This just in:

Universal Japan is releasing the third set (17 titles) of SHM-SACDs in Japan on October 27, 2010. SHM-SACDs stand for Super High Material Super-Audio CDs. They are single-layer, stereo-only SACDs pressed on special SHM discs utilizing high-quality polycarbonate material originally developed for LCD panels. They are NOT hybrid SACDs. They do NOT contain any multi-channel tracks. They require an SACD player and will NOT play on regular CD players.

This series of limited-edition SHM-SACDs will use the most recent DSD masters available to Universal Japan, and in some cases, brand-new DSD masters are created from analog master tapes.

Based on our past experience, this limited-edition series will quickly sell out, and once they are out of print, they will be available only at premium prices. So we have decided to offer our valued customers a chance to secure their copies by pre-ordering. Eastwind Import has no plan to stock them, except for a few copies each of the jazz titles.

The price of the SHM-SACDs is $49.00 each, except for UIGY-9036 (Rock SHM-SACD sampler that comes with an SHM-SACD and a hybrid SACD for comparison) which is $25.00. In addition, our regular shipping charge will apply:
 
Shipping and handling charges for US customers
$5.00 for the first CD
+$1.95 for each additional CD

Shipping and handling charges for Non-US customers including Canada
$9.00 for the first CD
+$2.50 for each additional CD

The cut-off date is Saturday, August 21, US California time. Please send an email to hajime@eastwindimport.com listing the titles you'd like to order, your name, shipping address and your PayPal email address if you have one. In return, we will send you a PayPal invoice via email which you can pay with your credit card.

Below is the list of the 17 titles to be released on October 27 in Japan:

Classical
UCGD-9005 OZAWA, SEIJI/BEETHOVEN:SYMPHONY NO.9/CLASSIC/DECCA
UCGG-9004 SALONEN, ESA-PEKKA/STRAVINSKY:LE SACRE DU PRINTEMPS/CLASSIC/DEUTSCHE
UCGG-9005 HAHN, HILARY/J.S.BACH:VIOLIN CONCERTOS/CLASSIC/DEUTSCHE

Jazz
UCGO-9004 EVANS, BILL/WALTZ FOR DEBBY/JAZZ/RIVERSIDE/W/4 BONUS TRACKS
UCGO-9005 ROLLINS, SONNY/SAXOPHONE COLOSSUS/JAZZ/PRESTIGE
UCGO-9006 PEPPER, ART/MEETS THE RHYTHM SECTION/JAZZ/CONTEMPORARY/W/1 BONUS TRACK

Rock/Pops
UIGY-9036 VARIOUS/SA-CD SHM SAMPLER/ROCK/UNIVERSAL/SHM-SACD+HYBRID-SACD
UIGY-9038 ROLLING STONES, THE/BEGGARS BANQUET/ROCK/ABKCO
UIGY-9039 STEELY DAN/GAUCHO/ROCK/GEFFEN
UIGY-9040 RAINBOW/LONG LIVE ROCK'N'ROLL/ROCK/POLYDOR
UIGY-9041 ASIA/ASIA/ROCK/GEFFEN
UIGY-9042 CREAM/WHEELS OF FIRE/ROCK/POLYDOR
UIGY-9043 MAYALL, JOHN/JOHN MAYALL & BLUES BREAKERS WITH ER/ROCK/DERAM
UIGY-9044 HUMBLE PIE/SMOKIN'/ROCK/A&M/
UIGY-9045 POLICE, THE/OUTLANDOS D'AMOUR/ROCK/A&M
UIGY-9046 WISHBONE ASH/ARGUS/ROCK/GEFFEN
UIGY-9047 CARAVAN/IN THE LAND OF GREY AND PINK/ROCK/DERAM

After the order is placed and payment received, we will place an order with our Japanese distributor. The SHM-SACDs will be released in Japan on October 27, and we expect to receive them shortly thereafter. We will ship the CDs to you as soon as they arrive from Japan. In an unlikely event that we cannot fulfill this special order for some unforeseen reason, your prepayment will immediately be refunded in full.

To secure your copy from this historic and sure-to-be-sold-out series, please email us on or before Saturday, August 21! This is a FIRM deadline!