I just spent the last 45 minutes or so sifting through these posts and besides a very impressive youtube mono version of she's leaving home I am still not sure whether to get the stereo or mono mixes, however.. I only plan to get the albums I really love and not the entire catalog so it may be simpler for me to get the stereo as they are sold individually, not sure about the mono mixes. Can't wait to hear the white album, probably my favorite.

Meloh9 said:

I was in the same place a couple weeks ago. But some good peeps have posted some great reviews which compare the versions and certain songs in a logical and cohesive way.

My final decision to get the mono set was based on the fact that mono was how the Beatles themselves intended for many albums to be released - therefore you'd be hearing some pretty dynamic improvements to the original mono audio output on some albums. And of course other albums are preferred in stereo - so I will supplement my mono set with those recommended.
[Edited 9/22/09 19:22pm]

Meloh9 said:

For the White Album, these songs helped me decide.





What other albums are your favorites?

AlexdeParis said:

thanks, to my ears the highs on the stereo don't sound as warm or even if that makes sense? some of my other favorite Beatles albums are Revolver, Abby Road, Let It Be and Sgt Pepper as you can see I am one of those folks that are more into the later to last phase or the acid era. I'm not as into the earlier stuff, but I am not as familiar with the earlier recordings.

I know that Strawberry Fields is more trippy and has more movement in stereo, but sounds more monumentally cohesive and solid in mono...

ufoclub said:

I do have a dts surround upmix of The White Album that is not bad, I also have a Sgt Pepper 5.1 DTS mix. And the Love DVD audio is amazing, I can't believe the DVD Audio format did not last a little longer, but I am somewhat of an audiophile.

So, has the mono set completely sold out, everywhere??? This was gonna be the TOP (and possibly the ONLY) item on my Christmas list, but now...

Meloh9 said:

A bootleg 5.1 mix of sgt pepper?

I still haven't received my stereo box set,

no longer in stock...

Got my mono box in the mail yesterday! I'll start listening this weekend. Now I never had the early albums to begin with so I'll have nothing to really compare the sound to when I hear those for the first time.

ufoclub said:

yup

Meloh9 said:

So what did they do, run the old stereo cd through a dolby prologic II decoder and then record the 6 resulting tracks?

I pretty much got all i need from the stereo releases.


I wish we could get the mono releases individually

i mean look at this.. it's already at 62 bucks...


http://cgi.ebay.com/Beatl...999.c0.m14

Sdldawn said:

It was only a matter of time before someone starting selling off individual Mono CDs. IMO, every single CD (Mono & Stereo) should be available separately. Maybe someday they will. Maybe the Mono CDs would be available online only, or in bundles - which would cut down in-store confusion.

More Mono sets will be available in October, and from what I've read online, there's no plan to stick to any preset amount of copies. If demand is there, they will keep producing them.

My plan is to buy the Mono box set and augment that with the albums that were never Mono as well as 2 or 3 duplicates in Stereo.

okay I just bought it (the stereo box set). As soon as they make some more I guess it will ship.

Meloh9 said:

You're welcome. IMO, Sgt. Pepper is monumentally better in mono. Revolver is also a big improvement in mono. Obviously, the other two are stereo only.

Se7en said:

That's what I would love to do, as well...

Se7en said:

That's exactly what I did. I already own both versions of Sgt Pepper's, but can easily see myself filling in the gap between the stereo only releases and buying dupes of the white album and Magical Mystery Tour as well.

I love how the ambient noises have really been uplifted at the end of You Never Give Me Your Money and the opening of Sun King


yay!

ufoclub said:

not sure but I can find out for you, I know they used the stereo recording for a fact.

I heard some of the Mono Revolver..

'sok

I didnt like the fact that Tomorrow.. didnt have the crazy bird effect going in diffrent chanells..took away from the weirdness...however Taxman sounds SO MUCH BETTER in mono. I heard the cowbells and bass like I never have before! Never paid them attention until now. Still have to figure out the rest

Some of them should have mixed the way they were in "Love" which had some amazing mastering.

paisleypark4 said:

Love and the Yellow Submarine song track were remixed (and they sound fantastic). These were only remastered. I've said it before and I'll say it again: only a complete remix would allow stereo to truly compete with mono.

>

http://www.youtube.com/wa...gPArnT3bEw


...
[Edited 9/29/09 14:49pm]
[Edited 9/29/09 14:49pm]

[Edited 9/29/09 14:50pm]
[Edited 9/29/09 14:52pm]

i just think the strings in Let It Be album are simply gorgeous. I don't care if they weren't meant to be there.. they are and i'm glad.

Sdldawn said:

Co-sign.

After reading all of the praise for Naked, I listened to it for the first time in years. I liked it much more this time around, but I still love most of the things Spector added (especially those strings McCartney hates).

delilah1 said:

"Wildlife Version" from Past Masters/Mono Masters/No One's Gonna Change Our World


From Anthology 2


From Let It Be... Naked


Which one is everyone's favorite? I prefer the Wildlife version, because I think the increased tempo gives it an unsettling sense of urgency.

AlexdeParis said:

I like the sequencing of the original Let it Be album, with Maggie Mae, Dig it, etc... and the little snippets of conversation.

But I do prefer the Naked version of Long & Winding Road. The strings just seem really schmaltzy to me. I think the song has more power w/out them.

But they are so familiar it's kinda strange hearing it without them, and somehow - even though I like it better - it doesn't seem like it's the "real" version, if that makes any sense

NoVideo said:

So we completely disagree. Man, do I hate "Maggie Mae"!


Because it isn't the real version. That 33-year head start is surely insurmountable. Thankfully, IMO.