Recently I acquired a set of 1970s quadraphonic headphones and got an engineer pal to give them a once-over. Listening to my SQ vinyl copy of Wish You Were Here through my vintage quadraphonic system with these babies on is rather arousing, if I’m honest. Antisocial, but arousing.
Truthfully, I’m not much of a headphones user most of the time. I’m a rare breed. Everywhere I go people seem to be wearing headphones, and not just earbuds — big noise-cancelling cans. When I was a kid, my brothers told me some albums were “headphones albums” and some were just the usual fare. These so-called headphones albums were described to me as ones which feature dramatically panned or panning sounds. Like that part in Pink Floyd‘s On The Run (Dark Side Of The Moon) when the footsteps seem to walk right through your head.
So, given my hot new commodity, I decided to do a bit of research into what other albums are considered “headphones albums” — particularly, ones I hadn’t really considered. For starters, unlike what my brothers told me, the albums don’t have to feature experimental or creative panning. They just have to be great pressings of really, really well-recorded albums.
I have some half-speed masters which meet this requirement (the McCartney Archive series, Leaf Hound’s Growers Of Mushroom, The Who‘s Live At Leeds and Freddie Gibbs & Madlib’s Piñata ’74) as well as my Mobile Fidelity pressings of Eldorado by ELO and Muddy Waters Blues Singer. I also have an Impex pressing of Thelonious Monk’s Straight, No Chaser. These would all sing in headphones.
Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Ladyland is considered essential listening on headphones. I’ve never tried it but can only imagine how crazy 1983…(A Merman I Should Turn To Be) would sound. Incredible to think all of the sonic psychedelic mashups on this were done manually. To be honest, I don’t love Electric Ladyland as an album; most of it is piss-poor songwriting. But I bet it puts on a show strapped to your head.
In addition to Floyd’s Wish You Were Here, I also have quad copies of Dark Side Of The Moon and Atom Heart Mother, but I’ve read that those ’70s Santana albums which were mixed for quadraphonic are equally staggering — 1972’s Caravanserai being the apparent standout. Certainly my quad copy of the Santana-related Azteca album sounds wonderful. My best-mixed quad album is a toss-up between Rufus’s Rags To Rufus and Sly & The Family Stone’s Greatest Hits. I’ll be giving these a go. Psonic Psunspot by The Dukes Of Stratosphear (aka XTC) is a highly touted headphones album. I don’t have it anymore, but I do have 25 O’Clock and will give that a whirl.
Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody makes a lot of lists of audiophile headphones songs, so I guess A Night At The Opera is worth a try. Perpetual Change from The Yes Album is great in headphones because it has that part where the song pans to the right, and something new starts up in the left channel. A must-try. My favourite album of theirs.
My favourite Mothers Of Invention album is We’re Only In It For The Money (in fact, I’m wearing a T-shirt of it right now!). Lots of great headphones moments on this masterpiece skewering the hippie movement — but none better than Flower Punk. Really, headphones are the only way to hear all the madness and spoken bits at the end. Black Sabbath’s self-titled 1970 debut album is also one headphones aficionados swear by. I have a sweet 180g remaster and will try it. I’m just imagining the rain and tolling bell now …
Miles Davis’s In A Silent Way makes many lists, as does Kind Of Blue. Just make sure you don’t have the mono versions. Bitches Brew is another, and I believe it’s only available in stereo. And if you include that album, surely Head Hunters by Herbie Hancock should also be on your list.
The crazy panning in the middle section of Whole Lotta Love from Led Zeppelin II makes it a contender for inclusion here. I just ordered a remaster of The Who Sell Out, specifically for the headphones experience (and the psychedelic poster!). Apparently The Rolling Stones’ Their Satanic Majesty’s Request is essential as well, if you like sounds swirling around.
Disintegration by The Cure is reportedly something to experience with headphones. I’ve never tried it. Actually, somehow, I don’t own a copy of that album — something which I will chalk up to PTSD from a previous relationship.
Finally, let us not overlook the greatest stereo album of all time — Bob & Doug McKenzie’s Great White North. One hoser in the left channel and the other in the right channel, and Geddy Lee to boot!
Take off, eh.
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Area Resident is an Ottawa-based journalist, recording artist, music collector and re-seller. Hear (and buy) his music on Bandcamp, email him HERE, follow him on Instagram and check him out on Discogs.
