Steve, can you tell us which is the preferred mix for each Beatles album?

Steve,

You've mentioned before that the stereo version is preferable for Beatles For Sale because it has more dynamic range than the mono. Also, that the mono Rubber Soul is best because the stereo mix is wonky. Can you fill us in on the rest of them? I don't think there is a thread devoted specifically to this. And just let me thank you in advance, I really value your opinion.

 

This observation from you must just make people want the remasters (great ones) even more.

 

Forum members with opinions on the Beatles? Surely not!


(expect a thousand posts by the end of Sunday)

 

I was shocked (shocked, I tells ya!) when I heard the mono Beatles For Sale. That obnoxious compression, which as I recall Steve has defined as limiter splatter from the Altec. It made me run back to my stereo Parlophone (Australian, but it will do).

The first album is gorgeous in stereo if you have Die Beatles.

In general I think some Beatles songs are better in stereo, others are better in mono, and some are just fine either way. It would take far too long to list every one of them. For example, Sgt Peppers (the song) absolutely rocks in mono, but A Day In the Life is better for me in stereo.

I know the mono mixes are generally regarded as punchier, but in some cases like the Magical Mystery Tour EP I feel that the mono mix is almost too punchy and that the rhythm section seems a little too loud compared to the vocals. I like to hear those marvellous Beatles vocals in all their glory...

 

I agree completely with Steve's synopsis, though I prefer Rubber Soul in Mono.

 

Actually, this is exactly the type of answer I was looking for. I specifically remembered you saying in other threads that you didn't like the mono Beatles For Sale but I wasn't sure until now where you stood on the other ones. Thanks once again.

 

Steve,

I never would have dreamed of listening to Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt Pepper or my beloved White Album in mono(!) until I found this site (thanks to your interview in The 910 on the subject of the state of the Beatles' catalog - funny how that topic persists to this day). I also absolutely agree with your assessment of Sale, a personal favorite Beatles' albums I discovered "later" in life at 16 - stereo a must.

Now I'll take the first four in stereo or the mono bliss of the later albums any day.

Michael

 

That makes sense. Everyone at some point likes their funky mixes of X song because that's how they first heard it. For instance, I can't listen to the mono mix of "The Inner Light" because I first heard it in stereo and immediately fell in love with it. These are the sort of contexts in which opinion and experience trumps mixing, mastering, etc. That said, Rubber Soul in mono is so great. Compressed less than the other Beatles' album and mixed superbly. And I don't like the separation of the stereo album, but of course that's another story...

I don't think I've ever done that. In fact, I'm only happy when I've determined which one I prefer, and I'll only listen to that mix. An exception is, indeed, The Beatles (The White Album) in which both are necessary (IMO).

And that's why I don't like it. Check out the crappy cymbal overdubs in "No Reply". It doesn't make the mono sound any better, but even when The Beatles compressed in mono the mixes were solid.

Slightly off-topic, but in a recent MMT topic, the issue of EP pressing quality came up. Can you possibly expound about the whole pre Neumann era thing?

 

Mono for everything up to the white album, where I have to splt it up between mono and stereo (the mono "While My Guitar..." has a character to the guitar solo that can't be heard in the stereo, but the stereo accoustics on "Cry Baby Cry" add to the hypnotic air).

 

It's been a pleasure discovering this forum and picking up some of my favorite albums on 1st press Parlophone vinyl, especially Beatles for Sale. Can you believe that many peoples only experience of this album is the EMI CD. No wonder many people regard it as the Beatles weakest album. Not by a long chalk IMO...

 

I think Steve's notes is where I stand after listening to both mixes over the last couple years on a good rig.

I've never been impressed with the pre-Help mono albums or the 'Oldies' LP, except for certain tracks on them. However, the mono UK singles and EPs are great. From Help through the white album I think both mixes are essential. Once I really heard the Sgt. Pepper mono mix I was sold.... and Lennon's tracks on the white album are superb in mono!

 

Skipped this paragraph for some reason. I am not a fan of Please Please Me in stereo (the two songs in fake stereo; crappy title song), but With the Beatles rocks in both mono and stereo.

 

I generally tend to like both mono and stereo for different reasons (i.e. some are missing parts, or some just plain sound more well balanced).

I don't have much of a preference.

Just whatever sounds the best to me.

And I have to agree that the mono Beatles For Sale (especially the CD) is just terrible. Sounds like a telephone.

 

Yup. It's a personal quirk that I have, sorry! I'll start listening a certain stereo mix and wonder why a certain aspect of it is missing, and then I will realize I'm listening to the 'other' mix. I would never alternate watching a film in black and white and color.

I don't disdain anyone who does listen to both mixes. Nor will you hear me complaining about the lack of Beatle material-- I am fully, fully aware of the limitedness of Beatles output and that we're lucky to have what we have. But, I, as Traxinet, do not listen to both mono and stereo Beatles mixes. To quote Mike Love, "that's not me".

 

I'll admit until I'm blue in the face that I'm no Beatles expert as many of you are, but unless I'm blind I didn't notice Steve nor anyone else mention Abbey Road or Let It Be. Surely two albums that are nearly 40 years old have had more than one mix, right? If not, how come?

I will now await the enlightening responses from the experts ... as well as my possible execution

 

Well alright!

Now if you'll please excuse me while I purge my bank account to fill in those last couple 'Beatles collection holes.'

 

Wow, okay, that explains it then. Abbey was always my fave and being born in 75' I can't imagine an album sounding better in mono when you would have a better separation of instrumentation and vocals in stereo. I tried listening to Pet Sounds in mono and I just didn't get it.

Anyhow, thanks Steve!

 

In the UK, the last Beatles album to be issued in mono was Yellow Submarine in January 1969, but it was just folded down from the stereo mix. In the US, this album was only issued in stereo, like the previous one, The White Album. Hence, there were no mono releases of Abbey Road or Let It Be.