On the subject of odd versions of Rubber Soul...... I have a copy of the UK stereo LP that is clearly a late pressing (EMI oblong logos). The label, and a sticker on the cover, says Made in France. The mixes are very narrow stereo, much like those done for the Rubber Soul tracks on the Love Songs album. I have never seen mention of this - can anyone shed any light ?
I'll quote him, it's pretty funny. from the book The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions, page 68 "Thursday 11 November 'You Won't See Me' (takes 1-2) Paul's song was recorded in two takes with various overdubs. According to the record sleeve it featured the Beatles' assistant Mal Evans on Hammond Organ, but no such sound is detectable on the tape or disc. There is however a piano, played by Paul" Now, on my UK stereo needledrop I play in the car all the time, you can actually hear the organ note faded up. On the remix cd it just kind of "emerges" from between the other stuff in the left channel. You can hear it in both stereo mixes, it's quite obvious.
eBay price check: The Disque Americ Rubber Soul is up to $76.00! The Disque Americ Help is up to $46.00! UNREAL! There's still 2 days left in the auction! I can see these possibly fetching $100-$200 . . .
Some questions I have been pondering: So, are these Disque Americ discs going to join the Abbey Road Black Triangle as the Holy Grails of Beatles CD's? I wonder if we'll be able to get a handle on how many of these were produced and how common (or rare) they are? How many Beatles books are going to need to be updated to include the existence of these non-George Martin remixes? Why hasn't Steve commented on this thread yet--it's right up his alley? Yes, I realize he has a personal and professional life outside the confines of this forum . . . I've also emailed some published Beatles experts about this thread and they have not posted either. My only guess is that they are just as flabbergasted about this discovery as we arfe, don't know what to make of it, and don't have anything to add . . . Finally, even though these CD's are non-remixed, it seems to me that they are not flat transfers and the EQ that was applied is, well, pretty darn *bright* . . .
Ok...I have a different pressing here to throw in the mix. I did a search using the key words of the thread title and the word "cinram", so I assume no one has mentioned this; My pressing of Help, made in Canada, spine says C2 46439, disc has parlophone label on the left, and the C2 46439 above the compact disc logo on the right. The matrix is MFG BY CINRAM #951106E c2-46439 L381. I checked the time on Winamp, it shows it at 34:26.
It really is strange because, post-Lewisohn, Beatle guides have been researched/written at a level usually reserved for PHD scholars. I mean, it's not like Chip Madinger(sic?) didn't work his *** off for those incredible books of his... As for Steve's lack of comment...maybe he's responsible for convincing a colleague working at UK EMI to unearth the test-pressing DAT's, and he started the forums in order to try and leave subtle hints as to their existence! Seriously, though, nowadays they don't even destroy unused pre-production digital transfers from the mid 80's...and, yet, back in 1963 they couldn't manage to hold onto anything involving "She Loves You", bar it's master tape? Times have changed...
If the playlist editor says my CDN Help disc is 34:26, my Cinram copy is probably the same copy as the DA copy, right? I postulate that some Help/RubberSoul discs were made in Canada at DA, some in America at Cinram, all with the same mastering. I don't detect an echo on Dizzy Miss Lizzie either, I'm listening now....
I checked the thread and found someone with the DA mentioned it was 34:26, and the lack of echo/reverb on Dizzy Miss Lizzie seem to confirm it.
More Important info! Maybe, once everything settles down, somebody(s) should put together a nifty FAQ for these...The only reference of it's kind! Credited to the S.H. forums, Button, apologies to that poor guy from RMB circa '99, etc.
Yeah, I PM'ed Chip about this thread when, at the time, it had only 1-2 posts. I assume he by now has read it, but doesn't have anything to add.
In case anyone was wondering, that Usenet Help! is the real deal! I cynically decided to check the times against munson66's song length breakdowns, and they all match down to even the hundreds of seconds.
So far it seems to be, but I can't compare my copy of Help to see..I"ve posted what I can tell ya, we have to investigate further. I don't have a CINRAM Rubber Soul, but I'm gonna grab one if I see one to help the proceedings.
I am seeking some "HELP" in finding out if my copy is the original UK mix? I listed my time, what else do I need to confirm it?
Ok, I just heard a copy of the coveted Dizzy Miss Lizzie and it's the same as the one I have on my CINRAM disc. The plot thickens...I think my earlier "guess" may stand to be correct; the CINRAM discs of HELP! and possibly RUBBER SOUL are identical to the DA ones.
Wow, this just keeps getting better/more interesting! musicalbeds, even if you don't have a scanner, anymore additional details regarding the "fine print" on both the outside spine/back, and the inner ring matrix codes and copywrites on the cd itself will be valuable as well!
Mike, I just got up, but as soon as I pour some tea down my throat, I'm gonna photograph the disc and tray card...very exciting!
What a fantastic team effort! Thanks one and all for contributing to this thread. I knew that "the truth was out there" Pity that the screw-up didn't extend to every single album
