Beatles MFSL CDs?????

I keep seeing Beatles MFSL CDs listed on eBay, and I'm guessing that they are definitely counterfeits, and possibly copied to CD from the MFSL LPs. To my knowledge, they were never released on CD by MFSL. Does anyone know the story behind these releases, and what their sound quality is like, compared to the domestic Beatles CD catalog?



Thanks,

HeavyDistortion

 

Thay are needle drops of MFSL LPs. The sound quality is much better than the standard release CDs. Plus if you like the first 4 albums in stereo this is the way to get 'em. I found however, that (to me anyway) the ones in the mini-sleeves sound better. Maybe different needle drops?

 

They're clever vinyl rips from the MFSL vinyl. They've been done up 4 ways that I've known including MFSL looking jewels, mini-lp dupes, and more. They're not entirely worth the money people ask for them. There is even a set that is HDCD. Again, all from vinyl, clever as they are.

This seems to come up now and again. Ya new here, Distortion? ;p

 

Sckott,

I'm relatively new to the forum, and have seen some previous posts concerning Beatles counterfeit CDs, but my curiosity was piqued when I saw so many current MFSL Beatles titles listed on eBay. I thought that maybe I was missing out on something. Since I have joined the forum, I have already gathered lots of excellent information concerning the quality of numerous CDs, that has proved to be valuable information. Thanks for your response.



HeavyDistortion

 

Welcome to the forum, HeavyD.

I've found it quite interesting, but Stan Ricker (see mention from Steve elsewhere on the forum) was the main man (Stan the Man) who pressed all of those fairly valuable Beatles MFSL LPs in the 80's. They're ledgendary now. I'm sure Stan has looked to see MFSL LPs on Ebay go for heaps more than he ever made from MFSL in it's heyday.

Stan's very proud of his work, and I've always wondered if it bothers him that his MFSL's are getting bootleged to CD to a hungry Beatles market always looking for something new.

"Hey, Cool! MFSL Beatles CDs" - The next new Beatles bootleg item!

Not only that, but it's been done numerous times in different ways. So, the joke post "Stan Ricker shares "SOMETHING NEW!!??"..." has also a very interesting irony... Stan's work is making people money in ways that's illegal, so that joke news article kinda hits home.... This is where a 'big black round thing' got copied quite often. I'm sure if you asked the big mom n pop stores, they'd tell you that the MFSL Beatles got high sales, and at $26.99 each!!

Now, imagine you're Stan (not easy) knowing your authentic Lps went for less than that originally. I'm sure he remains proud, but ticked off nonetheless... With all due respect, I don't want to speak for the man, but that's how I would feel.

It's best if you buy a M- copy of one of those titles and bring them to a real good turntable, if possible. They'll sound better than the MFSL CD ripoffs. Also, you can just re-sell it on eBay for the same money. The good copies don't seem to lose their value. The bootlegs just might after the Beatles supposedly go to SACD, in the very far future.

 

These cds are total crap. I know, I was a sucker and bought one. Needle drops maybe, but recorded through crummy equipment not professional at all.

I have the mfsl vinyl to compare it to. The cds aren't even close.

If you want a good cd version of Meet the Beatles and Introducing the Beatles get the Russian cd which features both of these recordings on one disc. The Russion disc totally blows away the fake crap being sold on ebay.

 

Sckott,

If I have my history correct here, Stan was required to boost the high end on those LPs by MFSL management, against his better judgement. Ironically, that high end boost lives on in the "boots" on CD.

Bob

 

That's right. That's one of the reasons Stan is still "The Man" as everyone knew he stood by what he believed.

This is why, even on the boots of the MFSL's, the title track of "Please Please Me" the harmonica distorts. I found a better stereo replacement, took my copy, and made a better version out of the two. Wanna know that you're listening to an MFSL ripoff of "Please Please Me"? The harmonica doesn't just distort a 'little'.

That said, I don't listen to the MFSL ripoffs as much anymore. They WERE clever, but..... Better Beatles, better boots, better things out there!

 

Get the "Beat" CD versions of the American LPs most sourced from TAPE. They sound great. Most likely the source for the mentioned Russian CD.

 

What label is that Russian CD? I had a Russian CD-Maximum CD of Beatles 65 and Beatles VI, but it was just copies from the regular CD's in the US track orders. Because it was from the standard CD's, it was even a mixture of mono and stereo.

 

Remember folks, bootleggers bootleg bootlegs. Some of the stuff out there are dupes of dupes repackaged. Some of it sorced from MP3.

Not to ruin anyone's fun, but it's true. Have fun though. Just don't spend a lot of money on the stuff. It's just stupid.

 

CDMaximum is one of the more useless pirate companies, as they just repackage easily-availible stuff...actually, though, some of their releases are pretty cool, being copies of hard-to-get bootlegs (they re-released the entire Unsurpassed Masters series on pressed disc, and they retailed for ~7 bucks apiece!).

I had a good connection for a while, and bought several pirate discs for the hell of it. Several of them were fascinating (REAL dupes of the American albums, sorced from the Capitol Versions discs, dupes of the no-no-noised releases of Lennon's catelogue, etc.).

-D

 

I'll ask the man tomorrow. I'll let you know his thoughts.

I personally think it's horrible. I've spoke with hundreds of ebay bidders. About 60% don't know they are bidding on cd-r's. The joke is on the other 40% that think they know what they are doing. They are bidding against that 60% that think they are authentic MFSL product. On Ebay, that is the worst bunch to go up against. They inflate the price , so they (the knowing) winners get what they deserve. A double priced boot.

The dealers that sell knowingly are unscrupulous at best.
The auctions are fraudlulent and should be retracted by winners and bidders.

The new MFSL isn't thrilled either. They suggest we educate as many as possible at this time.

I feel bad for the duped.

 

What the new MFSL should do, is just watch the auctions on ebay, and contact ebay when these Beatle "MFSL" CDs appears. Ebay will yank the offending auction right away. Wouldn't be that hard.

I remember reading awhile ago that Rickenbacker would do the same whenever a faked Rickenbacker guitar would be on ebay.

 

You'd think so, but it's not easy to convince eBay that discs are actually bootlegs or pirates.

 

That's right. In fact, eBay was hard on bootleggers and counterfitters, but now they don't care. You could email them about one that you found and blow the whistle on someone, but nowadays, eBay isn't as smart to realize (or scrutinize) what's fake, so they let things slide.

In fact, when you add them up, the takers are usually mad collectors, people who don't know a real MFSL product from a fake one, feel that if they buy em up, they could sell them on eBay for more, and the rest might just be curious Beatles fans in passing. That's enough interested people to make someone rich (or marginally wealthy).

Heck, this board gets the Beatles MFSL question at least once every 2-3 months! Imagine how many people get hooked into em'?

 

What would be the best Beatles on CD, boot or official?

I get the feeling that the best way to listen to most of this is either on a good, Parlophone tube pressing or on MFSL vinyl, except with the former, you often have too much compression, and with the latter, a parametric EQ is needed.

 

>>>>>>>Sckott, I am quite sure that EMI was startled by the Stones announcement of 22 Cds in SACD.

And I am also sure that $$$ signs are clicking in the EMI executives head RIGHT NOW
about all the money they are going to make selling us the B's catalog AGAIN in Hi Def!!!

Its coming folks......SOON!!!!

 

Which ones are total crap? The Italian gold, or the Japanese mini LP?

I have cd-r's of the Japanese mini-LP, and no TT, and even though they're far from perfect, they stomp all over the domestic releases on cd.

 

Dave, I bought two of them. One had the mfsl logo across the top, you know a replica of the mofi lps. The other was a Japanese mini lp version. Both discs are silver.

 

Tullman,

Do they both sound similar, or are there differences?

 

They both are copies. I don't think either is very professional.
I have Meet the Beatles and Please Please me. The Russian cd blows away both copies. I will look at that cd when I get home and let you know the particulars. I got it on ebay for $15.00 well worth it. The vinyl Complete Beatles by mfsl is the ultimate media at this time.

 

Mikey, remember that it's not up to EMI to release new material, it's up to Apple. EMI can't release anything without it being approved by Apple first. And that's not easy to do.

 

Easy

Well, Luke, you are certainly right about it not being easy, however, money is money.

I dont think that the Remaining Beatles, Yoko, and Georges reps are going to argue NOT to release High Def versions, there are plenty of sound business reasons to do just that. After the success of "Beatles 1" they are hungry for more.

What I think they WILL argue about is the royalty rate, the song listings and up front percentages that they all get. Still, with so much money at stake, I'll bet they make it all work.

I'll be happy to just get the best sounding media of the Lps. I've learned not to expect too much of EMI and the Beatles catalog, we are invaribaly dissapointed.



Mikey

 

Yep, it is cd maximum. The thing that appealed to me on this disc is that it featured Introducing the Beatles and Meet the Beatles. Those were the two lp titles I had when I was a kid. Boy do I wish I would have bought 20 lps of each title and kept them. At the time it would have cost me about a hundred bucks for the forty lps. I could just see me saying hey Dad, I have a good idea for and investment and it'll only cost you a hundred bucks! The Russian cd also included 11 tracks of older tunes the Beatles covered before releasing the albums. To my ears this cd sounds better than the us releases I have, and the MFSL garbage.