Rhino continues to mine the Warner archives, issuing long-forgotten Quadrophonic mixes of classic albums of the early Seventies.  These Blu Ray discs can be played on most surround sound/home theater systems, and are extremely enjoyable.

Seals & Crofts – Diamond Girl – This is perhaps the biggest surprise of the four.  Diamond Girl came hot on the heels of the duo’s biggest success to date, Summer Breeze.  Their fifth album finds them exploring more textures.  The set opens with the title track, which just shimmers in Quad.  Guitars in all 4 channels, and when the flute solo comes in, it’s back left.  There’s so much intricate playing, like on “Nine Houses,” this is so much more than AM radio fluff.  And, their devotion to the Bahai faith makes for much deeper meaning in the lyrics.  

“Standing on a Mountain Top” is an uncanny rocker with searing electric guitar, reminiscent of the Eagles.  The mandolin is really the star of the LP, showing up again and again, like on “It’s Gonna Come Down (On You),” then an electric guitar comes roaring in.  The album ends with the instrumental, “Wisdom,” with Seals on sax (he played on “Tequila” by the Champs, many years earlier).  

A very solid listen, start to finish.  And, with all the diverse instruments, all four channels shine.  

Carly Simon – Carly Simon 

When this album arrived in 1971, there just weren’t too many mainstream female artists that were writing this kind of music.  Simon’s debut single, “That’s The Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be,” is so confessional, it seems almost too personal.  The Quad mix puts the strings in back, adding tension.  The drums leap from back right to back left, adding excitement.  This is Quad done right: all four speakers working together to tell the story.

There are clever uses of mixing throughout – the guitars are front right and back left on “Alone,” or the piano and pedal steel sitting in the back on “One More Time.” On “The Best Thing,” when the harmonies come in…just wow!  

Not everything on the record works; I think Simon was still growing as a songwriter.  But, when it does work, like on the haunting “Another Door,” it’s spectacular.  There are times when instruments just seem too loud, like the drums on the aforementioned “Another,” or violins on “Reunions,” which almost drown out Simon’s lead vocals.  “Rolling Down the Hills” has the piano jumping all over the soundscape.  

A good, but not great debut – Simon would make better records later.  But, the aggressive Quad mixing helps elevate even the monotonous tracks.  

Mongo Santamaria – Mongo in Montreux 

Concert recordings are always interesting in multi-channels, and in this case, the crowd is mostly behind you and the band in front – creating a live experience.  This is another example of multiple instruments being thrown all over the four speakers.  

The opener, “Come’ Candela” has flute and piano in front right, horns in front left, with music ambience in rear. “Climax” has percussion in all four speakers, making you feel like you’re sitting on stage with the musicians  Then comes a really exciting sax solo.  There’s so much energy coming out of all four channels. 

Things calm down for the beautiful, “Disappear,” featuring Rhodes piano in the front right.  The intensity goes right back up for “Marty’s Tune,” which has an odd time signature, but still grooves.  Propulsive is a good word here.  “Soleil” has furious drums that speed up at the end, and what a rush. 

Kind of disappointed that “Watermelon Man,” his signature song, is included twice, but neither version is over a minute long!  Minor quibble.  That’s more than made up for by the reworking of the Temptations’ “Cloud Nine” – bass and percussion back right, piano front right, congas front left – and then another crazy sax solo.  Very nice.

Probably one of the more interesting releases in Rhino’s Quadio series since it’s off the beaten path.  Definitely a great listen.

Randy Newman – Sail Away

Newman’s voice and often biting lyrics are an acquired taste.  Yet, Sail Away is a great entry point to this under appreciated artist.  This is a surprisingly great listen in Quad.  Newman chose to wrap his acerbic prose in lush strings and horns, and you’re surrounded by it from the opening, title track.  

The other thing is, every track is mixed independently –  meaning instruments show up in different places on each song.  On “Lonely at the Top,” horns are back left, bongos back right, trumpets upfront.  Pretty great summation of fame, disguised as a vaudeville number.

Newman keeps us guessing on the surprisingly tender, “He Gives Us All His Love,” with strings all around.  “Last Night I Had a Dream” – the effect on the piano makes it seem like it’s sitting right in the middle of the room.  Another example of Quad being fun – as the guitar here jumps all around the four speakers.  Then, on the sparse songs, like “Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear,” piano is in the back, while Newman’s vocals are in front.  Things are switched for “Dayton, Ohio – 1903,” with Newman singing in the back, with is piano in the front.

I had to laugh about “Burn On,” a song about the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland catching fire.  Then there’s the original
“You Can Leave Your Hat On,” which is so much more potent coming from Newman – Joe Cocker’s version misses the joke completely.  Once again, the guitar jumps from speaker to speaker.  Of course, Newman leaves things on a bitter note with the scathing “God’s Song (That’s Why I Love Mankind).”  

For as many batches of Quadio discs that Rhino has issued over the last few years, this is one of the strongest yet.  All four albums are pretty good.  But, the Quad mixes on every one of them is excellent, making them fun listens.  Can’t wait for the next one!  —Tony Peters