Try Anything Once

From the liner notes of the 24K gold CD:

From the sticker:

A SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION OF ALAN'S NEW ALBUM
ON A 24K GOLD CD WITH 20-BIT MAPPING

Includes:
TURN IT UP
OH LIFE [THERE MUST BE MORE]

THE ULTIMATE ALBUM TO TEST THE LIMITS OF YOUR CD PLAYER

From inside the left cover:

This disc is the product of three exciting technologies designed to enhance the digital listening experience and increase the quality of the disc itself.

First, Try Anything Once is a DDD recording. The DDD notation, of course, means that the music has spent its entire recorded life in the digital domain, from the studio to your compact disc player, ensuring the highest possible digital fidelity.

Second, it has been manufactured on a gold disc. In this fabrication process, a super-fine layer of 24K gold coats the reflective metallic surface of the disc itself, guaranteeing long life without any possibility of oxidation or deterioration of the playing surface.

The third is a digital noise shaping process called Super Bit Mapping (SBM[tm]), developed by Sony. SBM[tm] creatively adapts the 20-bit "words" used in digital tape studio recordings to the 16-bit "language" of CD's. It does this by processing each 20- bit "word" (actually an electronic "sample" of a waveform) through an algorithm designed to minimize noise in the most sensitive portion of our hearing range. The result is not only lower noise, but reduced harmonic distortion, a greatly expanded sense of atmospherics, sonic "warmth" and more detailed musical perspective.

From inside the right cover:
From The Beatles' Abbey Road, Pink Floyd's The Dark Side Of The Moon and his work with the likes of Paul McCartney, George Harrison, The Hollies and Al Stewart, to all the classic albums that have carried his name, Alan Parsons has helped shape the sound of rock as we know it today. As the guiding force behind The Alan Parsons Project, albums like I Robot, Pyramid, Eve, The Turn Of A Friendly Card, Eye In The Sky and Ammonia Avenue became recognized as some of the most consistently innovative and adventurous music of any time.

Try Anything Once, the new album from Alan Parsons, is the result of 100 days of recording at his state-of-the-art home studio in Sussex, England. The new album, his first in six years, features vocal performances by Parsons staples like Chris Thompson (Manfred Mann' Earth Band) and Eric Stewart (10cc), as well as from newcomers David Pack (Ambrosia) and Jacqui Copland (Duran Duran). Joining Parsons to form the core band are mainstays Ian Bairnson (guitar), Andrew Powell (keyboards) and Stuart Elliot[t] (drums), all of whom collaborated with Alan on the songwriting.

Though the albums soars far and wide lyrically, offering reflections on life, fate and the soul from a variety of perspectives, Parsons cautions that it's not a unified conceptual statement in the way some of "The Project's" works were. "There isn't one consistent theme," he notes. "If you find one, I'd like to know about it." What remains consistent, of course, is Alan's trademark of richly layered, challenging instrumentation that reveals new dimensions, and surprises, with each repeated listening.

Try Anything Once is the culmination, and continued evolution, of an extraordinary career. And, what better way to hear it in all its sonic brilliance than on this bit of incredible technology. So, sit back, and enjoy a truly astounding aural voyage.

From the rear:
This recording incorporates Sony's revolutionary 20-bit "super bit mapping" process which reproduces music with unprecedented clarity and accuracy. In addition to SBM, this disc features a pure 24- karat gold reflective surface and deluxe packaging.

- Wesley Chun


The holusion image appearing in Blue/Yellow/Green patterns found in the liner notes is identical to the image on the regular issue of the compact disc, but in Red/Yellow/Orange patterns instead.

The Gold CD release has no holusion on the disc. The disc is empty except for "Try Anything Once" and "Alan Parsons" written around the edge of the disc. There are no track listings or times listed either. It is VERY plain. In fact, if you hold the disc up to a light source, it is transparent.

- Wesley Chun


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Track Listing
Time Track Title Vocalist
5:32The Three Of Me(instrumental)
6:13Turn It UpChris Thompson
5:43Wine From The WaterEric Stewart
4:07Breakaway(instrumental)
8:17Mr. TimeJacqui Copland
3:24Jigue(instrumental)
4:38I'm Talkin' To YouDavid Pack
5:01Siren SongEric Stewart
3:01Dreamscape(instrumental)
4:38Back Against The WallChris Thompson
2:28Re-Jigue(instrumental)
6:34Oh Life (There Must Be More)David Pack
59:36(total)
Credits
Miscellaneous Links


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