It's the end of one year and very close to the beginning of another, so it's time for another thread of fun predictions and speculations for the new year!
This thread will focus on possible releases of classic album remixes for 2024, and another thread will follow concerning potential new releases for 2024!
-STEVEN WILSON REMIXES:
-ESOTERIC RECORDINGS:
-MARILLION: Now that the series of EMI-era reissues has come to a close, it's now expected that Marillion will continue these deluxe edition reissues with new sets focusing on the post-EMI albums beginning with a deluxe edition of 1997's "This Strange Engine", which should be remixed in stereo & 5.1 surround by the band's resident producer/engineer Michael Hunter.
-RUSH: It's expected that RUSH will continue their 40th anniversary reissue series with a 40th anniversary edition of 1984's "Grace Under Pressure" which would feature new remixes of the album in both 5.1 surround and Dolby Atmos from their engineer Richard Chycki.
-THE MOODY BLUES: An unexpected release of 2023 was the release of a newly remixed and expanded edition of "To Our Children's Children's Children" which was remixed by Stephen W Tayler, and I hope that SWT will be able to remix more Moodies albums that will see a release in the coming year. Predictions would be for either 1969's "On the Threshold of a Dream" or 1970's "A Question of Balance".
-QUADIO: One of the biggest surprises and biggest hits of 2023 was the triumphant return of QUADIO, thanks to our amazing Quad ambassador @ForagingRhino. New releases are already scheduled for the beginning of the year in January of 2024, but beyond that, it's too hard to predict what other releases will follow throughout the rest of the year, but usually these releases are classic Quad titles from the WEA catalogue.
-SDE SURROUND SOUND SERIES: Thanks to the amazing work of @PaulatSDE we were treated to more incredible SDE surround sound series releases throughout 2023, and the first couple of releases are already scheduled for the first quarter of 2024 with hopefully more great surprises to follow during the rest of the year. One such release I would love would be a 50th anniversary remixed edition of Mike Oldfield's "Hergest Ridge" to follow on from the amazing SDE release this year of "Tubular Bells".
-THIN LIZZY: A big surprise this year in surround sound was the release of a 50th anniversary edition of the album "Vagabonds of the Western World". If they continue with such releases going forward, maybe we'll see a 50th anniversary edition of "Nightlife" in 2024.
So that's basically what we could potentially get as far as classic album remixes in 2024. Again there will be another thread coming soon looking at potential new album releases in surround sound for 2024.
This thread will focus on possible releases of classic album remixes for 2024, and another thread will follow concerning potential new releases for 2024!
-STEVEN WILSON REMIXES:
-TEARS FOR FEARS: My favorite SDE Surround Sound Series release of 2023 was the fantastic remixed edition of Tears For Fears' debut album "The Hurting". My hope for 2024 is that it brings us a (delayed) 30th anniversary edition of their 1993 album "Elemental", which has always been a favorite of mine. Another potential TFF release for 2024 could be a 20th anniversary edition of the band's reunion album "Everybody Loves a Happy Ending" which features some amazing songs such as "Secret World".
-GENTLE GIANT: Following on from 2023's remixed release of "Interview", it's expected that the next remix from Gentle Giant will be 1977's "The Missing Piece", and as always, these releases combine fantastic remixes from SW with stellar visuals for a fantastic listening and viewing experience!
-XTC: One of my favorite releases of 2023 as it was for a lot of QQ members was the long-awaited return of the XTC Surround Sound Series with a fabulous reissue of the album "The Big Express" newly remixed by SW in stereo, 5.1 surround, and Dolby Atmos. Given the unpredictability of their tape situation, it's not known yet if we will get another remix for 2024, but I'm certainly hoping the tapes turn up for either "English Settlement" or "Mummer" so we can finally enjoy those albums in beautiful surround sound.
-ULTRAVOX: I predict that 2024 will see the release of a remixed and expanded edition of the album "Lament" for its 40th anniversary, especially since it features the band's mega hit "Dancing with Tears in my Eyes".
-JETHRO TULL: 2023 saw the release of the biggest Jethro Tull reissue to date with an 8 disc set of "Broadsword and the Beast" which featured loads of surround sound content mixed by SW. It appears that one release for 2024 will be an expanded and remixed edition of the live album "Bursting Out" which will hopefully contain surround sound mixes. Apart from that, it's not known at this time if SW will remix any more Jethro Tull albums, but next year is the 40th anniversary for the album "Under Wraps", so that would be the other likely release for next year.
-ABC: One of the best SDE Surround Sound Series releases for 2023 was a (delayed) 40th anniversary remix of the album "The Lexicon of Love", and I certainly hope that SW will continue remixing ABC albums, continuing with a new remix of 1983's "Beauty Stab".
-SUEDE: Speaking of the SDE Surround Sound Series, one of the biggest surprises this year from them was SW's remix of the self-titled album from the band Suede for its 30th anniversary. One would hope that 2024 brings us a remixed edition of 1994's "Dog Man Star" for its 30th anniversary.
-NEW ATMOS REMIXES OF PREVIOUS SW REMIXES:
-KING CRIMSON: This year we were treated to a compact but still very thorough 50th anniversary edition of "Larks' Tongues in Aspic" complete with new remixes from SW in stereo, 5.1 surround, and Dolby Atmos. My prediction for 2024 will be new 50th anniversary editions of both "Starless and Bible Black" and (especially) "Red" that should have at least new Dolby Atmos mixes to compliment the previous stereo and 5.1 surround remixes.
-YES: A QQ favorite release for 2023 consisted of a new super deluxe edition of "The Yes Album" that contained a new Dolby Atmos mix from SW. If they continue this super deluxe edition series, then I predict a super deluxe edition of "Fragile" for 2024 that will feature a new Dolby Atmos mix from SW alongside the previous stereo & 5.1 surround remixes.
-Finally is there any hope we can finally get some more remixes from Roxy Music? Pretty please?
-PINK FLOYD: 2023 was all about the 50th anniversary edition of "Dark Side of the Moon" which was celebrated with a brand new Dolby Atmos remix of the album. For 2024, I think we will finally get surround sound remixes in both 5.1 surround & Dolby Atmos of the classic 1979 album "The Wall". I honestly don't think there's anything else that Pink Floyd could release that would not be treading on similar territory that they have already explored over the last 10 years of reissues.-ESOTERIC RECORDINGS:
-ALAN PARSONS PROJECT: One release that I am really hoping for in 2024 is an expanded and remixed edition of the album "I Robot" which would of course include a new 5.1 surround mix of the album from Alan Parsons himself. It's generally regarded to be one of the Project's best albums.
-HAWKWIND: 2023 saw lots of great Hawkwind releases in surround sound including a multi-album box set entitled "Days of the Underground" and a 50th anniversary release of the album "Space Ritual" with the latter being remixed by our wonderful friend @Stephen W Tayler. It's now been confirmed that SWT has also remixed 1971's "In Search of Space" in both stereo & 5.1 surround and a release is expected in 2024!
-NEKTAR: 2023 saw the release of a 50th anniversary edition of "Remember the Future", complete with new stereo & 5.1 surround remixes of the album alongside the original 1973 Quadraphonic mix. One would hope that for 2024 we will get a 50th anniversary edition of the 1974 album "Down to Earth" complete with new stereo & 5.1 surround remixes alongside the original 1974 Quadraphonic mix, which has never been reissued in the modern era!
-BEATLES: It appears the Beatles as a group (along with their record label Apple) have given up on Blu-Ray audio releases altogether, but thankfully one Beatle (or rather that Beatle's estate) is moving forward with what appears to be a superb release for 2024! It's already been confirmed that 2024 will see the release of a super deluxe edition of John Lennon's 1973 album "Mind Games", remixed in stereo, 5.1 surround, and Dolby Atmos. The release will consist of 6 CDs and 2 Blu-Ray audio discs, so there should be lots of great content to enjoy with this release!-MARILLION: Now that the series of EMI-era reissues has come to a close, it's now expected that Marillion will continue these deluxe edition reissues with new sets focusing on the post-EMI albums beginning with a deluxe edition of 1997's "This Strange Engine", which should be remixed in stereo & 5.1 surround by the band's resident producer/engineer Michael Hunter.
-FISH: Speaking of Marilliion, their original lead singer Fish released a new remixed edition of the album "13th Star" in 2023, and it's already known that he's planning to release remixed and expanded editions of the albums "Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors" and "Internal Exile" in 2024.
-FRANK ZAPPA: One of the best releases of 2023 was a 50th anniversary edition of "Over-nite Sensation" that featured brand new 5.1 surround & Dolby Atmos remixes alongside the original 1973 Quadraphonic mix. I fully predict that 2024 will see the release of a 50th anniversary edition of the follow up album "Apostrophe" and this new edition should also include new 5.1 surround & Dolby Atmos remixes alongside the original 1974 Quadraphonic mix.-RUSH: It's expected that RUSH will continue their 40th anniversary reissue series with a 40th anniversary edition of 1984's "Grace Under Pressure" which would feature new remixes of the album in both 5.1 surround and Dolby Atmos from their engineer Richard Chycki.
-THE MOODY BLUES: An unexpected release of 2023 was the release of a newly remixed and expanded edition of "To Our Children's Children's Children" which was remixed by Stephen W Tayler, and I hope that SWT will be able to remix more Moodies albums that will see a release in the coming year. Predictions would be for either 1969's "On the Threshold of a Dream" or 1970's "A Question of Balance".
-QUADIO: One of the biggest surprises and biggest hits of 2023 was the triumphant return of QUADIO, thanks to our amazing Quad ambassador @ForagingRhino. New releases are already scheduled for the beginning of the year in January of 2024, but beyond that, it's too hard to predict what other releases will follow throughout the rest of the year, but usually these releases are classic Quad titles from the WEA catalogue.
-SDE SURROUND SOUND SERIES: Thanks to the amazing work of @PaulatSDE we were treated to more incredible SDE surround sound series releases throughout 2023, and the first couple of releases are already scheduled for the first quarter of 2024 with hopefully more great surprises to follow during the rest of the year. One such release I would love would be a 50th anniversary remixed edition of Mike Oldfield's "Hergest Ridge" to follow on from the amazing SDE release this year of "Tubular Bells".
-THIN LIZZY: A big surprise this year in surround sound was the release of a 50th anniversary edition of the album "Vagabonds of the Western World". If they continue with such releases going forward, maybe we'll see a 50th anniversary edition of "Nightlife" in 2024.
So that's basically what we could potentially get as far as classic album remixes in 2024. Again there will be another thread coming soon looking at potential new album releases in surround sound for 2024.
