Ritchie Valens, John Lee Hooker And Sonny Clark Trio Lead Off 2003 SACD Releases

AUDIO FIDELITY LABEL ISSUES LATEST IN SERIES OF SUPER AUDIO HYBRID CDs

Ventura Calif. based record company Audio Fidelity has released three new titles this week as part of its ongoing series of dual layered Super Audio Compact Discs. The increasingly popular SACD format involves technology that allows for a higher resolution listening experience within the users environment. Audio Fidelity titles also contain a musically equivalent standard CD layer -- fully compatible will all current Compact Disc Players for a surprisingly low list price of $15.98.

As label President Marshal Blonstein states, Our chief concern was being able to offer a product that satisfied both the needs of quality music lovers as well as consumers beginning to embrace the SACD format."

Ritchie Valens: Greatest Hits. This collection highlights the very best of the Rock Hall Inductees tragically brief but musically influential, career. Valens, whose life was immortalized in the 1987 motion picture La Bamba" was killed at age 17 in a 1959 plane crash that also claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, J.P. The Big Bopper" Richardson Jr. and the pilot. Tracks include La Bamba," Donna," and Come On, Lets Go." These recording were mastered under the direct supervision of the original sessions producer Bob Keane.

John Lee Hooker: Boogie Chillen. This renowned bluesmans 1948-54 classic recordings are anthologized in this one-of-a-kind release. From the original session masters recorded at United Sound in Detroit, Mich., come tracks such as Im In The Mood" and Rock House Boogie," as well as the transcendent title cut Boogie Chillen." Raw, primal and completely hypnotic, the King of the Boogie" has never sounded better.

Sonny Clark Trio: A Session With The Sonny Clark Trio. This CD contains the legendary jazz musicians 1960 album Time" in its entirety, as well as select session outtakes. As a pure hard bop pianist, Clarks style can best be described as detailed and direct, full of flavor. Joining Sonny in the trio were drummer Max Roach and bassist George Duvivier. Tracks include Minor Meeting," Nica," and Mass Conception."