REVIEW: New Japanese "SESSIONS" CD

[Beatle Bob]

I recently got the non label version of SESSIONS from Japan on CD mastered by the MC folks that is taken from the latest offering on vinyl that was released last year in Japan. This version and includes the speed corrected versions of Paul w/Badfinger "Come and Get It" as well as the early mix of "Revolution #1. The only difference between this CD and the vinyl version is the exclusion of the "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" backing track more than likely for time constraints to fit it all on one disc. Otherwise content is identical. I compared this to my original Spank (Vigotone) disc and what I thought was the best sounding version of this album, from Dr. Ebbetts. This biggest difference aside from the offering of over twice the running time from the original lineup, is the sound. The sound has been cleaned up immensely. There is virtually no hiss detectable compared to Spank and Dr. Ebbetts versions. The high end is brighter and clearer, especially noticeable on the first track, Paul's original demo of "Come and Get It". For once it doesn't have such a boomy feel and I can now get thru it without skipping to the next track. For me it's also nice to have the oops version of "And Your Bird Can Sing" (removing the laughing) which has been available previously on an earlier bootleg but one which I never aquired. The additon of two outfakes of "Free As A Bird" using a stripped down version taken from 5.1 audio mixes to enhance Lennon's vocal works superbly and is preferable. Though I wonder if this and the "Real Love" outfake came from the TUNED TO NATURAL series. But they both work nicely and are much more listenable than the commercial versions.

Even though it's probably just an arbitary choice of outtakes and alternates the bootleger choose to fill out this disc, it happens to be one of the more enjoyable versions of SESSIONS to come along as it has a different perspective with all these other tracks. Artwork comes with the typical b&w photo of them standing with guitars in front of a brick wall and the reverse is the alternate multi-colored cover. No liner notes and a poor mans version of the Capitol Swirl appearance on the factory pressed disc. Obviously a quick production for MC. Disc's only identifying markers are the label's poor man Capitol Swirl colors and it saying "Stereo/Mono" and "Not For Sale: Promotional use Only" -- and it's "Manufactured by Capitol Records" on the back insert. For the audio, it's the probably the best I've heard in terms of the lack of hiss and better high end. It doesn't feel as compressed as what I was used to. For packaging I've seen better.

Here's the original line up of the vinyl, with the CD just missing the "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" backing track outtake:

¥ COME AND GETIT(Recorded in JuLy l969 during the 'Abbey Road' sessions) ¥ LEAVE MY KITTEN ALONE(Recorded in August l964 during the 'BeatLes For Sale' sessions] ¥ NOT GUILTY(Recorded inAugust 1968 during the 'White Album' sessions] ¥ I'M LOOKING THROUGH YOU(Recorded in October l965. first take of the track from ''Rubber Soul') ¥ WHAT'S THE NEW. MARY JANE?(Recorded inAugust l968 during the 'White Album' sessions)
¥ HOW DO YOU DO IT?(Recorded on September 4, l962. the same day as 'Love Me Do') ¥ BESAME MUCHOtRecorded in June 1962. part ofthe BeatLes' first ever Abbey Road session) ¥ ONE AFTER 909(Recorded in March l963. an earLyversion of the track on 'Let lt Be') ¥ IF YOU'VE GOT TROUBLE(Recorded in February l965 during sessions for the 'Help!' atbum) ¥ THAT MEANS A LOT(Recorded in February l965 during the 'Help!' sessions) ¥ WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS(Recorded in July l968. first take of the track on the 'White Album'') ¥ MAILMAN BLUES(Recorded in January l969 during the ''Let it Be' sessions) ¥ + CHRISTMAS TIME (lS HERE AGAIN)(Recorded in November l967 as a Christmas message to fans)
¥ REVOLUTION 1(Recorded in May 1968, editoftake 18 from the 'White Album') ¥ AND YOUR BIRD CAN SING(Recorded in April 1966 during the 'RevoLver' sessions. vocal overdub on take 2) ¥ SHE'S A WOMAN(Take 7. recorded in October 1964 during the 'Beatles For Sate' sessions) ¥ YES IT IS(Recorded in February l965, b-side of 'Ticket To Ride'. rechannelled stereo) ¥ FOR YOU BLUE(Atternate version recorded in January 1969 during the 'Get Back' sessions) ¥ FREE AS ABIRD(John Lennon demo reworked in l994 for 'AnthoLogy 1', outtake)
¥ COME AND GET IT(Take 5, recorded in August l969. session by Paul with Badfinger) ¥ I'M A LOSER(Take 2. recorded in August l964 during the 'Beatles For Sate' sessions) ¥ DON'T BOTHER ME(Recorded in September 1963 during the 'With The Beatles' sessions. remake take 10) ¥ DIZZY MISS LIZZY(Backing track. recorded in May 1965 during sessions for the 'Help!' album) ¥ REVOLUTION(Take 15. recorded in July l968, b-side of 'Hey Jude') ¥ HELLO GOODBYE(Take l, recorded in October l967 during sessions for 'Magical Mystery Tour') ¥ REAL LOVE(John Lennon demo reworked in l995 for 'AnthoLogy 2'. outtake)


Regards,
Beatle Bob

[Steve Marinucci]

Jun 26, 2008 22:16:06 GMT -5 Beatle Bob said:

I recently got the non label version of SESSIONS from Japan on CD mastered by the MC folks that is taken from the latest offering on vinyl that was released last year in Japan. This version and includes the speed corrected versions of Paul w/Badfinger "Come and Get It" as well as the early mix of "Revolution #1. The only difference between this CD and the vinyl version is the exclusion of the "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" backing track more than likely for time constraints to fit it all on one disc. Otherwise content is identical. I compared this to my original Spank (Vigotone) disc and what I thought was the best sounding version of this album, from Dr. Ebbetts. This biggest difference aside from the offering of over twice the running time from the original lineup, is the sound. The sound has been cleaned up immensely. There is virtually no hiss detectable compared to Spank and Dr. Ebbetts versions. The high end is brighter and clearer, especially noticeable on the first track, Paul's original demo of "Come and Get It". For once it doesn't have such a boomy feel and I can now get thru it without skipping to the next track. For me it's also nice to have the oops version of "And Your Bird Can Sing" (removing the laughing) which has been available previously on an earlier bootleg but one which I never aquired. The additon of two outfakes of "Free As A Bird" using a stripped down version taken from 5.1 audio mixes to enhance Lennon's vocal works superbly and is preferable. Though I wonder if this and the "Real Love" outfake came from the TUNED TO NATURAL series. But they both work nicely and are much more listenable than the commercial versions.

Even though it's probably just an arbitary choice of outtakes and alternates the bootleger choose to fill out this disc, it happens to be one of the more enjoyable versions of SESSIONS to come along as it has a different perspective with all these other tracks. Artwork comes with the typical b&w photo of them standing with guitars in front of a brick wall and the reverse is the alternate multi-colored cover. No liner notes and a poor mans version of the Capitol Swirl appearance on the factory pressed disc. Obviously a quick production for MC. Disc's only identifying markers are the label's poor man Capitol Swirl colors and it saying "Stereo/Mono" and "Not For Sale: Promotional use Only" -- and it's "Manufactured by Capitol Records" on the back insert. For the audio, it's the probably the best I've heard in terms of the lack of hiss and better high end. It doesn't feel as compressed as what I was used to. For packaging I've seen better.

Here's the original line up of the vinyl, with the CD just missing the "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" backing track outtake:

¥ COME AND GETIT(Recorded in JuLy l969 during the 'Abbey Road' sessions) ¥ LEAVE MY KITTEN ALONE(Recorded in August l964 during the 'BeatLes For Sale' sessions] ¥ NOT GUILTY(Recorded inAugust 1968 during the 'White Album' sessions] ¥ I'M LOOKING THROUGH YOU(Recorded in October l965. first take of the track from ''Rubber Soul') ¥ WHAT'S THE NEW. MARY JANE?(Recorded inAugust l968 during the 'White Album' sessions)
¥ HOW DO YOU DO IT?(Recorded on September 4, l962. the same day as 'Love Me Do') ¥ BESAME MUCHOtRecorded in June 1962. part ofthe BeatLes' first ever Abbey Road session) ¥ ONE AFTER 909(Recorded in March l963. an earLyversion of the track on 'Let lt Be') ¥ IF YOU'VE GOT TROUBLE(Recorded in February l965 during sessions for the 'Help!' atbum) ¥ THAT MEANS A LOT(Recorded in February l965 during the 'Help!' sessions) ¥ WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS(Recorded in July l968. first take of the track on the 'White Album'') ¥ MAILMAN BLUES(Recorded in January l969 during the ''Let it Be' sessions) ¥ + CHRISTMAS TIME (lS HERE AGAIN)(Recorded in November l967 as a Christmas message to fans)
¥ REVOLUTION 1(Recorded in May 1968, editoftake 18 from the 'White Album') ¥ AND YOUR BIRD CAN SING(Recorded in April 1966 during the 'RevoLver' sessions. vocal overdub on take 2) ¥ SHE'S A WOMAN(Take 7. recorded in October 1964 during the 'Beatles For Sate' sessions) ¥ YES IT IS(Recorded in February l965, b-side of 'Ticket To Ride'. rechannelled stereo) ¥ FOR YOU BLUE(Atternate version recorded in January 1969 during the 'Get Back' sessions) ¥ FREE AS ABIRD(John Lennon demo reworked in l994 for 'AnthoLogy 1', outtake)
¥ COME AND GET IT(Take 5, recorded in August l969. session by Paul with Badfinger) ¥ I'M A LOSER(Take 2. recorded in August l964 during the 'Beatles For Sate' sessions) ¥ DON'T BOTHER ME(Recorded in September 1963 during the 'With The Beatles' sessions. remake take 10) ¥ DIZZY MISS LIZZY(Backing track. recorded in May 1965 during sessions for the 'Help!' album) ¥ REVOLUTION(Take 15. recorded in July l968, b-side of 'Hey Jude') ¥ HELLO GOODBYE(Take l, recorded in October l967 during sessions for 'Magical Mystery Tour') ¥ REAL LOVE(John Lennon demo reworked in l995 for 'AnthoLogy 2'. outtake)


Regards,
Beatle Bob

"Sessions" was one of my favorite albums after it first appeared. I think I played that album endlessly. I can't, however, stand outfakes and, IMO, they add nothing to the canon. I'd love to hear the newer legit outtakes on this expanded version, though.