Early Birthday Present

[JakeK]

Today, my grandma gave me "The Beatles in Mono" box set for my birthday present. I am pretty happy.

The mixes are notacably different to the stereo masters, certain songs are longer in mono than others. What craziest is that "If I Fell" and "Help" have different lead vocal tracks for stereo and mono, while "Please Please Me" and "I Call Your Name" sound like they came from different takes altogether.

These are the albums that sound best to me in stereo:
A Hard Day's Night
Beatles for Sale
Help!
Magical Mystery Tour (certain songs)
White Album

Here are the albums that sound best to me in mono:
Please Please Me
With the Beatles
Rubber Soul
Revolver
Sgt Pepper
Magical Mystery Tour (as a whole album)

Anyway, thought I'd tell you all my good fortune today. Off to listening!

[kiramdear]

Good one Jake! Enjoy it - and Happy Early Birthday!

[8mileshigher]

Happy Early Birthday!

+1 on that, Jake !!!

[bottom4]

You have a cool Grandma, Jake!

Cheers to ya!

[beatlefreak]

Congrats, Jake.

[antipodean]

Oohh missed this - nice present Jake! Birthday wishes posted on "the others"....

[rickinroma]

Happy Birthday, enjoy it!

[simer4001]

I love the mono set.

[lennon211]

The mono set's version of the White Album is one of my favorite releases. Overall though, I think that the set reflects some of the best reissues of any artist for many years.

[rickboy88]

I bought the mono set sometime before the holidays. I've not yet listened to all of them, but from the Sgt. Peppers experience I definitely like like the vocals more in mono, especially the multi-part stuff. I could hear more happening with the voices, "She's Leaving Home" was really nice.
Now I need to make it a point to listen to the others.

[servant]

Happy belated birthday, JakeK.

I bought the Mono box on release day, and have listened to all of them. I really like the in-your-face, wall-of-sound mixes. I patiently waited for the Stereo box for Christmas. My wife seriously surprised me by slipping the USB Apple in my stocking; I didn't even know she knew about it but there it was! Then, a couple weeks ago for my birthday, she got me the Stereo box. Now I've got all the US LPs ('70s vintage), plus all three 2009 remastered sets.