I still think the stereo mix of "She's Leaving Home" is my preferred mix. To me, it's more natural and perhaps it sounds sadder this way, but I like it much more than the mono mix.
I grew up with the 87 mix so getting the 2014 mono was a real relevation. I love hearing these works in new ways, whether it's mono or stereo or Giles's remixes.
Thank you for posting this very informative video. It takes some getting used to listening to the mono version, but i also understand that mono is how the Beatles intended it to be.
I don’t have a copy of the 2014 LP mono remaster, but I do have the 2009 mono on CD and I was just listening to it. I love the way She’s Leaving Home sounds in mono, and I also agree about Good Morning!
Growing up all I had was my mono copy I bought a few weeks after it came out. Never heard a stereo version until I picked up a new apple pressing in the early 70s. I still play the original, but have the 82 Red Japanese copy and it sounds great. I just spun the uhqr version and am not impressed. A really nice version is the 78 Canadian colored version. I agree with the differences in the intro and outro of the reprise, it adds something. I prefer the mono overall
I think all the Beatle albums sound better in mono. It's incredible what they attained with just a 4 track machine, especially with Pepper. It's a shame Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane didn't make the lp. Love the flip-backs too ! My original UK mono has a darker hue than the 2014 . Thanks for another fine video, Brian.
Case to be made for launch matrices Beatles For Sale in stereo, since the mono wasn't as strong as on the prior 3 albums. Help unfortunately encounters that in both formats in the UK.
7:12 - I loved it when you touched on the differences between the mono and stereo Sgt Pepper reprise. First, I'll always love that rooster cluck at the end of Good Morning Good Morning on the mono mix. Lots of people, and the band, have had complaints about that vs the stereo mix, but I think mono's better. The stereo mix of the rooster cluck sounds like it skips. The mono version of the Sgt pepper reprise is a great laugh for me as Lennon mumbles something unintelligible, then somebody switches on a tape playing sounds of applause and then he says "bye" - as Paul is counting in the background and John is mischievous and doesn't want Paul to know he's talking into the microphone 😅. Never gets old, never will. Just as someone said about the Piper at the Gates of Dawn in stereo sounding like a cup of tea in comparison to the mono mix, it's like that here with Pepper as well. One good thing I appreciate about the stereo mix is how it opens and expands the fairground noises in Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite. because of the separation, you can switch from ear to ear to hear different tracks of sound effects, but the 2017 remix really packs a punch when you get that echo when it winds down to a stop. Great side finale.
I love to have both mono, stereo and the remix as well as a 1983(?)Australian audiophile version (needle drop) as well so that whatever mood I’m in or system I might be using, I have the mix for the occasion 😁but I agree: for a harder rocking one, the mono. For more clarity and headphone listening, stereo. And in the car it’s mono all the way ! One thing about the mono that bugs me though is how the transition between the chicken clucking and guitar leading to the reprise is not as smooth as the stereo and I always loved that bit .
I have an old beat up copy of the mono and also the 2014 version in my mono box set. I only have one Giles Martin Beatles remix and it is SP which I play frequently. This gives the best of both worlds since it's stereo and remixed based on the mono version.
Honestly my favorite is the 2017 remix. I have the 2014 mono and 3 different stereo mix pressings (1967 - very scratched, 1968 - sort of OK, and 2012 - clean), and the 2017.
Thank you for this and other great Beatles videos :) I would like to second Schwab here and a few other commenters by confessing my love for the 2017 remix. I've never heard the mono, though I would love to, so I cannot compare stereo and mono properly. I will say, though, that in the past year of pretty heavy Beatles vinyl listening , the 2017 Sgt Pepper was the most surprising and remarkable record of the pile. I was blown away by some of the details and clarity that ring out, and nothing about the mix sounds clunky, out of place, or "inorganic" to me.
I picked up a mint stereo first pressing today and it sounds fantastic. Both the 67 mono and stereo covers have the identical flaps and the colours are toned down unlike the gaudy releases of late. I dont have the mono 2014 but i rekon they recreated the colour pallet of the 67 cover. Without a doubt i have to agree that mono is the best version. In fact, every album sounds best in mono except the white album which sounds equally good in both formats.
I grew up with the original Capitol 1967 mono. When I finally heard a stereo copy years later I was surprised how flimsy it sounded. Sgt Pepper reprise mono has so much more muscle. Giles did a pretty good job. His stereo feels very mono inspired.
Thank you for the video, I can really relate to your points 👍👍. But one thing: The flipbacks are not a distinctive mono feature - they were also prominent on stereo pressings up to the 70s.
Bring out the torches and pitchforks cause I actually like the stereo mixes. Don't get me wrong I love love love the mono versions, but I've just never had an issue with the wide panning of the early stereo. Definitely loving these new remixes too!
I'm all about the stereo. Sorry [not sorry], but the mono mix SUCKS -- if for no other reason for all the technical errors on it -- tapes starting out not up to speed (literally), bad editing, etc.
I did manage to get an original UK mono pressing--It didn't have the cutouts or the Fool innersleeve but it's in decent shape and sounds pretty good! I like the sound of the US mono as well but I'm still bugged that Capitol couldn't include the runout groove or the dog whistle
@@davidkornblatt851 I like the '17 stereo remix of Pepper very much, it might be the most satisfying of those Giles remixes. But I am still on the fence where it stands up against the og stereo
@@chrismcgovern1647 the 2017 Sgt Pepper sounds great on vinyl overly compressed on cd! But the OG is the best. I still think Giles should go in and remix ALL of Led Zeppelin’s first 6 albums for vinyl but that will never happen sadly
The 2017 mix of Within You, Without TH-cam is, in my opinion, superior to both the mono and the old stereo one (I suppose the 1980's stereo CD is the same mix as the 67 stereo). The only detail that I like about the old stereo mix is that after the solos you can hear George keeping the beat
The only thing I dislike about the 2017 mix is how they treated George’s sitar during the instrumental section. It lacks the bite, dynamics and the psychedelic textures of the mono mix.
When you have multiple speakers around you it’s nice to have a stereo mix with instruments as harshly panned as the Beatles albums because different things are coming out of different speakers so obviously and it feels much more like band is around you, but you made great points about the levels being weaker on stereo. I say if it’s headphones or two speakers left and right it has to be mono but if you have an asymmetrical speaker set up like me the stereo versions literally kick ass all day
I don’t have any versions of this album, but my copy is the Capitol US release from 1967 and it was the original stereo mix, and it sounds phenomenal than the later mixes.
I'm going to have to go along with you with the mono. The first time I heard this album and it's entirety and I know they played the mono version was on khj radio it was the last day of May at midnight going into June 1st and they played the whole album and I think they got into a bit of trouble for doing that also. We had three major AM radio stations back in '67 KHJ, KRLA and KFWB. So me and my step sister had our transistor radio under our pillow I was in the living room on my pot and she was in the bedroom and we were listening to cage today playing the album and then I would switch over to the other stations really quick KFWB played lovely Rita and that was it KRLA wouldn't touch it but KHJ played it from beginning to end. At the very last note on a day in the life all the way to the fade out they let it go all the way to the end my stepsister and I get up and we look at each other and she goes what the hell was that and I said I don't know but it was great. But yes I took the long road answer your question but definitely mono all the way.
Mono Peppers all the way! I always thought the album was missing something when I listened to it in stereo. The mono mix has the power and balance that the stereo mix is missing 11:19 . My favourite track is definitely the opening track and its reprise. The song just rocks in mono.
The mono mix is definitely the superior version, except for the last chord in the end of A Day in The Life. With that whole mess of instruments, and the intensity growing, you expect a very “in your face”, punchy, house shaking closing chord. But in the mono mix, you get really disappointed when it comes, as it is very low in the mix, and this spoils the whole end of the album for me. That’s why I prefer the 2017 Giles Martin mix, you get the best of both worlds, and of course, the all-important house shaking closing chord.
I think I might've mentioned it before, but it probably wouldn't hurt to rattle off the matrix number, or at least the very last bit of it (cutting number) when talking about/comparing different pressings so that there's some kind of reference.. Otherwise it's kind of hard to relate and when comparing with our own copies in some instances. Just a thought. 🙂 I assume your 70's stereo HTM pressing is a 2 box EMI, likely a -3/-3 cut? If so, I also have the same pressing, which sounds pretty darn good.. I scored a super inexpensive, yet minty one on Discogs last year, luckily. I also have the 2014 mono and a 70's German A-1/A-2, though I hear the German A-2/A-2 is supposed to be the best sounding stereo (at least that's what Andrew @ Parlogram said one time), but I still need to hunt one of those down to compare with. I definitely need to refresh my memory and give the mono version a spin asap so I can compare everything again.🤘 Love these types of videos! Always nice to look at & talk Beatles vinyl. 😎
have both since the early 70's British pressing, good system for a paper boy, the mono version was the better sounding just jumped, verses dragged like the stereo version did something was lost in the mix, the Mono version jumped as I said in my 16' x 12'-bedroom, British pressing were always better pressing back in the day. George Martin and Billy's, Martin's favorite session cats did a great job so I'm in agreement, by the way my mono version is minty as we taped everything after 3 listings, spinning's ever hear this that 3 playing before taping down to cassette , the reason it took three playing to break in a record, great content thanks for your observations again most mono version are way better from the 60's
I prefer to listen to The Beatles on vinyl, so will reserve judgement until I get to hear a propper mono version. I grew up listening to it in Stereo, picture disc in fact, so it does sound quite different in places. You are quite right about The Beatles being there for the mono mixing and not the stereo.
The mono mix should be considered the master version, and it's the better mix overall. The one track on the album in which I prefer the stereo mix is the Pepper Reprise. The mono mix comes off like an outtake.
The 2014 mono mix pressings are getting super expensive, and I just don't feel like shelling out that kind of cash for it. I have an U.S. original mono mix on Capitol that's in VG++ condition. I also have the mono mix on CD from the super deluxe box set which sounds very good to me, so why spend the extra money? Would you rate the difference between those two mono pressings significant, or am I doing okay? I think the original Capitol mono sounds pretty good to my ears. I am playing my mono LPs on a Rega P3 turntable with a dedicated mono cartridge. I do have 9 different stereo pressings of Sgt. Pepper on vinyl all in VG++ condition: the 1967 U.S. Capitol OG rainbow label, the 1969 Capitol repress green label, the 1971 U.S. Apple repress, the 1976 Capitol repress orange label, the 1978 repress Capitol plum label - (this one sounds really good!), the 1986 Capitol repress rainbow label, the 2012 Parlophone remaster, the 2017 Parlophone remix, and the 1975 U.K. pressing with HTM etched in the dead-wax and I think it sounds terrific. I grew up listen to this album in stereo so that will always be my favorite but I do really enjoy the mono mix and can understand why you would favor it. They are both really good. Forgot to mention that I also have the mono version of Sgt. Pepper from the Beatles in Mono CD box set. Did not purchase the vinyl box set at the time. Why that box set doesn't get a repress is beyond me.
I purchased my copy of Sgt. Pepper while on active duty in West Germany, between 1976 to 79. Apple label, cut out, mint condition, can't figure out how much it could be worth. Any idea's?
Question Brian: Should mono records be listened to with once speaker? Doesn't having two speakers somehow degrade or undermine the integrity of the mono sound?
This is a great question. From what I’ve read, many audiophiles believe listening to mono records should done with a mono stylus. Or, you should rewire your speakers so they just produce a mono signal out of both. That being said, I think listening to mono records on your standard stereo set up actually sounds amazing (depending on the pressing of course) and can at times reveal sonic qualities that wouldn’t exist with just one speaker.
5:50 That figures - - PM's guitar on 'Good Morning' sounds riotous like his solo on 'Taxman.' PM's guitar solos think outside the box in ways GH's solos never can. GH better at identifying a catchy lick, simplified. Which is what PM did on bass too. I don;t know that JL had any guitar style at all in the way the other 2 did - - more known for how high he carried guitar than style of play, seems to me.
That's a great question. In my opinion the 2009 Mono CD is excellent, but the vinyl has much more depth and warmth (the usual goodness only vinyl can create). This of course is a much debated topic CD/Digital vs Vinyl/Analog. But I would say if you can get your hands on an original UK mono pressing or the 2014 mono remaster you won't regret it.
The mono mix is definetly the best for me through the headphones since I went almost totally deaf in one ear, I put on the stereo mix to begin with and half of it was missing 😢
I'd always heard that the UK version (Parlophone) sounded better than the Capital version, mono or stereo. Having heard both, I'm not so sure. Many of Capital's early Beatles recordings sound horrible in "stereo," with all that reverb. However, starting with Rubber Soul, Capital got its act together. Mono, generally, can have more impact, especially with voices that sound bigger in mono per my mono opera recordings (on vinyl and CD) can attest.
I do agree that from Rubber Soul onwards Capitol did improve their sound. Unfortunately they were still using pretty bad vinyl that is/was so noisy. That’s one of my main problems with Capitol 60’s pressings. The clicks and pops are on even NM vinyl.
@@BrianBringelson But with Capital's CD Beatles recordings, clicks and pops are a non-issue. I heard Rubber Soul last night on CD. The Parlophone label was on the disc, but the Capital label was on the cover - I guess because it was manufactured in the US. The format mirrored the original Parlophone vinyl pressing. Interesting. As for sound quality, it sounded fine to me.
@@MarkMiller-i8q the Capitol CDs Vol 1 and 2 are a whole different thing all together. Those sound amazing! Some of my favorite CDs. I wish they would have done Pepper and the others. And I’m not talking about the Beatles US Albums box set. I’m talking about the long box Capitol boxes.
I'm with you, pal. I'd become indifferent to the album until I found the mono at a library sale. More about "Lucy": Mono, Lennon's voice is flanged. Stereo, it's bare. You know a strong reason the mono sounds so much gutsier? The bass. Essentially, through this period, the stereo mixes are forgeries, often bad ones.
Is the Mono mix better than the stereo mix ? Sure, but it is not much better in the way that most of the Beatles early Mono mix albums were much better than most of the early Stereo albums, Beatles For sale excluded where the Stereo was definately much better
It’s hard to compare the two, but I’d say the mono mix has more magic. And it definitely has authentic bass. The 2017 remix has pretty bloated low end. All that being said, I’m glad they made the remix and it’s a fun alternative to enjoy.
Without a doubt, the original mono was THE definitive version. The Fabs themselves were in on the master mix of the original mono, not the stereo mixes.
The mono mix is ok, but ‘She’s Leaving Home’ in stereo is the superior mix. And the end of ‘Good Morning, Good Morning’/‘Sgt,Pepper Reprise’ during the animal sound/ crossfade is a lousy edit, and it’s jarring. Overall, I prefer the stereo to the mono. The separation and sound effects are really cool. Not really impressed by the mono, although it does have its moments.
People seem to miss the fact that “With A Little Help From My Friends” has a sheen of phasing on it, not found on the Stereo. My only criticism is the guitar/chicken edit is a disaster in mono. I have three U.K. 1967 mono and one stereo. I’ve owned an American mono and hated it. British records and their sleeves are produced to a far, far better quality. That thick pressed cardboard with a slick pasted over it, Ugh!!
People who think mono mixes are better usually say that because they just like the “punchiness” factor of rock music, and the lack of concentration it requires. Your brain has to process less when listening in mono. It’s easier on your brain. Imagine going out in nature for a walk in the woods, and wishing you only had one ear to hear all the sounds of nature. Doesn’t make a ton of sense, does it? Unless you’re losing hearing on one side, the world is always in surround-sound stereo. This is why the stereo mixes are always better. 😂
It’s more about the recording technology of the time. In the mid 60’s mono was the preferred mix of The Beatles. They put more time and effort into the mono mix and left the stereo mix as an afterthought. That alone is why mono is better when it comes to The Beatles (in most cases). In other words I disagree with your comment.
@@BrianBringelson I'm sorry bud , didn't mean to be rude , i was just so impatient to fully watch your video . I watched again and saw how passionate you're as a Beatles fan, as we all are. My apology .
I still think the stereo mix of "She's Leaving Home" is my preferred mix. To me, it's more natural and perhaps it sounds sadder this way, but I like it much more than the mono mix.
Yeah, it’s just better on stereo. Sounds more melancholic. MOOD
I grew up with the 87 mix so getting the 2014 mono was a real relevation. I love hearing these works in new ways, whether it's mono or stereo or Giles's remixes.
Thank you for posting this very informative video. It takes some getting used to listening to the mono version, but i also understand that mono is how the Beatles intended it to be.
I don’t have a copy of the 2014 LP mono remaster, but I do have the 2009 mono on CD and I was just listening to it. I love the way She’s Leaving Home sounds in mono, and I also agree about Good Morning!
Growing up all I had was my mono copy I bought a few weeks after it came out. Never heard a stereo version until I picked up a new apple pressing in the early 70s. I still play the original, but have the 82 Red Japanese copy and it sounds great. I just spun the uhqr version and am not impressed. A really nice version is the 78 Canadian colored version. I agree with the differences in the intro and outro of the reprise, it adds something. I prefer the mono overall
Another great presentation! For just basic listening, I prefer the mono Sgt. Pepper. The stereo version is still a mind blower on headphones.
I think all the Beatle albums sound better in mono. It's incredible what they attained with just a 4 track machine, especially with Pepper. It's a shame Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane didn't make the lp. Love the flip-backs too ! My original UK mono has a darker hue than the 2014 . Thanks for another fine video, Brian.
Case to be made for launch matrices Beatles For Sale in stereo, since the mono wasn't as strong as on the prior 3 albums. Help unfortunately encounters that in both formats in the UK.
Beatles For Sale in stereo is one of their best sounding albums.
Both “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Penny Lane” were released as a single, but it was later included on the “Magical Mystery Tour” album in the US.
7:12 - I loved it when you touched on the differences between the mono and stereo Sgt Pepper reprise. First, I'll always love that rooster cluck at the end of Good Morning Good Morning on the mono mix. Lots of people, and the band, have had complaints about that vs the stereo mix, but I think mono's better. The stereo mix of the rooster cluck sounds like it skips. The mono version of the Sgt pepper reprise is a great laugh for me as Lennon mumbles something unintelligible, then somebody switches on a tape playing sounds of applause and then he says "bye" - as Paul is counting in the background and John is mischievous and doesn't want Paul to know he's talking into the microphone 😅. Never gets old, never will. Just as someone said about the Piper at the Gates of Dawn in stereo sounding like a cup of tea in comparison to the mono mix, it's like that here with Pepper as well. One good thing I appreciate about the stereo mix is how it opens and expands the fairground noises in Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite. because of the separation, you can switch from ear to ear to hear different tracks of sound effects, but the 2017 remix really packs a punch when you get that echo when it winds down to a stop. Great side finale.
I love to have both mono, stereo and the remix as well as a 1983(?)Australian audiophile version (needle drop) as well so that whatever mood I’m in or system I might be using, I have the mix for the occasion 😁but I agree: for a harder rocking one, the mono. For more clarity and headphone listening, stereo. And in the car it’s mono all the way ! One thing about the mono that bugs me though is how the transition between the chicken clucking and guitar leading to the reprise is not as smooth as the stereo and I always loved that bit .
I have an old beat up copy of the mono and also the 2014 version in my mono box set. I only have one Giles Martin Beatles remix and it is SP which I play frequently. This gives the best of both worlds since it's stereo and remixed based on the mono version.
Honestly my favorite is the 2017 remix. I have the 2014 mono and 3 different stereo mix pressings (1967 - very scratched, 1968 - sort of OK, and 2012 - clean), and the 2017.
Thank you for this and other great Beatles videos :) I would like to second Schwab here and a few other commenters by confessing my love for the 2017 remix. I've never heard the mono, though I would love to, so I cannot compare stereo and mono properly. I will say, though, that in the past year of pretty heavy Beatles vinyl listening , the 2017 Sgt Pepper was the most surprising and remarkable record of the pile. I was blown away by some of the details and clarity that ring out, and nothing about the mix sounds clunky, out of place, or "inorganic" to me.
I picked up a mint stereo first pressing today and it sounds fantastic. Both the 67 mono and stereo covers have the identical flaps and the colours are toned down unlike the gaudy releases of late. I dont have the mono 2014 but i rekon they recreated the colour pallet of the 67 cover.
Without a doubt i have to agree that mono is the best version. In fact, every album sounds best in mono except the white album which sounds equally good in both formats.
Love your Lux starburst clock. I have one just like it.
I honestly really like the remix cos it’s kind of a stereo version of the mono mix. What are your thoughts on that?
Appreciate the recent run of videos 😀
I grew up with the original Capitol 1967 mono. When I finally heard a stereo copy years later I was surprised how flimsy it sounded. Sgt Pepper reprise mono has so much more muscle. Giles did a pretty good job. His stereo feels very mono inspired.
Love both of them...but yes mono has the edge I think. The recent stereo remix is interesting too but a bit loud and compressed for my liking
Thank you for the video, I can really relate to your points 👍👍. But one thing: The flipbacks are not a distinctive mono feature - they were also prominent on stereo pressings up to the 70s.
Bring out the torches and pitchforks cause I actually like the stereo mixes. Don't get me wrong I love love love the mono versions, but I've just never had an issue with the wide panning of the early stereo. Definitely loving these new remixes too!
She’s Leaving Home is better in stereo. Slower but MOOD all the way
I'm all about the stereo. Sorry [not sorry], but the mono mix SUCKS -- if for no other reason for all the technical errors on it -- tapes starting out not up to speed (literally), bad editing, etc.
I did manage to get an original UK mono pressing--It didn't have the cutouts or the Fool innersleeve but it's in decent shape and sounds pretty good! I like the sound of the US mono as well but I'm still bugged that Capitol couldn't include the runout groove or the dog whistle
Too cheap. I heard it was "finances" that prevented it from being added.
What about the 2017 mix compared to ORIGINAL STEREO mix?
@@davidkornblatt851 I like the '17 stereo remix of Pepper very much, it might be the most satisfying of those Giles remixes. But I am still on the fence where it stands up against the og stereo
@@chrismcgovern1647 the 2017 Sgt Pepper sounds great on vinyl overly compressed on cd! But the OG is the best. I still think Giles should go in and remix ALL of Led Zeppelin’s first 6 albums for vinyl but that will never happen sadly
The 2017 mix of Within You, Without TH-cam is, in my opinion, superior to both the mono and the old stereo one (I suppose the 1980's stereo CD is the same mix as the 67 stereo). The only detail that I like about the old stereo mix is that after the solos you can hear George keeping the beat
The only thing I dislike about the 2017 mix is how they treated George’s sitar during the instrumental section. It lacks the bite, dynamics and the psychedelic textures of the mono mix.
When you have multiple speakers around you it’s nice to have a stereo mix with instruments as harshly panned as the Beatles albums because different things are coming out of different speakers so obviously and it feels much more like band is around you, but you made great points about the levels being weaker on stereo. I say if it’s headphones or two speakers left and right it has to be mono but if you have an asymmetrical speaker set up like me the stereo versions literally kick ass all day
I don’t have any versions of this album, but my copy is the Capitol US release from 1967 and it was the original stereo mix, and it sounds phenomenal than the later mixes.
I'm going to have to go along with you with the mono. The first time I heard this album and it's entirety and I know they played the mono version was on khj radio it was the last day of May at midnight going into June 1st and they played the whole album and I think they got into a bit of trouble for doing that also. We had three major AM radio stations back in '67 KHJ, KRLA and KFWB. So me and my step sister had our transistor radio under our pillow I was in the living room on my pot and she was in the bedroom and we were listening to cage today playing the album and then I would switch over to the other stations really quick KFWB played lovely Rita and that was it KRLA wouldn't touch it but KHJ played it from beginning to end. At the very last note on a day in the life all the way to the fade out they let it go all the way to the end my stepsister and I get up and we look at each other and she goes what the hell was that and I said I don't know but it was great. But yes I took the long road answer your question but definitely mono all the way.
Love that! So you were an LA kid?
Mono Peppers all the way! I always thought the album was missing something when I listened to it in stereo. The mono mix has the power and balance that the stereo mix is missing 11:19 . My favourite track is definitely the opening track and its reprise. The song just rocks in mono.
The mono mix is definitely the superior version, except for the last chord in the end of A Day in The Life. With that whole mess of instruments, and the intensity growing, you expect a very “in your face”, punchy, house shaking closing chord. But in the mono mix, you get really disappointed when it comes, as it is very low in the mix, and this spoils the whole end of the album for me. That’s why I prefer the 2017 Giles Martin mix, you get the best of both worlds, and of course, the all-important house shaking closing chord.
Also would like to hear your thoughts on the mono mix on the White Album versus the stereo. A much more difficult one to choose between in my view!
I think I might've mentioned it before, but it probably wouldn't hurt to rattle off the matrix number, or at least the very last bit of it (cutting number) when talking about/comparing different pressings so that there's some kind of reference.. Otherwise it's kind of hard to relate and when comparing with our own copies in some instances. Just a thought. 🙂
I assume your 70's stereo HTM pressing is a 2 box EMI, likely a -3/-3 cut? If so, I also have the same pressing, which sounds pretty darn good.. I scored a super inexpensive, yet minty one on Discogs last year, luckily. I also have the 2014 mono and a 70's German A-1/A-2, though I hear the German A-2/A-2 is supposed to be the best sounding stereo (at least that's what Andrew @ Parlogram said one time), but I still need to hunt one of those down to compare with. I definitely need to refresh my memory and give the mono version a spin asap so I can compare everything again.🤘 Love these types of videos! Always nice to look at & talk Beatles vinyl. 😎
have both since the early 70's British pressing, good system for a paper boy, the mono version was the better sounding just jumped, verses dragged like the stereo version did something was lost in the mix, the Mono version jumped as I said in my 16' x 12'-bedroom, British pressing were always better pressing back in the day. George Martin and Billy's, Martin's favorite session cats did a great job so I'm in agreement, by the way my mono version is minty as we taped everything after 3 listings, spinning's ever hear this that 3 playing before taping down to cassette , the reason it took three playing to break in a record, great content thanks for your observations again most mono version are way better from the 60's
The best way to listen to Sgt pepper mono is as follows. 1. A clean original UK press. 2. A clean UK 1981 pressing which used the original metal.
I prefer to listen to The Beatles on vinyl, so will reserve judgement until I get to hear a propper mono version. I grew up listening to it in Stereo, picture disc in fact, so it does sound quite different in places. You are quite right about The Beatles being there for the mono mixing and not the stereo.
for me giles remix just seems like best of both in a stereo format to my ears anyway!
The mono mix should be considered the master version, and it's the better mix overall. The one track on the album in which I prefer the stereo mix is the Pepper Reprise. The mono mix comes off like an outtake.
The 2014 mono mix pressings are getting super expensive, and I just don't feel like shelling out that kind of cash for it. I have an U.S. original mono mix on Capitol that's in VG++ condition. I also have the mono mix on CD from the super deluxe box set which sounds very good to me, so why spend the extra money? Would you rate the difference between those two mono pressings significant, or am I doing okay? I think the original Capitol mono sounds pretty good to my ears. I am playing my mono LPs on a Rega P3 turntable with a dedicated mono cartridge. I do have 9 different stereo pressings of Sgt. Pepper on vinyl all in VG++ condition: the 1967 U.S. Capitol OG rainbow label, the 1969 Capitol repress green label, the 1971 U.S. Apple repress, the 1976 Capitol repress orange label, the 1978 repress Capitol plum label - (this one sounds really good!), the 1986 Capitol repress rainbow label, the 2012 Parlophone remaster, the 2017 Parlophone remix, and the 1975 U.K. pressing with HTM etched in the dead-wax and I think it sounds terrific. I grew up listen to this album in stereo so that will always be my favorite but I do really enjoy the mono mix and can understand why you would favor it. They are both really good. Forgot to mention that I also have the mono version of Sgt. Pepper from the Beatles in Mono CD box set. Did not purchase the vinyl box set at the time. Why that box set doesn't get a repress is beyond me.
In my comment it should have read I was in the living room sleeping on my cot.
I purchased my copy of Sgt. Pepper while on active duty in West Germany, between 1976 to 79. Apple label, cut out, mint condition, can't figure out how much it could be worth. Any idea's?
Mono for the reprise
What a geek.. Me too.. Wish you lived next door. LOL..
12:20 - Tinting differences - it's like that on the stereo and mono Capitol mixes, too.
The stereo mix is just much more full to me.
Question Brian: Should mono records be listened to with once speaker? Doesn't having two speakers somehow degrade or undermine the integrity of the mono sound?
This is a great question. From what I’ve read, many audiophiles believe listening to mono records should done with a mono stylus. Or, you should rewire your speakers so they just produce a mono signal out of both. That being said, I think listening to mono records on your standard stereo set up actually sounds amazing (depending on the pressing of course) and can at times reveal sonic qualities that wouldn’t exist with just one speaker.
5:50 That figures - - PM's guitar on 'Good Morning' sounds riotous like his solo on 'Taxman.' PM's guitar solos think outside the box in ways GH's solos never can. GH better at identifying a catchy lick, simplified. Which is what PM did on bass too. I don;t know that JL had any guitar style at all in the way the other 2 did - - more known for how high he carried guitar than style of play, seems to me.
That's a myth.
Brian, is the mono's superiority over the stereo preserved on cd? Getting hold of a vinyl copy coul be difficult.
That's a great question. In my opinion the 2009 Mono CD is excellent, but the vinyl has much more depth and warmth (the usual goodness only vinyl can create). This of course is a much debated topic CD/Digital vs Vinyl/Analog. But I would say if you can get your hands on an original UK mono pressing or the 2014 mono remaster you won't regret it.
@@BrianBringelson thanks for your answer, Brian. Keep up the interesting presentations.
Great Records!
preach brother
The mono mix is definetly the best for me through the headphones since I went almost totally deaf in one ear, I put on the stereo mix to begin with and half of it was missing 😢
I'd always heard that the UK version (Parlophone) sounded better than the Capital version, mono or stereo. Having heard both, I'm not so sure. Many of Capital's early Beatles recordings sound horrible in "stereo," with all that reverb. However, starting with Rubber Soul, Capital got its act together. Mono, generally, can have more impact, especially with voices that sound bigger in mono per my mono opera recordings (on vinyl and CD) can attest.
I do agree that from Rubber Soul onwards Capitol did improve their sound. Unfortunately they were still using pretty bad vinyl that is/was so noisy. That’s one of my main problems with Capitol 60’s pressings. The clicks and pops are on even NM vinyl.
@@BrianBringelson But with Capital's CD Beatles recordings, clicks and pops are a non-issue. I heard Rubber Soul last night on CD. The Parlophone label was on the disc, but the Capital label was on the cover - I guess because it was manufactured in the US. The format mirrored the original Parlophone vinyl pressing. Interesting. As for sound quality, it sounded fine to me.
@@MarkMiller-i8q the Capitol CDs Vol 1 and 2 are a whole different thing all together. Those sound amazing! Some of my favorite CDs. I wish they would have done Pepper and the others. And I’m not talking about the Beatles US Albums box set. I’m talking about the long box Capitol boxes.
I have 4 Pepper monos, hands down the best copy is first lacquer UK.
I really liked 2017mix but, since I heard 2009 remastered again in few years. it feels like 2009 is more warmer than 2017mix
I've always rated Pepper as below average because "She's Leaving Home" just drags...Thank you!
I'm with you, pal. I'd become indifferent to the album until I found the mono at a library sale. More about "Lucy": Mono, Lennon's voice is flanged. Stereo, it's bare. You know a strong reason the mono sounds so much gutsier? The bass.
Essentially, through this period, the stereo mixes are forgeries, often bad ones.
is this the same mono that was released with the giles martin special edition?
Is the Mono mix better than the stereo mix ? Sure, but it is not much better in the way that most of the Beatles early Mono mix albums were much better than most of the early Stereo albums, Beatles For sale excluded where the Stereo was definately much better
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
How do you think the 2017 remix compares to the mono mix?
It’s hard to compare the two, but I’d say the mono mix has more magic. And it definitely has authentic bass. The 2017 remix has pretty bloated low end. All that being said, I’m glad they made the remix and it’s a fun alternative to enjoy.
I love the mono mix. It was the first mix I heard. There is something magical about that mix. Second to the mono mix for me would be the 2017 5.1 mix.
Without a doubt, the original mono was THE definitive version. The Fabs themselves were in on the master mix of the original mono, not the stereo mixes.
The Giles Martin Stereo Mix is excellent
The mono mix is ok, but ‘She’s Leaving Home’ in stereo is the superior mix. And the end of ‘Good Morning, Good Morning’/‘Sgt,Pepper Reprise’ during the animal sound/ crossfade is a lousy edit, and it’s jarring. Overall, I prefer the stereo to the mono. The separation and sound effects are really cool. Not really impressed by the mono, although it does have its moments.
People seem to miss the fact that “With A Little Help From My Friends” has a sheen of phasing on it, not found on the Stereo. My only criticism is the guitar/chicken edit is a disaster in mono. I have three U.K. 1967 mono and one stereo. I’ve owned an American mono and hated it. British records and their sleeves are produced to a far, far better quality. That thick pressed cardboard with a slick pasted over it, Ugh!!
If you have Australian Audiophile, Nimbus or even something on the German '77 level, you're exempt from this observation.
People who think mono mixes are better usually say that because they just like the “punchiness” factor of rock music, and the lack of concentration it requires. Your brain has to process less when listening in mono. It’s easier on your brain.
Imagine going out in nature for a walk in the woods, and wishing you only had one ear to hear all the sounds of nature. Doesn’t make a ton of sense, does it? Unless you’re losing hearing on one side, the world is always in surround-sound stereo. This is why the stereo mixes are always better. 😂
It’s more about the recording technology of the time. In the mid 60’s mono was the preferred mix of The Beatles. They put more time and effort into the mono mix and left the stereo mix as an afterthought. That alone is why mono is better when it comes to The Beatles (in most cases).
In other words I disagree with your comment.
Mono is different period you hear the full band and it's more echoey pink Floyd the who etc
The fact that you didn't mention once which mix of the stereo you are reffering too takes your video down to "bad" level of quality. I'm sorry
Life long Beatles here , you ONLY need 3mins to express what you want to say .but you took an hour to yab . Give littlew break man.
Video is 13 mins long. There are 60 mins in an hour. I apologize if you are just learning this important info. I will “give little break” now, man.
@@BrianBringelson I'm sorry bud , didn't mean to be rude , i was just so impatient to fully watch your video . I watched again and saw how passionate you're as a Beatles fan, as we all are.
My apology .
@@colindylan100 👍