The Best Sounding Beatles Vinyl Ever? | 1983 Australian AUDIO 5 Sgt Pepper's

[@gigityler1732]

Thank you indeed Andrew. Your trilogy leading to the ultimate stereo pressing is peerless. Parlogram is quite simply the Gold Standard for all Beatles fans and music lovers everywhere.

[@Parlogram]

Thank you so much!

[@HandyAndyTechTips]

As an Australian, it's great to hear that our mastering studios have been capable of producing some great sounding albums over the years! Also as a fan of the CD format, it's nice to see that the 1987 disc stacks up so well. The late '80s and early '90s were really the glory days of the format, before dynamic compression and NoNoise took over.

[@markboyd9275]

You nailed it at 2:20. We’re all chasing after the exuberant sensations we felt when discovering this music. Wouldn’t that be nice.

[@mountart2]

Agreed. For me, Sgt. Pepper is and always has been the pinnacle of a recorded popular music album.

[@tyjuarez]

It is worth noting that _Sgt. Peppers,_ as well as _Revolver,_ are available on streaming in mono via their respective "Super Deluxe Edition" sets. Additionally, Apple Music has _The U.S. Albums_ in both Stereo and Mono, which can be rearranged in playlist form to reconstruct *most* of the original mono albums from 1963 to 1965. I've done this myself and named the playlist "The Beatles On Apple"

[@owlnswan4016]

They did a great job with the mono REVOLVER in the big set for the album.

[@FrederikOlsen]

They really ought to have made the 2009 mono box available on streaming by now. It's great to have The U.S. Albums on Apple Music, but anyone who hasn't heard the mono mix of While My Guitar Gently Weeps is missing out.

[@stevekirk7066]

Of all the audiophile albums produced worldwide over the past 40 odd years, we effectively have 2 limited run versions of the same album by the Beatles and less than 1500 copies in total. I'm totally flabbergasted. Fabulous video again Andrew the close-ups and camera work makes us feel we have got these gems in our own sticky hands!

[@JasonSmith-jr7jh]

My favorite, most cherished version of Pepper is a 'barn find' I came across (and stole) that says "Pressed in Pakistan". It sounds bad, but side two turns out to be side one of 'The Cowsills Live'...

[@paulguy5368]

Another excellent video. As an Australian, I can tell you that the A$25 price tag for the Audiophile copy was quite expensive compared to a regular Australian LP at that time (around triple the price). I was at that HiFi show (I attended them for decades) but at that time I already owned a Japanese pressing with gatefold cover and inserts which I still treasure to this day. I consider myself a HiFi enthusiast, not an Audiophile. There's a big difference. I was chatting with some audiophiles in the late 1980s. At the time my stereo was valued about A$5,000 and I had 3,500 vinyl albums (mainly British, American, German and Japanese imports). Most of the Audiophiles in the group had systems that were A$15,000+ but (in general) they owned less than a dozen albums each. They refused to get any album unless it highlighted their equipment so they tended to have albums by Dave Gruisin, Steely Dan etc. I felt sorry that they didn't get the enjoyment out of music that I did.

[@stephenpitcher8755]

I’m Australian and proud to know EMI Australia crafted the best pressing of this record. You had me temporarily excited at the end when you mentioned the 1987 red vinyl version as I bought it then and still have it in my collection. The UK Mono is still my ultimate version

[@mikezinza9699]

Andrew you are the best. You are the gold standard for Beatles content and I look forward to your posts every Sunday. Rock on, Mike

[@Parlogram]

Thanks Mike. Much appreciated!

[@andrewholliday251]

Another fascinating, very deeeeeeep dig into Beatles vinylogy! Just for a bit of context: 1. Australian albums in 1983 usually cost $10.99 (or less) - so that provides some perspective on that $25 cover price. 2. ALL Sgt Pepper albums in Australia in that period were non-gatefold, non-insert sleeves (I recall a local record shop at the time taking out ads on TV to sell Japanese imports of Pepper - and the big selling point was they were gatefolds!)

[@paulreckamp7502]

The 2014 Mono is very good and also my favorite. My brother had the Nimbus, we played it. It did not impress either one of us. Sold it. I have an Australian blue box set, it's nothing to write home about. So it's surprising the audiophile is that good. But I'm glad for you that you got it and love it. The stereo German 072 is my go to album.

[@TheHutt]

Which one of the three very different cuts released with the 072 pricecode? ;)

[@paulreckamp7502]

@@TheHutt My favorite one was the one cut and pressed by Ariola in 1977. It has the A1/B2 matrix.

[@johncarsell1205]

Andrew, thank you so much. Been dying to hear your review. It's really a shame that The Beatles albums are not available for licensing these days like they were in 1984. We could have had say Nimbus cuttings of all their albums in stereo. Apple is a big roadblock to such an idea.

[@joelgoldenberg1100]

You're so right that the lack of Beatle mono album mixes on streaming services is a shame, but thankfully there are at least some exceptions, like the Revolver mono mix that's part of that album's Super Deluxe edition, and the Sgt. Pepper mono mix that's part of that album's Super Deluxe edition.

[@joelcrowservo]

It should be noted Apple Music has the US albums box set, with all of the Capitol mono albums present, but of course not the Capitol masters.

[@NLKINK]

I got a copy of the 2017 Sgt. Pepper box set as a thank you for my voluntarily work in my local record store and that is how I finally got to hear the mono version of the album. Well, although I found that album a pleasant hearing experience, I am not sure if it is going to be THE version for me. I also like the 2017 remix Giles Martin did. As far as The Beatles go I never have been able to pick out a favourite album, let alone a mono or stereo pressing of it. Sgt. Pepper was my favourite album when I bought it in 1978. I was overwhelmed by the whole thing. But I also love Revolver and Rubber Soul very much. It is hard to select the best album when the competition is so high with all these great albums.....

[@mikemorrisonmusic]

Yes!! I’ve been waiting for this!

[@HornetKingOfficial]

Always LOVE your Beatles videos, Andrew! Would you consider reviewing the 2009 Mono CD pressings? Specifically the issues it had, eg Magical Mystery Tour (Specifically Your Mother Should Know) and the nasty digital graininess of some of the tracks. I would love to hear your thoughts on that! Thanks Andrew!

[@andrewg8791]

Thanks Andrew, this has been a wonderfully informative video. I haven't played my Audiophile Sgt Pepper in almost 40 years, mainly because I haven't had a quality system to play it on. I'll have to change that.

[@kristian_goddard]

I still say the best Beatles listening experience is playing the orig 45s on a vintage Dansette. Transcendent!

[@Parlogram]

It's what they were originally cut for!

[@andrewholliday251]

LOL. You've reminded me that there's good historical reasons for those old hard left/right stereo mixes of the 1960s - when your speakers on your bedroom record player were only 2 feet apart...stereo needed every bit of separation it could get! They weren't mixed for headphones or audiophiles because those sorts of people didn't listen to 'pop music'. They listened to classical music, jazz, or train sound effects records. It was a different world.

[@Joe-mz6dc]

The best listening experience would be to sit in the studio with them as they record them.

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

Andrew, you've inspired me to listen to my 1987 CD and it sounds quite nice, as I won't be in the market for a $4,000 LP, lol.

[@dimebagdave77]

Very cool to journey through the audiophile pressings over the years🤘 Manythnx!

[@RodrigoAlves-bc8qq]

Andrew, another great video. So much info. But I wonder why not using the 1987 remaster on vinyl? After all, is the same digital remastering on the 87 CD, but with all the vinyl warmth the CD lacks.

[@jimcabezola3051]

Oh, my goodness! I had no idea that even my John Keating album had an audiophile pressing made if it! I've worn out my John Keating Space Experience albums over the decades. I've never even seen a Beatles audiophile pressing, much less listened to one. Amazing research, Andrew! Aloha.

[@peterdigwood2247]

Yet another great video Andrew, keep up the good work. I actually had a hand in the recent sale of the Audio-5 on Discogs as I worked with the guy who sold it. Back when the show was announced in July 1983 I convinced him to get one so I bought two for myself and one for him. I recall our other workmates thought we were crazy spending $25.00 on a vinyl record. I can also attest that the Audio-5 slays the 1987 red vinyl copy as I was only doing a comparison last week. I will though get out my copy of the 1987 CD and give it a reappraisal.

[@Parlogram]

Great story, Peter!

[@jaesenjones]

Nice comparison! The sleeve used for the Aussie Audiophile was the standard sleeve of the day. No Aussie-made gatefold sleeves here until mid-1987. The inner sleeve was imported from the UK (as it was for all the AUDIO titles). AUDIO-1 was "Dark Side Of The Moon". It was withdrawn after Don mastered it. Two reasons were given for its withdrawal: 1. MFSL had done it back in 1981. 2. We couldn't do it justice with the tapes we had. Re the 1987 Aussie red vinyl release, it's known as the "poor man's audiophile version". Same tapes and process but it lacks the bass of Don's because Warren kept it flat. Otherwise it's not too dissimilar, excepting that copies only cost $100 rather than $2000 (hence the name). I had all four titles in AUDIOPHILE series but alas sold them all earlier this year. The other titles can be found from time to time on ebay for around $10 or so.

[@Parlogram]

Many thanks for the info, Jase!

[@jaesenjones]

​@@Parlogramall good - you've confirmed what I've been saying for years: that the Aussie Audiophile is the best sounding. I've had them all and the bass on Don's is exactly as you state - it certainly grabs your attention! I'm not sure he tweaked the high end that much though; most of what we hear there was introduced as part of the half speed mastering process. In any event Don did a great job... and so did Warren!

[@moondogaudiojones1146]

I’ve liked some of the earlier Aussie pressings because of the bass separation and depth.; though not audiophile they were more fun to dive into and turn up loud. Beatles For Sale and Greatest Hits come to mind. But anyway you look at it The Australians took pride in their releases for the most part. I, again, was never privy to these audiophile pressings and would love someday before I head down to the crossroads, hear these pressings. Great episode Andrew. Love any knowledge about this great recording.

[@Parlogram]

Agreed Brian. There are many great sounding Australian pressings.

[@PaulMcBiscuit]

Many of them were pressed from -1 UK metal parts. Some, like A Hard Days Night and Help were cut locally and are dreadful. The stereo White Album is from Capitol parts and is equally awful.

[@jordipallach4185]

Great video Andrew,I have the mofi and german pressing and sounds great with muy audiophile system,I think that the boxset vinyls sounds really good too,Of course I compare White muy other 11 items from another countryes and years👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼💖

[@PaquiPaqui73]

I'll be always fond of Sgt. Pepper's. It was the first Beatles album I bought all by myself. It was in West Berlin when I was 15.

[@beatmet2355]

I just wanted to express appreciation for another informative video and Andrew’s attitude about the opinions of others. There are some audiophiles out there who give the term a bad name because of their arrogance about their own opinions. We all should remember that our the opinions of others don’t have to be the same as our own.

[@Parlogram]

Well said!

[@profchokanlaumulin8257]

Hi there, Well done, Andrew, for detailing our passion and, in particular, for this brilliant characteristic of our generation's audio aspirations... Meanwhile, I remain a follower of the first- and test mono pressings. I am still, however, eternally grateful to you for directing me to acquire the second German pressing of MMT. Its sound is truly extraordinary. Cheers, Chokan

[@Parlogram]

Thanks Chokan and you're welcome!

[@stevedundee866]

Thanks Andrew for such a detailed video. This Audio 5 pressing is a true Holy Grail. I had the privilege of hearing this on a high end system and was left speechless. Wish I had gone to that Audiophile show but I was only 15.

[@Parlogram]

Glad you enjoyed it, Steve!

[@Alan_Always]

The standard Australian pressing from 1979 uses the original UK -1 plates and sounds fantastic. It's the clean copy of the original sound you have been looking for. Very under the radar and certainly worth seeking out!!!

[@BraeburnTV]

I love the new remixes that Giles Martin has been working on.

[@SalsBodybuildingArchives]

Does anyone ever call you on the “Red Phone”? I love your channel and I love the Beatles, thank you for posting. I always learn so much about the Fab four and about what’s in my record collection, Peace, Sal 💪🏻

[@The_Freestyle_Skater]

Sgt Pepper is in my opinion the best Beatles Album

[@48musicfan]

Wonderfully informative video as usual. Thank you, Andrew! - Roger

[@Parlogram]

Thank you, Roger!

[@ziccuj]

Thank you Andrew once again for another super fascinating video. All the best from Finland!

[@Parlogram]

Glad you enjoyed it, Jucciz!

[@glennk1931]

Thank you Andrew for this very interesting video, as all of your presentations are very well done with fascinating facts. Enjoy them tremendously. I would have loved to hear the comparisons on these pressings. To bad that KZbin would not allow even a few seconds of each copy. I’m going to do some listening myself. I have my original Capitol release, (I think we know how that will sound) a UK pressing that I bought in 1971, the MFSL pressing, the 2017 rerelease, and the 1987 CD. Oh, and my RTR version, (7.5 IPS) that I bought in 1972 also. That sounds surprisingly very good. This is fun. Looking forward to your next video.

[@Parlogram]

Glad you enjoyed it, Glenn!

[@riccardociofi3162]

Thanks Andrew. Very interesting as always 😊

[@Parlogram]

Glad you enjoyed it, Riccardo 😊

[@dutchcanuck7550]

I'll always have a soft spot for the 1987 CD release. At the time, Steve Simels of Stereo Review called it "revelatory": a proper stereo re-mastering with a lot more dynamic range and stereo separation than was on offer from any Capitol vinyl version -- and loads of bass! It seemed at the time the best available, and the thick booklet, with its essays by Mark Lewisohn and Peter Blake and additional photos by Michael Cooper, is fantastic. It's easy to find and not expensive. Give it a go, says I! When it was released, the 1987 Pepper CD was a big deal. There was even a 1-hour documentary on TV broadcast on release day, "It was 20 Years Ago Today", featuring new interviews with Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Derek Taylor. I don't remember, did you cover all of this already in a prior video Andrew? In Vinyl Land, for the time being, I'm stuck with a mid-70s Capitol pressing I got for Christmas about 45 years ago. Still in good shape, with all the inserts and whatnot. I should give it a listen now that I've got a new turntable; I haven't spun it since the CD came out.

[@hofner4]

Can you tell me, do the UK & US '87 CDs sound the same? Thanks.

[@robertmenzies9731]

Fascinating detail. Throughly researched, comprehensive overview. Great video as always. Much appreciated. Thanks Andrew.

[@Parlogram]

Thanks Robert. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@errolfouquet7381]

Thanks, Andrew! Oh, how I wish I could listen to that Audio 5 pressing! Color me jealous ;).

[@GeorgeCostanzais10.]

Boy, was I fortunate for having heard Sgt Pepper’s for the first time on vinyl, on a equipment so nice my dad wouldn’t let us touch without adult supervision… it completely changed my life and marked the definitive end of my infancy years. There might be better albums, not a more important one in the history of recorded music.

[@starquake9162]

NICE video, as usual, Andrew, you wouldn't have happened to have been to Munich on Monay last week, would you?

[@Parlogram]

No, I wasn't.

[@starquake9162]

OK; I thought I had seen you... ;-)

[@clevebaker8399]

Awesome job as usual!! Thanks Andrew 😉🥳😘

[@Parlogram]

You're welcome, Cleve 😊

[@revelry1969]

Always loved that -1 -1 -1 pressing

[@Vince_Tasciotti]

Sgt. Pepper on EMI Audiophile pressing, it appears to me the audio engineer took his time and got the levels right.

[@billleary5779]

Very enjoyable Andrew….from your list I only have the 1987 CD but I am happy with that but, truth be told ,my go to is the mono version. Thanks so much for sharing this.

[@godoyflaviomilano]

Thanks a lot for the video, Andrew, it’s very interesting!! I didn’t have the privilege to listen to those vinyls but I have the 1987 CD and, indeed, it has a great sound.

[@TheCliffandPhilShow]

Very interesting! A jolly good video! :)

[@Parlogram]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@draff1662]

How you manage to put out so many fascinating videos is a gift. Thanks.

[@andrewholliday251]

I keep wondering what on earth Andrew is going to come up with next time! It's got to be getting harder.....😄

[@Parlogram]

Glad you like them!!

[@Parlogram]

On the contrary. The more I look, the more I find.

[@louiebee6745]

Always great to see anything regarding Sgt. Pepper, the 1st Beatles LP I ever owned back in '78. I'll stick with the 8 Peppers (including 3 monos) that I have. Picture disc anyone?😉 DON'T JUDGE ME!!😁😎✌

[@jimc8186]

For the longest time I felt the Mobile Fidelity UHQR pressing was the best SPLHCB I ever heard. It was so good I played it once at a high end audio retailer listening party. They had the best equipment to play the vinyl and to transfer the recording to a High Bias, no Dolby, Pro Series TDK Cassette on a Nakamichi Dragon Tape Desk. PBTHAL posted a Flac download of the “Audio 5” and I converted the files to wave and burned a CD. Headphones on, hit play and I was transported to a wonderful place. I prefer the Stereo to the Mono Mix because the transition from “Good Morning” to “Sgt. Pepper (Reprise) is smoother. Plus it’s the first Beatles Album I bought with my own money in 1967 at Woolworth’s.

[@asgerbrorsen8934]

Andrew I love your Beatles videos. Thank you so much here from Denmark!!! As to the jewel in the crown - in my eyes and ears Seargent Pepper is still The Beatles` greatest achievement in records. It has been my favourite album, since I bought it the first time in 1979.

[@bpabustan]

Here we go!

[@JackBobsonOfficial]

Ahh, Sgt Pepper, my favourite Beatles album. I enjoyed your video as always and I thank you very much for opening my eyes to the cd version of the album. I had the chance to buy it on cd I think a couple of months ago and the sound is tremendous! I own a vinyl copy too, nothing special but it does have the entire, non massacrated cutouts 😅.

[@nicknikipediacaulkin5943]

A fabulous video of the Audiophile pressing of Sgt Pepper's, Andrew and comparing it to some other notable ones! Maybe, just maybe, one day Apple will consider issuing high quality pressings of all the other Beatles albums!

[@38kob]

beautiful breakdown, thanks very much

[@Parlogram]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jips123]

I have the 1987 cd and it sounds great.

[@kaljic1]

I agree with you completely. The 1987 CD pressings---of any or mainly the later Beatles releases---are very enjoyable and truer to the original.

[@albert71292]

I have a Capitol vinyl reissue I bought in the early 1980's from a local record store (still in the outer shrink wrap, just opened from the side, and stored on the shelf in a plastic outer sleeve), and the first CD reissue a few years later from "Record Bar" in the local mall, when they were being issued four at a time.

[@AshleyReynolds-vc6ly]

I'm one of those who thinks that even the best pressed vinyl played on the best equipment is usually not as good as lossless digital, and when it occasionally comes close it is not significantly so to put up with all the hassle and inconvenience of vinyl as a format. Also, I prefer the Giles Martin remix. Some may think I am a drongo for having such preferences, but that's ok because the feeling is mutual 😝

[@andrewholliday251]

I work with a couple of audiophiles* - who swear by the 'warmth' of vinyl - as well as an audio engineer who finds audiophiles opinions endlessly comical and absurd (and unsupported be any objective evidence at all). I sit in the middle and listen (😄) to both sides. I do notice that the audiophiles spend thousands of dollars to get their vinyl to sound as good as it does - often almost as good as a (well-mastered) CD (but still nowhere near bluray audio; that seems to achieve what both sides of the analog/digital divide claim they're wanting to hear). My suspicion is the format is largely irrelevant - it's the quality of the master, the mix, and for vinyl a good pressing, and (of course) what it's being played back on. From there on it's all subjective, all personal taste - and everyone's right. *BTW, I'm almost 20 years older than those audiophiles - and remember their predecessors - they were the ones that ditched mono, embraced stereo, then quad, then CDs with a passion, later hated compression and the 'loudness wars', while in the same breath re-embraced those 'punchy and exciting ' compressed mono singles of the past,,,,and so on. I guess it's all in how you describe it..... It's a (relatively) harmless hobby....😊

[@AshleyReynolds-vc6ly]

@@andrewholliday251 You make some good points. Format is largely irrelevant when the ultimate aim is obtaining the best quality sound. It's not just the money spent on equipment though, with vinyl there are so many other factors. Assuming the same high quality equipment (speakers, etc), digital has many advantages. Obviously one avoids compressed MP3 files, but when you have a lossless audio file there is no more hassle - it just plays, and always sounds good. With vinyl, there is so much variation between pressings that just finding the best version can be a daunting task, not only in the quality of the cut but also the quality of the vinyl itself. If you buy a used record it can have scratches, pops, crackles, warping, or just be damaged from being played by a worn stylus, or even be worn out by excessive playing with a good stylus. And if it is a new vinyl record you have to be diligent to prevent any of those problems occurring. And the turntable has to be top notch to minimise wow and flutter, and there is the ongoing expense of replacing worn needles. Then there is the inconvenience - with vinyl you can't select or skip certain tracks or arrange playlists etc, and you have to physically put the record on the turntable and change sides and store it properly, etc. Digital has none of those problems, it always sounds the same, doesn't wear out, and you can play tracks in any order you want. But at the end of the day it's whatever you like best, whatever floats your boat, whatever works for you. To each their own.

[@justinparkman3585]

It's such a good album it wiii sound good on anything some music just does. The music is what it's all about I also prefer the Giles mix to any other .

[@NickP333]

Thanks, Andrew. I still love Sgt. Pepper, and while I have it in the mono boxset, I also tracked down a -1 / -1 UK 1st stereo pressing too. This is a perfect example of different vs better. I don’t necessarily prefer either one, as I really do like them both. The White Album is another like that. Other Beatles records, I prefer in mono, and others in stereo. Half speed cutting has been a case by case basis, imo. Some sound great, others not so much. Thanks again, Andrew.

[@fbt25]

Among these, I have the original 87 CD, some Harry Moss' cuts from the early and mid 70's to early 80's and one german pressing from the late 70's. All of them sound great, but the french DMM have that something extra that puts a smile on my face.

[@beatleboy0195]

The one album i would have the perfect press of. The top two in this list i never heard either, and would be way out of my pay limitations but i'm happy with my mono pressing of from the new 2012 mono boxset. thank you for the vidwo Andrew.

[@garysanders3343]

Omg. I never heard (embarrassingly) the Mono Masters. Then I purchased them. Forget Giles Martins remix (which i was never interested in) but omg. The mono versions in so many tracks are completely different! Getting them was the biggest treat ive had in years. The Lucy In The Sky mono version is the one to get. But theres more to this list. Do i prefer the mono over stereo? That i cannot say. But absolutely worth getting. Maybe only for die hards though.

[@gregthompson647]

I’m not a vinyl guy but you sent me back to my 1987 CD and darn if you aren’t onto something!

[@craignehring]

Fascinating, I have subscribed

[@Parlogram]

Thank you and welcome aboard, Craig!

[@SQDLVR]

Wow!! Another informative video!

[@Parlogram]

Glad you liked it.

[@michelraffin7006]

I have the 1987 cd made in uk and the 1987 cd made in germany …this last one sounds even better

[@bobsoldrecords1503]

I wasn't expecting the finalè but it gives me something to haunt my crate digging dreams

[@beatlemania2006]

I noticed in the masters box that there was a Quadrophonic remix of Sgt. Pepper. Do you know anything more about this? I know there were some solo albums that had quad remixes which would be a good topic for another video. ✌️💙🙂

[@owlnswan4016]

I would love to hear it, though given the final multitrack after the various bouncedowns is four track and unless they found a way to sync up pre bounce multitracks, it would have been pretty difficult to make a good quadraphonic mix from a 4 track multitrack.

[@GhostFace_OG]

@@owlnswan4016 It was an early attempt and was scrapped. Probably for the better, but it would be interesting to hear for sure.

[@leomellum]

The only copy I own of this album on vinyl is a stereo -2 -2 (late?) 70s two box EMI reissue. At the time I bought it I didn’t know anything about matrix numbers, but I was surprised at how good it sounded even though I could tell it wasn’t an original pressing based on the label. Because of that and once I learned about the different matrix numbers, whenever I saw other 70s Beatles reissues in the wild I picked them up (I have a stereo -2 -2 Revolver and stereo -6 -5 Rubber Soul now) and those all sound great too. Those 70s reissues are really nice because they’re cheaper than original pressings, usually in better condition (all 3 copies I have are pristine), and the recuts by Harry Moss still sound incredible. I haven’t heard any original stereo pressings to compare yet but I’m very happy with what I’ve picked up so far.

[@adrianwilliamson6861]

That was excellent. I have the red aust issue from festival. It sounds good but I appreciate what you are saying about the Audio 5 one.

[@Zappa-bn3dq]

Wow, another good review. I’m glad that I’m not the only one with multiple copies and formats of Sgt Pepper (12), yikes Cheers.

[@Parlogram]

Thanks for watching!

[@larrywarren3484]

Absolutely love your content the best😊😊😊😊

[@Parlogram]

Thank you so much, Larry 😀

[@CP-fe6jr]

When the album came out originally it was in mono only and I bought a copy. OH how I wish I still had it!

[@hauskahirvi]

Very interesting video. I have a Japanese issue of the CD from 1998 in a nice slipcase with an Obi and an oversized (thick) booklet housed in the slipcase next to the jewel case (unique). My guess is that the CD is the 1987 mastering since it also has 1987 listed on the back cover. It is a nice sounding CD. Label/Cat #: Apple Records/Parlophone - TOCP 51118/CDP 7 46442 2 released Mar 11, 1998.

[@johnaston3983]

You can now buy (under the counter) a very good copy of the Nimbus on CD which sounds really clean and has great sound of the vocals.

[@michaelmiller641]

That was fascinating! Thankyou!

[@Parlogram]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@zundap100]

Cool, thanks man for info.👍🙂

[@Parlogram]

No problem 👍

[@scottroberts3011]

Thanks again Andrew for another great video. I thought the most expensive version was the one given to Capitol Records executives with their faces on the cover. There was one on eBay a few years ago that had bids up to ten thousand dollars. Unless that doesn't count as a legit Beatles lp. ???

[@Parlogram]

It doesn't, Scott.

[@scottroberts3011]

@@Parlogram Got it. Thank you.

[@davidxd2091]

great video!!! please do a video about how to identify the different Beatles vinyl us copies, solo records and as a band

[@jimhines5145]

I wholeheartedly agree that we need a new ANALOGUE release of all albums from the original masters, both stereo and mono on vinyl. And they should include 24bit 96khz digital copies as well and NOT Dolby Atmos ones, but just plain ol' stereo as originally mixed. They might even use a little AI to get rid of some tape hiss, but that should only what it's used for. Then ALL should be of audiophile quality hands down.

[@daniannaci3258]

Loved this video! Andrew, you described your listening system (Ooo - Kudos on the Garrard) but never mentioned what speakers (headphones?) you use 🧐

[@Parlogram]

My speakers are Neat Petite.

[@R3TR0R4V3]

Thanks for sharing! It's a shame those top 2 are so rare.. I really need to scour around for some needledrops at least. So far, I have the 2014 mono, a 70's -3 HTM, German -1, etc. I Probably should hunt that CD version down next though! 😉

[@R3TR0R4V3]

Just to follow up on this, I've acquired high quality FLAC needledrops of this Audio-5 pressing, the Nimbus Supercut, and the UHQR... Out of the 3, I think the Audio-5 is my favorite. The Nimbus is on the "polite" side, and the UHQR is a bit heavy on the bass, but the Audio-5 got it just right, IMHO. As far as common analog pressings, I still love the 70's German -1 and UK -3 HTM. Can't go wrong with either of those. 🙂

[@Astro-bs4wv]

Wow! Only 4k for that copy tape is an absolute steal!

[@markjamesmeli2520]

Funny that the album was offered up at a premium price, but there was no gatefold cover offered up. Ah well, a friend told me; "You don't play the cover." Good point. I'd almost forgotten about "Nimbus." Thanks again Andrew.

[@GhostFace_OG]

No waveforms? Hmm, that's a little disappointing. All 3 of these are SO CLOSE, IMO. Great video Andrew.

[@Parlogram]

The waveforms were not shown because they looked so similar to each other.

[@anthonyclarke5579]

You do realise you are completely bonkers. I've worked as a DJ since '76 and I have cloth ears, you have taken "listening" intensity to a whole new level. Another great info video and brilliantly presented for numpties that are tone deaf like myself.👍👍

[@ShawnCathcart]

Thanks for the review. Regarding the 1987 CD, I'm wondering if you've listened to any of the Capitol LP's that were issued in 1987 that were sourced from digital? The albums were mastered by Capitol mastering engineer Wally Traugott. I have the 1987 Capitol mono pressing of 'Please Please Me', I love it, though I must admit that I have no UK original pressing to compare. I've just ordered a copy of the 1987 Capitol pressing of 'Sgt Pepper' (only the stereo version is available), as I'm now eager to hear it. Perhaps this is fodder for a future review and video?

[@67Pepper]

Enjoyed the video Andrew. Can you tell me if the 1987 CD is the same as the HMV 1987 CD 20th anniversary release?

[@thechuckster6838]

Excellent Comparisons. For me, the MFSL is king! So it has a bit of sparkle, this is what mastering engineers are supposed to do. The add EQ and compression to their liking and the run with that.

[@neutrino182]

Great video as always Andrew. A quick question if I may - Why was the inner groove missing from the original US vinyl. Was it missing from the Capital master? (If so, why?) or was the decision made not to cut it? Was it too hard for their engineers to cut?? Or did they think it was an error? Or did all US players have auto-return maybe? And when did the Beatles realise that Capital had still managed to ‘Butcher’ what should have been an identical album (albeit only slightly). Is there a videos worth of questions here perhaps?? ;-)

[@andrewholliday251]

Interesting....my 1978 Australian Pepper pressing doesn't have the inner groove either... I wonder at what point various pressings around the world dropped it (and the dog whistle) or perhaps never had it....?

[@Musicradio77Network]

@@andrewholliday251The Capitol US release that Andrew doesn’t have in his collection did lacks the runout groove, but it doesn’t have the dog whistle and gibberish in the locked groove. Capitol decided to omitted it after “A Day In The Life” and leave it blank. Out of all of the ranking he mentioned, an honorable mention goes to the US pressing of “Sgt. Pepper”. I listened to the album, and the sound quality on the stereo version was decent, but a bit too muddy than the previous US Beatles Capitol albums, and it lacks the mid-range, but it’s definitely good. I’ll have to give it a listen to the “Sgt. Pepper” US version.

[@TheHutt]

I'm not sure whether the Aussies got rid of the gatefold cover specially for Audio5. If I remember correctly, they actually never had one in the first place...

[@timconklin2050]

So all that said, Andrew, do you prefer the mono over the Nimbus & Audio 5?

[@MikeGervasi]

1. Village Green. Boy did you pick a great one to flash in people's faces. 2. Pepper the greatest? I hold Pet Sounds in the same regard and IF "Smile" had been released we'd be watching this video talking about it instead. I do enjoy your videos very much. Thanks for trying to give us sound samples as that would have been the frosting.

[@amosperrine1909]

Yet another in a long and wonderful series of vids. Unfortunately the top two, and even #3, are largely unavailable, and unfortunately, as well is the very available, the most recent version overseen by Giles Martin was excluded. Alas, I only have that one, a 70s UK pressing (I will look to see if it is the Moss one), and the regular Mobile Fidelity. Sigh.

[@Grimwriggler]

i had a little laugh when you said ''done in order to accommodate the reproducers of the day'' when you use a Garrard 401 and SME arm which came out before Sg peppers and i use a Garrard AP 96 still with its original gold Stanton 500 cart , which came with. but i get your point most poeple had cheap Dansets. nice jingles too

[@warrenvoight4512]

Hi Andrew, I have an Australasian Black vinyl pressing from 1987 with the same Matrix sequences etched on the runout as those on the EMI tapes you showed in the video that were sent to and used in Australia. Would they be the tapes used for the Audiofile half speed pressings and the Red vinyl editions ?

[@Parlogram]

Yes, they used the same tape but different mastering.

[@warrenvoight4512]

@@Parlogram Thanks Andrew, do you think it compares favourably with the actual Audiofile pressing or the Pin/Red vinyl pressings ?

[@yonkieponkie]

it would be interesting if you could obtain the original master tape and see how that sounds thru your hi fi ;)