Fantasy, Inc. Now Does SACD

Fantasy, Inc., the great independent label that holds all of the cards when it comes to the most coveted master tapes in jazz, has entered the SACD arena. Fantasy had licensed several titles to Analogue Productions for SACD release. Following the success of those projects and the growing demand for SACD, Fantasy President Ralph Kaffel decided that "it was time to get involved directly." Each time Fantasy opens its incredible tape vault is a time to behold. This time is no different. In June, Acoustic Sounds owner Chad Kassem and employee Marc Sheforgen visited Fantasy's Berkeley, California headquarters on business. Mr. Kaffel treated them to a personal tour, including a trip to the awe-inspiring tape vault. We're talking thousands of original master tapes, many of them among the most famous albums of all time. Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Otis Redding, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Louis Armstrong, Willie Dixon, Ella Fitzgerald, Lightnin' Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, Albert King, Sonny Rollins, Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson, Isaac Hayes, Booker T. & The MG's, Dave Brubeck and on and on and on. This tape vault, perfectly monitored for exact lighting and temperature conditions and even reinforced to withstand earthquakes, would have any serious music collector literally drooling. Upon touring the famous Fantasy recording studios and all of the post-production facilities, our Acoustic Sounds reps sat in for a few minutes as engineer Joe Tarantino mastered the Gil Evans & Ten SACD that's included in this initial batch of titles. The album was recorded at Rudy Van Gelder's house in 1957, but the original stereo master tapes had been lost for all these years. As they've now been found, this SACD version marks the very first stereo release of this incredible album. Hear it for yourself.

Buy all 10 New Fantasy SACDs for $165.00 and pay no shipping charge!
Click here to order

 

A few from the impressive collection of historic photographs on display throughout the halls of Fantasy.
Joe Tarantino masters the Gil Evans & Ten SACD.
A handful of the many Albert King master tapes stored at Fantasy.
Chances are good that you own a record mastered by George Horn. He's everywhere, including on so many of the great Concord releases. Here he is in one of the Fantasy control rooms.
Just one aisle of the massive Fantasy tape vault.
Some of Fantasy's many Gold records.
Posted by Acoustic Sounds on 07/22/2003 at 11:17 AM | Categories: General