Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have a lot of the Capitol stereo mixes on original LP's, they sound very "alive" and I like them even though I don't think they are real stereo at least not in the modern sense. They sound like a basic track in one channel and overdubs (vocals etc.) in another with some reverb to smooth it out. Roll over Beethoven sounds great in Stereo. The whole beatles 2nd album sounds great in glorious vinyl stereo.

The definitive Beatles collection will always be a subjective choice by the listener. First generation American fans usually prefer the mixes from the US albums - It's what they grew up with and are used to. Capitol added varying amounts of reverb to some of the songs, and created fake stereo (Duophonic) mixes for songs from British singles when they didn't have a stereo master. U.K. fans will almost always want the mixes found on European releases. They have no added reverb, and were the mixes the way the Beatles intended.

For those who prefer the "cleaner" British mixes, the the current definitive collection would have to be the original thirteen CD releases, plus Past Masters Vol. 1 & Vol. 2. This gives you all the originally released songs, while only repeating two. But you have to put up with discs that weren't mastered well (by today's standards). These discs were released in 1987, and just don't sound that good (especially the first four). Also, the first four are mono only. This is a shame, because Hard Day's Night and Beatles For Sale are phenomenal in stereo.

If you prefer U.S. mixes, the two Capitol Box sets have come a long way towards giving us great sounding stereo versions of many of the songs. Let's hope that Capitol continues with a third box set containing Yesterday And Today & Revolver, along with two others (Anybody's guess as to what the other two might be?)

When I was a kid in 1965-66 stereo Lp's cost a dollar more than monos, 2.98 VS 1.98.

Yup, that's why I always had mono. Wait that doesn't sound right...

Bob: In Canada, at least on the east coast, an LP would set you back $4.29 in 1965.

I have to be honest I have never compared Stereo V Mono. Although I have just bought two Hollies 1960s albums on CD. It has the original album and track listing twice,once in Mono and again in what they call glorious stereo.

Martin

wow, you guys got ripped off Peter.
Singles cost 78 cents around that time also.