wooltonian
Very Clean
"Football isn't a matter of life and death - it's much more important than that." Bill Shankly.
Posts: 796
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Post by wooltonian on Sept 9, 2009 12:51:41 GMT -5
If you've just purchased a remaster, here's your chance to tell all the paupers amongst us what we're missing. Don't keep us in suspense any longer.....go spill. What does your re-master sound like? First impressions / last impressions -- anything strange or surprising -- mono / stereo -- what are you hearing???
Are you euphoric or disappointed?
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Post by gripweed on Sept 9, 2009 13:39:52 GMT -5
I went to two bestbuy stores in Nashville and both of them were sold out of the box set. They only received 3 sets to sell ::)l....whatever dude.
I then went to Target where the CD's were selling for 11.98. The double LP's - White Album, Past Masters are selling for 16.98. Probably won't stay those prices after this weekend.
I didn't buy any CD's before Revolver as I am pretty happy with the sound of the Cap Albums...and I like the Cap song list on those CD's better than the EMI. In fact I really wish Cap would release VOL 3 with Yesterday And Today. I also would rather listen to the 1999 release of Yellow Submarine.
So far I have only listened to Revolver and it's definitely an improvement over the 1987 CD but it didn't blow me away. I still think the original vinyl album sounds the best as I still can't pick up some sounds on the CD that I heard on the vinyl LP. You can clearly hear two guitars on she said she said - Any your bird can sing...which is nice.
Seems like I did myself a favor not pre ordering the stereo box set and saved myself over $100. If the opportunity to buy the Mono set presents itself I think I might buy it but I am not an audio hound or a collecting completist so I won't fret over it. I still don't believe mono is better having no channel separation; however, not centering the drums and vocals gets really annoying on some songs.
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Joseph McCabe
Very Clean
A rebel to his last breath ...
Posts: 912
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Post by Joseph McCabe on Sept 9, 2009 15:08:35 GMT -5
If you've just purchased a remaster, here's your chance to tell all the paupers amongst us what we're missing. Don't keep us in suspense any longer.....go spill. What does your re-master sound like? First impressions / last impressions -- anything strange or surprising -- mono / stereo -- what are you hearing???Are you euphoric or disappointed? What do you think the "My ears were surprised" thread is about?
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Post by meanmrmustard116 on Sept 9, 2009 15:38:49 GMT -5
Grip, you might wanna pick up Hard Day's Night at least since you're missing some of those songs.
First impressions: I'm listening to the stereo albums in order. I just started MMT and so far it's blowing me away, probably more than the previous albums, and it's probably my 2nd least favourite album after YS.
PPM-I listened to this in my car on the way home and it didn't sound much different but that's understandable as I have a pretty generic car stereo. Any suggestions on what kind of car stereo I should get?
WTB-First album I was able to listen to on my pretty decent PC speakers. Not bad but didn't grab me. Again, any suggestions on what I could do to make my music sound better at home? These are some nice speakers, 5.1 sound but I'm not hearing what everyone else is claiming to hear. The bass, drums, hidden guitars, sounds of breathing etc... aren't all jumping out at me. So far everything sounds better without headphones. With them, doesn't seem to be much different than the 87s.
AHDN-I haven't heard that drop-out in "I Should've Known Better"'s opening harmonica in years. I forgot about it. My local oldies station plays the US versions. I find it odd that all these years that they must've been either playing LPs or bootlegs since stereo versions of these first few albums were not available, AFAIK.
BFS-Here's where the music starts to mature a bit and the remastered sound makes it that much more appreciative. This is the first album to grab me and make me feel that these are...bigger, spacious etc... In "Words of Love", there is a squeaking noise which I'm assuming is Ringo's notorious stool or pedal. What's cool about it, is it's fitting for that song, a Buddy Holly and the CRICKETS song...because the squeak sounds like a cricket was in the studio through the recording, just like the legendary story of how Buddy's band got their name.
Help-Title track sounds awesome. The rest of the album sounds ok. I'm convinced I need a better listening experience somehow. I'm not an audiophile so I really don't know what to do. I was hoping my fav. track, Dizzy Miss Lizzy would be punching me left and right but it seems plain.
RS-I must've been distracted looking up stuff online as I don't remember much about RS. I'm listening to them all again later tonight.
PMv1-The German tracks actually sounded pretty good. The 87 versions always sound flat to me, as if they were copied from cassettes. The single version of Love Me Do wasn't impressive. Glad to hear the extra harmonica bit in Thank You Girl. Matchbox still doesn't sound good to me with those sloppy double-tracked/reverbed/whatever Ringo vocals. If there's ever a remix, that's one song that needs to be fixed. I love the song Yes It Is but I hate that fuzzy hiss in the beginning, again, sounds like it was mastered from a 5th generation cassette copy. I don't see why it was so difficult to remove that hiss, if they even attempted it. Surely the first second of the track, which is pure hiss, could've been removed.
RV-I was disappointed that John's repeated vocals in YS ("life of ease", "all we need") are still so far in the background, they're almost inaudible. I know these weren't remastered by Skywalker Sound and overseen by George Lucas but was it too much to fix that? These tiny nitpicks are reasons why a remix should've been done. Don't get me wrong, everything sounds good so far, but the nits are still there and I feel the need to pick at them. That's what this topic is for. Tomorrow Never Knows made up for it. I felt like I was in a trance.
SP-Title track was great and did jump out. The rest seemed like good ol' Sgt. Pepper to me. I need to hear the mono y'all are bragging about.
MMT-As stated above, this whole album so far has jumped out at me the most and I haven't touched any settings on my computer's audio program. Flying was awesome, like TNK from Revolver, very trance like. Side note: years ago I made short film for my writing class. It was called Blind Man Walking and was about a blind man driving around town doing daily things/errands. I got the idea from seeing Braile on an drive-thru ATM machine, wondering "just how many blind drivers are out there?" so I poked fun at them in a light hearted way. One scene had the blind guy going to a restroom (after reading the Braile on the sign that said "Men"), stand in front of a urinal, close-up on his fly and then a small walking stick came out tapping around to find the urinal, then he proceeded to go #1. Anyway, I used "Flying" as the background music. The class loved it and asked what that great track was. Everyone knew I was such a huge Beatles fan that when I answered, they were like "of course, we should've known".
I'll get to the rest later. So far I am enjoying these. They do sound better, they're just not jumping out at me and I feel I need a better listening experience.
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Post by gripweed on Sept 9, 2009 17:18:56 GMT -5
I did order the Mono set from Amazon. I am anxious to hear AHDN. The early albums in the mono set are supposed to have the mono and stereo tracks which is why I bought it. Are there any differences between the stereo tracks on the mono set and the Stereo box set?
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Post by beatleroadie on Sept 9, 2009 18:02:16 GMT -5
I'm listening to Sgt. Pepper in MONO right now, and I'm only on Lucy, but already blown away. For lack of a better phrase, everything "works" on Pepper in mono, blended together perfectly. Lucy in particular is much more seductive and, well, trippy than the stereo version that separates out all the parts from one another. I love it!
UPDATE: The tamboura break as Paul sings "I used to cruel..." on "Getting Better" is ridiculously good. Brought a huge smile to my face and that was never even a favorite part of the song for me. !
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Post by beatlesfanatic on Sept 9, 2009 18:46:20 GMT -5
Love, Love, Love the Beatles remastered Stereo cds...The pristine clearness of the vocals, bass and drums ...The DVD, accompanying booklets containing many photos never before seen and detailed information are the icing on this delicious cake. The only question I have is why were the 1987 stereo remixes used again for Help and Rubber Soul, Paul's false guitar intro to "I'm looking through you" cut again. Also the mono versions of "Love Me Do and "PS I Love you" must have been included by mistake on the Stereo Box Set. John must be having a laugh at the number 9 release date
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Post by glenn1966 on Sept 9, 2009 18:59:17 GMT -5
To my understanding, Love Me Do and PS I Love You don't exist in true stereo.
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Post by beatlesfanatic on Sept 9, 2009 19:13:10 GMT -5
To my understanding, Love Me Do and PS I Love You don't exist in true stereo. The Capitol remaster of "The Early Beatles" contains stereo versions of both songs.
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Sept 9, 2009 19:14:50 GMT -5
True. Do we really need TWO threads on the same thing? Which one do we post our thoughts in?
IMO, there are too many random threads circulating here on the same remasters topics, myself being guilty of starting a couple. Is there any way we can just stick with a basic thread for MONO and another for STEREO at this point, or SOMETHING?
What do you think?
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Post by John S. Damm on Sept 9, 2009 20:41:29 GMT -5
True. Do we really need TWO threads on the same thing? Which one do we post our thoughts in? IMO, there are too many random threads circulating here on the same remasters topics, myself being guilty of starting a couple. Is there any way we can just stick with a basic thread for MONO and another for STEREO at this point, or SOMETHING? What do you think? We do need some planning here. What about a separate Thread for each remastered album? For SPLHCB, for instance, it could include discussion on both stereo and mono versions with each post specifying which one they are talking about. That creates nearly 20 new threads but at least we could find quickly discussion on specific albums rather than search each thread. Like Joe asked, what other ideas are there to simplify this?
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Post by revolver66 on Sept 9, 2009 22:43:03 GMT -5
To my understanding, Love Me Do and PS I Love You don't exist in true stereo. The Capitol remaster of "The Early Beatles" contains stereo versions of both songs. Fake Stereo..These Tracks do not exist in True Stereo.
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Post by revolver66 on Sept 9, 2009 22:47:40 GMT -5
If one wants to hear the best out of these Remasters it helps to listen on a good sound system(now that may sound like a simple quote but..). I don't know how any music would sound it's best through computer speakers or a cheaper car stereo(especially if it is a factory came with the Car model). Do yourself a favor and get a good sound system with Good Speakers. You will get so much more out of all Music. I mean if one is willing to shell out 200.00 or more for these Beatles Cds it only makes sense to listen on a Quality Stereo. Also remember these are not surround sound and will not sound the best through a surround sound system...Happy Listening!!
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Post by revolver66 on Sept 9, 2009 22:50:39 GMT -5
True. Do we really need TWO threads on the same thing? Which one do we post our thoughts in? IMO, there are too many random threads circulating here on the same remasters topics, myself being guilty of starting a couple. Is there any way we can just stick with a basic thread for MONO and another for STEREO at this point, or SOMETHING? What do you think? We do need some planning here. What about a separate Thread for each remastered album? For SPLHCB, for instance, it could include discussion on both stereo and mono versions with each post specifying which one they are talking about. That creates nearly 20 new threads but at least we could find quickly discussion on specific albums rather than search each thread. Like Joe asked, what other ideas are there to simplify this? How about the Mono VS Stereo Thread regarding songs and another comparing the Complete Albums? That sounds like a winner to me!! Just got Stereo White/Abbey/Let It Be and they are amazing(and I own quality Vinyl for all)....Beatlemania all over again(can you believe it) Yeah Yeah Yeah!!!!
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Post by meanmrmustard116 on Sept 10, 2009 1:52:39 GMT -5
Anyone know anything about those giant ass boomboxes you can get for about 150 bucks? I've always wondered how good they were and how they compare to good sound systems. My PC speakers aren't little rinky dink crappy speakers. Everything sounds good out of them, even the new Beatles CDs, they're just not grabbing me the way they're grabbing you all and I'm sure it's because I don't have a giant living room and an expensive sound system with huge speakers that rattle the walls. I don't know if I'll ever get that. i don't have the space. I'd love to have that experience though.
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Joseph McCabe
Very Clean
A rebel to his last breath ...
Posts: 912
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Post by Joseph McCabe on Sept 10, 2009 2:33:08 GMT -5
Anyone know anything about those giant ass boomboxes you can get for about 150 bucks? I've always wondered how good they were and how they compare to good sound systems. My PC speakers aren't little rinky dink crappy speakers. Everything sounds good out of them, even the new Beatles CDs, they're just not grabbing me the way they're grabbing you all and I'm sure it's because I don't have a giant living room and an expensive sound system with huge speakers that rattle the walls. I don't know if I'll ever get that. i don't have the space. I'd love to have that experience though. What you could do is buy the best system (go to a specialist dealer) for the price you can afford. For the time being, you could sacrifice speakers, and go for a pair of quality headphones. Specialty hi-fi dealers love putting together as good a system as they can for the price the customer can outlay. Go for it. Music is worth it, man.
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Sept 10, 2009 5:39:41 GMT -5
I don't know how any music would sound it's best through computer speakers or a cheaper car stereo(especially if it is a factory came with the Car model). Do yourself a favor and get a good sound system with Good Speakers. You will get so much more out of all Music. No need. What can I tell you? To my ears, everything has never sounded more crisp and better (that includes any CD by any artist) than when I'm listening to it in my car. In my home right now I have the computer/speakers to listen to, plus one of those portable radio/CD "boxes" that play the discs. I also have a modest Philips three-CD disc player/receiver/cassette in my living room with 5 speakers that I actually use for audio when I watch DVD movies, and I rarely play music on it. I used to be more fanatical about sound equipment when I was younger and a Technics buyer, playing vinyl LPs. These days I am not so anal about it, and am perfectly content only listening to CDs when I'm driving in the car. Or as background on my computer. These STEREO remasters have never had these albums sounding better or more crisp and vibrant than they are right now to me -- both in my car and on my computer. That's already better than they've ever sounded to me on the best in-home high tech music equipment of my earlier years, either with the vinyl import albums or the 1987 CDs, played on top-notch equipment.
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Sept 10, 2009 5:48:29 GMT -5
One thing I just spotted while playing PAST MASTERS was that the version of Thank You Girl is actually the one that has the added harmonica at the end of the song, as well as accompanying the line "way that you do"..and then echoing "too good to be true".... in other words, the version included on the great BEATLES' SECOND ALBUM! This was great news to me, as I never liked this song as much when the harmonica was missing in these sections.
Also on PAST MASTERS, I wasn't wild about the sound on either KOMM, GIB MIR DEINE HAND or SIE LIEBT DICH.. I think the vocals for the former sounded even better on the U.S. SOMETHING NEW, and the latter may have been bested on the old PAST MASTERS. Just an inkling I have.
On I'm Down ... has John's (I assume it's John's) voice repeating "Dowwnnnnnn...." always sounded so pronounced after Paul sings the words "I'm Down"...? I don't think so. I heard a few different things in here, and actually in other songs too. I guess we'll all hear differences... tough to keep tabs on all of them!
Get Back (single version) has never sounded this crisp and powerful to me before. Ditto for its B-side, Don't Let Me Down.
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wooltonian
Very Clean
"Football isn't a matter of life and death - it's much more important than that." Bill Shankly.
Posts: 796
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Post by wooltonian on Sept 10, 2009 6:08:13 GMT -5
If you've just purchased a remaster, here's your chance to tell all the paupers amongst us what we're missing. Don't keep us in suspense any longer.....go spill. What does your re-master sound like? First impressions / last impressions -- anything strange or surprising -- mono / stereo -- what are you hearing???Are you euphoric or disappointed? What do you think the "My ears were surprised" thread is about? Sorry, Joseph. I'd just come in from a long shift and my brain was a bit scrambled (plus a little post-work Chardonnay). Sorry 'bout that.
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Post by John S. Damm on Sept 10, 2009 13:06:47 GMT -5
What do you think the "My ears were surprised" thread is about? Sorry, Joseph. I'd just come in from a long shift and my brain was a bit scrambled (plus a little post-work Chardonnay). Sorry 'bout that. Woolie, how did your work trip go yesterday or am I imaging that from all the beer I drank when the Mrs. had me fire up the backyard grill. Talk about chaos and creation in the backyard! I didn't tell my wife about the "3 second rule" as I deftly picked her pork chop off the ground within 3 seconds off my dropping it yet not spilling a drop of special order Fall ale I was drinking!
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wooltonian
Very Clean
"Football isn't a matter of life and death - it's much more important than that." Bill Shankly.
Posts: 796
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Post by wooltonian on Sept 10, 2009 14:48:41 GMT -5
Sorry, Joseph. I'd just come in from a long shift and my brain was a bit scrambled (plus a little post-work Chardonnay). Sorry 'bout that. Woolie, how did your work trip go yesterday or am I imaging that from all the beer I drank when the Mrs. had me fire up the backyard grill. It went great. Left home at midnight -- reached North of Scotland 8.00am - full English breakfast in Dundee at 11.00am -arrived home 5.00pm. I've just been checking Fall ale out on the www - looks great...so many distinguished flavours (including pumpkin!). Which one is the JSD connoiseur's brew? When you come to Liverpool, I shall introduce you to this stuff - Cain's F.A. 5% on the richter scale. Brewed in Liverpool. Yummy.
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Joseph McCabe
Very Clean
A rebel to his last breath ...
Posts: 912
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Post by Joseph McCabe on Sept 10, 2009 15:04:54 GMT -5
Sorry, Joseph. I'd just come in from a long shift and my brain was a bit scrambled (plus a little post-work Chardonnay). Sorry 'bout that. No problems.
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Post by Cosmos on Sept 10, 2009 16:12:08 GMT -5
Anyone know anything about those giant ass boomboxes you can get for about 150 bucks? I've always wondered how good they were and how they compare to good sound systems. My PC speakers aren't little rinky dink crappy speakers. Everything sounds good out of them, even the new Beatles CDs, they're just not grabbing me the way they're grabbing you all and I'm sure it's because I don't have a giant living room and an expensive sound system with huge speakers that rattle the walls. I don't know if I'll ever get that. i don't have the space. I'd love to have that experience though. What you could do is buy the best system (go to a specialist dealer) for the price you can afford. For the time being, you could sacrifice speakers, and go for a pair of quality headphones. Specialty hi-fi dealers love putting together as good a system as they can for the price the customer can outlay. Go for it. Music is worth it, man. Wow...I just assumed that everybody here had at least two Bose 901's and a designated music room. Such music "fanatics" and you are listening to this stuff in cars (yes my Saab had a good system in it too) or on computer B.S.? I am aghast and genuinely not trying to brag here, but WAY back when, I got a decent system...how else can one truly appreciate this goldmine that we have all been waiting for for years? When I got my second pair of 901's (on the cheap; e-bayed for like $350.00 from California) I finally felt like I was really hearing my music as it was meant to be. It was as if someone put a 40 ft. addition on to both sides of the room! I guess what I am trying to get across here is; how can you take a "review" seriously under, well let's just say "questionable" conditions and general listening environment? I also really agree with Joe Karlosi; I am slowly plodding my way through these open floodwaters of threads that have burst out of nowhere (and REALLY enjoying the excitement and all of your posts), but really, we need some organization to it all. Too bad we don't have a lawyer-type who could sort this all out...
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Sept 10, 2009 18:17:09 GMT -5
I guess what I am trying to get across here is; how can you take a "review" seriously under, well let's just say "questionable" conditions and general listening environment? Because if it sounds great in the car and unlike I've heard these songs sound EVER before - even when I DID have state of the art equipment back in the day -!! -- Then you know they HAVE to be great. Oh, and another thing I forgot to mention - I rent an apartment and I can't BLAST these albums indoors, but I CAN in my car.
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Post by winstonoboogie on Sept 10, 2009 20:37:02 GMT -5
What you could do is buy the best system (go to a specialist dealer) for the price you can afford. For the time being, you could sacrifice speakers, and go for a pair of quality headphones. Specialty hi-fi dealers love putting together as good a system as they can for the price the customer can outlay. Go for it. Music is worth it, man. Wow...I just assumed that everybody here had at least two Bose 901's and a designated music room. ====================================== I also really agree with Joe Karlosi; I am slowly plodding my way through these open floodwaters of threads that have burst out of nowhere (and REALLY enjoying the excitement and all of your posts), but really, we need some organization to it all. Too bad we don't have a lawyer-type who could sort this all out... ;D
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Post by jellyzero79 on Sept 11, 2009 6:31:07 GMT -5
BOSE BOSE BOSE. It is worth the investment fellow Beatle fans. They have payment plans and no credit checks. While I understand the argument for mono and I realize that many of you have been trained by the bass, drums, vocals in center way of mixing by the music industry- I think the mono mixes are inferior (Doesn't matter to me if the Beatles mixed in mono or not). When you can sit and listen from far enough away (at least 7 feet), the vocals/harmonies are so beautiful and clean and the albums are enhanced by the separation. To hear John, Paul, and George so clearly is a treat. I got the stereo box set and the improvements are amazing. The bass is very present, the vocals clear and crisp, you can even hear the squeeking of Ringo's kick pedal where the mics picked up the whole sound on early albums. The booklets are amazing and include tons of information and pics. Only downfall (and it is a small one) the plastic or whatever that is used for the box and the albums is the kind that grabs your fingerprints instantly and STAYS on there.
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Post by jellyzero79 on Sept 11, 2009 6:36:26 GMT -5
I also agree with your quote cosmos:
"I finally felt like I was really hearing my music as it was meant to be."
That was what it was like when I bought my Bose system. I can't imagine spending the money that I did on the new box set without having a great system to play it on.
On a similar note: Folks you may think that you have crappy speakers in your car but it may just be your CD player. Take $115 and buy a Kenwood CD player with at least 50X4 watts. Sometimes your car just needs more power and a better system pushing those factory speakers. Trust me!
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Post by John S. Damm on Sept 11, 2009 7:43:36 GMT -5
Only downfall (and it is a small one) the plastic or whatever that is used for the box and the albums is the kind that grabs your fingerprints instantly and STAYS on there. LOL! I wish you hadn't mentioned that as I am so anal retentive about that kind of stuff. I wash my hands before touching the album covers, discs, booklets and even the box itself. I didn't want to open them at first knowing there would be the gradual wear and tear.
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Post by Beatle Bob on Sept 11, 2009 7:57:39 GMT -5
There are only three things wrong with these remasters: 1) cowbells 2) tambourines 3) maracas They are so clear and noticeable, that they drive me nuts! ;D Regards, Beatle Bob
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Post by John S. Damm on Sept 11, 2009 10:48:43 GMT -5
There are only three things wrong with these remasters: 1) cowbells 2) tambourines 3) maracas They are so clear and noticeable, that they drive me nuts! ;D Regards, Beatle Bob The bit about cowbells are fighting words, Sir! I am a certified "Master of The Cowbell" as evidenced by the certificate I got through the internet. I take it you will play the AHDN album the least as that is the sacred holy book to us cowbell Masters. I do agree with you Bob on the tambourines and maracas. Even a moron like Davy Jones of The Monkees can play the tambourine! ;D
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