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Showing posts with label Paul Hicks Remasters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paul Hicks Remasters. Show all posts

Friday, 10 March 2017

"Imagine" by JOHN LENNON and THE PLASTIC ONO BAND (October 2010 EMI/Apple 'Signature Collection' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...






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JOHN LENNON and THE PLASTIC ONO BAND - "Imagine" 
Featuring George Harrison, Nicky Hopkins, Klaus Voorman, Tom Evans and Joey Molland of Badfinger, King Curtis, Mike Pinder of The Moody Blues and Alan White of Yes

"...When You're Crippled Inside..."

Some albums come loaded with their own legend and in the case of John Lennon's extraordinarily patchy solo work - it's easy for fans and admirers alike to start throwing around 5-star appraisals at 1971's "Imagine".

His famous second solo LP and most commercially successful (No. 1 on both sides of the pond) - "Imagine" is a good John Lennon album. I didn't think it was amazing back then as a teenager and 46 years later it hasn't morphed across time into a latter day masterpiece either (none of his Seventies solo LPs are five-star load-outs to me). But man oh man when Lennon's songwriting talent hits that sweet spot - he could articulate affection with a tenderness that would disarm an atheist ("Oh My Love"). Liverpool's finest could be a genuinely adoring husband in "Oh Yoko!" - only to become a poisonous spoiled little retch riling against a former friend and musical journeyman in "How Do You Sleep?" – his famous vitriolic attack on Paul McCartney for perceived slights on his "Ram" album released earlier in the year (May 1971).

I suppose that's what makes "Imagine" something you keep coming back to despite its flaws. Lennon was the most captivating of the post Beatles - a man plagued with all manner of demons both mental and physical that came out in his music - hitting you with an embarrassing honesty that often felt like an open wound with a neon above it saying 'smack me and smack me hard'. "Imagine" was truthful – reflecting both him and Yoko and their place in the world in 1971. Personally tender one moment - politico ranter the next – constantly searching for a truth that always seemed elusive and out of his/their grasp. "Imagine" is a ramshackle thing really despite nowadays being perceived as a coherent whole. And frankly would we have it any other way...

Which brings me to this latest 2010 CD Remaster in its natty gatefold card sleeve. Here are the head-in-the-clouds reissue details...

UK released October 2010 - "Imagine" by JOHN LENNON and THE PLASTIC ONO BAND on EMI/Apple 5099990650222 (Barcode 5099990650222) is a straightforward CD Reissue and Remaster of the 1971 Apple Records album that plays out as follows (39:47 minutes):

1. Imagine
2. Crippled Inside
3. Jealous Guy
4. It's So Hard
5. I Don't Want To Be A Soldier
6. Give Me Some Truth [Side 2]
7. Oh My Love
8. How Do You Sleep?
9. How?
10. Oh Yoko!
Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Imagine" - released 9 September 1971 in the USA on Apple Records SW 3379 and 8 October 1971 in the UK on Apple Records PAS 10004. Produced by John Lennon, Yoko Ono and Phil Spector - it peaked at No. 1 in both countries.

This CD leaves out video and bonus tracks – so we don't get that self-indulgent and self-obsessed pair wandering around white rooms like they're all deep and in touch with greater forces than you or I. We're just left with the music as was presented – and a thoroughly excellent new remaster.

While the 16-page booklet is pretty to look at and tactile - it bears little resemblance to the Apple Records LP we all grew up with and loved. The track list wasn't on the rear sleeve and since when did "Give Me Some Truth" become 'Gimme Some Truth' or "I Don't Want To Be A Soldier" start to be called 'I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier Mama I Don't Wanna Die'. The stunning inner bag that came with 1971 vinyl LPs with the lyrics on one side and the musician credits on the other (both in circles) is not pictured - the lyrics now in the booklet followed by a more readable credits section. I get why that was done – both are now readable. But I still miss it not being here. Why couldn’t a repro version of that paper inner been used as a protective inner bag for the picture CD in the left part of the card digipak (a bit of imagination on the part of EMI would have lifted this flimsy thing out of the ordinary). The foldout black and white poster of John at a piano and the postcard of him holding a pig by the ears that came with original 1971 Apple pressings are built into the booklet and the gatefold card sleeve too. And although it doesn't actually say so anywhere on the packaging or disc as an official title – these 2010 CD reissues have become known as 'The Signature Collection' because of that signature design on the left side of the front card sleeve – signed by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

The new liner notes by PAUL DU NOYER give a potted history of the album including his ludicrous attack on McCartney's looks and songwriting gift in the vicious "How Do You Sleep?" Compared to the austere and bare bones debut solo LP in 1970 "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band" – Noyer rightly concludes that "Imagine" did feel like George Harrison’s "All Things Must Pass" – the actual launch of a solo career and not the noodlings and experimentation that preceded it. There are lovely black and whites of John with Yoko, John with Phil Spector on the headphones in the studio and best of all is a witty snap of Lennon with George Harrison larking about with a Yoko Ono Grapefruit mug – his cheeky chappy working-class hero grin as evident as ever.

Overall - I find these card gatefold reissues and their glossy feel a string mix of the classy and nastily cheap – nice to look at – but oddly unsubstantial. I can’t help thinking die-hard fans will want the inevitable Japanese SHM-CD of "Imagine" with its Mini LP Repro Artwork using this 2010 remaster when it shows up (legendary reissues famed for their attention to fan-pleasing detail).

Meanwhile back here in cheapoville - the big news for us is the audio on "Imagine" - a notoriously lo-fi album now given the best transfer possible. PAUL HICKS, SEAN MAGEE and SIMON GIBSON – part of the team that handled the Apple Label catalogue and all the Stereo and Mono Remasters of the Beatles catalogue in 2009 – are once again at the master tapes helm. With Yoko Ono and Alan Rouse as Producer and Project Co-Ordinator – the boys have done the transfer deeds at Abbey Road Studios and the results are impressive. There’s a sudden power and clarity to all the tracks without ever being over-trebled or rammed on the loudness gauge – just subtle and present. If anything its made "Crippled Inside", "Jealous Guy" and "I Don’t Want To Be A Soldier" all the more eerie and spaced out on the Production front.

While Klaus Voorman (Bass) and Yes’ Alan White on Drums gently fill in the anthemic "Imagine" – it’s those ‘the world will live as one’ strings that now sound so sweet – tugging on your heart like never before - and those lyrics that make you cry. Lennon’s electric guitar opening to "Crippled Inside" is now even more otherworldly and I’m loving that superb Dobro solo from George Harrison - followed shortly after by Nicky Hopkins plinking away like a drunken sailor on the old Joanna in an East End pub at closing time. In a strange way – it took his loss and Bryan Ferry’s cover version in 1980 for me to really love "Jealous Guy". Jim Keltner on Drums, Klaus Voorman on Bass, Alan White providing Vibes – but its that Harmonium played by John Barham that leaps out of the new remastered mix.

I'd forgotten how cool "It's So Hard" is especially that brilliant string introduction - taking the song to places you hadn't expected. I've always found the near seven minutes of "I Don't Want To Be A Soldier" hard work - a jam that's trying to be something but never quite gets there. It has George Harrison on Guitar, Tom Evans and Joey Molland of Badfinger on Acoustic Guitars, Mike Pinder of The Moody Blues on Tambourine, Nicky Hopkins giving it some keyboard and even King Curtis on Saxophone. "Give Me The Truth" that opens Side 2 gives me the same creeps - a self-righteous rant without ever saying what it is he expects (George Harrison plays lead guitar). You're then clobbered with beauty - "Oh My Love" - as gorgeous a song as he's ever written. It's also beautifully produced - no gimmickry - just great music played sweetly and taped as such. It's a shame he vented in "How Do You Sleep?" because musically it’s good too. I always thought of "How?" as one of the album's truly brilliant moments – with its complimentary strings and simple piano-melody – it’s a beautiful song that would have elevated the "Let It Be" album into the stratosphere. And it ends on the jaunty "Oh Yoko" - Nicky Hopkins adding so much with his rolling piano while John impresses with those Mouth Organ flourishes.

"...My love will turn you on..." - John Lennon sang on "Oh Yoko". Despite its presentation flaws - I suspect this 2010 CD Remaster of the mighty "Imagine" LP will have you doing the same. R.I.P. you wonderful dreamer and thanks for all the imagining memories...

Tuesday, 15 November 2016

"Let It Be... Naked" by THE BEATLES (November 2003 UK EMI/Apple 2CD Reissue with Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...




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"...Everybody Had A Hard Year...Everybody Had A Good Time..." 


Hindsight is a handy thing - we're all experts 'after the fact' I suppose. In other words I can understand the reason why 'Naked' exists – but (and I can't help this) – I hate almost everything about this sterile reissue despite its clearly cleaned-up audio squeaking like new shoe leather.

"Let It Be...Naked" is apparently Paul McCartney's stripped down version of the "Let It Be" album (or "Get Back" as it was originally going to be called) The Beatles would have liked to put out back in 1969. But this new version just doesn't work for me. In fact I find most of it an awful listen as opposed to the much maligned released LP that I’ve always loved. In short - the fun and 'live' freshness is gone.

There have been oceans of words eulogised about how Phil Spector ruined the album with additional strings and choirs - a Production-obsessed nutter handed the poison chalice of haphazard recordings made by men already disinterested and in personal disarray. But as Ringo repeatedly said - once the count-in came - The Beatles were a band once more - and even half-baked - the magic was still there. I loved "Let It Be" as an album - that gorgeous four-photograph artwork where they looked like the coolest dudes on the planet (now ruined for some negative atrocity in silver) - the beautiful ballads that literally stopped me in my tracks and made the hairs stand up on my arms - the fresh in-your-face feel to the rockers - and the witty asides that hovered around the main songs. I know "Dig It" and "Maggie Mae" were kind of superfluous - but with them missing on this version - the laughs are gone and in 'unplugged' form - it all seems dreadfully po-faced which is something this band never was. This reissue may be 'purer' but I'd argue it's somehow soulless and dead.

It’s well documented that John Lennon hated what Spector did to "Across The Universe" in particular and started a feud with Macca that ultimately brought our best loved foursome to a horrible end - but we Joe Public who've been listening to Spectre's mix of "Across The Universe" for 46 years straight have genuinely loved it - were impossibly moved then and remain so to this day. In fact it's hot-wired into my brain and I want it that way. The song "Let It Be" is the same – reduced to just piano here - but instead of feeling prettier it feels far too naked. The strings that elevated "The Long & Winding Road" to a hymn are gone and even though it's a barely noticeable slight/edit - the witty 'Pot Smoking FBI members' jibe from Lennon is missing at the end of "For You Blue". The larking-about 'sweet Loretta fart' Lennon intro to "Get Back" is gone too as is the song's punch when they kick in. Oh dear oh Doris. Anyway - let's get to the long and winding details...

UK released November 2003 – "Let It Be...Naked" by THE BEATLES on EMI/Apple 07243 595713 2 4 (Barcode 724359571324) is a 2CD Reissue/Remix/Remaster that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (35:02 minutes):
1. Get Back
2. Dig A Pony
3. For You Blue
4. The Long And Winding Road
5. Two Of Us
6. I've Got A Feeling
7. One After 909
8. Don't Let Me Down
9. I Me Mine
10. Across The Universe
11. Let It Be

Disc 2 'Fly On The Wall' (21:56 minutes):
CONVERSATION
Sun King
Don't Let Me Down
CONVERSATION
One After 909
CONVERSATION
Because I Know You Love Me So
CONVERSATION
Don't Pass Me By
Taking A Trip To Caroline
John's Piano Piece
CONVERSATION
Child Of Nature
Back In The USSR
CONVERSATION
Every Little Thing
Don't Let Me Down
CONVERSATION
All Things Must Pass
CONVERSATION
She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
CONVERSATION
Paul's Piano Piece
Get Back
CONVERSATION
Two Of Us
Maggie Mae
Fancy My Chances With You
CONVERSATION
Can You Dig It?
CONVERSATION
Get Back
CONVERSATION

The 32-page booklet is visually cool but deceptively full of hot air. Much of it is taken up with The Beatles talking absolute gobbledygook during the making of the film "Let It Be" - yet it’s reprinted here like its manna from the Gods of Rock Heaven. Kevin Howlett's lead-in liner notes are at least decent giving an expert and detailed history of what happened. McCartney is quoted as loving the new stripped back versions and the rejiggered track list but I personally feel only two of three of them are better.

The PAUL HICKS, GUY MASSEY and ALLAN ROUSE remixes and remasters are very clean – hiss-less - but also strangely sterile. In their favour "I Me Mine" now has a 'rock' core and renewed punch while it's a smart move to have John on "Across The Universe" and Paul's "Let It Be" end the album with "Get Back" chucked into the beginning. But I miss "Two Of Us" opening the LP and I miss the silly but effective "Dig It" passage before that piano intro into "Let It Be". And that great guitar and Billy Preston's fabulous organ contributions to the song are muted instead of to the fore.

I wouldn’t mind if the ‘Fly On The Wall’ CD2 actually offered us anything we could actually use. At first glance that track list offers tantalising names like Harrison's "All Things Must Pass", tracks from Abbey Road and those other outtakes - but then you look at the booklet and the timings - 35 seconds for "Don't Let Me Down" - the outtake "Child Of Nature" is only 24 seconds while "Back In The USSR" is 9 seconds and "Don't Pass Me By" only 3 seconds! It plays for one continuous song of 21:56 minutes – all the edited bits of chat between ideas stuck together. It’s fun for about four minutes but then just gets on your nerves. This ludicrous crap only serves to frustrate and you can't help but feel that the widely bootlegged decent outtakes (full songs) are being kept back by EMI for future "Let It Be" anniversary issues.

In fairness - I'm still turned on by "I've Got A Feeling" and "Don't Let Me Down" which is a hugely moving song - and "One After 909" has some rocking back in it too. But again without the intros and quirks of the original LP - the fun and life of the original seems to have been sucked out of this reissue in its pressing need to be a cohesive album (since when were The Beatles ever about being conformist or ordinary).

In the UK I've seen this Beatles reissue for sale for as little as £1.50 (the same elsewhere) - and there has to be a reason for that - people just don't like it - don't get it?

Great audio or no - I'm going to be listening to my original "Let It Be" and leaving this up on the shelf in the 'curio' pile...

Tuesday, 9 September 2014

"The Beatles In MONO" by THE BEATLES (September 2009 EMI/Apple 11CD Box Set with UK MONO Mini LP Repro Artwork Including All Original Inserts and Abbey Road Remasters - Both "Help!" and "Rubber Soul" CDs also include the STEREO Mixes) - 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 [Side 1]
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 [Side 1]
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 [Side 1]
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 [Side 1]
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 (also includes the Stereo Mix originally on Parlophone PCS 3071) (69:14 minutes):

1. Help! [Side 1]
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
Tracks 15 to 28 are the 1965 STEREO MIX of 1 to 14

6. "Rubber Soul"
December 1965 UK LP on Parlophone PMC 1267 (also includes the STEREO mix originally on Parlophone PCS 3075) (72:50 minutes):

1. Drive My Car [Side 1]
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 [Side 1]
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 [Side 1]
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" 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 [Side 1]
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" because of the plain white LP sleeve] 
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 "Mono 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 "Mono Masters" double CD compilation mops up the British 7" single and EP sides and any other stragglers - and is laid out as follows...

11. "Mono 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 2025 (updated review) - it's still available to buy and for a lot less than its original cost (if you get my drift). The visuals are the bomb. 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. A tasty attention to detail sees "Please Please Me" reflect its very first 'Black and Gold' Parlophone Label design before it was replaced with the more common 'Black And Yellow' labels. That Gold Label design for both Mono and especially the STEREO variant of English "Please Please Me" LPs is worth a lot of money because they were on sale only a short time and the band hadn't broken yet. 

Little things impress. The way the flip-backs on the rear then go from gloss to matt like the original Parlophone LPs did is superb attention paid. Continuing with 'meticulous' - they even aped the black inners of The White Album, its top-loading sleeve (rather than from the side like all the others) with its Mono and Stereo catalogue number references on the spine, its fold-out lyric poster and those four iconic colour photos of the matured Fabs. But not surprisingly I suppose - The White Album repro doesn't do the numbered sleeves on the front like the original Apple Records double of 1968 - too difficult to reproduce I guess.

The info/photo crammed 44-page booklet explains how The Beatles recorded in MONO and why (it was their preferred tipple) - and for fact-nerds like me - it's 44-pages of scholarship is a seriously sweet read. The sturdy hard card white box was done in Japan so the attention to detail is magnificent (even if I think the title page on the rear is a faff I could do without). The sound quality is a typically 'oh my giddy aunt' experience. 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. But I would say that I've been taking in "Sgt. Peppers" in STEREO for the whole of my life and I prefer it - STEREO for "Peppers' is a far better and more expansive listen for me. "Within You Without You" has some punch in MONO for sure, but the STEREO LP is HUGE and that's what I want to hear whether the Mono variant is rare or not. Others may disagree, but for most of us - the PCS mix is always going to be the dogs.  

In fact, to my ears - of the later albums - it's "Revolver" and especially "The Beatles" double that benefit the most. The White Album always had a 'weedy' weak-assed 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 the "Let It Be" album outtake "Don't Let Me Down" is (B-side or not). 

The "Magical Mystery Tour" album (which was initially only issued in the States) is such a better listen than the British 2 x EP set it was based on - arguably an equal in terms of sheer song quality to both Peppers and Revolver. The Booklet is intact, complete with cast details and silly Psych-moment Walrus photos. And (look closely) - in there is Avant Gard singer IVOR CUTLER as Buster Bloodvessel (is that where the Bad Manners lead singer took his name from?). "Magical Mystery Tour" was (fun fact) first issued as an actual LP in Britain as late as November 1976 and then only as a STEREO issue. The original American album was issued 1967 in MONO and STEREO - we're getting the MONO variant here. 




Fans will know that in December 1969 EMI put out the British LP "Nothing's Gonna Change Our World" with an exclusive Beatles song of the same name on it - five months ahead of its "Across The Universe" incarnation debut on the "Let It Be" LP in May 1970. That Charity LP (made to benefit The World Wildlife Fund) was only ever issued in STEREO. But on the day the Stereo version was done at Abbey Road, there was also a mixed MONO variant done with the bird sounds also included at the beginning and the end of the song - unlike the Phil Spector version on the May 1970 "Let It Be" LP which layered string arrangements onto the ballad (something Lennon said he detested). The point is that without saying so anywhere on the outside of the Box - this MONO Mix of "Nothing's Gonna Change My World" is exclusive to "The Beatles In Mono"

Throw in the four from the "Yellow Submarine" LP - which you almost never hear in Mono - and the 2CD set "Mono Masters" becomes very interesting listening indeed. Unfortunately, it ends on the rubbish B-side that is "You Know My Name (Look Up My Number)". But for many fans - that 2CD Bonus Set "Mono Masters" is the bee's knees - a fabulous play you won't get anywhere else (it has never been sold separately). 

"The Beatles in Mono" (like The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan period equivalents) is a wonderful reissue then - beautifully presented. And in 2014 it was followed by the sensational VINYL LP equivalent of "The Beatles In Mono" that's been rightly heaped with praise. What a band and what a great way to celebrate their enduring legacy...

INDEX - Entries and Artist Posts in Alphabetical Order