Yes. From the PDF: "Mix credits Producer: Giles Martin Mix Engineer: Sam Okell Mastering Engineer: Miles Showell"
The story about the Savoy Truffle horns is in Lewisohn's Recording Sessions book - the distortion is definitely a mixing choice, rather than something that's hardwired into the recording.
Either way, that's how much compression I am hearing on the vocal tracks. Lip smacks, breathing, etc. I don't need it to sound like the person is singing right next to my ear.
To those who have the box early: Is Across the Universe (Take 6) on this boxset different from the master take?
Have you compared them to the versions on Anthology? To me these sound a little compressed. I suspect it's their way of trying to polish these recordings up, which I find rather disappointing (and unnecessary). And yes, I'm listening to the Esher demos from the Deluxe set.
@Solaris what are your thoughts on the rest of the set, presuming you’ve heard more than just the Esher Demos? I know from your podcast you have a great ear for their music, so very interested in your opinion on the remixes and outtakes.
I did not compare to Anthology. I did compare to Kinfauns to Chaos boot and it sounds superior to me by far.
I haven't listened to the remix at all yet, but I've given the outtakes a once-through. I found myself smiling quite a few times, and I think there are a lot of little revelations scattered throughout. On first blush, the tracks that leaped out at me: Revolution take 18 - every bit as eye-opening and unhinged as take 20, but in different ways Good Night take 22 - the piano/vocal demo is complete after all, making the choice to cross fade it with the orchestra on Anthology a strange one; this is perfect Ob-la-di take 3 - a heavier drum sound than I expected, which might be down to the mix; will have to listen further While My Guitar take 27 - the main differences are Clapton's guitar (which soars) and George's affecting, often quavering vocal -- the rest is pretty much as you expect; the start and ending chat will be familiar to anyone who's heard the snippets from RockBand Helter Skelter take 17 - loose and wonderful, and Paul's vocal is great I'm So Tired take 14 - an odd mix of the master, with one element familiar from bootleg, and several others we've never heard before, one of which (John and Paul on vocals) is a real treat
Do you feel like commenting on how Cry Baby Cry sounds? That's one of the ones I'm really interested in.
It would be better with less of George's guitar, but unfortunately it's on the same track as the organ. Other than that, I like the vibe of it.
IIRC, The Esher Demos were no-noised to death on Anthology. I'm far from an Esher Expert but I feel that the 2 we've gotten from this set sound vastly superior to what we got in '95. I know that the '18 release is from a direct transfer of the originals. Does anyone know if that was the case for Anthology? Or did George just hand over dubs of the 6 that he viewed worthy of release?
Thank you for your objective reviews and contributions. I can’t wait to hear the rest of the material on this set.
I'm convinced that George picked those 6-7 Esher demos he handed over for the Anthology project basically at random. I don't know. I don't see any rhyme or reason to his selections. I guess "Mustard" and "Pam" are interesting because they are so different from their Abbey Road incarnations. But as far as representing the White Album era? Really? The Paul songs he chooses are the oft-maligned "Honey Pie" and then "Junk" which is charming, but a solo Paul song that doesn't sound all that different from the acoustic demo. "Piggies" over "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"? No "Revolution" or "Dear Prudence" or "Back in the USSR" even though those iconic songs are not represented anywhere else on Anthology? Such strange choices...
Back in the day, the Unsurpassed Demos bootleg by Yellow Dog was a real treat, regardless of the SQ. I’m looking forward to hearing the majority of the demos from the new box.
