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Post by John S. Damm on Oct 26, 2009 15:14:27 GMT -5
I had always read that the differences between the stereo and mono White Albums were some handclaps, different bird noises on "Blackbird," more bass on "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" and the lack of a fake ending and blisters on "Helter Skelter."
But listening this afternoon to the 2009 Mono remastered White Album, I realize the differences are much greater.
Some early thoughts:
1. There seems a rough edit right at the end of the guitar solo on "Back In The U.S.S.R." that I never noticed in stereo.
2. "Dear Prudence" actually sounded better to me in mono than the remastered stereo which is not how I ever expected it to be: I was really looking forward to DP in stereo too.
3. Paul's lead vocal sounds different to me on "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da", as if it is only a single track vocal, not a double track. I like whatever it is. It is not real crystal clear though, kind of filtered.
4. There seems to be a different fade-out on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" or at least Clapton's solo seems different as it fades out. There is something different there.
5. "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" is really different and not just an increased bass as I read somewhere. I swear it sounds like there is an organ note played while John is singing the intro part and throughout I hear little guitar riffs I am not familiar with. A new experience with that song!
6. "Don't Pass Me By" is sped up so fast, Ringo almost sounds like a chipmunk! The fiddle at the end is different.
7. "Yer Blues" is totally demonic! Is it sped up too? John just screams outs the lyrics more than I recall on the stereo. It was disquieting to me hearing this song in mono this afternoon. Lennon's vocal sounds threatening to me here. The stereo vocal is hard rocking yet firmly tongue-in-cheek as John sings an Englishman's blues. But in mono the vocal seems harsher yet, I was rather frightened by it. The whole song sounds compressed, filtered in Mono.
8. "Helter Skelter" sounds a lot different, much creepier, otherworldly. There are those weird "beeps" coming in and I actually didn't miss the stereo ending.
9. There is likewise weird things at work on George's double-tracked vocal on "Long Long Long." Not as smooth as the stereo version. Interesting. Different.
10. The 1920's sounding guitar solo is longer on "Honey Pie"and I think I heard other peculiar things going on in it.
As a whole, the Mono White Album sounds much more compressed vocally and musically than the Stereo mix which I find warmer, crisper, and more intimate. This is not a criticism of the Mono as it really jarred me, dare I say, spooked me. It would be the Mono version I would likely hear in a nightmare.
Can anyone link us to articles documenting the differences in the Stereo and Mono White Albums? What other differences are there?
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Post by Cosmos on Oct 26, 2009 15:40:27 GMT -5
Neanderthal no linkum; as you know J.S.D. However "The Beatles on Record" by J.P. Russell (1982) does offer a few more insights upon the subject. He covers ALL of the Stereo vs. Mono song variations long about page 187. Pardon me if some of this is redundant to what you have posted. Ob-La-Di; also includes hand clapping during the piano intro in stereo, not found on the mono Piggies; similar to "Blackbird" as the animal sounds are likewise random when compared to the stereo mix Sexy Sadie; one tambourine tap (mono) vs. two (stereo) Why Don't We Do It In The Road?; intro w/ no hand clapping (mono) vs. clapping (stereo)
Definitely minor stuff to add, but also interesting and obvious for those who wish to hear nonetheless. You have an exceptional ear there Huck!
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Post by wolfsblood on Oct 26, 2009 20:49:42 GMT -5
Excellent post. I was wondering what the differences were. I'd only heard the two mono tracks on the Rarities album from 1980. The first time I heard Helter Skelter was on that album and it scared the sh*t out of me!
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Post by vectisfabber on Oct 28, 2009 9:28:44 GMT -5
I had the mono vinyl version first (scare tactics about playing stereo records on mono record players in the 60s meant I bought most stuff in mono).
When I got the stereo version (first mono version got put on a radiator, the second got ruined at a party) I went, "Oh. Some of these are a bit different." That's still kind of my reaction.
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Post by John S. Damm on Oct 28, 2009 9:47:59 GMT -5
I had the mono vinyl version first (scare tactics about playing stereo records on mono record players in the 60s meant I bought most stuff in mono). When I got the stereo version (first mono version got put on a radiator, the second got ruined at a party) I went, "Oh. Some of these are a bit different." That's still kind of my reaction. Wow, I wish that you had one of those mono vinyl's handy to play and comment on. The important differences in the stereo and mono White Album have caused me to lose sleep. I was so naive before. I had only known of one White Album, the stereo version, but there are really two White Albums out there. I can't reconcile them. I admit that I have been really sick the past week and with Halloween upon us and the creepy atmosphere all around, I might be paranoid but I feel there was a conspiracy about the White Album. Why are they so different? I almost feel that everytime I play the stereo version I'll have to now stay seated and play the mono one right afterwards in order to know this album. It was pretty long to begin with. I wish the Mono had been sealed in a crypt and not reissued!
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Post by Steve Marinucci on Oct 28, 2009 13:11:58 GMT -5
I never got that worked up over the differences, but I'm glad it's finally out and I hope EMI releases at least a few of those mono CDs (Pepper, White, Mono Masters) separately. My thinking is they will.
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Post by winstonoboogie on Oct 28, 2009 20:32:14 GMT -5
When I got the stereo version (first mono version got put on a radiator, the second got ruined at a party)
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Post by winstonoboogie on Oct 28, 2009 20:33:18 GMT -5
I had the mono vinyl version first (scare tactics about playing stereo records on mono record players in the 60s meant I bought most stuff in mono). When I got the stereo version (first mono version got put on a radiator, the second got ruined at a party) I went, "Oh. Some of these are a bit different." That's still kind of my reaction. Wow, I wish that you had one of those mono vinyl's handy to play and comment on. The important differences in the stereo and mono White Album have caused me to lose sleep. . I can't reconcile them. I admit that I have been really sick the past week and with Halloween upon us and the creepy atmosphere all around, I might be paranoid but I feel there was a conspiracy about the White Album. Why are they so different? I almost feel that everytime I play the stereo version I'll have to now stay seated and play the mono one right afterwards in order to know this album. It was pretty long to begin with. Huck, repeat after me...."It's only a CD, it's only a CD....."
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Post by John S. Damm on Oct 29, 2009 16:55:51 GMT -5
Wow, I wish that you had one of those mono vinyl's handy to play and comment on. The important differences in the stereo and mono White Album have caused me to lose sleep. . I can't reconcile them. I admit that I have been really sick the past week and with Halloween upon us and the creepy atmosphere all around, I might be paranoid but I feel there was a conspiracy about the White Album. Why are they so different? I almost feel that everytime I play the stereo version I'll have to now stay seated and play the mono one right afterwards in order to know this album. It was pretty long to begin with. Huck, repeat after me...."It's only a CD, it's only a CD....." It is the bloody White Album, Man! Now I just discovered a parallel universe for it!
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Post by winstonoboogie on Oct 29, 2009 20:33:17 GMT -5
Huck, repeat after me...."It's only a CD, it's only a CD....." It is the bloody White Album, Man! Now I just discovered a parallel universe for it! ;D
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Post by revolver66 on Nov 3, 2009 12:22:13 GMT -5
Whatever the differences the Mono White Album Rocks Harder than the Stereo. I'm not saying that is necessarily better..Wait yes I am!! Like JSD this was a new Experience for me and it is more than amazing. If you've never heard the Mono version you need too!!
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Post by Beatle Bob on Nov 3, 2009 12:47:39 GMT -5
Whatever the differences the Mono White Album Rocks Harder than the Stereo. I'm not saying that is necessarily better..Wait yes I am!! Like JSD this was a new Experience for me and it is more than amazing. If you've never heard the Mono version you need too!! The mono album (and for Pepper) has much punch and snap and they do rock "harder". Correct that it doesn't necessarily make them "better" than the stereo version, but what's great is we are offered choices in regards how we can enjoy our listening experience. I can never figure out which version I like better, so both will always get nearly equal spins as they have in the past. Regards, Beatle Bob
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Post by John S. Damm on Nov 3, 2009 12:59:00 GMT -5
Whatever the differences the Mono White Album Rocks Harder than the Stereo. I'm not saying that is necessarily better..Wait yes I am!! Like JSD this was a new Experience for me and it is more than amazing. If you've never heard the Mono version you need too!! So true: "Yer Blues" in particular sounds so angry and compelling. I have written above that this Mono album has shaken up my whole White Album experience!
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Post by vectisfabber on Nov 3, 2009 21:29:48 GMT -5
Correct that it doesn't necessarily make them "better" than the stereo version, but what's great is we are offered choices in regards how we can enjoy our listening experience. I think this is an argument in favour of issuing 5.1 remixes.
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Post by Beatle Bob on Nov 4, 2009 8:39:03 GMT -5
Correct that it doesn't necessarily make them "better" than the stereo version, but what's great is we are offered choices in regards how we can enjoy our listening experience. I think this is an argument in favour of issuing 5.1 remixes. Remixes, 5.1 mixes...you just know it's coming. But I don't think that soon. I think items that are expected to sell (archival) will come first, ie: Shea, LIB (DVDs), Hollywood Bowl CD, etc. Regards, Beatle Bob
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Post by John S. Damm on Nov 4, 2009 9:56:45 GMT -5
I could live with these stereo remasters for the rest of my life.
On another Thread, one of our friends here hoped for remixing including extending some songs and making LOVE kind of changes like what happened to Within You Without You/Tomorrow Never Knows(which I do love in that context of the show's soundtrack).
If we still had four Beatles alive to okay such radical changes to the music then I would be all for it but we don't and I don't want just Paul effectively calling the shots or Yoko and Olivia piping in on radical remixing ideas.
No John and George then no major remixing that would alter the music.
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