Beatles’ Fans: The Mono Set
 

This is a must buy. Even if you aren’t going to listen to it, because the packaging is so cool. Each CD is packaged like the LP was. They have the same inserts, sleeves & all inclusions. Seriously cool.

For example: The White CD is in a white ‘opening’ sleeve embossed with ‘The Beatles’ – just like the LP. It has the same posters as the original – just in miniature. I stared at those posters hanging on my bedroom wall & ceiling. Magical Mystery Tour has the same booklet inside. The early LP/CDs have sleeves that have instructions about keeping your gramophone stylus clean.

As for the sound: I am still working my way through them. A lot of listening to do . . .

It's not cheap at $200 +. They have increased their 10K 'limited' edition production because of demand but they still claim it won't be unlimited.

Ian

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1257516755.jpg

I've been looking at that for a couple of weeks now, but, man, that is a lot of dough-ray-me for what would essentially be the third copy of all of those albums.

(BTW, did you pick up the remastered Abbey Road while you were in there? That would be my set, the mono remasters, plus Abbey road. Yellow Submarine and Let it Be are not that important)

Anyway, thx for sharing.

Not yet. I bought the set through Amazon.ca. It includes mono & stereo of Help & Rubber Soul. It is interesting to compare the mixes.

I will add Abbey Road in stereo too since I never bought the cd versions.

Ian

Quick question - why would someone want the mono set? I kind of enjoy listening to their use of early stereo.

The story is that the Beatles were only involved in the mono mixes. The stereo mixes were done after-the-fact & by Martin & others. The early stereo mixes are pretty archaic with strange panning etc. That said, they do sound fuller than the monos.

Ian

Here's a good review of the differences:

Tone

Ian

Apparently, the fake stereo mixes were not done well back in the day, technology (and taste) reduced the mix to less than what it could be.

If you read the Amazon reviews, there are plenty of compelling reasons to buy this set.

For fun I bought just the "Help!" CD, as there are sellers on eBay breaking up the set. Sounded excellent in my semi-decent car stereo, although I thought Help! itself was a bit disappointing. Then I noticed all the songs play a second time and sound like they're in stereo. Turns out the 1965 stereo versions were re-mastered as well, and for the most part I like them better. It goes album by album which versions are better, sometimes song by song. From what I've read, overall these new sets are head and shoulders better than previous versions.

Which album cover does "Yesterday and Today" have ?
The original, or the pasted-over version?

I seem to recall the days when you played the Beatles on a Garrard turntable, through a McIntosh amp into some Acoustic Reasearch 3a speakers.

That was The Sound. Thanks for the heads up.

None of the above. That LP was a compilation that was only released in the US & Canada (according to Wiki) The boxed set follows the standard EMI Parlophone releases in the UK & therefore no Yesterday & Today.

Ian