Rhino continues to release Quadio discs that seek to recapture and replicate the quadraphonic audiophile album format of the 1970s. Instead of vinyl albums, Quadio releases present the four-channel audio experience on Blu-ray audio discs with 192/24 resolution and also provide listeners with high-res two-channel stereo and, in some cases, 5.1 surround sound mixes at very affordable prices for such a bespoke product.
The discs are transferred from the original half-inch four-channel master tapes and mixed for a fully dimensional immersive experience. The releases include technical notes on the Quadio format and have beautiful visual interfaces. These new Quadio Blu-ray Audio albums are available in bundles and individually. Multiple musical genres are featured in the series, and all the releases first appeared in the 1970s. The success of these Qaudio disc releases proves the quality, viability, and continuing relevance of the optical disc format.
Three recent Quadio releases represent distinct California sounds, and two of the three discs are spin-off groups of one of the most important San Francisco groups that began in the 1960s and were both originally released on the airplane’s Grunt record label.
America’s Choice was Hot Tuna’s third studio album and the second album released by the group since Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady departed from the Jefferson Airplane. Hot Tuna’s first three albums were all recorded while the two prominent members of the group, Casady and Kaukonen, were still in the Airplane.
America’s Choice began a trilogy of albums in which the group worked exclusively as a trio, with drummer Bob Steeler as the third member. It was the group’s first album to be released in the quadraphonic format. Their next album, Yellow Fever, was also released in quad.
America’s Choice is classic Hot Tuna and represents a high watermark in their popularity. While it didn’t have tracks that remained long-running FM staples like “Keep on Truckin’” and “Water Song” from Burgers, it was one of their most consistently satisfying albums all the way through. The album works well in quad, as it is immaculately produced and, rather than long jams or ear-splitting crunchy rock, it showcases the nuanced musical interplay of Kaukonen and Casady, along with Kaukonen’s inviting blues growl.
It also highlights just how good a songwriter Kaukonen is, as he wrote all the songs, except one co-write and a Robert Johnson cover. This is yet another example of Northern California rock artists boasting just as much studio prowess as their Southern California brethren. America’s choice indeed.
The other group to spin off from the Jefferson Airplane was the Jefferson Starship. Jefferson Starship was made up of Airplane members Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, Marty Balin, and Johnny Barbata. Replacing Kaukonen and Casady were bassist Pete Sears and guitarist Craig Chiquico.
Jefferson Starship had a more straightforward ’70s guitar-rock approach that fit comfortably with the album rock FM format of the time. The new group also highlighted Balin’s ability to write and sing radio-friendly love ballads that often became huge crossover hits. While Kantner and Slick had made tentative forays into a post-Airplane sound with Starship on albums such as Blows Against the Empire, Sunfighter, and Baron von Tollbooth & the Chrome Nun, Spitfire was one of only three Jefferson Starship albums with the full participation of Kantner, Slick, and Balin.
Balin is only on one track on the debut Jefferson Starship album, Dragon Fly. While Dragon Fly and Red Octopus are often the most lauded post-Airplane Jefferson Starship albums, Spitfire and, to a lesser degree, their next album, Earth, are excellent albums. Spitfire is filled with solid, well-produced rock that, while far from the iconic and trippy psychedelic sound of the Airplane, stands up well and sounds particularly strong on this quad reissue.
The album was filled with FM staples and crossover hits, most notably Marty Balin’s beautiful “With Your Love.” It was the second album after Red Octopus to be released in quad, and the Quadio release of that album is also a must-have.
While Hot Tuna and the Jefferson Starship are emblematic of the San Francisco music scene, America is a key group in the Southern California music scene. America was post-’60s California pop in some ways, in the vein of the Eagles. Influenced by ’60s California groups like The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, The Flying Burrito Brothers, and others, America blended rock, country, and pop with lush harmonies, creating a distinctly California rock sound.
America’s music, though, was breezy and upbeat, described by some as soft rock. However, the group had a very distinct sound and, with the eventual help of producer George Martin, recorded fully realized albums with a loose conceptual framework that hold up remarkably well. Hearts was the group’s fifth album and its second of five produced by George Martin.
Despite being a group so closely associated with Southern California, they recorded both their debut album and the one before it in London. This album, however, was recorded in Sausalito, in Northern California. The album continued the group’s string of hit albums with tracks that made the charts, most notably here, “Sister Golden Hair.” However, their subsequent two albums would not fare as well and would be their last two on Warner Bros., as well as their previous two as a trio, after Dan Peek departed the group. He died in 2011.
Albums like this were just made for quad. The lush West Coast sound and George Martin’s deft production are an unbeatable combination. This was their only quad release, but their previous four albums could have been perfect for one.
These three releases offer a wide range of styles, but all come from a period of American West Coast music that was the heyday of unmatched studio excellence. These are must-have titles, and like other releases in this Quadio series, will no doubt eventually sell out.
GRADED ON A CURVE:
Hot Tuna, America’s Choice
A
Jefferson Starship, Spitfire
B
America, Hearts
B
