Well, I grabbed a Singles Box over the weekend, and feel obliged to report that I don't find it to be the sonic treat that the EP box was/is. I tend to prefer the mastering, at least, on the Past Masters Vol. 2 versions of the mixes they have in common (Ballad of J&Y/Old Brown Shoe, Let It Be/You Know My Name). It's certainly better sounding than most of the official Beatles CDs out there, but the real reason to get it is for the great mono mixes. However, you know what sounds *really* good here -- Something/Come Together. Steve -- you previously mentioned the phase problems on some of the early songs on the Singles Box due to faulty playback. On, say, I'll Get You -- particularly frustrating because it's not covered on the EP box -- is what we're hearing on the Singles Box bad playback of an earlier generation tape, compared to proper playback of a later generation tape on Past Masters? And I readily concede, the mono mix here of Yellow Submarine sounds MUCH better than the previous dub I had. It really sounds great. But I was a little disappointed with the mono All You Need Is Love -- it's a little bright, and a little faster (like a lot of the mono mixes), and some of the timing discrepancies between instruments are fudged better on the stereo. Technically, I think the mono's a better mix, but on, say, the Magical Mystery Tour CD, when those warm strings come in, followed by Lennon's detatched, relaxed phrasing, it seems a little less corny, you know? Also, for those who think the stereo Revolution is just for sissies, I'd point out that, on the stereo, the scream is louder, the bass line is more pronounced, and (again) the groove is more relaxed. The mono rocks, though! All of this just makes me wonder -- who at EMI mastered that EP Box? It doesn't have the "straight transfer" sound that Past Masters and the Singles Box have (although there's nothing wrong with that). The EPs sound like someone with taste and know-how sat down and finessed the tunes onto CD -- and actually listened to them before they came out! Thanks, pal!
dbryant, thanks for the informative post! Richard, it is obtainable up here as well at www.absound.ca
Hey Steve -- let me bump the thread and restate my question -- what accounts for the differences in the sound quality of the versions of I'll Get You on the Singles Box and Past Masters? Tape generation, playback, EQ? I'm listening to the differences, but I'm too ignorant to make out exactly what's contributing what to the overall sound. I mean, I can guess, but I'd rather hear it from you... For those of you in the Boston area, I got the Singles Box from Looney Tunes on Boylston Street and they had an EP Box there for $99. - Good Neighbor Dave
You know, I haven't compared the two versions of that song, finding my old Parlophone 45 the only version that doesn't make my ears implode. However, both versions use the same tape generation. Since I have no idea who mastered either, I'd say the Past Masters version was done better. At least everything on there is "Flat" from the tapes, either good or bad....(Long Tall Sally is too bright, I'm Down too dull, etc.) I'd rather have it that way than any other.... The early stuff on the singles box was mastered pretty badly, channels out of phase, etc. Sigh.
OK, now how do the little 3" singles that came in long boxes with copies of the 45 sleeves fit into this picture? I have a stash of them (not all, and I quit buying just when the mono mixes for later stuff popped up on them). Anybody have comments on those and their sonics???
I hear ya, We should also have the first four in STEREO! I wish it was that easy! Most of their catalog needs to be overhauled! I'd love to see the original stereo mixes of Rubber Soul & Help on CD! Not just on bootlegs!
Beatles Singles Collection: UK Vinyl 45s To avoid the problems inherent in the CD Singles Collection, I have searched for -- and found and bought -- the 1982 set of Beatles UK vinyl 45s called "The Beatles Singles Collection." Unlike the CD singles set it includes 26 Beatles 45s, including something called "Movie Medley" which is a title new to me. I bought it from a private collector -- absolutely MINT condition -- for $75.00. I also received my MINT condition UK vinyl set "The Beatles Mono Collection" (red box) on Friday. Astounding!!! As a young American during the days of "Beatlemania," my Beatles vinyl was all domestic Capitol. Until the MFSL set I never owned any Beatles UK albums (I sold that set years ago). But this is something on another plane altogether. Beatles UK vinyl (re)issued by Parlophone with the beautiful jackets (not a fingerprint on them!) AND -- even more astonishing -- all of the inserts! Meaning that I also got the cutouts from "Sgt. Pepper's," as well as the GIANT poster and the four full-size, color pictures in the "White Album. Truly amazing and I bought it -- for a low price considering its value as a collectable -- from a private collector. Soon to arrive is my Blue Box "Beatles Collection" (UK, 1978), which contains all of the albums in their stereo versions and the "Rarities" disc. Again, bought from a private collector -- MINT/unplayed -- for an extremely low price. So I will have all of the Beatles albums in UK Parlophone mono and stereo; plus all of their UK 45s. And, after Steve Hoffman's rave, I purchased the British Export Edition of "Hey Jude" from an extremely reputable UK on-line site. It too, in superb condition. I also just purchased -- NEW -- from another private collector (for ludicrously low prices), Japanese pressings of the "Red" album and the "Blue" album. The catalog numbers on these are EAS - 77003 -4 and EAS 77005 - 6. Of these two I know very little (except that they are new with all inserts). Does anyone have any information on the mastering and pressings? These, I assume, DO NOT use classic Capitol "rechannelled for stereo" monstrosities, do they? Has anyone heard these specific issues? Any information will be appreciated! I am NOT holding my breath for the CD reissues everyone is pining for, as if they DO reissue them, I expect some "tweaking." This means that, in my opinion, vinyl originals (or as close to originals is possible) is the only way to insure that one has the Beatles' music the way it was MEANT to be heard by the artists themselves at the time of the music's recording. Vinyl really is the way to go (except in the case of the "Beatles EP Collection - CD version -- which is really quite superb).
I know this seems like nit picking, but you say the early stuff sounds bad on the singles set, what about the later stuff? Or is a better question: should I pass on the singles box and just pick up the Past Masters discs?
Robert, You should have Past Masters 1 and 2 in your collection in any case. Then try and find the CD EP Box for some of the good mono mixes. Then get the Singles Box....After the first 3 or 4 singles (mastered out-of-phase from the absolute wrong tapes), the sound improves...
You'd have to admit though (I hope!) that the stereo She's a Woman on the EP box sounds pretty amazing. How about the piano that enters in the second verse. Wow!
Yeah, the early cuts on the singles box are disappointing, to say the least (though "Thank You Girl" isn't **too** bad)... the real standout surprises for me were "Yes It Is" (which has **amazing** texture to the vocals) , "You Can't Do That", "I Feel Fine" (a beautifully defined guitar sound), and "Strawberry Fields" & "I Am the Walrus" (which are simply a different listening experience entirely, when compared to the stereo versions). These, of course are in addition to things like "Paperback Writer", "Revolution" and "Don't Let Me Down", which I knew I'd love. -Kevin
I was disapointed in the sound of the singles box set. I do like the ep set much better. I think I am a Walrus on the MFSL Beatles Collection sounds amazing.
I think the later stuff sounds a lot better on the singles collection than the CD's of their albums. The singles box didn't no-noise those songs. And for THAT reason alone, I'm glad I've got it.
Actually, if there's any cloning going on it would be the inverse. The 3" singles were released in 1988-89, the 5" singles box wasn't released until 1992.
