5 Things to Know About the Quadraphonic Release of Birds of Fire
- The quadraphonic version of Birds of Fire came out in 1973 on both LP and 8-track.
- It used the SQ matrix format to encode four channels of sound into a stereo groove.
- This allowed listeners to experience surround sound decades before it became common.
- The quadraphonic release was a rare early attempt at immersive audio for a jazz-rock album.
- Only a limited number of albums got this treatment, making it a collector’s item today.