The Beatles mono vs stereo

[Clarkey_71]

Other than the obvious, what is the difference between mono and stereo Beatles releases?

I understand that the early releases fit the mono mold but I don't get it with the late releases. Surely anything post Revolver must suit the stereo format better.

For example, I can't imagine that Abbey Road could ever sound any better.

Any sage advice? (No garden herb puns please!)

 

[Jim-W]

Very brief reply...search the net for the differences...there's loads about it.

Abbey Road was not mixed in mono but fold-downs, left and right mixed together, were created for foreign markets such as Brazil and maybe India. It's the best eq'd Beatles record in stereo.

Sergeant Pepper's had a dedicated mono mix with the stereo thrown together in a few hours. 'She's Leaving Home' only plays at the right speed in mono. Lots of other little differences too.

Magical Mystery Tour is different in mono and stereo but more care beginning to be taken with stereo mixes-there are subtle differences between the two. You need them both really. I prefer mono; many prefer widescreen stereo. Ditto 'Yellow Submarine.'

'White Album' is a good stereo mix and different to the mono; more care taken with the stereo again. Again, you need them both really.

No 'Let It Be' mono release.

All releases up to and including 'Revolver' were mixed carefully for mono release and the stereo was an afterthought; it was really for the geeks and nerdy types who had invested in early stereo record players.

 

[iMark]

Since buying the Red and Blue collections in 1974 I have always wondered why noone ever thought of remixing the weird stereo mixes. As far as I understand it, it has to do with the way the mastertapes were mixed down. And maybe noone could agree on what the remixes should sound like. Personnally I would like to hear good stereo remixes that remain very close to the mono ones.

At the moment I only have the stereo reissue box set and maybe I should invest in the mono box.

I suppose that remixing The Beatles is a very diversive subject, but there's no denying that the early stereo mixes are very bad and only since the White Album stereo was taken seriously.

 

[Sliced Bread]

I've not listened to the whole collection, but I've compared a fair few of the songs and for me it's mono all the way.

There are some good moments in the stereo mixes, but for me the the stereo effect is a bit hit and miss. The mono tracks also sound a bit fuller.

 

[MajorFubar]

For example, I can't imagine that Abbey Road could ever sound any better.

Any sage advice? (No garden herb puns please!)

You're right it wouldn't because there was never a dedicated mono mix for anything beyond White Album, leaving Yellow Submarine, Abbey Road and Let It Be only existing in album-form as stereo mixes. Some markets may have had mono versions, but they will always have been just a fold-down of the stereo mix.

 

[Clarkey_71]

Cheers folks. Really useful comments that pretty much reinforced my previous thoughts on the subject.