Never The Same Way Once: Digital Downloads
Announcing Doc & Merle Watson audiophile downloads in 192kHz/24bit and 96kHz/24bit FLAC
You’ve been asking for it, so by popular demand, we bring you the High-Resolution Digital Downloads of Never the Same Way Once: Live at the Boarding House- May 1974, available as full box sets, or as individual shows, from our partners at Acoustic Sounds. The original reels were painstakingly transferred by Plangent Process to remove even the most subtle timing irregularities introduced by the mechanical components in the recording and playback equipment, and then were skillfully mastered by Bear’s hand-selected colleague Jeffrey Norman. These crystal-clear audiophile digital files follow the celebrated all-analog audiophile releases on reel-to-reel tape and 45 RPM vinyl. Bear pursued the purest sound possible, always seeking out the best equipment available, and building his own when what was available wasn’t good enough. He mentored countless professional sound engineers through the years, and his work has attracted a loyal following of audiophiles. Experience his work with these special editions, which capture some of the very finest live music recordings of Bear’s era, brought back to life with the finest talent and techniques available today.
Full Set, May 1st to May 4th, 1974
First Night, May 1st, 1974
First Night, May 1st, 1974
Second Night, May 2nd, 1974
Second Night, May 2nd, 1974
Third Night, May 3rd, 1974
Fourth Night, May 4th, 1974
Third Night, May 3rd, 1974
Fourth Night, May 4th, 1974
Bear’s Sonic Journals Presents:
Never The Same Way Once: Box Sets and Posters
180 Gram 45 RPM Vinyl
Audiophile 180g 45-RPM vinyl: Doc & Merle Watson May 2, 1974 Live at the Boarding House.
Vinyl is here at last!! For our vinyl debut, we picked the Doc & Merle show from May 2, 1974 -a double LP release. Starting with stellar material (Stereophile named the CD Box set its October 2017 Recording of the Month), one of Bear’s chosen collaborators Paul Stubblebine created an all-analog master from the original reels. From there, he cut lacquers with 1/2-speed mastering for 45 RPM playback, pressed to 180 gram vinyl. The result is one of the most beautiful live records we’ve ever heard, and one we are sure that Bear would have loved for its sonic purity.
Words of Praise for ‘Never The Same Way Once’
These discs blew me away. The sound is phenomenal! It’s like your sitting in the room with Doc and Merle. I got an emotional response from hearing Doc so clear. I can’t say enough about the sound quality. It’s worth buying for that alone. But that’s only a part of what makes this set a real gem; four superb nights with Doc and Merle playing at their best. Plus the banter is wonderful. The Owsley folks must have released this set first to get people pumped for more because it is so good. I can’t say enough positive things about this boxed set and can’t wait to see what they have up their sleeve.
Save The Music
The "Save The Music!" campaign seeks to raise money to enable the digitization, preservation, and release of Bear's Sonic Journals, a trove of over a thousand live concert recordings from the heart of the psychedelic era. Donations are much appreciated, and are in fact essential to our ability to preserve and release future recordings!
You can donate via our secure form, or send checks made out to the Owsley Stanley Foundation to: Owsley Stanley Foundation PO Box 625 Occidental, Ca 95465. We were officially granted 501(c)(3) nonprofit status by the IRS in December 2012. All donations to the Owsley Stanley Foundation are fully tax deductible.
Contact
Reach out if you have questions, or to see how you can support the Owsley Stanley Foundation.