I got one am really happy about this. Still regret not being able to get the RSD version but this will suffice me.
I was glad I heard about the Piper Mono reissue on here, it was a jewel bargain. I just received mine and it has to be one of the quietest pressings I own, that thing is dead silent! The sound is very warm and full even though I don't have any mono gear. When they were originally recorded in mono, they can definitely blow away some of the fake sounding recreated in stereo versions from back then. I hate it when you have vocals and one instrument in one speaker, drums and another instrument in the other speaker, with absolutely nothing at all in the middle, and zero imaging or soundstage. I wish I could pick up great new mono pressings like this for all my favorite 60's releases.
I like the (real) stereo Piper mix more than the mono, it's very much of it's time. Likewise Axis: Bold of Love from the same year, I didn't like the mono mix of Axis at all.
A poll about this will probably endup in a 50-50 results. While I like to listen to mono albums, my preference goes with stereo. To me SOS in mono really enhanced my listening experience. I feel the album mix sounds less disjointed in mono than stereo.
Piper was recorded on 4-track tape and was mixed to real stereo, not simulated stereo. Some early singles were never mixed in stereo so they were "electronically enhanced for stereo playing" but Piper was not subject to this practice. I'll never understand how the multitracks got tossed and only the mono and/or stereo masters survived.
It's unfortunate, but in 1967 few would have foreseen a use for the multitracks in the future. Remixes were uncommon and mutichannel mixes were still a few years in the future with quadrophonic. There was certainly nothing like the parade of remasters and remixes that have existed since the 90's on the horizon. When an single or album dropped, that was it - it was either going to go into multiple pressings (using the stereo or mono mixdowns) or it was going to go out of print. The multitracks were the least valuable part of the process. We're probably very lucky to have the stereo and mono tapes of albums like Piper, the success of which was far from certain.
I didn't realize they originally recorded Piper in both stereo and mono, I need this in stereo now also. I've had such terrible luck with 60's stereo LP's that are weak and artificial sounding, they sound anemic on my system.
Get the UK version of Nice Pair. Uses the same metals as the original UK stereo Piper (which is now insanely expensive). It definitely won't sound weak! As a bonus, you also get the original UK mastering of Saucerful as well.
This exactly what I did when scooping up Floyd vinyl 20 years ago, and it's the most affordable way to get OG masters of these two LP's.
FYI, I've noticed that some of the 2016 vinyl reissues are becoming pretty scarce. Meddle seems to be in short supply, and I just paid a lot for the Atom Heart Mother reissue. There may be others that are going out of print. I wonder if they'll be re-pressed soon.
I believe they just repressed Dark Side, WYWH, and The Wall last year. So who knows if they plan to repress these others. Then they decided to repress the Mono S/T and Saucer so I would guess the stereo's of those don't get repressed
It really does. I have never heard an original (UK or US) but I do own a lot of records and this one sounds better than most of them, IMO.
I've been listening to it (vinyl) - I think it sounds fabulous. It's been 20 years since I listened to it (also on vinyl, back in the day) so I can't compare to the original, I've forgotten what a completely lovely sad album this is.
I’ve listened to it 2 times already and it’s wonderful. My pressing is good and the the vinyl is quite. Nothing but pure music flows out of the Aerial 7t’s. The sound quality is excellent. Fantastic! Highly recommended!
