THE BEATLES - STEREO OR MONO?

[@thomascars1]

Mono Masters over Past Masters, since Day Tripper, We Can Work It Out, Paperback Writer, Rain, Hey Jude, and Revolution are SO BAD in stereo

[@heliomg20]

Not to mention Hey Bulldog

[@raulmacias1311]

Alex La Rosa Agreed! Although I do prefer the "Stereo Mix" of "Rain"! You can more clearly hear those wonderful three part harmonies on the"Stereo Mix". George Martin also placed Ringo's Drums in the middle of the Stereo mix! For some damned reason, George Martin didn't do the same with the "Stereo Mix" of "Paperback Writer"!!! Both tracks were mixed into "Stereo" for - "The Beatles Again"/"Hey Jude" album in 1970. Over these many years, I absolutely hated listening to that horrible mix on FM Radio!!! George Martin had a very bad habit doing terrible "Stereo Mixes" by not placing Ringo's Drums in the center of the Stereo Mix!!! "Taxman" and "Revolution" are two other horrors!!! I grew up listening to the superior "Mono Mixes" on AM Radio in the 1960's as a boy. When FM Radio became popular, in the early 1970's, they would play those horrible "Stereo Mixes"! The Beatles participated only in mixing their tracks into "Mono" and left the "Stereo Mixes" to George Martin.🎸

[@JustBowser]

I disagree with Paperback Writer because in stereo you can really hear when the bass kickes in. But with the rest I totally agree.

[@metalbeats14]

Revolution is the worst stereo mix ive ever heard

[@TheMadcap919]

⁠@@metalbeats14I’m glad someone else agrees! I think my favorite rendition of Revolution is the live music video, because… 1. The stereo version sounds like shet! (Which I will explain.) 2. A lot of the Mono versions I’ve found are always at a weird pitch to me. I feel like it sounds bad in stereo because, something I’ve noticed and maybe others have noticed too is that I think mono works better with songs that are supposed to have a more “jagged” sound to it. Like, either a trippy or “punchy” sound. With Revolution especially, the whole idea of the distorted fuzzy guitars was so that it could be heard in a crowd of protesters. And I think the live version has the correct pitch and that sort of sound, where it metaphorically PUNCHES you in the ears with hardcore-ness. But in stereo, since the guitar is moved to one headphone, a lot of the punch from the guitars is softened and smoothed and the song as a (to steal a term from someone else.) “sonic entity” is entirely lost.

[@jrgboy]

I love the stereo mixes when they are done properly, the Dr Ebberts Please Please Me album sounds great to me with the vocals centered and the guitars left and right...

[@jnagarya519]

Fake "stereo".

[@jrgboy]

@@jnagarya519 NO, Two track stereo remixed, thats the best its gonna be . 58 years old..

[@raggeragnar]

Hello Dylan ! This is the kind of topic I really enjoy , and since none of my buddies are into music as I am , and don’t want to discuss it this deep , it’s great to have the same kind of afficionados so easily accessible. Keep the videos coming , bro. Happy Easter and keep spinning.

[@micolsen9824]

19:41 ... since I only have one good ear, it's the mono presentation. Enjoyed the video. Thanks.

[@frederickfranchi6408]

Nice job kid like what you have to say about both, and I can't decide!!!!✌

[@TheRecordSpinner]

Thank you Frederick! It’s entirely subjective so it’s a matter of experiencing it for yourself but hopefully this video provided some pointers.

[@jeffgoblue]

Great stuff! My views are quite similar to yours, and I also love the Giles Martin remixes. It’s true that if you really drill down, you can almost go track-by-track. There’s no better case for that than white album. But to sum up, I’d say that for that album, the harder rocking tracks are best heard in mono, and the softer/lighter tracks breathe more and sound better in the 2018 remix. One forgotten album in the canon is the 1999 Yellow Submarine “Songtrack”. This album had fully remixed (not just remastered) stereo versions of all of the songs in the film including songs not included in the 1968/1987/2009 versions because they were already on other albums. These remixed versions sound great and are often my favorite versions of those songs.

[@TheRecordSpinner]

Hey Jeff! Glad that you enjoyed the video. I can definitely agree with you on your statement regarding the lighter and heavier tracks on the white album, that extra clarity in the remixes of those quieter songs do give it a chance to let it breathe. I have a CD of that Songtrack but I’ve only listened to it while I’m at work and I haven’t had the chance to sit down and really dig into the comparison but hopefully I can get a vinyl copy soon of it, plus that film was one of the first introductions I had to the Fab Four at a young age.

[@MelindaMurphy]

I loved hearing your opinions on each album. You do such a good job explaining how you came to the conclusions you did. I definitely agree that the Giles Martin mixes are the new gold standard. I hope he goes back and does Revolver and does Abbey Road and Let It Be. Excellent work Dylan.

[@martintaylor769]

Melinda, they have done Revolver, Abbey Rd and Let it be.

[@sethallison5682]

I agree with SGT Pepper’s 2017 mix. I’ve heard some audiophiles talk shit about it but it blows my mind. To me it sounds incredible. I think overall I agree with your list 95%. I like mono Magical Mystery myself. Wish I had bought the Mono box set when it was available..

[@michaelwirth7598]

I love Sgt Pepper in mono. I grew up with that version. The intro to Lucy in the Sky is piercing, whereas the stereo version is toned down.

[@Musicradio77Network]

I do have the “Sgt. Pepper” LP and it’s the original 1967 stereo mix, and it was a US release on Capitol. The later remasters were not that great, but the original is the way to go.

[@dougs78records64]

@@Musicradio77Network I have the original US 1967 Mono and Stereo LP's. I personally can't stand the way that the different sound elements on the Stereo version just sound like they are suddenly flown in and out. Especially when listening with headphones. The Mono, although a little more muddy sounding than the Stereo, at least sounds integrated. But nowadays, my go to is the 2017 Giles Martin version. That new version is amazing sounding to me and I have been listening to St. Pepper since it first came out when I was 10 years old. I think that it's often true that once people get used to hearing something a certain way, even if you improve it sonically a lot of times they just want to hear what they are used to.

[@CoreysChannel]

So many remasters! 1987, 2009, 2012, 2018...I purchased the stereo box and listened through all of it while reading the book that came along. The listening experience was amazing. I prefer Revolver in mono and Abbey Road in stereo. I've read that Sgt. is the best in mono, so I'm looking for a copy of that to compare.

[@supercrazpianomanaic]

sgt. pepppers 2017 remix is amazing... i think better than mono

[@dorkvader5332]

I have Sgt Peppers mono on CD. I prefer it to the original stereo version I have.The mono version is on my short list.

[@alvarosundfeld]

The 2017 Sgt Peppers Remix was so good, even tough it was the only remix worth listening in my opinion

[@dompezzurro8962]

The Beatles in Mono è il box set album del gruppo musicale The Beatles, ed è pubblicato il 28 dicembre 2009, realizzato dalla Apple Records.

[@danieljosephbestguy5990]

Good review! As a sidenote, there are several Beatles songs that appear in the stereo collection which to this day never had an official stereo mix. The following tracks "Love Me Do" (both "Please Please Me" and "Past Masters" versions), "P.S. I Love You", "She Loves You" and "I'll Get You" all still appear exclusively in mono from their original mixes even on their stereo compilations. Reason being their first single didn't even recieve a stereo treatment, whereas in the case of "She Loves You/I'll Get You" they did but the stereo mix tapes got stolen somehow according to Joe Brennan's list of all the Beatles' original recordings and mixes, which is why to this date they don't have an original stereo mix. In the cases of "From Me To You/Thank You Girl" the stereo mixes were actually unknown in the UK for a long time as on the 1988 Past Masters CD they appeared in mono and would only appear in mono on other compilations, but it's especially the addition of extra harmonica on "Thank You Girl" which really makes the difference in stereo, which before could only be heard on an official release in the US on The Beatles' Second Album, whereas "From Me To You" for some weird reason never aired on an American Album until compilations. Ironically, "From Me To You" has harmonica missing in the intro of the stereo version which is how they originally intended to record it and leave it for the brief instrumental break and ending but was tacked on the intro from the middle section as an addition for mono, which is how most people heard the song for years. As for later tracks, the only two odd exceptions for stereo which you probably didn't mention because you either forgot or they're hard to spot unless you were listening on headphones, which would be easier to notice, are the cases of "Only a Northern Song" from "Yellow Submarine" and "You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)" from "Past Masters"/"Let It Be" Single which only feature in mono on their respective stereo albums with their mixes being identical on "Mono Masters". These had another stereo mix originally but the reason why they didn't air were for reasons I can't remember now which you'd have to look into info of the song, Joe Brennan or Mark Lewisohn for answers which are highly recommendable sources if you're into The Beatles' Recording history. However, there's an alternate stereo mix available of "Only a Northern Song" on the "Yellow Submarine Songtrack" released in 1999 which features other new stereo remixes of all the other songs and I believe that's the most well-known stereo version of said song unless I'm missing something in the stereo department. As for "You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)", a more complete version with a whole deleted ska section aired on Anthology 2 mixed in stereo when it was originally recorded in 1967 and released in 1996 which is really cool to hear and definitely steps over the single '69 version for those who love the silliness of the song at least like me. "Only a Northern Song" also features on Disc 2 of Anthology 2 (which includes recordings mostly from 1967 and very early '68) since it was recorded during Sgt Pepper sessions with the same basic track as on "Yellow Submarine" minus the quirky instruments and sound effects added to it, and the version featured is also sped-up a bit as well as being in stereo whereas other takes of songs on the same compilation are in mono. Really weird and inconsistent mix but that's pretty much the wonder of The Beatles and all their recording compilations put together by Martin and his crew.

[@murilopedreira2289]

Great video! Get my regards from Brazil!

[@TheRecordSpinner]

Thank you John!

[@stephencostello1296]

What a great review Dylan. As I have both the mono and stereo box sets, this is the video I have been looking for. I thought it was me with my older ears and definitely go for the mono masters. Once again,, great stuff mate and have a good one 👍

[@franktaconelli9095]

per Beatles recording engineer Geoff Emerick, all Beatle recordings up to & through 1967 were intended by The Beatles & their production team, to be listened to in mono; that includes Sgt Pepper with all it’s bells & whistles; the inferior stereo mixes were done to satisfy the growing audiophile community in the 1960s yet the 4 track recordings, most with all 4 Beatles on 1 track for the basic track, did not allow for good stereo mixes...they took 3 weeks for the mono mix of Sgt Pepper with all in attendance & the stereo mix was done almost as an afterthought by a couple assistant engineers in a couple days AND that was the only mix available for decades; would Michelangelo agree to some added shadow & light to the Mona Lisa? the mono mixes are how The Beatles through 1967 were intended to be heard by the artists that made those recordings

[@davedee4382]

The original mono records were the hits! Played on the radio. Bought by us kids.

[@viatcheslavkalashnikov1397]

I had Yellow submarine LP in Mono 1in 1975

[@nicktendo69lmao99]

viatcheslav Kalashnikov Those records are Fold Downs

[@FrankEPotts]

I'm listening to the mono edition when I came across this video.

[@MagicalMysteryMike]

You've got some nice videos, and you've got yourself a new subscriber!

[@TheRecordSpinner]

Just subbed to you as well! 🤘🏻

[@MagicalMysteryMike]

The Record Spinner hey, thanks!

[@colinbaker3916]

I assume you know that in some cases the mono and stereo versions are different recordings. I’m thinking in particular of the vocal in the song Help.

[@rubbersoulsmusic7339]

Great video Dylan !!

[@TheRecordSpinner]

Thank you "one of my all time favorite Beatles albums"! ;)

[@billthecat666]

Thanks for your analysis. It helped a great deal.

[@iTomAnks]

Very interesting! Didn't expect to watch this whole thing but stumbled across it after trying to figure out which version of the White Album to buy

[@TheRecordSpinner]

Hey Tom! Thanks so much for tuning in. Which version of the album are you going to go for? Each copy (original stereo, mono, stereo remix) are great and there are great qualities to both that make them so distinguished.

[@iTomAnks]

@@TheRecordSpinner I've gone for an 80s UK stereo pressing. I love the stereo remix but there are some things that irk me (e.g. the different timing of the intro claps in Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da) that made me opt for an 'original' copy

[@flacopico]

I agree, mostly with you. Best versions are into Beatles' original mono tracks, except for Abbey Road which stereo original takes are the ones. Thanks!

[@monetfaversham6703]

Have to say Dylan both your manner and style of articulation is very down to earth and reassuring. Others who approach such analysis on the Beatles recordings tend to go over the top and often end up becoming contradictory with a net result that is confusing. Keeping it simple is immediate and coms across in a style that would even please the Beatles themselves. Not a single comment of yours placed me at odds with my way of assessing or adjudicating each album

[@TheRecordSpinner]

Thank you so much for your kind words!

[@santiagohunson6173]

If I made my own Yellow Submarine Songtrack Stereo Playlist: Yellow Submarine (2015 "1" Remix) Hey Bulldog (1999 Stereo Remix) Eleanor Rigby (2015 "1" Remix) Love You To (1999 Stereo Remix) All Together Now (1999 Stereo Remix) Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (2017 Stereo Remix) Think For Yourself (1999 Stereo Remix) Sgt. Peppers' Lonely Hearts Club Band (2017 Stereo Remix) With a Little Help From my Friends (2017 Stereo Remix) Baby, You're a Rich Man (1999 Stereo Remix) Only a Northern Song (1999 Stereo Remix) All You Need Is Love (2015 "1" Remix) When I'm Sixty-Four (2017 Stereo Remix) Nowhere Man (1999 Stereo Remix) It's All Too Much (1999 Stereo Remix)

[@likesnoozn]

Wow, no edits! Great job and excellent analysis Dylan. Nice pickup on Paul’s voice breaking on If I Fell and other variations between the versions. Personally, I love the stereo versions even on the early albums unless I’m listening through headphones, especially Rubber Soul.

[@dompezzurro8962]

The Beatles in Mono è il box set album del gruppo musicale The Beatles pubblicato il 28 dicembre del 2009, ricreato dalla Apple Records.

[@supercrazpianomanaic]

What about Let it be...Naked; also, thoughts on the 2019 abbey road mix?

[@TheRecordSpinner]

Let It Be Naked is a bit of a different product altogether. The original album was made almost to be a product of the film with the banter and jams, and Phil Spector's orchestrations which are debatable. I think maybe the Naked version is more true to what the Beatles had intended at the time. Obviously this video was made months before the 2019 remix of Abbey Road was even announced and after listening to it upon release, the original and remix are tied. Remix offers more clarity but doesn't offend anything that was true to the original.

[@dorkvader5332]

The 2019 Abbey Road is great. I can`t comment on the previous versions because I don`t have them.

[@robertavila3328]

I think all the lps are companions to each other. I grew up with the Capitol Beatles so all these lps work on some level, thx!

[@vintagevinylvets1187]

Great job Dylan, totally agree! I also love The Beatles “1” that was released in 2015-Giles Martin knocked that one out of the park. Curious to hear what you think, maybe do a video. Would like to see you do a video of Led Zeppelin reissues, especially recently with stuff like “How The West Was Won.”-Chris🎧🎸🎤🔥 P.S. You’ve GOT TO GET The Beatles “Love” Soundtrack on vinyl that was produced by George and Giles Martin-absolutely astonishing!!! Beth and I saw the show in Las Vegas on our honeymoon and Cirque du Soleil we’re truly amazing in that show! Our seats had surround sound, best sounding shows we’ve ever heard-the record duplicates that! #justsayin🎧

[@Beatgeneration2010]

Brilliant analysis!

[@martintaylor769]

Thanks mate, that was great. I too are in the process of comparing. I'm currently analysing the white Mono Box while I'm waiting for my Sterio Box to arrive in the post. It sounds to me one cannot pinpoint one or the other, cause the songs are all different. That's my guess anyway.

[@cahabatunes380]

Thanks for the feedback on these! I've been looking to purchase Help, Sgt Pepper & Revolver so this is a big help. I bought the 2014 Rubber Soul mono remaster last year and it is awesome. I've seen others say that the 2017 Sgt Pepper stereo mix is really good, so you have solidified that opinion to me. Interesting that Help stereo is the way to go. I would've thought mono since it came out in '65 but glad to hear the stereo is good given that the 2014 mono remasters have been snapped up and resellers on ebay want at least $50+ for a copy. Need to hurry and get the 2014 mono of Revolver before those disappear too.

[@jnagarya519]

The "Help!" LP was the first conscious stereo recording by not only "The Beatles" but also for George Martin. He later described it as a "mess" -- he didn't yet know how to deal with stereo.

[@tuckertastictk]

The Mono version of Help is often said to sound bad. I never had an issue with the sound quality, but the mono version of title track has a different lead vocal take which takes some getting used to. I much prefer "The Night Before" and "Yesterday" in Mono, but the title track "Help" in Stereo.

[@joemorgan4740]

Great review and I favour mono more but need to get stereo boxset before i can compare like you. Looking forward to getting soon prices are high on eBay and i want a mint copy . Kind regards joe

[@TheRecordSpinner]

Luckily the stereo box is still relatively available, however it can be a bit more cost efficient to get them individually, you just miss out on the beautiful book which is worth the admission.

[@marklunn7379]

Great video and very informative 👍🏻

[@robmalkin7134]

Nice work. I've just started picking up old mono versions on vinyl so this is really useful. ..and yes Paul's voice breaking on If I fell in stereo, the first thing I noticed when listening to the Mono version and I assume you don't hear it in mono because it's behind John's vocal..where it belongs👍

[@nashuawolfy]

The mono and stereo were separate and distinct vocal tracks. On the original mono take, Paul's voice did not break. On the stereo take, it did. The Beatles only cared about the original mono mixes because they were what we heard on the radio. They had others create the stereo mixes and most times were not even present.

[@Beatgeneration2010]

Hi Dylan, I prefer the mono past masters. As for your videos they are an education, and I am listening to the Beatles since I was 12, thought I had as much knowledge as possible on the Beatles albums, both mono and stereo. I guess the further one travels the less one knows! Keep on doing what you are doing😉 Ken from Ireland.

[@TheRecordSpinner]

Hey Billy! Thank you so much for the nice comments and finding the video informative. This platform is also one where I can discuss my knowledge of music and how it all correlates to vinyl. Cheers from New Jersey!

[@quiricomazarin476]

@@TheRecordSpinner My top 3 bands 1)Beatles 2)Kiss 3)April Wine Would you do a retrospective of April wines 16 studio albums?

[@quiricomazarin476]

@@TheRecordSpinner MMT is best with the early 70's beatles German version with the different colour./ cover. Yellow submarine is good on the 1999 I believe soundtrack blue cover version without the george martin orchestra ( although I do enjoy classical ~ Johann Strauss ....prayed at his grave in vienna ). Otherwise for a young guy with a rocker attitude your well spoken, as your vocabulary is quite erudite on utilizing proper words to express specific meanings & you use usefull forms of expression also helps in making things presentable. As well you don't swear which gives you class & respect vs alot of these immature hippie or grunge dopeheads who literally are unscripted & unschooled rabble. You may not have taken any acting or communication~ media schooling , but present yourself as a well informed / opined & down to earth with professionalism. Bravo 👏

[@jobarrios]

Thanks Dylan, it is hard for me to listen the recordings where the music is on one side and the voice on the other, with nothing in the middle, specially if you are listening with headphones. Shoot I prefer the mono mix of Pepper, but I have not heard the Giles Martin mix, will have to give it a try, same with the white album.

[@jnagarya519]

What you're describing -- music on one track, vocals on the other -- were PRE-MIXED MONO, not stereo, as George Martin described in his "All You Need is Ears". That's why the "hole in the middle". He was PISSED when EMI, after "The Beatles" hit in England, released those as "stereo". Martin basically described them as essentially sounding like "shit".

[@jordibetrian1985]

I need both for sure! Some tracks, not the albums, works better in stereo and another ones in mono. One complements another... I have a mix of on my car....

[@SylentEcho]

One thing I liked about With The Beatles in Stereo, was how the guitar kicks in on the intro of, "Money". Also, did anyone notice, that on the stereo version of Please Please Me, the song, has John making a mistake with the lyrics in the second chorus.

[@iutubsacs]

Its not on digital versions, based on the 2009 remaster. Maybe it was fixed then? What is the mistake?

[@videoplusdvd]

The stereo version consists of an entirely different set of takes, without harmonica, which was dubbed previously only into the mono mix. The only way to get harmonica into the stereo version was to play the mono version in sync and bring in the harmonica parts “on the fly”. This was not entirely successful, however, as the two versions fall progressively out of sync as the overdub progresses. By the time the final chorus with harmonica and vocals come in, the vocals from the mono mix (blended with the harmonica) are drastically out of sync with the “stereo” tape until the harmonica can be dropped out completely.

[@jnagarya519]

The hit singles, except the very latest, were MONO. That's the way we heard them, and want to hear them now. And "She Loves You" and "I Feel Fine" are better with the reverb.

[@RemasteringMcCartney_AndreyM]

I was disappointed though with the 2009 stereo remasters of Please Please Me, With The Beatles, Help!, Rubber Soul, and Revolver.

[@TheAccusationNetwork]

Looking to grab some Beatles on vinyl and this video really helped me out in terms of choices. Thanks for making this, Dylan.

[@TheRecordSpinner]

So glad this video was useful for you! Good luck on your Beatles purchases!

[@duff0120]

im looking forward to listen to the new revolver mix, specially Eleanor rigby

[@nickcharles1241]

I'm trying to decide between Mono Masters and Past Masters too. I thought I was ready to pull the trigger on the Mono Masters, but now I'm not sure. HELP! (pun intended!)

[@TheRecordSpinner]

I hear your struggle! There are perks to both. At least with stereo it’s all complete.

[@futurafrlx8874]

I think you nailed it. Beatles for Sale and Help! in stereo sound fine for some reason, but then Rubber Soul is hard to listen to on headphones because of hard panning just like the first two albums. Weird stuff.

[@sundance8744]

No.1 is Mono VINYL Box Set 2016, which was cut from the original mono tapes unlike the Mono CD Box 2009 remastered from Stereo. Well, AR + LIB just in Stereo, the best from Giles Martin several years ago. Btw, there have been even 2 rare issues of Abbey Road in Mono, from Czechoslovakia and somewhere from Latin America. But Mono mastered from stereo.

[@evanlanctot323]

I agree with your opinions, except for A Hard Day's Night, which I prefer in stereo. Otherwise, spot on.

[@martintaylor769]

Does anyone know if Yellow Submarine and MM Tour and Rubber Soul is included with the 50th anniversary??

[@Vinylandmusic]

I know this is a old video. But I just wanted to comment anyway. I have never been a fan of mono records, I have like 2 mono records total of all my 1000-ish records. So I go all Beatles in stereo. It just works best for me!

[@jnagarya519]

That's because you've never LISTENED to mono. Most of "The Beatles" you are listening to in "stereo" are FAKE "stereo". And not as "The Beatles" intended -- which is what maters most, isn't it?

[@craigwarner6156]

So what happened to let it be and abbey road. And there are let it be songs on mono masters

[@jnagarya519]

"The Beatle" attended MONO mixing. "Stereo" was an after thought because considered a "gimmick," and which has very small as a market.

[@distilt1238]

With Pink Floyd, their debut album “Piper” was mostly released in stereo, but I recently discovered the mono version, and there are instruments that I couldn’t hear before, extra vocals, sound effects...But with the Beatles, it’s hard to choose

[@TheRecordSpinner]

Exactly, I remember hearing the mono Piper when the RSD reissue came out and I was floored with what was not included on the stereo. Have you checked out Saucerful in Mono?

[@distilt1238]

@@TheRecordSpinner Not yet, but the prices of Saucerful seem much lower than the RSD pressing of Piper. I might get both in vinyl form soon, I've only heard mono Piper through KZbin, which...Wasn't the highest quality

[@jnagarya519]

Mono has greater punch. For how "advanced" "stereo" was, and how it now is properly seen as a gimmick, listen to the mono of "The young Rascals" first LP, "Good Lovin'" and compare it with the stereo. The mono has PUNCH; the stereo has the "1-2-3-4" intro panned left-right-left-right, and it loses the energy.

[@grahamharley4895]

Cheers for that Bud. Not much to say except that my original Seargent Pepper album was in mono, that was all I've known and loved, scratches and all. I believe that it was changing 65/66 so depended what time you bought it sort of determined whether you got mono or stereo.

[@jnagarya519]

Up through "Sgt. Pepper" I bought exclusively mono -- the "stereo" was fake. I later replaced those (early 1970s) with re-released "stereo" on the Apple label. Up until about "Sgt. Pepper" most "stereo" was fake, including "British Invasion". Stereo was mostly for "audiophile" "experimental" and "test" records.

[@razrentals8897]

I prefer stereo from rubber soul forward, everything behind that I prefer mono mostly because it makes Ringo’s sound fuller.

[@manolokonosko594]

I have all the mono albums from "Rubber Soul" and on. Of their first 5 studio albums ("With The Beatles", "Please Please Me", "Beatles For Sale", "A Hard Day's Night", "Help") I'm only interested in acquiring the last 2. I grew up listening to the STEREO pressings, and judging from the MONO CDs, the sound in them is "muddier" and not as clear as in the stereo mixes. Yes, "The Beatles meant their albums to be in mono" the same way a film director around 1939 would prefer to film in black and white as opposed to color, only because it was a relatively new technology and they had almost no experience coordinating color in film, or listening to a full stereo experience on decent equipment. It doesn't mean that MONO "Sounds Better" in most cases.

[@ConnorTerrell]

Makes me just want to have two copies of A Hard Days Night tbh. Lol. Just bought the stereo LP for it.

[@tylerd8711]

Will we have a stereo box from analog sources some day?? 🤔🤔

[@jnagarya519]

The US "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help!" were frustrating: had to pick up the stylus to skip the film music.

[@paraskevipapadimitriou2830]

I 100% prefer the mono versions, as it is how the band intened the songs to be heard in the first place. Plus some songs like Eleanor Rigby which is probably my favorite Beatles song ever sound terrible in stereo, the way they have placed the strings alone in one side and the voice on the other sounds so weird and ruins the whole feeling.

[@Digginjim]

lennybrucesgirl. A lot of people use the phrase 'how the band intended it to be heard' . I tend to think it's less about this and more that mono was the only choice until the late 60s. Cutting heads for stampers were mono. When stereo was introduced it was a new technology that engineers took a while to become comfortable with, which is why a lot of early stereo mixes aren't very good. The mono mixes of early Beatles stuff are so good because this was THE technology - the engineers new how to get the best out of it. Plus the early pressings are excellent from a technological point of view. EMI was pretty much the best record manufacturer in the world at that point.

[@tuckertastictk]

​@@Digginjim If the Beatles still feel so strongly that Mono is the best way to hear their material, why is it only available in limited edition box sets? Most other 60s era bands have the mono mixes right along side the stereo mixes on streaming services. I don't doubt that in the 60s the Beatles only cared about mono. But these days saying that is more for marketing than anything.

[@whitey7998]

For me, everything up to Sgt Pepper is best in mono, everything after in stereo.

[@sodiumlights]

what has Paul got to say about what versions he feels are the best?

[@yairarriola]

❤

[@BomChickyBowWow]

When it comes to The Beatles mono is better. Hands down. They themselves recorded in mono. They themselves mixed in mono. It’s a chunkier, more rhythmic sound. I love it.

[@nankypooh655]

I say get both, and have fun listening for the discernable difference, although a lot of Beatles songs benefitted from mono more than stereo. (Sgt. Pepper being a fine example) but some songs were better in stereo (Certain songs on The White Album, but I won't go into detail. Just listen and decide for yourself, although some White Album songs are a bit more interesting in mono.)

[@gumbycat5226]

Generally Mono. Most albums and singles have serious problems in stereo. For example, 'Please Please Me' (completely different base tracks with errors in lyrics and playing), 'If I Fell' (the terrible double tracking), 'Day Tripper' (shocking cut in the stereo). My stereo preferences are for Beatles For Sale and Magical Mystery Tour. Like you I prefer the first 2 Giles Martin mixes but they are not authentic to the Beatles, and I hate what he did for Abbey Road - for me all digital versions of that album sound worse than the original LP as I remember it, in the way the new ones bring forward the synthesizer sound. His is the worst because of what it does to 'Come Together'.

[@TheRecordSpinner]

Stereo definitely had its share of hodge podges. If you compare mixes it sometimes makes the Stereos look faulty because of those things you had mentioned. With Abbey Road, I felt that the original mix was perfect as the emphasis was given to Stereo at that point. I felt the remix had some more depth and clarity but it wasnt anything jaw dropping. As you can tell, this was filmed before they released the anniversary remix. Thanks for tuning in Bob!

[@jnagarya519]

Martin did some minor remixing on 1970s "Beatles" compilations.

[@santiagohunson6173]

If I made my own White Album Stereo Playlist: [Excluding "Wild Honey Pie", "Bungalow Bill" & "Revolution #9"] Back in the U.S.S.R. (2018 Stereo Remix) Dear Prudence (2018 Stereo Remix) Glass Onion (2018 Stereo Remix) Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (2018 Stereo Remix) While My Guitar Gently Weeps (2018 Stereo Remix) Happiness Is a Warm Gun (2018 Stereo Remix) Martha My Dear (2018 Stereo Remix) I'm So Tired (2018 Stereo Remix) Blackbird (2018 Stereo Remix) Piggies (2018 Stereo Remix) Rocky Raccoon (2018 Stereo Remix) Don't Pass Me By (2018 Stereo Remix) Why Don't We Do It in the Road? (2018 Stereo Remix) I Will (2018 Stereo Remix) Julia (2018 Stereo Remix) Birthday (2018 Stereo Remix) Yer Blues (2018 Stereo Remix) Mother Nature's Son (2018 Stereo Remix) Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey (2018 Stereo Remix) Sexy Sadie (2018 Stereo Remix) Helter Skelter (2009 Stereo Remaster) Long, Long, Long (2018 Stereo Remix) Revolution 1 (2018 Stereo Remix) Honey Pie (2018 Stereo Remix) Savoy Truffle (2018 Stereo Remix) Cry Baby Cry (2018 Stereo Remix) Good Night (2018 Stereo Remix)

[@thomascars1]

Exactly what I did, the 2018 remix of Helter Skelter was so disappointing

[@retrocysper3709]

Mono for Earphone Users Stereo for Speaker Users.

[@nineteenninetyfour4872]

Unfortunately I became a real Beatles fan last year, and when I bought vinyls I was not so expert as I am today. If I had to buy Please please me, A hard day's night and Revolver today, I would surely buy them in mono.

[@TheRecordSpinner]

Never too late! Even though the Mono reissues are out of print and somewhat pricey, you can still hunt down some OG pressings and other repressings from the past.

[@Alex_itimia]

I have just ordered my sgt pepper's stereo vinyl and i WANT TO CRY :(

[@nineteenninetyfour4872]

CallMe ALEX sgt pepper’s it’s actually good in the stereo version, I have the 2017 anniversary edition at home and I can totally say that it’s the best release.

[@jaroslavvrabel9713]

My top new Beatles LP: Mono box 2014+ Sgt. P.2017 2LP, White A. 2018 4LP box, Abbey R. 2019 3LP box,....Let It Be 202?+ book !!! Old LP Blue Box Germany 1978....super box.

[@BooneBluemel]

Do I need a mono cartridge for mono vinyl?

[@theheepster]

No, but you get better results

[@jnagarya519]

"The Beatles" ("White Album") was not released in Mono in the US.

[@bradt.3555]

I was around when Sgt. Peppers was released and everybody I knew had it in stereo, kinda wondering who had mono. RCA perfected stereo in the late 50"s then in the 60's due to certain chemical substances people started playing with panning left and right and all kinds of stereo tricks. And it being the Beatles "psychedelic" period it's hard to imagine them focusing on mono, but that's what the rumor is. To me many mono mixes just sound like a blob in the middle.

[@Hagg-o-tron]

George Martin has stated numerous times that all beatles albums were mastered for mono up until 67. That includes sergeant pepper.

[@scottandrewbrass1931]

Nobody bought stereo pop records in 1967 in England at least. And The Beatles were on EMI.

[@bradt.3555]

@@scottandrewbrass1931 That's an interesting statement. I'm not being argumentative, but is that from being in England during that time or just internet info u picked up or just something u came up with? Was it "nobody" or few people? I also wonder why? With stereo becoming better established by then, was it cost, or just what marketed better, or what? It seemed most people back then thought stereo was far superior for listening and better for artistic expression. Why would an artists mix in mono when they had the ability to use stereo as part of the musical expression? Could it have been just not enough people had record players capable of playing stereo records? To me something in stereo I like much better than mono. I have some old RCA classical records that were done both ways and part of my record thinning is the mono's are going away where I have a good stereo copy. Mono seems very boring to me.

[@tuckertastictk]

@@bradt.3555 My understanding is that stereo did not really become popular in the UK until around 1969. Most people buying these recordings in the UK had Dansette record players, which were mono only. Mono recordings were also cheaper to purchase, so there was little incentive to buy the stereo versions. In other countries, the transition to stereo happened earlier. Mono was phased out in the US by 1968 and in Germany by 1964.

[@anvin33]

Hi!😁👍

[@jerickzane]

Newer, remastered, converted to stereo, are all redundant. If it was recorded in MONO is was meant to be heard in MONO. There is too much missing from these converted versions to be enjoyable in my opinion, especially after hearing them in the original form.

[@runtsmeadow6797]

The Yellow Submarine LP was released in mono, but it was just a fold-down.

[@videoplusdvd]

One could create a proper mono YS playlist from the previous mono LP tracks, and including the four tracks from the Mono Masters album

[@beatmet2355]

For my money, stereo is great for hearing details with your headphones and mono is great for listening with speakers in your car or at home. It mainly depends on what “sounds better” clarity wise. AHDN is the best sounding early mono album that I would single out as being one I prefer. Pepper on the other hand sounds terrible as far as the edits on side two are concerned. It has the worst sounding crossfades in between some tracks toward the end. I also don’t like the altered speed of the tracks because I’m used to the stereo versions and hearing some sped up from what I’m used to threw me off.

[@jmfjcas6014]

for me, mono. Maybe because I have equipment from the era and I like this climate. But stereo is also ok. For everyone what it likes. But still the most important is music. No matter if it's mono or stereo.

[@TheRecordSpinner]

The music is all that matters in the end, you are right on the money with that!

[@bombardier2011]

Are these covers laminated or just glossed?

[@TheRecordSpinner]

The front of the covers are closed and when you get to the back on the fold over, it’s matte.

[@robibanerji]

The actual Beates members were hands on for Mono mixes. Ususally not in the control room for anything stereo( except strreo inly mixes of course). If youve ever mixed a record youll realize the band vision was always executed in mono. The non Beatles participants mixed the stereo stuff , with the Beatles OK'ing thise mixes with acetates delivered to them at their homes or they came in for listening sessions while mastering. I heard this from some engineers who were around at the time

[@leonardoiglesias2394]

Help and Revolver are claustrophobic in mono.

[@kookamunga2458]

It's too expensive to have my Beatles record collection in both stereo and mono . Then we get into the brittish , americian, Canadian and german pressings and which of those are better . I think I will buy the White album mono and maybe Rubber Soul and maybe just one more mono . I think the sound engineers have to have good ears and most of the Beatles albums had good sound engineers. A seventy years old sound engineer has alot of experience but is usually partially deaf.

[@LordWellfleet]

Thumbs up for U-Turn audio

[@vipergg9159]

Stereo , have always hated mono where all vocals and instruments just come from the middle . I will even take some of the psuedo stereo recordings they had back in the of The Beatles .

[@debessar95]

This dispute is largely a result of an artificially created hype. If you listen to Day Tripper/We Can Work It Out in stereo US you won't want the mono versions anymore. Many Beatles albums sound better in stereo. And if you don't like wide panning, there's an equalizer for that.

[@TheJayson8899]

Highly disagree. It's not artifical at all.

[@debessar95]

Both mono and stereo boxes are only suitable for listening and replacing with new ones. They have no real collectible value and are not at all similar to the first presses. I don't understand who is raising the prices on them. Ordinary consumer goods, not the Grail. The images are blurry, the cardboard is slightly glossy and bears little resemblance to the chic laminate of the old days. At the same time, it also seems to be a little sticky. Only books are good. I have this shit, but at starting prices. I would never forgive myself for buying this garbage at the current fantastic prices. Yes, it's new, strong, acceptable, sealed... junk - in an oversized box. This is why I don't recommend buying vinyl boxes. It's better to spend money on the individual albums you need. But it's even better to find old records in good condition.

[@Mildon44]

I really wish i could get the mono box set but they're going for like £1,000 - £2,000... but i gont understand why they're making the mono versions so rare... the latest beatle mono albums were pressed in 2014... why not press them still and have them to be purchased individually? I dont get it! The stereos are everywhere

[@TheRecordSpinner]

Hopefully Apple will understand the supply and demand system. There certainly is a market for them unless it was meant to be a limited time thing. It’s a shame because these are gems to own.

[@DanielFranco-nt9ze]

Nice music and i won forever because i am a Baptist

[@alfching2499]

Giles Martin the Scourge of the Beatles

[@santiagohunson6173]

If I made my own Abbey Road Stereo Playlist: Come Together (2019 Remix) Something (2015 "1" Remix) Maxwell's Silver Hammer (2019 Remix) Oh! Darling (2019 Remix) Octopus's Garden (2019 Remix) I Want You (She's So Heavy) [2019 Remix] Here Comes the Sun (2019 Remix) Because (2019 Remix) You Never Give Me Your Money (2019 Remix) Sun King (2019 Remix) Mean Mr. Mustard (2019 Remix) Polythene Pam (2019 Remix) She Came In Through the Bathroom Window (2019 Remix) Golden Slumbers (2019 Remix) Carry That Weight (2019 Remix) The End (2019 Remix)

[@pederriki7819]

What's the differences on Something 2015 remix?

[@santiagohunson6173]

​@@pederriki7819 I will say that its not as compressed in the middle as the 2019 mix sadly is

[@SenorZorrozzz]

I’m a real baby boomer. Yep, I was there, 1964! Now, let me tell you, the mono 45 mixes are the real Beatles hits. They came out. We bought them. That’s what played on the radio. Those were the hits. Not the differing stereo mixes. If you want to hear those as we did, you’ll need need a 1960s mono record player! Play a 45 of the mono mix about 10 to 15 times. Then play it pretty loud and there you have it! That’s how we heard them! Play the mono 45 of Revolution, Help, I Feel Fine, I Should Have Known Better, I saw Her Standing There, for example. Yeah, that’s a part of Beatlemania! Now, you want more? Do you have access to a mid 60s juke box? Yeah, yeah, kiddies, we all listened to the Beatles on juke boxes. You need to listen to a mono Beatles 45 on that. The juke box should be on a tile or wooden floor. No rubber mat, no cement! You hear that and it’s big and exciting. It was in the 1960s! By the way, the original Hard Days Night movie, the tracks were played slower than the records. This was corrected in the 1980s. The mono tapes were used.

[@pjriverdale8461]

If one lived in the US, until the actual Parlophone mixes hit here in the 1980's, what you heard was Crapitol's "enhancements" to punch up the tracks for radio and what they thought we liked. Not for nothing, John Lennon said he wanted to " kill" Dave Dexter who was Crapitol's re mixer in residence because the American records were so totally fucked with.

[@pjriverdale8461]

Actually, for the total experience, rip out the crap mono record player speaker and put in a more crappy transistor radio speaker in its place. Feeling mobile? Put the record player in a metal box with a small pillow- Instant ' 61 Ford dash speaker experience. Also works for Motown singles😝

[@pjriverdale8461]

Those first five or so American album releases are how we heard them first . For the US listener, Crapco's CD sets of the early US albums are required!!!

[@jaroslavvrabel9713]

....+ Yellow Submarine Songtrack.

[@Publio3ero]

Stereo

[@alegriavida1252]

The Capitol Récords ...The Best Sound In Stereo

[@jnagarya519]

FAKE "stereo".

[@timothyshannon7490]

@@jnagarya519 The updated 2014 box set had it in the original stereo format. The 2004 version had the fake stereo. Also in the 2014 box set, the album plays twice with the first time being in mono and the second time being in stereo.

[@tylerd8711]

Stereo = From digital sources Mono = From Analog (tapes) sources You know what to do I would buy the black box (stereo) only to have all in one. Better buy the setreo CD box

[@sause123]

I actually prefer with the Beatles in stereo because of how money sounds and the mono version is cleaned up way to much I like the stereo version of that song a whole lot better and the thing that makes the song so great is that dirtieness

[@timothyshannon7490]

Now do UK vs. US albums.

[@jnagarya519]

The first four LPs were NOT "stereo". They are pre-mixed MONO. The standard was to record all the music on one track, and all the vocals on the other; it IS NOT 'panning," which requires that the sound to be panned be recorded on two tracks. Read George Martin's book "All You Need is Ears" in which he explains all that.