, nihilistic sound that balanced grinding hard rock with subtly textured acoustic numbers. They were hard enough for metal fans, yet their dark subject matter and punky attack placed them among the front ranks of the Seattle-based grunge bands.

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SACD

Alice Coltrane and Carlos Santana – Illuminations (1974) [Reissue 2017] [SACD / Vocalion – CDSML 8530]

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Alice Coltrane and Carlos Santana - Illuminations (1974) [Reissue 2017]

Title: Alice Coltrane and Carlos Santana – Illuminations (1974) [Reissue 2017]
Genre: Jazz
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Illuminations (1974) is a collaboration between Alice Coltrane and Carlos Santana, focusing on John Coltrane’s works. Santana, using his Sanskrit name Devadip, plays electric guitar with feedback and simple melodies, leaving space for other instruments. Alice Coltrane contributes harp and keyboard, complemented by a serene string orchestra. Side One features contemplative, string-filled tracks, while Side Two’s “Angel of Sunlight” recreates John Coltrane’s late free jazz style. Jazz musicians Jules Broussard, Jack DeJohnette, and Dave Holland add saxophone, flute, drums, and bass. The instrumental jazz album includes lengthy solos on guitar, saxophone, and keyboards. Illuminations was Santana’s first album not to go gold, reflecting its esoteric jazz direction. The SACD reissue, remastered by Michael Dutton from the quad mix, enhances the album’s depth and clarity. The remaster reveals new details in the strings, Coltrane’s playing, and Santana’s soaring notes. “Angel of Sunlight” transforms into a vibrant, spiritually uplifting experience with improved spatial instrument placement.

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SACD

Alice Cooper – Muscle Of Love (1973) [Audio Fidelity 2015] [SACD / Audio Fidelity – AFZ5 229]

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Alice Cooper - Muscle Of Love (1973) [Audio Fidelity 2015]

Title: Alice Cooper – Muscle Of Love (1973) [Audio Fidelity 2015]
Genre: Rock
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

After the theatrical School’s Out (1972) and Billion Dollar Babies (1973), Alice Cooper aimed for a straightforward sound with Muscle of Love. The 1973 album, though a gold-certified Top Ten hit, underperformed compared to its predecessors. It was the final studio album by the original Alice Cooper band. Without producer Bob Ezrin, the album lacks the coherence of earlier classics and includes more filler. Despite this, Muscle of Love is considered Cooper’s most underrated record, with several overlooked gems. The Top 20 hit “Teenage Lament ’74” features Liza Minnelli and the Pointer Sisters on backing vocals. The energetic title track is another well-known highlight. Standout tracks include the Led Zeppelin-inspired “Big Apple Dreamin’ (Hippo)” and the gentle “Hard Hearted Alice.” “Working Up a Sweat” and the rejected James Bond theme “Man with the Golden Gun” add raw energy. Muscle of Love remains a forgotten hard rock classic.

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SACD

Alice Cooper – Billion Dollar Babies (1973) [Audio Fidelity 2014] [SACD / Audio Fidelity – AFZ 170]

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Alice Cooper - Billion Dollar Babies (1973) [Audio Fidelity 2014]

Title: Alice Cooper – Billion Dollar Babies (1973) [Audio Fidelity 2014]
Genre: Rock
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Billion Dollar Babies sees Alice Cooper polish their raw sound with producer Bob Ezrin, topping U.S. album charts. It’s arguably the original Alice Cooper group’s finest work, packed with strong songs. Hits like “Hello Hooray,” “Billion Dollar Babies,” “Elected,” and “No More Mr. Nice Guy” are among Cooper’s greatest. The album includes concert staples “I Love the Dead” and “Sick Things,” exploring dark themes. Lesser-known tracks like “Raped and Freezin’,” “Unfinished Sweet,” and “Generation Landslide” shine brightly. “Elected” reworks their earlier song “Reflected,” adding defiant energy. Despite its success, band tensions led to their split after one more album. Billion Dollar Babies remains a quintessential rock classic.

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Blu-ray AudioBlu-ray Video

Pink Floyd – The Early Years 1965-1972 (2016) [8x Blu-ray Audiov & Video / BDMV / 172 GB]

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Genre: Progressive Rock, Psychedelic
Duration: 15:07:54 + 2:01:38 (audio)
Release Year: 2016

Quality: Blu-ray
Video Resolution / Scan: 1080p
Container: BDMV

‘The Early Years 1965 1972’ is a comprehensive 28-disc box set that sees Pink Floyd delve into their vast music archive to produce a deluxe package that includes 7 individual book-style volumes, featuring much previously unreleased material. The Early Years box set contains unreleased tracks, BBC Radio Sessions, remixes, outtakes, and alternative versions over an incredible 11 hours, 45 mins of audio (made up of 130+ tracks), live and TV performance in over 14 hours of audio-visual material. The content includes over 20 unreleased songs, more than 7 hours of previously unreleased live audio, and over 5 hours of rare concert footage, along with 5 meticulously produced 7″ singles in replica sleeves, collectible memorabilia, feature films and new sound mixes. Previously unreleased tracks include 1967’s ‘Vegetable Man’ and ‘In The Beechwoods’, which have been mixed for the first time, specially for this release. ‘The Early Years 1965-1972’ will give collectors the opportunity to hear the evolution of the band and witness their part in cultural revolutions from their earliest recordings and studio sessions to the years prior to the release of ‘The Dark Side Of The Moon’, one of the biggest selling albums of all time. From the single ‘Arnold Layne’ to the 20-minute epic ‘Echoes’, fans will see the invention of psychedelic progressive rock via an insightful collection that explores the Pink Floyd story from the time Roger Waters, Richard Wright, Nick Mason and Syd Barrett met at London’s Regent Street Polytechnic, through to Syd’s departure and David Gilmour joining to form the iconic lineup.

40+ items of archival memorabilia including: posters, flyers, tour programs, tickets, press advertisements, & much more.

This set includes: 11 CDs, 8 Blu-ray Discs, 9 DVDs, 5 seven-inch vinyl singles, collectible memorabilia, & more.

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SACD

Ali Akbar Khan – Indian Architexture (1992) [Reissue 2002] [SACD / Water Lily Acoustics – WLA-ES-20-SACD]

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Ali Akbar Khan - Indian Architexture (1992) [Reissue 2002]

Title: Ali Akbar Khan – Indian Architexture (1992) [Reissue 2002]
Genre: World
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Ali Akbar Khan, a master of Hindustani music, is celebrated as one of the world’s greatest musicians. Son of Allaudin Khan, he elevated Northern Indian classical music globally through his virtuosity on the sarod. A five-time Grammy nominee, Yehudi Menuhin called him “the greatest musician in the world.” Indian Architexture features Khan on sarod with tabla accompaniment by Swapan Chaudhuri. The album, recorded by Waterlily Acoustics, includes four ragas, each nearly 30 minutes long. These ragas offer a spiritual journey, blending meditation, ambient drone, and minimalist music. The music serves as both background for reflection and foreground for awakening. Uninterrupted listening to these ragas promotes deep relaxation and emotional depth. Khan’s mastery guides listeners through a profound range of emotions. Indian Architexture is a beautiful, transformative recording that quiets the restless mind.

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SACD

Alfredo Marcucci, Ensemble Piacevole – Touched By Tango (2002) [SACD / Channel Classics – CCS SA 17202]

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Alfredo Marcucci, Ensemble Piacevole - Touched By Tango (2002)

Title: Alfredo Marcucci, Ensemble Piacevole – Touched By Tango (2002)
Genre: Classical Chamber, Tango
Format: MCH SACD ISO

Astor Piazzolla redefined tango, becoming its global ambassador through his innovative style. Touched by Tango by Alfredo Marcucci, released in 2002 on Channel Classics, was recorded in Belgium in 2001. Marcucci, an Argentine bandoneón master (1930–2010), collaborated with the Belgian string quintet Ensemble Piacevole. Piacevole, typically a classical string quartet with a bassist, explores expanded repertoires. The album, inspired by Piazzolla’s tango transformations, includes five of his works, avoiding his most famous pieces. Piazzolla’s Five Tango Sensations, his final recording for the Kronos Quartet, is featured. Two tracks are by Marcucci, and two by Argentine composer Francisco de Caro. The quintet’s rich sound, enhanced by surround mix, creates an immersive experience. This album follows the success of Piacevole and Marcucci’s 1997 release Timeless Tango. Piazzolla’s harmonic and melodic freedoms, akin to jazz, shine through Marcucci’s passionate bandoneón.

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SACD

Alexis Cole with One For All – You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To (2010) [Japan 2015] [SACD / Venus Records – VHGD-114]

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Alexis Cole with One For All - You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To (2010) [Japan 2015]

Title: Alexis Cole with One For All – You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To (2010) [Japan 2015]
Genre: Jazz
Format: SACD ISO + DSF DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC

Alexis Cole’s You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To pairs her versatile vocals with the hard bop sextet One For All. The album reimagines classics like “Golden Earrings” with bright swing and solos from Jim Rotondi, Steve Davis, Eric Alexander, and David Hazeltine. Cole’s sly “I Will Wait For You” and a reenergized “Moon River” avoid clichés, while “Cry Me A River” shines with her worldly delivery. Each track is uniquely shaped, making them memorable yet seamlessly followed by equally compelling songs. “Alone Together,” driven by Joe Farnsworth’s drums, leads to the rhythmic “A Beautiful Friendship” and a Latin-tinged “All The Things You Are.” Cole’s Someday My Prince Will Come evokes childhood dreams through show-tune ballads referencing Peter Pan and Cinderella. Her clear enunciation and lush voice, reminiscent of Chris Connor and Carol Sloane, are supported by Fred Hersch, Steve LaSpina, and Matt Wilson. Seductive tracks like “Let Me Be Good to You” and whimsical “Love” feature Don Braden’s sax and Gregoire Maret’s harmonica. Cole’s storytelling shines in “If I Never Knew You” and “La La Lu,” evoking a nostalgic, romantic mood. Both albums leave listeners satisfied yet craving more, marking Cole’s mastery in jazz vocal artistry.

hraudio | elusivedisc | discogs

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