Paranoid(50th Anniversary) [VINYL]

Rejoice, people - this is truly the exception from the "rule" that new remasters sound worse than the older CD editions! This is probably the best "Paranoid".It's definitly better than the 2004 Black Box release (don't believe what J. Siegler says), and I believe it's better than the 1996 Castle CD. There are some other CD editions which I have never listened or I heard them a long time ago, but I don't believe they are better.And there's edition which I own for some time, 2001 Sanctuary mini vinyl replicas 8-disc box-set.This new 2009 edition is released 5 days ago on the same label - Sanctuary. I must say that guys there now their job. So - congratulations and respect to Sanctuary!After detailed analysis it seems to me that they used the same source as in 2001, but remastered it in a different way. Both 2001 and 2009 editions have loudness boosting just very slightly over the edge, almost unnoticeable, which makes them incomparably better than most of today's releases with ridiculously boosted loudness. So there's almost NO trace of small dynamic range, distortion and compression.When I compared 2001 and 2009 edition:2001 has less noise and more bass; 2001 sounds muddy, with prominent low range, while 2009 sounds more natural, with prominent mid-range.They both sound good, and eventually it's up to the listener to decide which sound he/she prefers. I don't know which one sounds closer to the original 1970 vinyl, I could know that only if I put that LP (but in mint condition!) on a high-end turnatable and make comparison - but that will never happen. So, my final conclusion is: I FEEL that this 2009 CD is the closest thing to the original record.But this new remaster also came out as a double LP 10 days ago - if someone is interested in that. That vinyl edition should sound even better, if you have the right equipment in your home.All this being said, for me the most important value of this new edition is not remastered sound of the original album (disc 1), but bonus tracks.Disc 2 is NOT CD, but DVD audio, which contains 1974 QUADROPHONIC MIX. I'm not really interested in that, but I know there are some who are.The reason I bought this (I didn't know and didn't believe that disc 1 will have such a superior sound!) is disc 3. It contains 8 album tracks, but in a way that no-one has ever heard before! 5 of them are instrumentals and 3 are alternative versions! All unreleased for 38 years and 9 months! Maybe some will not be thrilled with that, but I am! It was fantastic experience yesterday for me to listen those songs, which are full of interesting surprises. Because when you intuitively feel/expect to hear something at some moment, you don't hear that, and so that gives you completely new listening experience of that classic!Also, there's beautiful 24-page booklet, with tons of linear notes and related pictures, even from the original Paranoid tour programme!There was several times when this CD was announced, and then stopped at the last moment, but I guess now Iommi definitely lost legal battles. There are already announcements of releasing the other Sabbath classics as expanded deluxe editions. I feel that we won't have to wait much to get "Master of reality" unreleased out-takes...I'm sorry if all this happened against the will of Iommi & Sabbath, I do respect them and their wishes, but only up to a point - because as much I love Sabbath, even more I love myself. :D And I want Sabbath unreleased stuff... me and thousands of other Sabbath fans. And I feel that we are true fans, even if we'll give money for something that Iommi didn't want to see the light of the day. And these 2001 and 2009 Sanctuary releases, although without blessing from the band, are infinitely better products than 2004 Black Box which had all the blessings.

This classic album has been re-issued so many times you may be wondering if it's worth forking out for again. As far as this release goes, most definitely yes.The big draw here is a stereo fold-down of the original Quadraphonic mix released in 1974, available for the first time on CD. If you thought you knew everything about this album think again. Obviously it depends on how well you know the music but believe me the differences are many. I won't list them all here, but the most noticeable include:'War Pigs' running to a proper ending, (it was artificially speeded up during final mastering for the original stereo mix),That most heavy metal of instruments, the tambourine, kept on the mixes of both 'War Pigs' and 'Paranoid' (who knew?!),A different effect on the guitar solo for the title track (and even more ghastly sounding),Completely different bass track on 'Iron Man' - A real revelation for Sabbath fans, this - I can only assume that when the sessions were moved to Island Studios for overdubs and final mixing, 'Geezer' decided to re-do his bass guitar for this track and whether by accident or design the engineers who worked on the Quad mix used his original one instead (or it could be the other way round and this is a later overdub, anyone know for sure?)'The big plus for me, though, is the sublime 'Planet Caravan',effects pop up in different places and Ozzy's voice is higher in the mix but best of all it's allowed a much longer fade-out. For this alone, I recommend investing in this release.The original stereo mix of the album is also included and in terms of overall sound this box set continues the recent trend of more sympathetic mastering, in that it's noticeably quieter than previous releases and there appears to be no brickwalling. The Quad mix has a nice, natural sound, although the drums on 'Iron Man' are far too low and murky sounding, probably the only mis-step of this particular version.The two live albums are excellent additions, although the sound is decidedly ropey in places. The performances of 'NIB' and 'War Pigs' from Brussels (often mistakenly attributed to Paris) have featured on many Sabbath documentaries and sound better than they do here but still they're nice to have - especially as Ozzy sings a lot of the original lyrics to 'War Pigs' in these shows and the band are on top form.All in all, if you're a Sabbath fan you simply must buy this. It's a different way to hear an undisputed classic.

Not an electric funeral but my 180g copy from Amazon develops high static electricity and sticks to the synthetic felt mat, coming off with the record when lifting the LP, and it needs a clean each time, however the recorded volume and clarity are excellent. It seems the song "paranoid" is about depressives and word paranoid was used by mistake. "War pigs" reminds about how the the world is and was then in 1970. An essential album for those who like basic rock music styles of avant-garde of late 1960s onward. It perhaps is like a sermon in heavy metal. Best heard on a regular Hi-Fi system.

In reality I should have given this box set 4 1/2 stars only on the basis to get the full experience you really need one (or both) of the following;- 1) A car with 6 six speakers;2) Home cinema system. This only relates to the stereo/quad copy of Paranoid.This really is the mutts' nuts on any level. Paranoid is one of the leading albums of the heavy metal genre and never fails to disappoint. The first disc, Paranoid standard as I'll name it, shines through as a top album and sounds cleaner than ever. No low points.The stereo/quad disc is something else- played though a home cinema system gives a whole new depth that is worthy of playing it so many times. There are a few surprises with it as well...I'll say no more so you can find them out for yourselves.There area echoes and elements of strangeness that are sublime.The two live discs are stunning documents of a time gone by. Not overburdened by over- or under-production, clean and sharp and excellent to listen to and absorb.If you have the cash for this box set, buy it and experience it in it's full majesty.**Was the quad copy ever released on vinyl back in the day? Interesting question.**

First 2 album i consider as a masterpiece. Must have in collection!

Parte gráfica bem bacana.

4 cds, un libro y un póster, caja rígida y una excelente calidad de materiales. En cuanto a la calidad de la música, esa es indiscutible, respecto a la remasterizado si note un cambio a la rrmaster del 2012, creo se escucha mejor.

LLegó en perfectas condiciones.

Bellissimo