Encuentro wrote:Looking at those pics, it's hard to believe that they were a band on the verge of breaking up.
A quick Beatles question: I've been doing a bit of research on the Capitol albums, both the vinyl and the CD box set they released a few years ago. I'm wondering what your take is on them. I read that many of the songs have "fake stereo" meaning that they were originally mixed in stereo but were released on Capitol in "fake stereo" with a lot of reverb added. I'm sure they're not as good as the mono and stereo box sets that were released in 2009, but I'm still interested.
Very true.
I have all (except the Beatles greatest hits) on their original vinyl....some stereo, some mono. Capitol had that awful "Rechanneled Stereo" as did other labels, but Capitol was a big violator---they had so many big stars at the time. They did it to Beach Boys and many others also, including "Pet Sounds", which is just awful in the fake stereo.
Capitol was given the Beatles MONO mixes first, and being the company they were, ignored the Beatles wishes by NOT waiting for the true stereo mixes, but rather, "rechanneling" the mono mixes into the awful fake stereo (and marketing them as something new and special!) -- AND making up their own albums for American release. Partly because in the UK, it was a trade practice not to include the singles on the albums, and making the buying public effectively pay twice for a song. So the Capitol releases were coveted in the UK, and the UK releases were coveted in the USA... "imports" started to make it into the cutout bins in the 70's.
Everything up until "Rubber Soul" was rechanneled stereo I believe. But even the real stereo that those in Europe got to hear was often not as good as the MONO mix.
As we know, the Beatles sat in the mixing booth for the MONO mixes, hands on, right through the last mix with the WHITE ALBUM". They put many many hours of care and work into the MONO mix. The stereo mix was handed over to everyday label employees who may have been good, but were not privy to the Beatles vision.
Some of the big differences I have noticed: I have all these on vinyl...first or a few second pressings.
1)
Introducing the Beatles MONO (Veejay) vs. Meet The Beatles (1st on Capitol):The sound is, like
, totally, extremely better on the mono for these two releases that are very similar in song tracking- Capitol successfully sued Veejay over the rights for the album. In Mono: upfront, clear, powerful, live sounding. "I Saw Her Standing There" stereo: starts with Paul-"One Two Three Four"....Veejay MONO starts with just "...Four!"--the stereo, it is a bit muddy by comparison overall and the forced two channel mix is often disturbing..
Veejay...not the best youtube sound, but you get the idea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEEf3WoI3yg
Capitol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxMlmZqc ... re=related
2)The next several US releases: some real differences (see youtube story at end) like "I Saw Here Standing There" mono, all the mono vinyl up to "Rubber Soul" command much higher prices than their stereo counterpart. Solely because of the superior sound....even if the fake stereo mix might have been rarer. That is against normal collectors' logic; that the rarer version in (fake) stereo would be less valuable than the more common MONO vinyl.
3)
"Rubber Soul"....this is NOT fake stereo. The first one I believe. Both are REALLY great sounding, but still, the mono is the one the Beatles were involved in. "Im Looking Through You" mono does NOT have the false start most are familiar with---the false start is also unique to the American release. Maybe an early mix for radio play and not meant for album inclusion, but I love it. MONO is still considered the best for this one.
MONO...this US mix was never reissued with this beginning, even in the box.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1Ov_GA9Viw
Stereo...this is disturbing to me to hear the vocals/organ in one channel and the guitars in the other...especially with headphones
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLFlwOHM0bg
4)
Revolver-I have always had the stereo vinyl which is excellent. I now have the MONO box and the MONO is also excellent and the differences are minor though the MONO has that signature crispness and immediacy that is always what I love best.
Full album mono listen...it's all so much better in MONO....and my brain isn't confused!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGAHZ1wXVQk
5)
Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band--I grew up with the stereo vinyl and it is of course, groundbreaking in the new 8 track stereo mix.
Still, I now have the MONO vinyl, and can honestly say, it's the only mix I listen to anymore. The mixes are SO different--sometimes just in the speed, LUCY is a bit slower, as is Mr Kite. In the others the mixes can be so radically different it is a revelation when hearing the mONO mix for the first time. "Within You Without You" has a much more up front ending with the laughter and voices. "Sgt Peppers Reprise" mono fade out has Paul rapping over the music --in stereo it is not even there. Overall the mono sound is totally superior to the stereo mix, even though the stereo is the justly lauded blueprint for all rock productions to follow. John said, "you haven't heard Peppers if you haven't heard it in MONO".
....Magical Mystery Tour was not released here in MONO but it is quite different in spots also!
6)
The White Album (last to be fully released/mixed in true MONO (NOT in the USA!), though "Yellow SUbmarine does have some MONO mixes that were released with the box that are really different and cool also).
After hearing the MONO mix that was included in the BOX, it is likely the most extreme difference when compared to stereo! Many of the sound effects such as clapping or laughter etc are not there at all on MONO. The mixes can also be radically different bringing the vocals or instruments up to unheard levels compared to the stereo. And the tracking speeds can be really different too--Ringo's tune is a noticeably different speed.
"Revolution 9" is a really different mix, and really cool. Certain sounds, voices, are more upfront.
The White Album MONO is also a revelation, but the stereo is also really fine, so this is one I listen to both.
Nothing much after this to speak of. Even the 45's were in stereo.
But there was one last MONO rarity. "You Know My Name" (on the flip side of "Let I Be" I believe) was a true MONO mix and was released as such...no stereo mix was ever released. It is one of my favorites, and this was an ongoing trip for the Beatles. They recorded parts of this, off and on, starting in 1965, right up through 1969. They were goofing off, as all bands do, to loosen up, and have fun...fortunately for us, they thought it had enough value to share it with the world. So, in a way, it can be regarded as a sound collage of the Beatles at their most playful and honest, spanning their amazing career.
Did I answer Your questions, my friend, with a small SHORT STORY?!
Here is a cool comparative piece for jarring mono/stereo song differences...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dchCB-2 ... re=related
Brilliant! So great to see these lost pnotos!