Rare & Deleted vinyl-rips! Strange Days a must!

Post by **jamestkirk** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 4:22 pm

These are must have mono mixes of classic LPs...they have the best sound of any mixes, of course--MONO RULES!..from vinyl rips, to you!

Try: Freak Out!, Fresh Cream, Yesterday & Today (for you UK folks that never saw this one!!), and the Johnny Cash gem.

Downloads here--
http://scratchylps.blogspot.com/search? ... -results=6

And this page with Ray Charles, Dusty, Roy Orbison, P.F/Sloan and more mono masterpieces!

These will likely never see release again in MONO...so enjoy!! ENJOY!

http://scratchylps.blogspot.com/search? ... -results=6

Post by **Encuentro** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:58 pm

The only one I'd be interested in is Yesterday...and Today, but I'm assuming those are illegal downloads and I'm not down with that. If it were an official release I would download it. I wish it were available on CD. I wish The Doors debut and Strange Days were available on CD in mono.

Post by **jamestkirk** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 4:05 am

Encuentro wrote:The only one I'd be interested in is Yesterday...and Today, but I'm assuming those are illegal downloads and I'm not down with that. If it were an official release I would download it. I wish it were available on CD. I wish The Doors debut and Strange Days were available on CD in mono.

s/t - Just available as a digital release at Amazon right?

I have both on vinyl. Aren't they ever going to on CD....no word on it?

Post by **jamestkirk** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 1:37 pm

SInce I've had the original DOORS 1967 lp--since 1967, I never had that issue of hearing it at the wrong speed for 40 years.

Maybe that's why I never liked my friends' stereo vinyl as much (without knowing why)--besides the obvious audio differences (mono rules) and mix changes to vocal tracks...we all know why mono is preferred.

Post by **jamestkirk** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 1:53 pm

Encuentro wrote:The only one I'd be interested in is Yesterday...and Today, but I'm assuming those are illegal downloads and I'm not down with that. If it were an official release I would download it. I wish it were available on CD. I wish The Doors debut and Strange Days were available on CD in mono.

Illegal schmillegal...Paul McCartney supports obtaining so called "illegal" downloads, as do many legit artists of 60's rock....he feels it actually is in the best interest of the artists that those kinds of music downloads are out there. "It gives the artists exposure and actually encourages fans to go out and buy more."

If it is not on a digital release and likely never will be, to me, thank god there are those willing to digitize & share those rare and industry-rejected mixes.

So until Elektra or Capitol or any other label sees fit to release the long out of print masterpieces of mono. I'll take the boot!

And you can quote me.

-jtk

Post by **Encuentro** » Sat Sep 01, 2012 3:23 pm

You wrote "The Doors Too" in the title. Does this site have Strange Days in mono? I checked, and I couldn't find anything. If not, do you know of any sites that might have it?

Post by **jamestkirk** » Sat Sep 01, 2012 3:59 pm

Encuentro wrote:You wrote "The Doors Too" in the title. Does this site have Strange Days in mono? I checked, and I couldn't find anything. If not, do you know of any sites that might have it?

Yes, my friend...

Here is a really nice site for long lost, OOP, mono classics--ripped from the first pressing
vinyl.

http://profstoned.blogspot.com/2012/04/ ... -mono.html

Click on the 16 bit or 24 bit if you like...then drag the Rapidshare site "http" to your browser tab bar, and it will go right to the link to download!!
This site is really cool for really fine quality conversions.

Rapidshare has become one of the slowest download sites but it is worth the wait! It can take over an hour..but what is an hour for a MONO "Strange Days" we'll likely never see released!

Besides, this rip from the original vinyl will likely be better than any newly mixed official release (unless the have the masters), as the ability to mix in 60's mono with today's technology is a lost art.

............................................

Here is a review of the mono vinyl release.

"One of the rarest releases in Elektra's esteemed catalogue, the L.A. group's second LP, mixed for mono. Long has raged the debate on music websites and chat rooms as to whether or not this album received a "dedicated" mono mix. For the uninitiated, up until around 1968 or so, the multi-track tape of any rock recording was separately mixed for two-channel playback ("stereo"), or one-channel ("mono"). Both mixes received enhancements specific to the mix, with more care and attention usually afforded to the mono version, as further depth and dimension improved the sound coming out of a small phonograph speaker or the harsh, tinny sound of AM radio. Listening back to mono mixes of the 60s through today's equipment is revelatory - listen to the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper" or "Revolver" in stereo, then in mono - the difference is astounding.

Elektra Records head Jac Holzman has been an audiophile since starting the company in his college dorm room in 1951, and as equipment improved over the next two decades, his label's output tipped the scales on post-production in stereo's favour, as Holzman's impeccable sense for coming trends (the same that served him so well in signing innovative and influential acts to his label) was, as usual, right on the mark. As early as 1966, some Elektra releases began receiving "fold-down" mono mixes, meaning the two channels of a stereo mix were "folded down" into one channel for what's sometimes known as "fake mono", in an effort to save time and money. Combining two channels adds a little extra bass and depth by association only, otherwise the mixes are indentical. Elektra release EKL-4013, the catalogue number assigned to Love's 1967 masterpiece "Forever Changes", is a fold-down. The next catalogue number, EKL-4014, or the Doors' "Strange Days", is also assumed by many to be a fold-down. One listen will disavow any doubter of this notion - there are specific differences in the mix that prove this unequivocally.

Album opener "Strange Days" has much louder bass guitar and organ, and John Densmore's toms are also much higher in the mix. "You're Lost, Little Girl" puts extra emphasis on Robby Krieger's strident guitar leads, that here sound more like a cat lazily pursuing its quarry; slick and smooth with an underlying menace, exactly what the song's subject matter calls for. Third song and massive hit "Love Me Two Times" differs little from its stereo counterpart, although the harpsichord benefits from a boost in mono. Song four, "Unhappy Girl", which also served as the flip-side to LP single "People Are Strange", is a very different beast. Krieger's lead guitar sounds as if it's double-tracked here rather than just echo-processed or possibly phased, and audible handclaps confirm that Elektra was looking for a double-A side hit with this release, obviously an attempt to make it more radio-friendly. "Horse Latitudes", the weakest "track" on the album (and anathema to anyone who thinks Jim Morrison's description of himself as a "poet" is dubious at best), has the sound effects mixed louder and ramps up what little tension Morrison's struggling to create here with his pretentious read. This segues into "Moonlight Drive" that also has louder guitar runs and piano.

Side Two starts with "People Are Strange", again not deviating much from the stereo version we're subjected to every time the Doors catalogue is re-packaged or re-released. The next track, the highly underrated "My Eyes Have Seen You", has to be the highlight of this mono LP. Ray Manzarek's piano sounds like it's in the room with the listener, driving the song forward in a manner the stereo version can only suggest. On song nine, "I Can't See Your Face In My Mind", Krieger's guitar combines with Manzarek's organ and some kind of percussion as answers to Morrison's repetitions of the title lyric, and you can clearly hear these elements in this mix; they're far muddier in stereo. The eleven-minute closer, "When The Music's Over", a cousin of the first album's "The End", sounds much more violent and urgent in mono - the dynamic between soft and loud is amplified, making for a much more interesting listen.

This is yet another plea to Elektra, Rhino or Universal to reissue this long unavailable mono mix, either coupled with the stereo version in a deluxe edition CD, or on heavyweight 180-gram vinyl (as they recently did with the Doors' debut LP), or both. Why a mix this rich and revealing is still sitting in the can points to one of two things: ignorance on the part of those in possession of the master tapes; or, as in the case of Jimi Hendrix's "Are You Experienced", a missing mono master. For now, troll ebay or keep on crate-digging - this copy was found at a used record store in Toronto in great shape, with the original inner sleeve, for less than $50. It's worth a listen." --parlezphonereview.blogspot

Post by **jamestkirk** » Sat Sep 01, 2012 4:13 pm

Prof Stoned Rare & Deleted vinyl....for you.

A great site for long lost vinyl--ripped!

http://profstoned.blogspot.com/

Post by **Encuentro** » Sat Sep 01, 2012 8:58 pm

You are AWESOME! Thank you!

Post by **Encuentro** » Sat Sep 01, 2012 9:55 pm

Naturally, it didn't work for me, but thanks anyway. I can't do much of anything that requires halfway decent internet.

Post by **jamestkirk** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 12:13 pm

Encuentro wrote:Naturally, it didn't work for me, but thanks anyway. I can't do much of anything that requires halfway decent internet.

Bummer. It's great ...find a kind soul willing to d/l for you!! It's worth it. Or PM me for a bit of a trade!

Post by **Porsche** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 2:50 pm

Encuentro wrote:Naturally, it didn't work for me, but thanks anyway. I can't do much of anything that requires halfway decent internet.

Here's a much smaller mp3 download of the same transfer: http://www.sendspace.com/file/uknn02

Be sure to click where it says "Click here to start download from sendspace." All the other links are ads. Let me know if it works for you.

Not sure why The Doors re-released the debut in mono but not this one. I suspect the powers-that-be don't realize it's a dedicated mix and not just a fold-down. They should have asked the fans!

Post by **jamestkirk** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 3:09 pm

Porsche wrote:
Encuentro wrote:Naturally, it didn't work for me, but thanks anyway. I can't do much of anything that requires halfway decent internet.
Here's a much smaller mp3 download of the same transfer: http://www.sendspace.com/file/uknn02

Be sure to click where it says "Click here to start download from sendspace." All the other links are ads. Let me know if it works for you.

Not sure why The Doors re-released the debut in mono but not this one. I suspect the powers-that-be don't realize it's a dedicated mix and not just a fold-down. They should have asked the fans!

It is a good one, isn't it, Len.

My mono vinyl just takes one listen to know that it's for REAL!

Post by **Encuentro** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 3:47 pm

Porsche wrote:
Encuentro wrote:Naturally, it didn't work for me, but thanks anyway. I can't do much of anything that requires halfway decent internet.
Here's a much smaller mp3 download of the same transfer: http://www.sendspace.com/file/uknn02

Be sure to click where it says "Click here to start download from sendspace." All the other links are ads. Let me know if it works for you.

Not sure why The Doors re-released the debut in mono but not this one. I suspect the powers-that-be don't realize it's a dedicated mix and not just a fold-down. They should have asked the fans!

Thanks. I'll try when I get home from work. I'll let you know if it works.

Post by **Encuentro** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 9:24 pm

It worked! Thank you! I successfully imported it into my iTunes! I'm going to go listen to it. I'll tell you what I think. Thanks again Porsche and JTK for all of your help!

Post by **glenn** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 9:56 pm

Porsche wrote: Not sure why The Doors re-released the debut in mono but not [Strange Days]. I suspect the powers-that-be don't realize it's a dedicated mix and not just a fold-down. They should have asked the fans!

On a similar note, I just noticed that iTunes and Amazon are now selling a single that consists of Riders on the Storm (stereo) as "side A" and Riders on the Storm (mono) as "side B." I hope the latter is not a fold-down (I am sure there are eagle-eared contibutors to this forum who could tell the difference; I would not be one of them). Sorry if this has been discussed on this forum and I missed it.

Was the L.A. Woman album, or were any of its individual tracks, ever released as mono mixes prior to this?

P.S. Some more info on recent mono releases by The Doors can be found in this thread.

Post by **Encuentro** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 11:07 pm

All right. I listened to it and enjoyed. The most dramatic difference is in My Eyes Have Seen You. The bass in the beginning sounds different. Yes, I heard the hand claps in Unhappy Girl, but I heard those before in the People Are Strange/Unhappy Girl digital mono single and in the 40th mix. Overall, it really is an enjoyable listen. It's the same album, just a different way of experiencing it.

On a technical, do any of you computer savvy people know how to move the file from the computer into iTunes. I thought that I had imported it, but it only plays in iTunes. Whenever I close the file with the downloads, they won't play in iTunes. I get a message saying it can't be played, because the original file cannot be found. When I play the album on my computer, I have to click on each track. Otherwise, it will jump to the next track in my iTunes library after Strange Days Mono. The Strange Days Mono tracks are listed. They just won't play. I have to click on the individual tracks in the original download file. Thanks in advance.

Post by **Encuentro** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 11:23 pm

Nevermind. I figured it out.

Post by **Porsche** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:47 am

glenn wrote:
Porsche wrote: Not sure why The Doors re-released the debut in mono but not [Strange Days]. I suspect the powers-that-be don't realize it's a dedicated mix and not just a fold-down. They should have asked the fans!
On a similar note, I just noticed that iTunes and Amazon are now selling a single that consists of Riders on the Storm (stereo) as "side A" and Riders on the Storm (mono) as "side B." I hope the latter is not a fold-down (I am sure there are eagle-eared contibutors to this forum who could tell the difference; I would not be one of them). Sorry if this has been discussed on this forum and I missed it.

Was the L.A. Woman album, or were any of its individual tracks, ever released as mono mixes prior to this?

According to management, the "Riders" mono mix dates from 1971 and was sent exclusively to radio stations. (Maybe someone else can answer if the same version was ever released as a single. It wouldn't surprise me if management was wrong on their facts.) When I asked Botnick if it was just a fold-down from the period, he told me about this machine they used at the time to create "smart" fold-downs that eliminated some of the audio issues you get with a traditional fold-down. I haven't done the research to know if that's how most fold-downs were done in those days or if this was some new process they were doing at Elektra, but regardless, I wouldn't call it a unique mix like you'd get with a pre-68 mono release.

Post by **jamestkirk** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:11 pm

Porsche wrote:
glenn wrote:
Porsche wrote: Not sure why The Doors re-released the debut in mono but not [Strange Days]. I suspect the powers-that-be don't realize it's a dedicated mix and not just a fold-down. They should have asked the fans!
On a similar note, I just noticed that iTunes and Amazon are now selling a single that consists of Riders on the Storm (stereo) as "side A" and Riders on the Storm (mono) as "side B." I hope the latter is not a fold-down (I am sure there are eagle-eared contibutors to this forum who could tell the difference; I would not be one of them). Sorry if this has been discussed on this forum and I missed it.

Was the L.A. Woman album, or were any of its individual tracks, ever released as mono mixes prior to this?
According to management, the "Riders" mono mix dates from 1971 and was sent exclusively to radio stations. (Maybe someone else can answer if the same version was ever released as a single. It wouldn't surprise me if management was wrong on their facts.) When I asked Botnick if it was just a fold-down from the period, he told me about this machine they used at the time to create "smart" fold-downs that eliminated some of the audio issues you get with a traditional fold-down. I haven't done the research to know if that's how most fold-downs were done in those days or if this was some new process they were doing at Elektra, but regardless, I wouldn't call it a unique mix like you'd get with a pre-68 mono release.

So yeah...it's a process of folding down the stereo mix to MONO for radio play, with proper enhancements that would make the single speaker mono radio experience a better listen.

But right...not a separate MONO mix that is unique...the technology/equipment had likely changed so much by '71 that they couldn't even create those 60's mono mixes any more. So they had to be creative in a new way....not necessarily a better way, though, for the true, blue, MONO fans!

Post by **Encuentro** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 10:41 pm

I just downloaded Yesterday...and Today, both the stereo and the mono. Thanks for the link, JTK.

Post by **jamestkirk** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 12:37 pm

Encuentro wrote:I just downloaded Yesterday...and Today, both the stereo and the mono. Thanks for the link, JTK.

Very good! I would highly recommend The Electric Prunes mono also!!

And Freak Out! in MONO is a must-have. It is so much better in mono!!

Both are the definitive mixes.

Post by **jamestkirk** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 4:05 pm

BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD 1967 MONO

More must-have MONO vinyl rips! This first long player by Buff is so great sounding and one I'll always put on the TT over the Stereo mix..it really has the PUNCH & clarity we expect from MONO!

http://evermoreblues.blogspot.com/2009/ ... field.html

Post by **Lost Prophet** » Thu Sep 06, 2012 4:45 pm

What a great site! Thanks James...
Always wanted to hear Fresh Cream and Strange Days in mono, but could not find them. Really great.

Post by **jamestkirk** » Thu Sep 06, 2012 4:50 pm

Lost Prophet wrote:What a great site! Thanks James...
Always wanted to hear Fresh Cream and Strange Days in mono, but could not find them. Really great.

Cheers to you, LP!