09/09/09 The Beatles

[xcapri79]

Can't wait for the Fab Four on CD mono. I already have most of their vinyl records, purchased in the 80's, including the "Hey Jude" album which has never been released on CD as far as I know.
I already have the stereo box set and the mono set should arrive tomorrow. UPS tracking says it was in Kentucky.

[comfortablycurt]

Alright...I've given up on the idea of getting the stereo box set. This was decided when I bought the Abbey Road and Part Masters earlier!

Haven't gotten a ton of listening time in yet...but it's sounding great so far!


I think my new plan is to pick up all the stereo versions individually, and then get the mono box set.


On another note...the only complaint I've had with these remasters so far, is that it's a little difficult to get the discs out of the cases without touching the bottom of the disc.

[xcapri79]

Originally Posted by comfortablycurt

Alright...I've given up on the idea of getting the stereo box set. This was decided when I bought the Abbey Road and Part Masters earlier!

Haven't gotten a ton of listening time in yet...but it's sounding great so far!


I think my new plan is to pick up all the stereo versions individually, and then get the mono box set.

The stereo boxed set includes an additional 14 card collector set and the mini documentaries DVD.
Also included in my order was a Hallmark Beatles Paul McCartney stamp encased in a plastic case.
Now that made it really fab. lol.

Did you see that Best Buy had the "Past Masters" and "White" double albums on for $12.99?
Not sure what the best deals are, but that one looked good enough for me.

I agree about the CD removal problem. The CD's in the paper sleeves are a snug fit.
I guess you need to wear a white glove.

[BlueFox]

Originally Posted by comfortablycurt

I think my new plan is to pick up all the stereo versions individually, and then get the mono box set.


On another note...the only complaint I've had with these remasters so far, is that it's a little difficult to get the discs out of the cases without touching the bottom of the disc.

The mono set is suppossed to be a limited run, so once it is sold out the price will start increasing.

In regard to the packaging, sometimes I think getting a CD out, and then back in, is a field sobriety test.

[Norm Apter]

Originally Posted by BlueFox

In regard to the packaging, sometimes I think getting a CD out, and then back in, is a field sobriety test.

ha,ha...I totally agree with you. With the mono box CDs, it's like a 7-step process, however, the extra liners seem to give much better protection than the individual stereo CD gatefolds which Curt mentioned. Those stereo gatefolds have much fewer steps, but they do tend to get stuck with the possiblity of scratches if you aren't careful.

I don't really see the point of gatefolds (seems kind of a halfway house for mini lps). I don't mind digipacks at all, but at least give the regular plastic part where you can securely fasten the CD instead of dealing with bending the cardboard to try to get the CD out.

[TECHNOKID]

Originally Posted by BlueFox

The mono set is suppossed to be a limited run, so once it is sold out the price will start increasing.

In regard to the packaging, sometimes I think getting a CD out, and then back in, is a field sobriety test.

The only way it can go up once its sold out is that they come back with new batches (not really sold out), increase on the use (demand crisis) and finally the vultures on Ebay taking advantage of the demand to create outrageous price increase (I am convinced there are already some of those vutures that stocked-up a while back and are simply waiting for the right time to cleanup their preys).

I agree with your comment on the packaging, the final touch inserting that plastic over the cardboard case is somewhat tedious at times and I would definitely not be able to do it with alcohol in my blood


Cheers!
TK

[xcapri79]

Received my mono set this afternoon. Just love it. I remember that sound.
Makes me want to rebuild my old tube hifi.
The mono CD packaging is far better than the stereo version, imho.

[Keiko]

My stereo box was delivered this afternoon. I'm on Rubber Soul now. Very pleased with the set. Welcome back to the 60's.

[TECHNOKID]

Since I finally decided to get both mono and stereo sets now (I blame Norm (kept on promoting they complemented each other and owning both sets was a must) and F1 (for his AB review which lead me to doubt my original mono purchase). I wish I had as much bacon as those 2 have, I wouldn't have to remorgage the house for music Anyway, if I go bankrupt I'll know where to point the finger

Joke aside, I just acquired "THE BEATLES BOX OF VISION" which will allow for the sae keeping of both collections for years to come. Has anyone that own or intends to own more than 1 CD collection considered this purchase?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvErMASPNdo

http://bandweblogs.com/blog/2009/07/...hy-cd-storage/

http://larryfire.wordpress.com/2009/...box-of-vision/


Cheers!
TK

[Norm Apter]

TK,

In order to complete the collection and enjoyment of the music, I suggest that you (and anyone else who is so inclined) dispense further with $12 (this will just sting for a moment), or whatever the equivalent is in Canadian dollars. See my post #129 on the book by Ian MacDonald, Revolution in the Head. While going back and listening to these albums from Please, Please Me to Let It Be, I've been reading the MacDonald on the side, as it gives an incredibly rich analysis of all songs in the chronological order they were recorded: MacDonald addresses both lyrical content as well as musical structures, what instruments were used and who played what, and all aspects of studio production. For example, I found it fascinating that on "Drive My Car" Harrison plays bass and MaCartney lead guitar. (Some songs warrant only a five-line paragraph whereas others such as "Help!" receive 3 or more pages of text). And while he appreciates the Beatles for their strengths and highlights them expertly, he is no fanboy: unlike many authors, he takes the Beatles to task for lazy lyrics, drab musical presentation, and times when they fell back on trite conventionalism (when such criticisms are warranted). The stories he weaves into the recording history of the Beatles are absolutely fascinating and a testamount to the nose-to-the-grindstone research he undertook to produce this book.

In fact, I don't think its a long shot to say that this book has helped me sharpen my focus on what I love about the Beatles and what I don't find particularly appealing.

Additionally, the book begins to cast light on what I consider to be the most interesting aspect of the group's growth: the transition in 1965 from writing and performing songs with audience expectations at the forefront to the primacy the Beatles placed thereafter on expressing themselves personally. From the book, we get a sense that this occurred gradually over the recording of three albums (Beatles for Sale , Help! and Rubber Soul), with a discussion of the innovative approaches to songs and words in this watershed period -- it also highlights how the changing music of The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, The Who and even The Beach Boys in 1965 as well as influence from their new acquaintence, Bob Dylan, help facilitate this transformation, pushing the Beatles to break out of the old mold associated with the Beatlemania years.

Amazon link to Revolution in the Head

[TECHNOKID]

Thanks Norm, yes I've seen your original post in that matter. Any clue if there are much differences in the versions? No huge difference in US and CDN $$ these days;

http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_ss_0_1...ix=revolution+

Cheers!
TK

[Norm Apter]

Originally Posted by TECHNOKID

Thanks Norm, yes I've seen your original post in that matter. Any clue if there are much differences in the versions? No huge difference in US and CDN $$ these days;

http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_ss_0_1...ix=revolution+

Cheers!
TK

My copy is only 508 pages, but they were published in the same year and have the same identical cover so I imagine that the content is virtually the same. MacDonald is dead, actually (he passed in 2003). The version with this cover is the 3rd edition, published posthumously in 2007 but I've read that the 3rd edition is no different than the second (meaning that no one has "edited" his work, which is a good thing). In sum, despite the discrepancy in length, the one available at amazon.ca and amazon.usa appear to be the same (perhaps its due to differences in font size and pages???).

[BlueFox]

I purchased the mono set, but since Abbey Road and Let It Be were recorded in stereo they are not included. So, I ordered them separately from Amazon.

Anyway, I just finished Abbey Road, and am now listening to Let It Be, and it occurred to me that this is the way CDs should be packaged. Shrink wrapped over a cardboard holder, and no stupid bar code strip on one edge of a plastic case. In other words, I did not have to get my X-acto knife out to open the CD. My thumb nail was sufficient. What a concept! Back to the future.

[comfortablycurt]

Originally Posted by BlueFox

and it occurred to me that this is the way CDs should be packaged. Shrink wrapped over a cardboard holder, and no stupid bar code strip on one edge of a plastic case. In other words, I did not have to get my X-acto knife out to open the CD. My thumb nail was sufficient. What a concept! Back to the future.

+50,000,000,000,000 Those little adhesive bar code strips drive me out of my mind. I can't just cut them either...I have to insist on getting the whole thing off.






Well, I added Yellow Submarine to the collection today. I'm up to Rubber Soul, Yellow Submarine, Abbey Road, Let It Be and Past Masters now.

Only 9 more to go!! All of my local stores are running out though...all they've got for the most part is the earlier albums. I haven't been able to track down the White Album or Sgt Pepper yet...I'm looking forward to those ones.

I'd rather get those ones before I start getting the earlier ones...The early Beatles is still good...but I'm much more of a fan of the music the Beatles made after they started smoking pot...lol

[Keiko]

^^^ Pot Head ^^^

[Libertyc]

Well I received the stereo set yesterday. Only listened to Abby Road, Let it be, and Revolver so far. I have not done any A/B comparisons yet and so far don't know what say. The new remastered CD sound very bright and processed to me. The highs sound very clear but a bit loud. The low end does not seem to dig in as deep either. I'm still listening but so far thats what I hear.

[comfortablycurt]

So...I was sitting around bored earlier, thinking about how much I wanted Sgt. Pepper, the white album and Revolver.

They haven't had them at any of the stores around me though unfortunately. I knew that my local Walmart had several copies of Help!, so I figured I'd go and pick that one up.

So, I walk up to the CD racks, and I notice right away that there are a bunch more of the remasters than there were a few days ago.

I look through them...and I managed to find a copy of Sgt Pepper, Revolver and the white album. The last copy left of each one.


Score!!!

I'm about halfway through Sgt Pepper right now...it's everything I expected it to be after hearing the other remasters.

I'll report back later...I've got a lot of listening to do!!

[Keiko]

Atta boy, Curt. Nice score!

[xcapri79]

Curt, you can order the stereo singles off Amazon.

A couple of weeks back, the local Best Buy in Metairie (New Orleans) had the "White" album and "Past Masters" double albums priced thae same as the other single albums. Needless to say I picked them up.
When you are at the store, make sure you pick up "Let It Be Naked", the George Martin version. I think that is the best version since it is more "Beatlesque".

[xcapri79]

Originally Posted by TECHNOKID

Since I finally decided to get both mono and stereo sets now (I blame Norm (kept on promoting they complemented each other and owning both sets was a must) and F1 (for his AB review which lead me to doubt my original mono purchase). I wish I had as much bacon as those 2 have, I wouldn't have to remorgage the house for music Anyway, if I go bankrupt I'll know where to point the finger

Joke aside, I just acquired "THE BEATLES BOX OF VISION" which will allow for the sae keeping of both collections for years to come. Has anyone that own or intends to own more than 1 CD collection considered this purchase?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvErMASPNdo

http://bandweblogs.com/blog/2009/07/...hy-cd-storage/

http://larryfire.wordpress.com/2009/...box-of-vision/


Cheers!
TK

Thanks for the information.

[comfortablycurt]

Originally Posted by xcapri79

Curt, you can order the stereo singles off Amazon.

A couple of weeks back, the local Best Buy in Metairie (New Orleans) had the "White" album and "Past Masters" double albums priced thae same as the other single albums. Needless to say I picked them up.
When you are at the store, make sure you pick up "Let It Be Naked", the George Martin version. I think that is the best version since it is more "Beatlesque".

I've been managing to find them all locally. I added Help! and Magical Mystery Tour today. All I need to get now is Please, Please Me, Beatles For Sale, With the Beatles and A Hard Days Night.

They have several copies of each of them locally. I'm not in a big hurry to get those 4 though. Those are the first 4 albums...and I'm not as big on those ones as the later ones.


My girlfriend has Let It Be Naked...we were just listening to it the other night actually. It's got some great cuts on it...I'm gonna have to pick a copy up sometime.

[comfortablycurt]

So, I think Revolver is starting to take over as my favorite Beatles album. It's always been between Abbey Road and Sgt Pepper...but I've been listening to Revolver a lot lately.

It's an EXCELLENT album.

[janmike]

I see that there are mixed emotions regarding the stereo and mono sets. What the hell, I ordered the Mono set as well. Should have them both by end of next week.

[comfortablycurt]

So, is anyone noticing a more expansive SDA effect on the remasters versus the originals?

[Keiko]

Originally Posted by comfortablycurt

So, is anyone noticing a more expansive SDA effect on the remasters versus the originals?

No




















I don't have SDA's.

[comfortablycurt]

Originally Posted by Keiko

No




















I don't have SDA's.

You're just not listening hard enough. It's there...just really quiet.

[mizthuphee]

http://www.beatles.com/#/news/THE_BEATLES_ON_RECORD/

[Norm Apter]

Originally Posted by mizthuphee

http://www.beatles.com/#/news/THE_BEATLES_ON_RECORD/

Thanks for posting....looks great. Unfortunately, I don't have cable so I hope this makes it to DVD some day. Its also reassuring to observe that it was produced by the same guy who produced Anthology, which would suggest there won't be much, if any, overlap (hopefully).

[TECHNOKID]

Originally Posted by Norm Apter

Thanks for posting....looks great. Unfortunately, I don't have cable so I hope this makes it to DVD some day. Its also reassuring to observe that it was produced by the same guy who produced Anthology, which would suggest there won't be much, if any, overlap (hopefully).

I checked unsuccessfully to see if this was playing on the CDN History channel. That would be great, hook-up a DVR and keep with the remastered collection

[janmike]

Ok, I have the day off tomorrow all by myself. At 6:40 PM tonight (very last minute to leave) we leave for my son's broomball game. I back out of the driveway at the back of the house and stop. I tell my wife there is someone at the front door as I can see a figure through the truck window, through the kitchen window and through the front door window. Sure enough, my wife and son jump out of the truck and go around the front of the house. IT'S THE MAIL MAN. And guess what he has? Yes the stereo box set. Am I going to have fun tomorrow ALL day tomorrow with nobody to interrupt me!

My wife gets back in the truck and says, I cannot believe that you could see someone at the front door. I told it it was an innate audio attribute that I acquired from my buds at Polk Fest. I guess that is when I was born.