What Are You Listening To?

[Tiggi]

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The Beatles - With The Beatles



Despite the cover pics showing the Stereo versions, these are the first of the mono remasters from the Beatles in Mono box set. The mono versions are supposedly only going to appear in this limited edition set, so I felt compelled to get them before they disappear. Aficianados say that the mono versions are the ones to have, since there was much more care taken with the mono mixes than their stereo counterparts.

Can't say I can hear differences as yet, but they are supposed to be fairly major at times.

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John Lennon - Rock 'n' Roll



And this is Johnny's celebration of his beloved R&R music. Relieved of the song-writing responsibility, it sounds like he was having a great time...

[Tiggi]

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The Beatles - Beatles For Sale



The next two mono discs...

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The Beatles - With The Beatles



The stereo version, on the iPod.

Over earphones, I can understand the reservations about the stereo mixes a little better. The mix is crude, with Vox & BVox all panned to the left channel, and most of the instruments panned left.

It's a small thing when all's said & done. Good music's still good music !!

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Annabel lamb - Flow



This is a Countryish-tinged West-Coastish Rock album. For a Brit, Annabel Lamb acquits herself quite well.

I've always liked her voice, which is not dissimilar to Chrissie Hynde's, and this is a solid album if quite different from the rest of her work that I'm familiar with.

[techman]

Powerslave by Iron Maiden

[Tiggi]

Next of the mono discs.

Because the stereo mixes of this, and Rubber Soul were remixed by George Martin when the catalogue was transferred to CD in '87, the '87 mixes have been used for the recent stereo remasters. Curiously, the original stereo mixes from '65 have been included as bonus material on the two mono discs.

This gives an ideal opportunity to listen to mono & stereo mixes back to back. The stereo mixes certainly work well on some tracks, whilst the mono mixes are clearly better on other tracks. Not at all what I expected...

More listening is required.

[dominic_john]

John Mellencamp!

Been listening all day to him and all night now! Love this guy!

[Tiggi]

Both versions again...

Some of Lennon's best songs IMO.

[Tiggi]

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The Beatles - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band



The next two monos.

Sgt Pepper is breathtaking in mono, I'm starting to understand the difference...

[Tiggi]

I've had this on vinyl for years, but the mastering isn't too good, so the CD remaster was eagerly anticipated.

Due to the recording circumstances, this was never a great recording, but the remaster is certainly a big improvement.

This isn't one of their best albums, but does perhaps capture the spirit of the Stones better than any of their others. Rough & ramshackle, there's a definite air of defiance to the songs.

Feels like they started the recordings with their customary bucket full of influences, and just kicked back and had a blast.

Should be compulsory...

[gryphon]

It should be quite noticeable that the Mono versions are better than the stereo ....................In some cases you have even got better takes in Mono than stereo, because the mono mixes were made from the best takes as there were no real compromises. EMI was not really set up for the greatest stereo work ( only in the classical department) Old George Martin was a very canny producer and knew how to hide technical limitations well in mono but, in the Stereo mixing he knew that more could be revealed and his nice tight joins and coverings up were much more visible in Stereo

There is something odd about the Stereo reissues that makes me think that EMI has one more marketing trick up their sleeves.......................The Yellow Submarine Songbook and Love have stripped back Stereo mixes ...........The reissues do not seem to

I'll explain


George Martin used his 2 tracks and 4 tracks well..................He knew what to record in what order to minimise the background noise and get the best performance on the edge tracks 1 and 4. In addition he actually manged to make more tracks available than 2 or 4 by recording say four tracks and then using a second machine to mix the four from the first down to one on the second machine ........thus giving seven tracks

ON YSS and Love , George and Giles Martin returned to these first four track tapes and unpicked them onto digital machines so that he cound remove the technical limitations which occurred when over dubbing to the second machine. Thus YSS and Love are virtually 8 track recordings with digital enhancement.........The early and mid reissues are not........................

To hear what this means listen to " Its All Too Much " on 1985 CD and YSS you can just about hear the shouts from George at the beginning part and maybe make it out on YSS not on 1985 or so well on the reissues...............The Reissues whilst balanced for sound etc, do not get to this clarity..........Thus the EMI team have saved that trick for the next possible enhancement.......................It would have been stunning.........wittenes The White Stereo reissue which has parts in 8 track and then you suddenly get the most amazing clarity as with SYSS or Love...........................With the Mono re-issues, the Mono techniques hides these problems better and as such gets a better clearer and more dynamic sound . In addition there are fewer problems with drop outs etc as the mono master machines have heads twice as wide as he stereo ones and this pass more ape AREA per second than Stereo!

[dominic_john]

listened online



Instrumental album, so, not my thing, but gotta give the guy some kudos. He can play that thing. Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie guitarist, John William Lowery, out with his 6th solo album. Not playing an instrument, I realize I am not as appreciative of this art as I should be, but I would think players would love this one. Enjoy!

I DO NOT LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - you pick

Best Track - Can I Live Again

1) The Nightmare Unravels - 1.5 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zb-aV6LvYaA
2) The Art Of Malice - 1.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SCShs-Pa5s
3) Ill Will Or Spite - 1.5 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06w1h8TS9jw
4) J.W. - 1.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXwXKkbQEBY
5) Ya Dig? - 1.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_BvG7opQ70
6) Can I Live Again - 1.5 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk5P_CASEe4
7) Portrayed As Unremorseful - 1.5 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcgzWl6oKTM
8) Steel Guitar Rag - 1.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34MaerfHqgY
9) Wayne County Killer - 1.5 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvRZEiPZrTM
10) Fractured Mirror - 1.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30BNp5BWIRQ
11) The S Lot - 1.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiZj21ZQp-w
12) The Last Page Turned - 1.5

Average Rating - 1.3

I've just had a listen to Can I Live Again. I really liked this tune.