Mahler's "Symphony No. 4" (SACD), Bonnie Raitt's "Nick of Time" (DVD-A), and Ladysmith Black Mambazo's "Raise Your Spirit Higher" (SACD) as surround sound recordings of 2004...The ceremony takes place on February the 13th, 2005. Unfortunately; I suspect this awarding will occur off camera and will only be mentioned on Grammy's captioning ticker...!

Avalon
Roxy Music Super Audio CD Surround Sound
(Virgin CVIR 83871 SA)
Surround Sound Producer: Rhett Davies
Surround Sound Mix Engineer: Bob Clearmountain
Surround Sound Mastering Engineer: Bob Ludwig

Genius Loves Company
Ray Charles with Norah Jones, James Taylor, Diana Krall, Elton John, Natalie Cole, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Michael McDonald, B.B. King, Gladys Knight, Johnny Mathis & Van Morrison
Super Audio CD Surround Sound
(Concord Records/Hear Music SACD-1033-6)
Surround Sound Producers: John Burk, Phil Ramone & Herbert Waltl
Surround Sound Mix Engineer: Al Schmitt
Surround Sound Mastering Engineers: Robert Hadley & Doug Sax

Mahler: Symphony No. 4
Michael Tilson Thomas, Conductor & the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
Super Audio CD Surround Sound
(SFS Media 821936-0004-2)
Surround Sound Producer: Andreas Neubronner
Surround Sound Mix Engineer: Markus Heiland
Surround Sound Mastering Engineer: Markus Heiland

Nick Of Time
Bonnie Raitt
DVD Audio Surround Sound
(Capitol Records 99316)
Surround Sound Mix Engineer: Ed Cherney
Surround Sound Mastering Engineers: James Guthrie & Doug Sax

Raise Your Spirit Higher
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Super Audio CD Surround Sound
(Heads Up HUSA-9083)
Surround Sound Producer: Martin Walters
Surround Sound Mix Engineer: Martin Walters
Surround Sound Mastering Engineer: Paul Blakemore

I myself am having a hard time understanding their criteria. I mean really; the only album on their list that I own is the Ray Charles. Next time I hope Grammy consults with some of us who are in the know....lol.

As a sidebar; I reported on the 3rd annual Surround Sound Music Awards in August. You can compare Grammy's list with Surround Sound's best of 2003 nominees and winners here....or rather there...?

Note: Amazon links for Bonnie Raitt and Ladysmith Black Mambazo are for the audio cds only. Keep checking back for new and used copies of these nominated albums...err dvd-audios....or sacd...what the?

Ron Wheeler
Editor
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