Just a note, don't buy the 24/96 download in the hopes of getting less compression than the CDs. It's the exact same mastering in higher resolution, DR numbers and sound quality are identical.
The Super Deluxe at HDTracks, 96/24: The Beatles (White Album / Super Deluxe) | HDtracks - The World's Greatest-Sounding Music Downloads Price is $98.98. Deluxe Version, also 96/24: The Beatles (White Album / Deluxe) | HDtracks - The World's Greatest-Sounding Music Downloads Price is $55.98 There is a 15% off coupon (HDNOV9)
Short cut to Esher tracks on Spotify! The Beatles Esher Almond Album, a playlist by Dr. Pepper on Spotify
I was a little kid at Xmas who could not sleep last night, got up at 3am to listen on stream before physical copy arrived. Started with Esher and now on sessions, sound is stunning and and so intimate & emotional. Thanks Beatles, thanks Giles.... Always loved and defended Paul music and he's great here, but this set really showcases John's genius and George's talents. Gotta go to work in an hour....Sigh.
Wait, wait, wait... Did they really include a less compressed master on the blu ray this time ? (Helter Skelter DR9 on BR, DR8 on CD)
For that matter Mean Mr Mustard and Polythene Pam are suprisingly skipped as well and sound wonderful in their Esher versions. With Not Guilty not too far behind, but of course they had to cut something.
With Mrs. Brainwashed still recovering, I've been forced to listen all week to bits and pieces. First things first. The Esher demos sound great. Anyone saying they sound shrill, or are overly bright are whacked. So there. The alternate take of Sour Milk Sea is MUCH better than the electric guitar demo we're all familiar with. Circles is fantastic... vocals are very, very good and the organ is spooky and cool. There's really not a clinker in the bunch. Lots of fun listening to these. I've always enjoyed the Esher demos and the remix from the 4 track tapes is as good as it gets. The remix album is better, FAR better, than I ever expected. Nothing is remotely brickwalled or hard limited. There's plenty of air, dynamics and even a bit of hiss. All of George's songs are significantly better sounding than ever before. Long, Long, Long is exceptionally good. His vocals ARE brought up compared to the original but it's for the better. Ringo's drums and George's acoustic are thunderous. Piggies has never sounded so open and clear. Same with Savoy Truffle... it just rocks out, but the vocals and instruments are bell-clear. Love it. "Gently Weeps" is a nice improvement over the standard stereo mix, but Eric's guitar needed to be brought forward, IMO. George and Paul's vocals sound lovely. I'll probably do a track-by-track analysis over the weekend, if we're back from hospital. The outtakes are all good, some stunningly good. I give the top prize to the bluesy Cry Baby Cry as the best outtake on the set. Some lovely guitar from George on that one. The oldies blast of You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care is better than almost ANY jam from the Get Back sessions... just too damn short. I love Paul's vocal on Blue Moon. Even though he's just larking about it's got a beautiful, sweet tone. If it wasn't for Lennon trying to play the wood block, I bet he would have continued on without laughing. The rehearsal of Let It Be was totally unexpected. A full band version, albeit short, with presumably John playing some organ fills and Ringo pounding on the skins. For some reason I was expecting a slight piano demo from Paul. Paul even tells Ken Scott to remember it. Very cool. Other highlights include: Revolution (single version) rehearsal, Hey Jude Take 1, Martha My Dear (no strings or brass), stellar outtakes for Happiness Is A Warm Gun, Long, Long, Long, While My Guitar with Eric. Hell, they're all good or at worst interesting and/or fun alternatives. Even Take 1 of What's The New Mary Jane is a hoot. Featuring John on vocals and piano and laughing a lot and George on Acoustic. No Yoko! No silly effects. No pennywhistle! Complaints. Really, just one. take 102 of Not Guilty. George's vocal is too far back and just like Roger Scott's stereo mix, it has the overdubbed (more subdued) lead guitar too loud and the more rauceous lead guitar (heard best on the Pete Seller's mono mix) in the background. Just an odd mixing decision. I suppose I was just expecting something magical for this song. But it sort of just sits there. Sound quality is good, but I was expecting A LOT. My lone complaint. More to follow.... Ron PS The demos/rehearsals for Julia are amazing. Hearing John so vulnerable and into the performance brought tears to these old eyes. Just lovely.
107 tracks streaming, all those box sets, the CD at stores... I wonder how high this will chart next week...