Steve Miller - Fly Like An Eagle (2006 Dolby Digital Mix)

[JohnA]

oops, yes indeed. Is there 'undo'?

And what is a 'Dolby Digital' mix anyway? A music DVD of some sort?

[zabble]

oops, yes indeed. Is there 'undo'?

And what is a 'Dolby Digital' mix anyway? A music DVD of some sort?

I don't know about an undo. The dts mix is based on the original 1976 quad mix. The 2006 mix is completely new. A decent mix but tragically encoded in the dreadful dolby digital format.

[Q-Eight]

I don't know about an undo. The dts mix is based on the original 1976 quad mix. The 2006 mix is completely new. A decent mix but tragically encoded in the dreadful dolby digital format.

You forgot poorly edited.

[zabble]

You forgot poorly edited.

Yes I did. There are a few edit points that are less than perfect.

[Q-Eight]

Yes I did. There are a few edit points that are less than perfect.

*snort* That's putting it mildly.

I've played a few tracks for friends who aren't surround-o-philes and they too remark about the poor edits.

[dbmay75]

I just listened to this the other day followed by the DTS and quickly realized just how much more alive this new mix is, despite it being in Dolby.

I grew up listening to this album and learned several of the tracks on guitar as a teen so I consider myself knowing the mix and edits of the original stereo tracks rather well.

I have very few complaints about this release, but like the DTS, the near-omission of "Space Intro" is incomprehensible (it always prepares me for 'takeoff', if you will, into the title track) and yet no one, including Miller himself, has ever offered up an explanation for this being chopped to a lousy ten seconds. Even if the multitrack tapes were lost or destroyed, they could have pulled a Bob Clearmountain and at least panned the stereo mix around the room like they did with "India" from the wonderful Roxy Music Avalon SACD.

Felix (see his post above) stated that his copy included the entire "Space Intro" segment - if you read this, can you confirm the time length of this track on your player Felix?

Also, despite this being labeled a classic rock album (which I'm sure means to most that the mix and edits shouldn't be messed with) I choose to welcome the new mix and edits with open arms. While it does cause my heart to skip a beat or two (or six!) when I hear synths that I never heard growing up with this on both vinyl and CD as well as extended measures thrown in, it makes the album an engaging listen. If there was ever a space-themed album to be put to surround, this is definitely one of 'em!

I'd also like to add that one of the aspects of this record that I have always loved is the drumming of Gary Mallaber. I know Steve did a lot of overdubbing in private after recording Mallaber and Lonnie Turner's rhythm section, but the drums sound like drums should on record and some of Mallaber's fills are just killer (the outro of "Serenade"). The toms, hi-hat and cymbals are so much more dynamic on this release.

The interview segment is excellent and while the concert didn't do much for me, I was floored when my favorite guitarist, Joe Satriani, showed up on stage!

However, because we're only rating the surround mix and not the entire package, I'd give it an 8 due to "Space Intro" being virtually non-existent and the Dolby processing not being as wonderful to listen to as it might have been in MLP. Nevertheless, this release is cheap everywhere so whether you're a die-hard or casual fan, you should definitely pick this up.

[rusinurbe]

I see this has been re-issued on Edsel for a reasonable £10. CD and DVD with 5.1 of teh album plus concert stuff.
I assume its the same mix from 4 years ago I dont have it compare.

This is a nice active mix though nice and discrete. Still Dulby Digital as well.

[Q-Eight]

It's a pretty popular album. Glad to hear it's getting a second, more affordable run. I wonder if Mr. Miller will remix Book of Dreams like he mentioned he would oh, about 6 years ago?

Incidentally, since there's no thread for it, but does anybody else have the original Q8? Does yours have a swapped channel too? Mine has lead vocals in both lefts. When I compare to the DTS CD; front vocals are dry and loud, rear vocals are echoed and soft. On my Q8, left vocals are dry and loud, right vocals are soft and echoed.

[staygroovy]

When I get a chance I'd love to try and pull up that 'Space Intro' from the CD and incorporate it into the main 5.1 mix. For personal reasons... LOL

The mix was pretty good otherwise, I must say. Didn't sounds half-bad for AC-3, still wish they would have considered lossless somehow.

It's just a testament that we are living in an era of such mediocrity, what with physical media not selling as well as it used to, one would think they'd come up with ways to entice people to buy the product.
Even if only offered for sale as a download-only on a site like HD Tracks or something of that order. I mean, what would they have to lose in doing this? The mixes already exist.

It was only done this way because they ran out of room on the DVD. Minimal cost, way to please fans and audiophiles.

Since the DVD has been out for a while, make it now available with a one-time-only download code to get the hi-rez.

Brains, Brains! (I feel like a zombie saying this...)

[LizardKing]

Got this one recently....

Not a bad, but I find the do do do do do at the start a bit gimmicky going around all the speakers.

[cupboy]

I don't see anything wrong with that. It's not classical music.

[Quad Linda]

I gave this a 9. Despite it's flaws, it's the best this album has sounded. The first week it came out, I ran to FlipSide, bought the Q8 and popped it into the Pioneer QP-444 in my '76 Buick Regal. BTW: had it on a slide mount alternating with an auto-reverse cassette. Similarly, I got the 30th when it first came out. I always liked Steve and had been buying his albums since '68. Musically, this album is the nuts. The worst tracks are still pretty good.

The Dolby D, sonic animalies and editing make it less than perfect. I've owned the Q8, Mofi LP, Mercury (German) CD, DTS CD and the 30th. Today was my first chance to a/b the 30th to the DTS CD. This album always sounded a bit like an 8 track: compressed with a top & bottom that don't go all the way, but are fudged with eq. There are several '70's albums with that compressed, rolled off sound. The 30th opens it up, at the expense of smoothness. Still, I'd rather hear it this way. There are many things I've never heard before. Many just plain weren't there. The highs often sound brittle, and there's an anomaly in You Send Me reminiscent of a washboard scraping. Perhaps a damaged tape is responsible. The tonality, for better or worse, I would chalk up to the master tapes. The engineering is good overall, but there are some boneheaded things. Between that and being lossy, 9 is the best I can do, and that might be stretching it. Still, the mix is pretty nice, it sounds way more open, and the music is damn good. 9.

Regarding a 5.1 Book of Dreams, I would expect more of the same. Even though BOD came out the next year, the albums were recorded during the same sessions. That's my recollection. The tonality is likely to be the same. It could be a wonderful mix if the boneheaded mistakes are eliminated. One can only hope.

[fredblue]

A solid "9", a "10" if it had been DVDA!

Love the album, love the mix, the whole package is very nice indeed. Shame about the DD-encoded 5.1 and the ropey video quality but at least it's there!

[leevitalone1]

Steve Miller band stuff was like Todd Rundgren stuff, always well produced, with lots of good bass and
attention to sound quality. I would love to see this on dvd a or BD!

[marcuslaw]

Thanks for the post Felix. Though I never thought I'd order a DVD in order to get a mere DD 5.1 mix, I just pulled the trigger on the 30th Anniversary Fly Like An Eagle (2006 Dolby Digital Mix). For years I held back on buying the DTS edition because of the issues you list in your post. I'm glad to see many of them were addressed with the 2006 release but also dissapointed it wasn't packaged in a lossless format.

[fredblue]

Thanks for the post Felix. Though I never thought I'd order a DVD in order to get a mere DD 5.1 mix, I just pulled the trigger on the 30th Anniversary Fly Like An Eagle (2006 Dolby Digital Mix). For years I held back on buying the DTS edition because of the issues you list in your post. I'm glad to see many of them were addressed with the 2006 release but also dissapointed it wasn't packaged in a lossless format.

I for one am hopeful that you'll still enjoy the 30th anniversary mixes, regardless of their lossy DD codec. Be great to know how you rate it in the end.

[atlantasteve]

I really enjoy this disc, even the dvd concert. Having heard this album LOTS and LOTS of times, it was almost a revelation hearing it in surround. The percussion is prominent, as are the keyboards. The main reason I listen to HQ cd's is to get a new experience listening to some of my favorite discs. This one didn't disappoint me.

[Fourplay]

Hi All,

I am having a problem playing this disc. I now have two copies of it and am trying to play it in my Oppo BD-95 player. I get the prompt "Wrong Region Code" despite the text on the disc itself stating No Regional Restrictions. Tried a firmware upgrade and that did not solve the issue. Has anyone else experienced this issue with these discs?

These are the only discs this player has ever rejected, and I am currently playing a DVD-Audio without a glitch even though it looks like it has been through a peanut butter and razor blade sandwich. Hmmm.

Ken

[neil wilkes]

Hi All,

I am having a problem playing this disc. I now have two copies of it and am trying to play it in my Oppo BD-95 player. I get the prompt "Wrong Region Code" despite the text on the disc itself stating No Regional Restrictions. Tried a firmware upgrade and that did not solve the issue. Has anyone else experienced this issue with these discs?

These are the only discs this player has ever rejected, and I am currently playing a DVD-Audio without a glitch even though it looks like it has been through a peanut butter and razor blade sandwich. Hmmm.

Ken

Hi Ken.
That's really odd - I went to check in my BDP-83SE but forgot I have the region free circuit board added - have you thought about getting this?
It will remove all region locks on all DVD, and also allow you to reset the BD Zoning as well. It's an add-on circuit board you install manually by taking the top cover off, and putting it in place of the ribbon cable that runs from the front panel to the main electronics and is perfectly safe to use - it was even recommended to me by Oppo.....
WHen I examine my copy, it states it is region free but has a form of structure "protection" included - could it be this that is causing the problem?
Have you tried making a full backup?

[fredblue]

Hi All,

I am having a problem playing this disc. I now have two copies of it and am trying to play it in my Oppo BD-95 player. I get the prompt "Wrong Region Code" despite the text on the disc itself stating No Regional Restrictions. Tried a firmware upgrade and that did not solve the issue. Has anyone else experienced this issue with these discs?

These are the only discs this player has ever rejected, and I am currently playing a DVD-Audio without a glitch even though it looks like it has been through a peanut butter and razor blade sandwich. Hmmm.

Ken

Hi Ken, just curious, do you have the U.S. Capitol edition, or the later U.K. release on the Edsel label?

[Fourplay]

Hi Ken.
That's really odd - I went to check in my BDP-83SE but forgot I have the region free circuit board added - have you thought about getting this?
It will remove all region locks on all DVD, and also allow you to reset the BD Zoning as well. It's an add-on circuit board you install manually by taking the top cover off, and putting it in place of the ribbon cable that runs from the front panel to the main electronics and is perfectly safe to use - it was even recommended to me by Oppo.....
WHen I examine my copy, it states it is region free but has a form of structure "protection" included - could it be this that is causing the problem?
Have you tried making a full backup?

Hey Guys,

Thanks for your interest in my issue. Both copies I own are Edsel EDSX 3010 Cat numbers. I have purchased a BDP9395SuperKit_Manual_V1.4 Region Free Modification Kit, but have not yet installed it. I figure that should straighten out the problem. This kit allows either an internal or external installation option. Any opinions about which might be better?

Just have not gotten a round Tuit.

As for making a full backup, I have had marginal luck with software that claims to do this. I have produced mostly coasters. So if you want to direct me to a link about this I can try, but the time & fiddle factors tend to discourage me.

Ken

[jsayers]

I gave this a 9. Despite it's flaws, it's the best this album has sounded. The first week it came out, I ran to FlipSide, bought the Q8 and popped it into the Pioneer QP-444 in my '76 Buick Regal. BTW: had it on a slide mount alternating with an auto-reverse cassette. Similarly, I got the 30th when it first came out. I always liked Steve and had been buying his albums since '68. Musically, this album is the nuts. The worst tracks are still pretty good.

The Dolby D, sonic animalies and editing make it less than perfect. I've owned the Q8, Mofi LP, Mercury (German) CD, DTS CD and the 30th. Today was my first chance to a/b the 30th to the DTS CD. This album always sounded a bit like an 8 track: compressed with a top & bottom that don't go all the way, but are fudged with eq. There are several '70's albums with that compressed, rolled off sound. The 30th opens it up, at the expense of smoothness. Still, I'd rather hear it this way. There are many things I've never heard before. Many just plain weren't there. The highs often sound brittle, and there's an anomaly in You Send Me reminiscent of a washboard scraping. Perhaps a damaged tape is responsible. The tonality, for better or worse, I would chalk up to the master tapes. The engineering is good overall, but there are some boneheaded things. Between that and being lossy, 9 is the best I can do, and that might be stretching it. Still, the mix is pretty nice, it sounds way more open, and the music is damn good. 9.

Regarding a 5.1 Book of Dreams, I would expect more of the same. Even though BOD came out the next year, the albums were recorded during the same sessions. That's my recollection. The tonality is likely to be the same. It could be a wonderful mix if the boneheaded mistakes are eliminated. One can only hope.

Have you heard the DCC gold cds mastered by Steve Hoffman? He did the Greatest Hits, BOD and FLAE and they sound fantastic. <In 2 channel though..>

[Quad Linda]

MoFi LP from 1980 of FLAAE sounds great, too, especially with an MC cartridge. I'll pass on the gold of this, since I'd rather listen in surround. I bought the Q8 the first week it was out, and have the DTS-CD and DD Anniv. Thanks for the tip. I may pu the BOD & Greatest.

Welcome to QQ, jsayers.

[Q8]

I think the DD mix is amazing. This is one of the discs that got me into surround. It still feels a little loud/compressed though. Surround effects are very impressive though I also have the 180 gram vinyl reissue that came out around that time, but I've left it sealed.

I gave this an 8

[peterzach]

I hadn't listened to this for a while and relistened to this title this weekend and the mix is very well done. I give this title a 8,dropping a few points since its not lossless but having said that it's one of the best sounding DD releases out there.

peter