"Magical Mystery Tour" by THE BEATLES (2014/2015 Japan-Only SHM-CD Reissue in Mini LP Repro Artwork) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Goo Goo G'Joob..."

How could 'any' Beatles album be classed as 'overlooked' - especially in Britain?

When the UK saw the release of "Magical Mystery Tour" on 8 December 1967 - it was a 7" single book-pack - a double 2 x 45 'EP' on Parlophone MMT 1 (Mono) and SMMT 1 (Stereo) with only 6-songs - all culled from the movie of the same name.

Our American pals had it different and a couple of weeks earlier too. Theirs was the full 11-track album on Capitol MAL 2835 (Mono) and Capitol SMAL 2835 (Stereo). Released 27 November 1967 – the US LP used the 6-songs of the British double-EP as Side 1 and added five sides of three UK 45s The Beatles issued in 1967 as Side 2.

In short – the Yanks have always had the album. But in Blighty - and I genuinely have to double-take on this factoid whenever I see it - "Magical Mystery Tour" the LP (as we know it) wasn't officially released by EMI until the 19th of November 1976! There were original 1967 US import copies on Capitol Records of both LP variants brought into UK shops - but they weren't that common. So as far as most British fans were concerned - "Magical Mystery Tour" was 'that ditty' The Beatles did at the end of a very productive year (June's "Sgt. Peppers..." was just ending a long number 1 LP run when the "...Tour..." Double EP was released in December). The "Magical Mystery Tour" album in their native land has always seemed like some kind of afterthought - a sort of 'best of 1967 tracks' compilation given a more cohesive name.

Which brings us to the album and the music. By adding on those five tracks onto Side 2 - the Americans turned a good UK 45-release into an LP-platter of friggin' genius. In fact you could argue that you simply take a look at the track list for this LP - and the review is already done. "Hello Goodbye", "Strawberry Fields Forever", "Penny Lane", "All You Need Is Love", "The Fool On The Hill" and "I Am The Walrus" - all on one album! And of course there's those other nuggets like the trippy instrumental "Flying" (too many magic mushrooms boys) and equally groovy spiralling of "Blue Jay Way" (other substances on top of the mushrooms) and Paul's poppy "Your Mother Should Know" - a song that wouldn't have gone amiss on "Peppers".

This Japanese variant of "Magical Mystery Tour" cost me - but is so beautiful that it deserves uber-praise. Here are the Semolina Pilchards climbing up the Eiffel Tower...

Released 17 December 2014 (reissued 15 April 2015) and using the 2009 Remaster done at Abbey Road Studios - this Japan-only SHM-CD of "Magical Mystery Tour" by THE BEATLES on Universal/Apple UICY-76974 (Barcode 4988005867513) is a straightforward transfer of the 14-Track STEREO album. It’s presented in a limited edition 5” Mini LP Repro Artwork and will be deleted in June 2016 (total playing time 36:32 minutes).

Side 1:

1. Magical Mystery Tour

2. The Fool On The Hill

3. Flying

4. Blue Jay Way

5. Your Mother Should Know

6. I Am The Walrus

Side 2:

7. Hello Goodbye

8. Strawberry Fields Forever

9. Penny Lane

10. Baby You’re A Rich Man

11. All You Need Is Love

Using the 09/09/09 STEREO MIX of the album – this Japanese SHM-CD reissue also decides to keep it simple and loses the enhanced CD track called "Magical Mystery Tour Mini Documentary" that came with the 09/09/09 releases (wasn’t up to much anyway). The Super High Materials CD (SHM-CD) does not require special audio equipment – it will play on all devices and Toshiba claim that it offers a better form of disc with increased retrieval details. As someone who owns about 20 of them - I've found that claim to be true. The audio on this sucker through my Marantz CD/AMP combo (paired up with Tannoy Mercury V4 speakers) is just beautiful. The accumulative effect is to have even the most jaundiced ear sit up and take notice. Then there's the sexy artwork...

The chunky EMI 36-page colour booklet returns as a separate entity - but there's also the usual 22-white-page Japanese booklet too that features some unreadable Japanese liner notes followed by the lyrics in English and a back page that pictures all 16 titles in this SHM-CD Reissue series. The attention to detail on the actual 1967 album-sleeve is delicious. You get a hard card repro of the USA STEREO LP artwork (Capitol SMAL 2385) complete with its hard-card gatefold sleeve with attached booklet. The label reflects the rainbow coloured variant of the American Capitol Records original LP – even aping the paste-on effect of the front and inner artwork. There’s a white inner bag, a protective plastic for the SHM-CD within that and an OBI strip around the edge of the sleeve – mine being Blue in colour for the 'Encore' reissue series of 2015 (see list below). Holding it all together is a resealable plastic that is prone to tearing – so be careful removing the goodies.

The Audio Quality on the 09/09/09 CD Remaster was and is magnificent. Both GUY MASSEY and STEVE ROOKE remastered the first generation stereo master tapes and to say they've done a good job is like saying the Great Wall of China is an ok building-project. Their work here is fabulous – monumental almost - it really is. The sound quality is glorious throughout - clear, warm, detailed - every single track a revelation.

"...See how they snide..." - John sings on the wonderfully potty and acidic "I Am The Walrus" and follows it with words about Expert Textperts and Elementary Penguins singing Hare Krishna. Paul warbles about The Fool on A Hill, The Man With A Thousand Voices and people on a bus being strange kinds of Egg Men...

How can you overlook and not own “Magical Mystery Tour”! Barking Nuts has never looked nor sounded so damn good as it does on this wonderful Japanese SHM-CD reissue. Seek it out and prepare to fork out for the rest of the series...

PS: For info purposes:

There are 16 STEREO titles in THE BEATLES Japanese SHM-CD Reissue Series. 

The first wave came in December 2014 and then a repress in April 2015. Purchasers should note that 'both' issues have the same catalogue numbers and barcodes. The way to recognise the difference is the sticker colour on the front plastic. 1st Issues come with Red Stickers and were released 17 December 2014 - 2nd 'Encore' Reissues come with Blue Stickers and were released 15 April 2015. I’ve provided Barcodes but to locate the right pressing CD on Amazon - but you will need to check with your seller first to see which pressing you're getting (most sellers will identify as either 1st or Encore so there’s no confusion).

1. Please Please Me (Universal/Apple UICY-76966) – Barcode 4988005867438

2. With The Beatles (Universal/Apple UICY-76967) – Barcode 4988005867455

3. A Hard Day’s Night (Universal/Apple UICY-76968) – Barcode 4988005867452

4. Beatles For Sale (Universal/Apple UICY-76969) – Barcode 4988005867469

5. Help! (Universal/Apple UICY-76970) – Barcode 4988005867476

6. Rubber Soul (Universal/Apple UICY-76971) – Barcode 4988005867483

7. Revolver (Universal/Apple UICY-76972) – Barcode 4988005867490

8. Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (Universal/Apple UICY-76973) – Barcode 4988005867506

9. Magical Mystery Tour (Universal/Apple UICY-76974) – Barcode 4988005867513

10. The Beatles [aka The White Album] (Universal/Apple UICY-76975 & 6) - Barcode 4988005867520

11. Yellow Submarine (Universal/Apple UICY-76977) – Barcode 4988005867599

12. Abbey Road (Universal/Apple UICY-76978) – Barcode 4988005867605

13. Let It Be (Universal/Apple UICY-76979) – Barcode 4988005867612

14. Past Masters (Universal/Apple UICY-76980 & 1) – Barcode 4988005867629

15. 1962-1966 (Red Album) (Universal/Apple UICY-76982/3) – Barcode 4988005867636

16. 1967-1970 (Blue Album) – (Universal/Apple UICY-76984/5) - Barcode 4988005867643

"Revolver" by THE BEATLES (2014/2015 Japan-Only SHM-CD Mini LP Reissue/Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...The Day Breaks…Your Mind Aches…"

When "Revolver" was finally given the Remaster it deserved as part of the 09/09/09 total BEATLES catalogue CD reissue campaign – Fab Four nutters the world over rejoiced. They got the UK 14-track variant of the album in glorious STEREO – and man did it sound good. But the glossy easy-to-smudge 3-way foldout card digipak lacked the aesthetic feel of the 1966 album artwork (short playing time too with no Mono mix which could easily have been included) and the 24-page booklet was big on colour photos but short on actual album history or place.

Well far be it for the Japanese to let that get in the way. Once again they get the last word – because this 2014 reissue campaign of Mini LP Repros for THE BEATLES on their patented SHM-CD format (Super High Materials) is truly gorgeous stuff and ups this already sonic wonder a further notch. "And Your Bird Can Sing" is too damn right. Here are the loaded details...

Released 17 December 2014 (reissued 15 April 2015) and using the 2009 Remaster done at Abbey Road Studios - this Japan-only SHM-CD of "Revolver" by THE BEATLES on Universal/Apple UICY-76972 (Barcode 4988005867490) is a straightforward transfer of the UK 14-Track STEREO album. It’s presented in a limited edition 5” Mini LP Repro Artwork and will be deleted in June 2016 (total playing time 34:47 minutes).

1. Taxman

2. Eleanor Rigby

3. I’m Only Sleeping

4. Love You To

5. Here, There And Everywhere

6. Yellow Submarine

7. She Said She Said

8. Good Day Sunshine [Side 2, UK]

9. And Your Bird Can Sing

10. For No One

11. Doctor Robert

12. I Want To Tell You

13. Got To Get You Into My Life

14. Tomorrow Never Knows

"Revolver" (their 7th British album) was originally released 5 August 1966 in the UK on both Parlophone PMC 7009 Mono and PCS 7009 Stereo. The American issue followed 3 days later on Capitol T-2576 Mono and ST-2576 Stereo. The UK variant had 14 tracks (as listed above) - the US issue had 11. The three missing from the American LP (same artwork) were "And Your Bird Can Sing", "I'm Only Sleeping" and "Doctor Robert" which had appeared on the June 1966 US album "Yesterday And Today".

Using the 09/09/09 STEREO MIX of the album – this Japanese SHM-CD reissue also decides to keep it simple and loses the enhanced CD track called "Revolver Mini Documentary" that came with the 09/09/09 releases (two-and-a-half minutes of video footage - largely black & white in-studio shots featuring the voices of the Fabs and George Martin discussing songs and techniques on the album - it's directed by BOB SMEATON). The Super High Materials CD (SHM-CD) does not require special audio equipment – it will play on all devices and Toshiba claim that it offers a better form of disc with increased retrieval details. As someone who owns about 20 of them - I've found that claim to be true. The audio on this sucker through my Marantz CD/AMP combo (paired up with Tannoy Mercury V4 speakers) is just beautiful. The accumulative effect is to have even the most jaundiced ear sit up and take notice. Then there's the sexy artwork...

The EMI 24-page colour booklet returns as a separate entity - but there's also the usual 20-white-page Japanese booklet too that features some unreadable Japanese liner notes followed by the lyrics in English and a back page that pictures all 16 titles in this SHM-CD Reissue series. The attention to detail on the actual 1966 album sleeve is delicious. You get a hard card repro of the UK STEREO LP artwork complete with its glossy front sleeve and matt rear and 'flip back' flaps on the back cover (how did they reproduce this!). The label reflects the black and yellow lettering of the original British LP on Parlophone Records as does the rear cover artwork that advertises the use of an "Emitex" record cleaning cloth. They've even repro'd that Emitex inner bag too. There's an OBI strip – mine is Blue in colour for the 'Encore' reissue series of 2015 (see list below).

The Audio Quality on the 09/09/09 CD Remaster was and is magnificent. Both GUY MASSEY and STEVE ROOKE remastered the first generation stereo master tapes and to say they've done a good job is like saying the Great Wall of China is an ok building-project. Their work here is fabulous – monumental almost - it really is. The sound quality is glorious throughout - clear, warm, detailed - every single track a revelation.

The SHM-CD amplifies the punch in the brassy "Got To Get You Into My Life" and the delicate "Here, There & Everywhere". The hiss level is barely audible on any of the songs - but what you do hear are new instrument flourishes. The brilliant George Harrison guitar playing on the New York Drug Pusher song "Doctor Robert" is at last to the fore, the lone horn work of Alan Civil on "For No One" is suddenly so pretty, while Ringo's superlative drumming on "Tomorrow Never Knows" is now absolutely huge to a point where the clarity and sheer whack of the Remaster brought me to tears. The strings on “Eleanor Rigby” are beautifully full and shock your senses even now - some five decades after the event. If you love this record, you're in for a treat. I love the wallop and anger in "Taxman" – guitars filling my speakers with venom. Another winner is the huge sound from "She Said She Said" where John feels like he's going to kick your speakers in (kick something in anyway). Ringo has his ditty moment with the mad "Yellow Submarine” with those strange engine noises half way through somehow now more bizarre and creative than I remembered. And the riffage of "Doctor Robert" is equal to the splendor of "Paperback Writer".

Between this series of 16 SHM-CDs, the American Capitol Records collection and the white Mono Box set - I'd have to say that these three are the pinnacle of Fab Fourness - and Beatles collectors will quite rightly lust after and covet all three.

What a band and what a recorded legacy they left behind. Float downstream indeed...and if you do...do it with this SHM-CD as your raft...

PS: For info purposes - there are 16 STEREO titles in THE BEATLES Japanese SHM-CD Reissue Series. The first wave came in December 2014 and then a repress in April 2015. Purchasers should note that 'both' issues have the same catalogue numbers and barcodes. The way to recognise the difference is the sticker colour on the front plastic. 1st Issues come with Red Stickers and were released 17 December 2014 - 2nd 'Encore' Reissues come with Blue Stickers and were released 15 April 2015. I’ve provided Barcodes but to locate the right pressing CD on Amazon - but you will need to check with your seller first to see which pressing you're getting (most sellers will identify as either 1st or Encore so there’s no confusion).

1. Please Please Me (Universal/Apple UICY-76966) – Barcode 4988005867438

2. With The Beatles (Universal/Apple UICY-76967) – Barcode 4988005867455

3. A Hard Day’s Night (Universal/Apple UICY-76968) – Barcode 4988005867452

4. Beatles For Sale (Universal/Apple UICY-76969) – Barcode 4988005867469

5. Help! (Universal/Apple UICY-76970) – Barcode 4988005867476

6. Rubber Soul (Universal/Apple UICY-76971) – Barcode 4988005867483

7. Revolver (Universal/Apple UICY-76972) – Barcode 4988005867490

8. Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (Universal/Apple UICY-76973) – Barcode 4988005867506

9. Magical Mystery Tour (Universal/Apple UICY-76974) – Barcode 4988005867513

10. The Beatles [aka The White Album] (Universal/Apple UICY-76975 & 6) - Barcode 4988005867520

11. Yellow Submarine (Universal/Apple UICY-76977) – Barcode 4988005867599

12. Abbey Road (Universal/Apple UICY-76978) – Barcode 4988005867605

13. Let It Be (Universal/Apple UICY-76979) – Barcode 4988005867612

14. Past Masters (Universal/Apple UICY-76980 & 1) – Barcode 4988005867629

15. 1962-1966 (Red Album) (Universal/Apple UICY-76982/3) – Barcode 4988005867636

16. 1967-1970 (Blue Album) – (Universal/Apple UICY-76984/5) - Barcode 4988005867643

"Abbey Road" by THE BEATLES (2014 and 2015 Japan SHM-CD 5" Mini LP Repro Sleeve – 2009 Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Here Comes The Sun..." 

You have to say that the attention to detail on this December 2014 Japanese SHM-CD reissue is impressive (2nd press reissued April 2015 as an 'Encore' version). Beatles nerds like me know that first state British pressings of the vinyl album had a glossy laminate sleeve on both sides, the Apple logo 'misaligned' under the track list for Side 1 on the rear (they straightened it for re-pressings) and the final 17th track - the cheeky-buggers "Her Majesty" - is listed only on the Apple label of the actual LP and not the rear of the sleeve. The Japanese get all these piddly details right.

On top of that you get the rather gorgeous 16-page booklet Apple provided with the 09/09/09 digipak when it first came out with photos of the boys looking groovy and all grown up at Twickenham and Tittenhurst Park and historical notes by KEVIN HOWLETT and MIKE HEATLEY. There's their usual separate 20-page white booklet for UICY-76978 – lyrics in Japanese and English and a page illustrating all 16 titles in this hugely desirable Beatles series. There's an 'Apple' obi-band wrapped around the "Abbey Road" oversized glossy sleeve - again with the whole series pictured but this time in colour. My god they've even repro'd the matt textured black inner bag that came with original British albums. The 5" card sleeve repro itself is beautiful to look at - but you'd have to say that the track titles on the rear are a teensy weeny bit lost in the background – not perfectly focused. But they do provide a plastic protective within the black inner sleeve – a very nice touch. Here are the Volkswagen number plates (Paul is very much alive)...

Released 17 December 2014 (reissued 15 April 2015) and using the 2009 Remaster done at Abbey Road Studios - this Japan-only SHM-CD on Universal/Apple UICY-76978 (Barcode 4988005867605) is a straightforward transfer of the album presented in limited edition 5” card repro Mini LP artwork (47:29 minutes). It will be deleted in June 2016.

1. Come Together

2. Something

3. Maxwell's Silver Hammer

4. Oh! Darling

5. Octopus's Garden

6. I Want You (She's So Heavy)

7. Here Comes The Sun – Side 2

8. Because

9. You Never Give Me Your Money

10. Sun King

11. Mean Mr. Mustard

12. Polythene Pam

13. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window

14. Golden Slumbers

15. Carry That Weight

16. The End

17. Her Majesty

Tracks 1 to 17 make up their 11th studio album "Abbey Road" – released 26 September 1969 in the UK on Apple PCS 7088 and 1 October 1969 in the USA on Capitol/Apple SO 383 (both Stereo only). It hit No. 1 on both the UK and USA LP charts.

GUY MASSEY, PAUL HICKS and SEAN MAGEE - Grammy nominees for their beautiful and sensitive handing of such a precious catalogue - carried out the remasters at Abbey Road from original master tapes - and what a job they've done. You add a Japanese-pressed Super High Materials CD (will play on all devices – it's a better form of disc with better retrieval details) and suddenly this beauty is singing like the very proverbial happy bird. The audio on this sucker through my Marantz CD/AMP combo (paired up with Tannoy Mercury V4 speakers) is just beautiful. The accumulative effect is to have even the most jaundiced ear sit up and take notice.

Then of course there's the album – the music. And Holy Crap! Wow! Yowsah! is the only appropriate response. Right from the opening bass and bars of "Come Together" – you're blown away. After the sloppy and personally critical debacle of the "Get Back" sessions that would be truncated and eventually released as "Let It Be" in May 1970 (after "Abbey Road") – Producer and helmsman George Martin was having no more crap from the four warring parties. He argued that he'd only go back into the studio if they approached the new album properly – no jamming – no hangers on – just tunes played well and recorded with polish. And he/they got what they wanted. By the time you rehear the beautiful "Something" by George Harrison, Ringo's witty and whimsical "Octopus's Garden", McCartney's blistering blues boogie vocal on "Oh! Darling" and Lennon's in-yer-face menace on "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" – it's hard not to be awestruck at the sheer brilliance of it all.

But then you have to negotiate the 'suite' that is Side 2. Opening with George Harrison's penultimate moment "Here Comes The Sun " (probably his greatest song) - your launched into a roller-coaster ride of different themes and rhythms in "Sun King", the genuine hurt in "You Never Gave Me Your Money" and the melodic pathos of "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window" (covered so well by Joe Cocker on his second album - 1970's "Joe Cocker!"). It all ends on that "Carry The Weight" riffage and of course those few moments of jab at the monarchy. Wonderful stuff...

Reputedly the first CD reissue of "Abbey Road" was put by Toshiba in Japan in May 1983 right at the beginning of the format's infancy and a full four years before most of us mere mortals got a CD stab at it in the West (October 1987).

I know you could argue that you just spend six quid on the 9 Sep 2009 digipak CD remaster/reissue – but this is The Beatles and I want the best. If you do too – then settle for no less. But be prepared for your wallet to bleed because once you hear this SHM-CD of that most brilliant BEATLES album – you’ll want the rest of their catalogue with the same audio kick in the gonads (ouch)...

PS: For info purposes - there are 16 STEREO titles in THE BEATLES Japanese SHM-CD Reissue Series. The first wave came in December 2014 and then a repress in April 2015. Purchasers should note that both issues have the same catalogue numbers and barcodes – the way to recognise the difference is the sticker colour. 

1st Issues come with Red Stickers on the front plastic and were released 17 December 2014 - 2nd 'Encore' Reissues come with Blue Stickers and were released 15 April 2015. 

I’ve provided Barcodes but to locate the right pressings on Amazon...but you will need to check with your seller to see 'which' pressing they're selling (most sellers will identify them as either 1st or Encore - but if you want a specific issue - check).

1. Please Please Me (Universal/Apple UICY-76966) – Barcode 4988005867438

2. With The Beatles (Universal/Apple UICY-76967) – Barcode 4988005867455

3. A Hard Day’s Night (Universal/Apple UICY-76968) – Barcode 4988005867452

4. Beatles For Sale (Universal/Apple UICY-76969) – Barcode 4988005867469

5. Help! (Universal/Apple UICY-76970) – Barcode 4988005867476

6. Rubber Soul (Universal/Apple UICY-76971) – Barcode 4988005867483

7. Revolver (Universal/Apple UICY-76972) – Barcode 4988005867490

8. Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (Universal/Apple UICY-76973) – Barcode 4988005867506

9. Magical Mystery Tour (Universal/Apple UICY-76974) – Barcode 4988005867513

10. The Beatles [aka The White Album] (Universal/Apple UICY-76975 & 6) - Barcode 4988005867520

11. Yellow Submarine (Universal/Apple UICY-76977) – Barcode 4988005867599

12. Abbey Road (Universal/Apple UICY-76978) – Barcode 4988005867605

13. Let It Be (Universal/Apple UICY-76979) – Barcode 4988005867612

14. Past Masters (Universal/Apple UICY-76980 & 1) – Barcode 4988005867629

15. 1962-1966 (Red Album) (Universal/Apple UICY-76982/3) – Barcode 4988005867636
16. 1967-1970 (Blue Album) – (Universal/Apple UICY-76984/5) - Barcode 4988005867643

"The Beatles In MONO" by THE BEATLES (2009 EMI/Apple 11CD Mini Box Set) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Is There Anyone Wants To Hear My Story…" 

In truth - when the Beatles 15-strong album catalogue finally went on worldwide sale in properly remastered form on the 9th of September 2009 - the Stereo box set not only looked flimsy and naff - it containing little inside to aesthetically please once opened. Inside a matt black and red lanky card wrapper - you got the 15 piddly gatefold sleeves of the albums (as per the individual releases - no repro artwork) and a booklet. For the money it always felt to me like a presentation let down. But the smaller hard-card MONO variant was an all-together different beast - not just sonically - but especially visually. Here are the one-channel details...

Released 9 September on Apple 5099969945120 - "The Beatles In MONO" by THE BEATLES contains the following 11 CDs (one is a double):

1. "Please Please Me" - March 1963 UK debut LP on Parlophone PMC 1202 (33:19 minutes)

1. I Saw Her Standing There

2. Misery

3. Anna (Go To Him)

4. Chains

5. Boys

6. Ask Me Why

7. Please Please Me

8. Love Me Do [Side 2]

9. P.S. I love You

10. Baby It’s You

11. Do You Want To Know A Secret

12. A Taste Of Honey

13. There’s A Place

14. Twist & Shout

2. "With The Beatles" - November 1963 UK LP on Parlophone PMC 1206 (33:55 minutes)

1. It Won’t Be Long

2. All I’ve Got To Do

3. All My Loving

4. Don’t Bother Me

5. Little Child

6. Till There Was You

7. Please Mister Postman

8. Roll Over Beethoven [Side 2]

9. Hold Me Tight

10. You Really Got A Hold On Me

11. I Wanna Be Your Man

12. Devil In Her Heart

13. Not A Second Time

14. Money

3. "A Hard Day's Night" - July 1964 UK LP on Parlophone PMC 1230 (31:01 minutes)

1. A Hard Day’s Night

2. I Should Have Known Better

3. If I Fell

4. I’m Happy Just To Dance With You

5. And I Love Her

6. Tell Me Why

7. Can’t Buy Me Love

8. Any Time At All [Side 2]

9. I’ll Cry Instead

10. Things We Said Today

11. When I Get Home

12. You Can’t Do That

13. I’ll Be Back

4. "Beatles For Sale" - December 1964 UK LP on Parlophone PMC 1240 (35:09 minutes)

1. No Reply

2. I’m A Loser

3. Baby’s In Black

4. Rock And Roll Music

5. I’ll Follow The Sun

6. Mr. Moonlight

7. Kansas City/Hey Hey Hey Hey

8. Eight Days A Week [Side 2]

9. Words Of Love

10. Honey Don’t

11. Every Little Thing

12. I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party

13. What You’re Doing

14. Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby

5. "Help!" - August 1965 UK LP on Parlophone PMC 1255 (with Stereo PCS 3071) (69:14 minutes)

1. Help!

2. The Night Before

3. You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away

4. I Need You

5. Another Girl

6. You’re Going To Lose That Girl

7. Ticket To Ride

8. Act Naturally [Side 2]

9. It’s Only Love

10. You Like Me Too Much

11. Tell Me What You See

12. I’ve Just Seen A Face

13. Yesterday

14. Dizzy Miss Lizzy

6. "Rubber Soul" - December 1965 UK LP on Parlophone PMC 1267 (Stereo PCS 3075) (72:50 minutes)

1. Drive My Car

2. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)

3. You Won’t See Me

4. Nowhere Man

5. Think For Yourself

6. The Word

7. Michelle

8. What Goes On [Side 2]

9. Girl

10. I’m Looking Through You

11. In My Life

12. Wait

13. If I Needed Someone

14. Run For Your Life

Tracks 15 to 28 are the 1965 STEREO MIX of 1 to 14

7. "Revolver" - August 1966 UK LP on Parlophone PMC 7009 (35:33 minute)

1. Taxman

2. Eleanor Rigby

3. I’m Only Sleeping

4. Love You To

5. Here, There And Everywhere

6. Yellow Submarine

7. She Said, She Said

8. Good Day Sunshine [Side 2]

9. And Your Bird Can Sing

10. For No One

11. Dr. Robert

12. I Want To Tell You

13. Got To Get You Into My Life

14. Tomorrow Never Knows

8. "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band" - June 1967 UK LP on Parlophone PMC 7027 (39:50 minutes)

1. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

2. With A Little Help From My Friends

3. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

4. Getting Better

5. Fixing A Hole

6. She’s Leaving Home

7. Being The Benefit Of Mr. Kite

8. Within You, Without You [Side 2]

9. When I’m Sixty-Four

10. Lovely Rita

11. Good Morning, Good Morning

12. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)

13. A Day In The Life

9. "Magical Mystery Tour" - first released as a 10-track album ONLY in the USA in November 1967 on Capitol MAL 2835. It was a Mono and Stereo double 7" single 'EP' in the UK released in December 1967 with only 6 tracks. "Magical Mystery Tour" finally made it onto a 10-track album in November 1976 in the UK (37:07 minutes)

1. Magical Mystery Tour

2. The Fool On The Hill

3. Flying

4. Blue Jay Way

5. Your Mother Should Know

6. I Am The Walrus

7. Hello Goodbye [Side 2]

8. Strawberry Fields Forever

9. Penny Lane

10. Baby You’re A Rich Man

10. "The Beatles" [aka "The White Album"] - November 1968 Double-Album on Apple PMC 7067-8 (Disc 1: 46:20 minutes/Disc 2: 46:37 minutes)

1. Back In The U.S.S.R. [Side 1]

2. Dear Prudence

3. Glass Onion

4. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

5. Wild Honey Pie

6. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill

7. While My Guitar Gently Weeps

8. Happiness Is A Warm Gun

9. Martha My Dear [Side 2]

10. I’m So Tired

11. Blackbird

12. Piggies

13. Rocky Racoon

14. Don’t Pass Me By

15. Why Don’t We Do It In The Road?

16. I Will

17. Julia

1. Birthday [Side 3]

2. Yer Blues

3. Mother Nature’s Son

4. Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey

5. Sexy Sadie

6. Helter Skelter

7. Long, Long, Long

8. Revolution 1 [Side 4]

9. Honey Pie

10. Savoy Truffle

11. Cry Baby Cry

12. Revolution 9

13. Good Night

What's missing? Although issued in MONO in the UK - only 4 tracks from the "Yellow Submarine" album are included (see 9, 10, 11 and 12 on Disc 2 of "Past Masters" listed below) because the other mixes were essentially a 'fold-down' of the Stereo version (not true mono in other words). Both "Abbey Road" and "Let It Be" were only ever issued in STEREO - hence their exclusion. Fans will also notice that the "Help!" and "Rubber Soul" CDs listed above also feature (as bonuses) the 1965 George Martin STEREO MIX of those albums - mixed presumably from Mono sources. The "Past Masters" double CD compilation mops up the British 7" single and EP sides and any other stragglers and is laid out as follows...

11. "Past Masters"

Disc 1: 42:39 minutes (black and yellow Parlophone label on the CD)

1. Love Me Do (Original Single Version)

2. From Me To You

3. Thank You Girl

4. She Loves You

5. I'll Get You

6. I Want To Hold Your Hand

7. This Boy

8. Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand (German sung "I Want To Hold Your Hand")

9. She Liebt Dich (German sung "She Loves You")

10. Long Tall Sally

11. I Call Your Name

12. Slow Down

13. Matchbox

14. I Feel Fine

15. She's A Woman

16. Bad Boy

17. Yes It Is

18. I'm Down

Disc 2: 56:26 minutes (Apple label on the CD):

1. Day Tripper

2. We Can Work It Out

3. Paperback Writer

4. Rain

5. Lady Madonna

6. The Inner Light

7. Hey Jude

8. Revolution

9. Only A Northern Song

10. All Together Now

11. Hey Bulldog

12. It's All Too Much

13. Get Back [with BILLY PRESTON]

14. Don't Let Me Down [with BILLY PRESTON]

15. Across The Universe

16. You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)

Some rumours have said that the box is a limited edition of 10,000 - but EMI has never confirmed this - and in 2014 - it's still available to buy. The beautiful card repro sleeves contained within ape the British original vinyl albums with tasty details like inner EMITEX bags, black and yellow Parlophone Records labels, flip-back laminate sleeves and the full 'white album' compliment of fold-out lyric poster and the four gorgeous photos. The 44-page booklet explains how The Beatles recorded in MONO and why (their preferred sound) - it's a sweet read. The sturdy hard card white box was done in Japan so the attention to detail is magnificent. GUY MASSEY, PAUL HICKS and SEAN MAGEE - Grammy nominees for their beautiful and sensitive handing of such a precious catalogue - carried out the remasters at Abbey Road from original master tapes - and what a job they've done...

Right from the opening bars of "I Saw Here Standing There" - the raw power and central channelling of the MONO mix slams in the solar plexus. It's like hearing these overly familiar gems anew. It continues that way to a point where "Taxman" on Revolver and "Getting Better" on "Sgt. Peppers" are almost different animals to their Stereo counterparts. In fact to my ears it's "Revolver", "Peppers" and especially "The Beatles" that benefit the most. The White Album always had a 'weedy' weakassed mix in Stereo - here "Back In The U.S.S.R" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" come at you with unbelievable power. Particular favourites of mine are the delicate and lovely melodies of "Mother Nature's Son" and "Blackbird" and the sheer balls-to-the-wall menace of "Revolution" (released as a single around the album). Not to be outdone by the later years - the three-part harmony vocals on those gorgeous B-sides "This Boy" and "Yes It Is" are so direct too and the jangly guitar on "Ticket To Ride" sounds so clear. "Yesterday" and " Norwegian Wood" are startling in MONO too. And what a tune "Don't Let Me Down" is (B-side or not)...

A wonderful listen, beautifully presented and finally in 2014 - we got the sensational VINYL equivalent that has been rightly heaped with praise. What a band and what a great way to celebrate their enduring legacy...