Beatles - the best sounding versions of their songs

Many list members have provided useful information about what they believe are the best sounding versions of Beatles songs. Having this information (and opinion) all together in one place might be quite nice!

My initial thoughts are that we would need to identify the full list of their 200 (or so?) songs, and then work out how many versions of each eg mono, stereo, 1966 stereo remix, 1971 remix, etc etc etc exist.

Then the subjective choices - and details crediting where the info comes from (by list member name?)

There could be disagreements....maybe we show all the opinions and readers make their own choice?

Anyone got more ideas on this? It would require a lot of work...

 

It's probably been done to some extent with the various media. Are you counting LPs? If so, prepared to get into wars over pressing vs. source quality, etc.

 

I think all media should be covered. "Wars" are OK if we present all sides rather than trying to make an outright decision.
LOL Maybe easier to say than do.

 

BrettyD,

One thread that may be very helpful in the effort is:

The Beatles "Best Pressings" list

There is a lot of good information there. I bookmarked it as a guide for myself. The problem is that it is a very looong thread to sift through. I would like to see the info in a 'chart' or similar form for reference.

Good luck with the project!

 

GOOD! This is not an exact science, so a list of passionate opinions will enable consumers to know the pros and cons of records they happen to come across in their travels.

 

It also depends on what people have been exposed to. For example, I tend to champion the SWAN 45 of "She Loves You". But I've never heard, say, an original Parlophone 45 of this song. And, to be even more subjective, I tend to enjoy the fake-stereo mix of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" found on the stereo "Meet the Beatles" album more than the official stereo mix!
Ummm. Yes, this could be a long project indeed!

----- Chris

 

Not to start anything, but how could anyone enjoy a fake stereo anything?

 

First, imagine growing up in the mid to late 60's / early to mid 70's with only the "fake stereo" versions being the soundtrack of your life. Additionally, imagine that being a particularly happy childhood. Finally, imagine that as the years go by that the "fake stereo" versions become, for the most part, obsolete. Someone else has decided that these versions are inferior and concludes that I have no desire to listen to them anymore.

 

Matt has hit the nail on the head here!
The whole project could get bogged down in disagreement unless both the pros and cons are on show. It's all subjective anyway and if we acknowledge this and provide a resource where people can easily find what other people think of a title, I think we will have succeeded.

I've changed tack slightly on how to start it. I think maybe commencing with the UK albums and studying the Beatles Best Pressings thread at http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?threadid=17446
would be a good idea. Then song by song once the concept is working

I'll post a link for the location of it as soon as I can so that you can critique as we go. It might be a bit ropey for a start - but it'll be getting better all the time...

And feedback will not only be welcome - it will be essential.

 

The reason I even said anything was that to me, the worst thing the Record Companies as a whole EVER did (well, other than SUING 72 year old Grandfathers lately) was the whole "Electronic stereo" thing. No redeeming value whatsoever. and it wasnt the extra buck or two...those fake stereo Lps sounded like ****. i had a right to be mad!!!

 

So rather than listen to the records that I grew up with and temporarily be transported back in time, you're implying that I would be better off simply waxing nostalgic about it?

I think it's cool having so many different versions of many of The Beatles' songs. It doesn't mean I have to choose only the best sounding version. Give me them all to choose from and let me decide what I want to listen to.

 

Me sir, please sir, can I enjoy sir!!

 

Gotta love that doggie! Well said and ditto!!

 

The link for the previous Beatles Best Pressings, in the very first post, very first LP lists the U.K. stereo Please Please Me. How many times has Steve and those of us who now own a stereo copy of the West German Please Please Me aka Die Beatles -2, shared our thought and mp3 samples of this amazing LP? If you haven't heard Die Beatles, I still have my sample mp3s linked to the Die Beatles thread from last year. The W German pressing blows away the stereo U.K. version.

 

But fake stereo can be quite good. I quite like the American fake stereo She Loves You. I like the fake stereo versions of Love Me Do and PS I Love You on the DMM Melodya pressing of Please Please Me LP.

But there again I am the person (singular) who likes the duophonic versions of many tracks by The Beach Boys.

Maybe I should hang my head in shame.

 

Well, fake stereo is certainly an abomination overall, but IWTHYH on the stereo MTB album is my one exception. Is it good sound quality? Not at all, however I think it's more enjoyable than the stereo mix where the lead guitar is panned hard to one side and ends up sounding "twee". The fake stereo version isn't better than the mono single version, but I do happen to like it.
And what's worse, I happen to think the Capitol mono "Early Beatles" LP (which was a type B fold-down from the mono) is a pretty good-sounding example of that generally despised practice. I think Capitol did a good job with that release. Is it pure? No, but I do enjoy it.
That said, these are the only examples of these practices that I think have any redeeming value in the Beatles catalog. I'd love to hear what other people think are the "best" sounding versions so I can revisit the ones I have (and enjoy them) and seek out the ones I don't. This is part of the fun for me as a Beatle collector. Keep 'em coming!

------ Chris

 

Ok all...I've started.

Only a tiny amount of info there so far and I'm not sure I like the set out etc but that will mutate in the right direction I guess. A bit embarrassing to show it at this point but...

I haven't tried to credit any sources yet - but I have acknowledged this forum as the source of much of the info. PS thanks LtPepper for the Beatles best pressings thread reference. I think I'm going to get to know some of these threads intimately (or at least on a first name basis.....


Have a look at Best Sounding Beatles

Is this the kind of thing we want? Keep in mind this is a very early version - take 1 if you like.

Looking forward to your feedback.

 

BrettyD,

I like your web page OK so far.

Agreed that keeping a focus on just the standard albums may be wise. Maybe stick to just PPM, WTB, AHDN, BFS, H!, RS, R, SPLHCB, YS, TB (TWA), LIB, & AR. MMT will get tricky due to the EP, & could be left for another round.

I might suggest the addition of 2 lines for each item, a Now In Print line, and a Runners-up line. For example, for your Please Please Me stereo lp example...

Now In Print: Out of print in stereo.
Runners-up: UK pressings for stereo, original or 70s/80s reissues as found in BC13 box set (as kipper15 put it in the Best Pressings List thread).

Or not. One trouble with lists like these are you can add detail infinitely!

Cheers,
Doug

 

BD, you're off to a great start!

It's nice to have someone record all these comments in one place.

mud-