{"id":336094,"date":"2026-10-18T06:41:21","date_gmt":"2026-10-18T06:41:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ecoustics.com\/music\/james-taylor-gorilla-quadio-blu-ray-review\/"},"modified":"2026-10-19T04:49:47","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T04:49:47","slug":"james-taylor-gorilla-quadio-blu-ray-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ecoustics.com\/music\/james-taylor-gorilla-quadio-blu-ray-review\/","title":{"rendered":"James Taylor’s Gorilla Quadio Review: A Surprisingly Great 1975 Surround Mix Makes the Case for Yacht Rock"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When I first contemplated the notion of reviewing a James Taylor album that was recorded in quadraphonic sound, I had to take a step back to consider the prospect at hand, making sure I could be objective about this review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right or wrong, I generally consider surround sound formats best suited to psychedelic and progressive rock, jazz, and other large recordings with orchestral strings and layered sounds. Generally, folk leaning pop from the mid-\u201970s \u2014 which some these days call “yacht rock\u201d \u2014 isn\u2019t my first choice when someone recommends immersive audio options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, I admit I more or less stopped listening to James Taylor\u2019s music after his first few albums, which were great (especially his debut on Apple Records!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless, I dove into listening to Rhino Music\u2019s new Quadio series Blu-ray Disc, featuring the original mid-\u201970s quadraphonic mix of Taylor\u2019s big hit album Gorilla, with an open mind and ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And do you know what? I was pleasantly surprised! I can understand why they recorded this in quad back in the day: this recording is not just about James, but all about the musicians he was working with at the time. And among the immediate details you\u2019ll notice hearing Gorilla in quad are those glorious harmonies by Graham Nash and David Crosby, as well as Taylor\u2019s then-wife, Carly Simon, and Valerie Carter (writer of Judy Collins\u2019 1973 hit \u201cCook with Honey\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The players on Gorilla<\/em> are, not surprisingly, outstanding. Taylor was big enough at that stage that he could cherry-pick the cr\u00e8me<\/em> of hot studio players of the day, including drummers Jim Keltner, Russ Kunkel, and Andy Newmark, as well as bassists Leland Sklar and Willie Weeks. Guitar wizards Lowell George (Little Feat) and Danny \u201cKootch\u201d Kortchmar are even present and accounted for.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"james-taylor-gorilla-quadio-blu-ray\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Rhino\u2019s Quadio source material is excellent here on Gorilla<\/em>, transferred from the original analog four-track quadraphonic master tapes, as well as stereo in 192 kHz, 24-bit fidelity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As \u201970s recordings go, Gorilla<\/em> feels surprisingly fresh. I suspect this new Quadio version sounds much better than what anybody might have heard back in the day on the available quadraphonic vinyl playback systems (which were historically quirky and problematic).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taylor\u2019s cover of Marvin Gaye\u2019s \u201cHow Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)\u201d reached the No. 5 spot on the Hot 100 chart back in the day, becoming one of James Taylor\u2019s signature songs. It sounds joyous and fun in quadraphonic sound. Opening track \u201cMexico\u201d is a rich showcase for the incredible players as well as the song. And on tracks like \u201cLighthouse,\u201d the surround channels are a great way to feel Crosby and Nash\u2019s presence. The same goes for Lowell George on \u201cAngry Blues.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While I would still love to hear Taylor\u2019s eponymously titled Apple Records debut remixed into deeply immersive multichannel surround sound, perhaps this album is the next best thing. Gorilla<\/em> is a good one, and if you\u2019re a fan of James Taylor\u2019s easy-going sounds featuring big acoustic guitars, round-sounding rhythms, and pristine harmonies, this might even make a good demo disc for your system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can order James Taylor\u2019s Gorilla on Rhino\u2019s Quadio Blu-ray Disc from Amazon for just $22.49<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Ratings<\/h2>\n\n\n

★★★★★★★★★★<\/span><\/span> Music<\/p>\n\n\n

★★★★★★★★★★<\/span><\/span> Sound<\/p>\n\n\n

★★★★★★★★★★<\/span><\/span> Packaging<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where to Buy:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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$22.49 at Amazon<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Mark Smotroff is a deep music enthusiast \/ collector who has also worked in entertainment oriented marketing communications for decades supporting the likes of DTS, Sega and many others. He reviews vinyl for Analog Planet and has written for Audiophile Review, Sound+Vision, Mix, EQ, etc. You can learn more about him at LinkedIn<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n