I have had this pressing for a little while and I am embarrassed to say, I didn’t know it was mono. After watching this video I went back and played it on my newly set up mono rig and it was stellar. Favorite track, Today; dead quiet and stunning. Thank you for reason I broke this out again.
Today is perhaps my favorite cut. I've never heard anything quite like it. The mono is so much better than the stereo. Glad you finally got to hear it properly. Sorry for the late reply. I just came across this comment.
I just love that it is not like a typical MOFI. Very tastefully enhanced, in subtle ways, at the service of the music. That Santana has been on my radar and is back in stock. Good to know you think highly of it. I no longer have my original. Did you do any comparisons on that one?
I enjoyed your review Scott. I also own the MOFI (mono) release and think it's one of the better mono pressings in my collection. I don't own a stereo version, but the mono pressing by MOFI is a great pressing by any standard. I'm around your age and just loved White Rabbit when it came out. I didn't have the money as a child to purchase the album, but I did buy the single / 45. Being a kid, I don't think I fully understood the theme of White Rabbit, but there was a hint of mystery in the music and lyrics. That song, as much as any, "kind of" opened the door for me regarding alternative music. Keep up the great work, Scott!
Hi Paul! It really is excellent -probably all I'll ever need for this title. I was you de but I new about the counterculture and the drugs, and those two singles just seemed to reflect all that period so well. Cool times!
Hi Scott, many thanks for another great video. Thanks for promoting MoFi at the same time which hopefully somewhat helps stop the decreasing interest in these fraudy marketed digital products in the second market. For us in Europe who have been originally grossly overcharged for the real worth of these products and have no real chance to get the compensation according to the court settlement, and who want to get rid of these, we are loosing a lot of money vs original prices when selling for reasons of disengaging from MoFi. Never mind!
Hi Thomas, I'm empathize with those who are excluded from recourse if they wish to return the products. I may in fact return a few of mine, but not this one! I've been negative on some products but only on sound quality if it warrants it, and tried to keep my reviews to that issue only. If this positive review helps the market recover a bit, I guess that's a good thing. I do hope you can recoup some of you decide to sell.
Thanks so much David. I wonder if anyone has ever attempted a stereo remix or if there is anything to here to even work with. I know when I used to play that single the last thing that occurred to me was sound quality! We all thought it was awesome!
Great review that does this fabulous album justice. I have a 2017 repress of it and that sounds pretty good to my ears but then I only have a CD version to compare it to. I’m not big into ‘luurv’ songs but Today would be my contender for best ever in that category. It wasn’t until an ex girlfriend told me she had made it ‘our’ song that I realised how good it was. She’s long gone in my life but the song is still perfect.
Hi Robert, Thank you for your comment! Today is a very special song and has always stood out to me as a highlight of the material, apart from the great singles. I hope you'll be able to hear this version sometime. For so many years I considered this a poor sounding album, but hearing what they've done with the mono has had me rethink this. As I said it will never be a sonic marvel but this version presents the superior mono mix in a beautiful clear and honest light. It's a keeper.
Thanks for this very informative video, Scott. I wore out my original mono 45 of "Somebody to Love" and my mono 33 of Surrealistic Pillow. All I've got now is a stereo CD and the Sundazed mono LP. The mono is better than the stereo with those two releases. I'm going to keep an eye out for the MOFI mono. Great songs from Marty and Grace.
I remember back when I was growing up and mono LP's were still being made, most people would preferably buy the stereo versions. Many stores which sold records usually had cut-out bins. I remember seeing multiple Jefferson Airplane Mono albums in them as well as tons of other Mono albums in the late-60's to early-70's. About the only time that I bought Mono albums is because, new or cut-outs, they were cheaper than the stereo versions and I had very limited funds. I did have a stereo but I just couldn't swing an extra dollar for the stereo versions sometimes. The cut-out LP's were always under $2. and sometimes K-mart had them 2/$1. How could I pass that up? The mono LP's usually had different mixes(outside of being Mono), but a lot of the time, these Mono LP mixes weren't even the same as the Mono single 45 mixes. Those single mixes were what I heard on the radio, so I often didn't like either the Mono or Stereo LP versions. There are multiple stereo re-issues out there is a re-mastered version from 2021 and was pressed by MPO. That may be a good version to try as Amazon still has them at a 30% off discount. Friday Music also re-mastered and released different colored vinyl versions in 2019. I have several copies of those and they sound OK to me. They were pressed at RTI.
I think many of us thought this way, that the monos were somehow "lesser" and if a choice was there, that the stereo was preferable. I too recall monos in discount bins and boy wouldn't it be cool to time travel and snatch those up! Learning about mono mixes of rock albums from this early period has been a great revelation for me. One that's based on an open mind and not assumptions and marketing. I'm sure there were careful listeners who realized the truth them, but I think the general public was clueless.
@@ThePressingMatters My first Jefferson Airplane LP was the Mono "J.A. Takes Off", which I got from a cut-out bin for under $2. Eventhough it was considered an early copy, it had been made after they had done a song change. I love Nancy Sinatra, and her "Boots" album was my first and it was not only a birthday gift when it was just out, but it was also Mono. Most of her other albums I got from cut-out bins and they were Mono, but I did buy some new ones in stereo. When I bought her "Sugar" album and the woman clerk looked at me and said "I know why you are buying that". Well, I was buying it for the Stereo version of her current hit "Sugartown". Then it dawned on me that she was referring to Nancy in the pink bikini. That was cool too! Her "Movin' With Nancy" album was available in Mono, but I never saw one until I got a radio station copy. It was in a stereo cover, but the "Stereo" mas marked out. All of them had both the stereo and mono numbers on the back. I never really cared for the Mono versions as so many of the sounds which you could heard on the stereo mixes were buried. This was even more true on the stereo recordings which were folded down to Mono. When you have a really dynamic recording, with lot's of instrumentation, it is way too much sound to pack into a Mono groove.
That's true, and in some cases the monos Can sound rather drab. I always used to feel that way. But sometime after I started to upgrade my system, I tried Sgt Pepper in mono and Piper at the Gates Of Dawn. All of a sudden it clicked and I immediately preferred the mono mixes. On current equipment they sound spacious in a different way to the stereo, and mixed with more care. It's often said that the artists and producers were mainly focused on getting the mono mix right, and now I have many examples of where this is true. This album shines in this new mono mix.
@@ThePressingMatters "Sgt. Pepper's..." and most other Beatles albums, their priority was Mono and had the Beatles input. The stereo versions were an afterthought and just thrown together without the Beatles input. The stereo version of "Sgt. Peppers..." was unbalanced to the point of being irritating. You definitely didn't want to listen to it through headphones. Now, when they did the anniversary editions of "Sgt. Pepper's", they remixed the stereo and, to me, it sounds better than the Mono. I had the original stereo Capitol version of "Sgt. Pepper's..." soon after it came out and I never even considered buying the Mono version. Maybe 10 or so years ago, I was in Chicago for a jukebox and collectibles shows. It just happened that they were having their regular flee market at the kane County Fairgrounds while we were there, so we went to check it out. There were a few sellers selling records. Most of the prices were reasonable, records were priced like used records and not gold platters. One record seller had 2 Mono Capitol copies of "Sgt. Peppers..." in great shape and the seller let me put together the best copy out of the 2. When I god back home and played it, I was impressed. Before that, one of the collectibles shows that I regularly attended in San Mateo, CA, a seller was selling bootlegged CD's of Sgt. Pepper's..." which had both the original stereo on Mono versions on it. I'm going to have to get it out and compare it to my 2009 Mono CD box and the later Mono LP box.
@@automatedelectronics6062 Interesting recollections of this unique time! I'm glad mono had a comeback in reissues, and people are becoming aware of it again.
Great job Scott, as usual! I have those two editions somewhere around here plus a Sundazed stereo edition which sounds awfully good to me. I guess it's time for me to do my own 3-way shootout!
Great review Scott, hopefully they repress this, would love to grab it at some point. In my experience, the MOFI 45's have all impressed me. Brothers in Arms (quite possibly one of the best records I own, top 3 easily.), Eye in the Sky, and Electric Warrior all sound good on my system. They have impressed me more than the singular One-Step I own, Thriller. My biggest gripe with MOFI is their packaging though, with the Thriller One-Step I was seriously thinking 'is that it?' when I opened it, something a little extra like a booklet would be nice. I much prefer the gatefolds of the standard MOFI pressings to the One-Step box (even though I wish they went with something nicer like AP's.) My taste leans more towards classic 60's/70's rock and I wish MOFI would do more titles like this (but Van Halen for a One Step, really? Surely there are better options!), as not enough interesting titles, in my opinion, is what limits my purchases a little. I wonder if it would be possible for them to revisit bands like Pink Floyd? I was thinking the other day that a raw sounding mono pressing of The Velvet Underground & Nico would be great, if it's even possible! Awesome content, keep it up!
Thanks Levi, It will be interesting going forward what kind of titles companies like MOFI will be able to access. With the majors getting into the market with their own audiophile series like Rhino Hi Fidelity, the owners may be reluctant to license stuff out as much. This could end up a good or bad thing. Either they'll allow it for super premium priced 45 boxes, or they'll start allowing more deep catalog titles to be done by third parties. I'd be a little nervous if I was a boutique audiophile label right now.
note,.There was a mono cd of S.P.. years back i cant remember who released it... I think it was gold plated cd release. that contained the stereo - mono verisons?
First of all Mr Wilson, I’m gonna have to ask you to never do that dance move again… That aside, good take on the Mono v Stereo mixes. I re-listened to everything today and I concur !! I’ll have to find my early OG mono copy now. J Deuble
Lmao! Maybe I should edit out my personal anecdotes! I was more cringing at the poor resolution of the photo of the single! But yes I will restrain myself going forward haha. Glad that a person who's ears I respect has come to the same conclusion. Now we BOTH have to find our OG monos! I could sell that for $$$!
Excellent review Scott and proof positive you’re not a MoFi hater, you just call em like you hear em 😉. Out of curiosity (not that it matters), do you know the sourcing on that MoFi? I did not pick this one up personally as I’m more a fan of their 70’s output (especially Red Octopus…the OG Kendun master sounds incredible) but it’s proof positive that MoFi, while inconsistent can sometimes knock it out of the park. Here are my top 5 recent MoFi releases that IMO are the best available (in no particular order) -Bill Withers Greatest Hits -Miles Davis In a Silent Way -Miles Davis Nefertiti -The Eagles ST -Jeff Beck Truth
Thank you Brad, I'm definitely not a MOFI hater, and I was glad to give them praise where it was due. This is 1/4" / 15 IPS analog mono master to DSD 256 to analog console to lathe. Although I neglected to mention the sourcing, I guess that shows how it little it matters to me how they got there! The results speak for themselves!
I do need to pick up a copy of Red Octopus, I was just discussing that with another commenter! Thanks for the recommendation on pressing and another vote for the Bill Withers. Everyone seems to love that one! I really appreciate that you take the time to watch and comment, and share some good information! Thank you!
@@ThePressingMatters you won’t be sorry on Red Octopus. Miracles is an amazing song with Marty Balin’s vocals just sublime. Make sure you get the KENDUN master though - I see them in the bins all the time for $10-20
Try to tweak your eq on the the CSN. I originally thought no good. I did shootout with like 3 other pressings. I now prefer the CSN. On the airplane. I actually like my original mono and stereo. With my sugar cube they sound clean. The Mofi is pretty great too. Lots of clarity in there especially in the voices. I also really like the first Jefferson Airplane album. Killer great songs and the sound is pretty good on that one too.
I'll revisit it at some point. I don't have tone controls or eq, so any experimenting would be with VTA, cables and tube rolling! Not sure if I want to do that but I've switched positions before. Thanks for your perspective on it!
@@ThePressingMatters I just relistened to my mofi 45. It is very crisp. It almost doesn’t even sound like the original recording. It is so “clear” especially in the voices. The backing music (rest of the band) is like it’s in a tunnel. But I think this is just the way it was recorded. Compression? Too bad the band wasn’t presented in the same way the voices were. But you gotta love this album. Good stuff. The only one that sounds amazing instrument wise is Embryonic Journey. White rabbit sounds pretty good too!
I think your right, the recording of the band, is rather recessed. It's an odd recording for sure. At least the mono is not bathed in excessive echo. The studio sounds cavernous as it is! The album is such a trip in time. I used to only like the singles. But there are incredible moments of subtle beauty throughout. Today is just lovely. Embryonic Journey is a beauty. A nice blend of acid rock and folk rock elements.
@@ThePressingMatters I am just finishing my original stereo listen again. Of course stereo has some great sound stage and the band and voices are in the same ✈️ (haha). There is a lot more reverb. Plastic Fantastic Lover Smokes. But I do like the mono too. Suggest getting an original stereo. My guess you may like that too. I love reverb so I don’t mind it in the stereo. It makes it sound huge!!!!!
28 วันที่ผ่านมา +1
Wombat Remixer on youtube does a good remix in stereo. He takes the mono and makes a stereo mix. I would put a link but I can't...
@@robertpannullo5687 I agree. It's great when you feel you've finally found the best, and don't need to look further. I never felt that with the DCC Stereo, obviously!
@@ThePressingMatters Fun review. Would be a great update to this shootout if you found either of the OG mono or stereo. I recently picked up an OG stereo, and while I've listed to all these songs digitally in the past, this version felt more like a religious experience. While reissues like Mofi can be "clearer", they rarely capture the magic and the intensity of OG pressings. Would be curious to know if its worth getting the MOFI version.
Jefferson Airplane changing their name to Starship and having such success with their Red Octopus album, supposedly influenced the cover of the debut Boston album a year or so later. One of the local FM staions played the track Miracles to death. It didn't even sound much like a rock song that belonged on there. I think teenagers would often go into the kitchen and get some chips or something when that song came on. Their Worst Of Jefferson Airplane (which was their joke title), was actually their Best Of album. A lot of great music is on that one, maybe too much as the grooves on the lp had to made really narrow to accommodate that many tracks. With the cd, which can sound good on a good player fid not have that problem. I liked some of their later songs too, like Ride The Tiger, Jane etc. I think Red Octopus was the album of the year in what was it, 1975?
@@ThePressingMatters I think I only played that album one time. I didn't mind it, but I was trying to figure out why it was album of the year. Mid 1970s was a good time with a lot of great music. Undoubtedly the lower 100 albums would have beaten the top 20 albums of nowadays. I forget what all came out in 1975. Maybe it was a slightly off year. They say 1966 and 1967 were the pinnacle years for good new music that came out. It took a little dip in 1968 and 1969 was a super good year again for new music. Surrealistic Pillow was one of the main albums of The Summer Of Love in 1967 along with Sgt. Peppers and others. I wish I would have been a little older then. But that would mean that I'd be a little older now. I'll stay.
I used to wish I was born earlier so I could have been of age in the summer of love. I was only 6 in 1967. Had I been of an age where I had the freedom too, I no doubt would have been right there in Haight Ashbury and attending Monterey and Woodstock.
@@ThePressingMatters I was really young then too. I think I can remember though how there were so many great songs. Music played on the car radio, music played in stores that really caught my attention. It was probably the beginning of the development of my love for music. I had a little transistor radio. My mother would make me turn it off and go to bed at 10 o clock. I would ask her for a little more time and she'd say get to bed, you got school in the morning. I looked into that little box that my transistor radio came in. There was a wire of some kind with a plug at one end and something that looked like you could put in your ear at the other end. Probem solved! I did listen under the covers though
im listening to the DCC stereo lp right now. a bit overly echoey but i like that its all on 1 lp. i like the album a lot but psych isnt in my top 5 genres. just cant justify the 45.
Yes, that excessive echo muddies up the sound compared to the more natural reverb on the mono. I get that a 33 is preferable for this album. I wish this MOFI mono mastering was on a 33 as well. If you love the album, you really do need to hear this mastering if you ever get the chance.
Except for the last track, which isn't even needed as the album finishes stronger if you stop it after "White Rabbit", the whole album is fabulous. It's far better in mono. The stereo mix is weak, has far too much echo, feels limp, and sounds old in a bad way. The mono is very well mixed, feels more direct and fresh, and really gets the music across with a vitality that is so much better in basically every way. It's never going to be this ultra hi-fi album, but the mono version is fine enough sounding, with a vintage character from the period in a good way.
I couldn't have said it better myself! I'll never listen to the stereo again. Good observation about the closing track. Would have been perfect to just end with White Rabbit. Spectacular. Thanks for sharing your views on this album.
@@ThePressingMatters The ending of this album reminds me of the UK version of The Beatles HELP! album. Stop it at the end of "Yesterday", and it ends perfectly. Same for side one of PET SOUNDS...end it on "Let's Get Away For a While" before "God Only Knows", and it flows just right.
In my listening, the original mono is very weak and thin sounding compared to the Mofi. The soundstage on the former is almost non-existent and sounds like it was recorded in a cave. Great video and hopefully you track down your original copy.
Im so glad you came in with this info Cameron. I had heard this about the original mono before, but I couldn't confirm as it's "lost in the stacks." I hope I find it too if anything just to confirm my suspicions. Another commenter had asked about the original mono - I hope he gets notified of your post. Thank you so much for watching and adding to the conversation!
I do wish I could have evaluated the original mono, but it couldn't be located in time for this video, hence the different angle of talking more about the differences in the mono and stereo mixes and these two versions in particular. It will be interesting to hear for sure, and I'll update here if I come across it. Thanks for your comment.
I have a clean mono original Hollywood press and I'm actually genuinely shocked you said the OG whoops it. Because imo the mofi is far better, and most people on sites like hoffman agree. Even post scandal most prefer it. Infact, I've never seen anyone say the OG whoops it before you. Some people prefer the OG, but 90% acknowledge the mofi improved it. However, the OG is very good where the mofi isn't essential if you own it and are not a huge fan. I bought mine recently post mofi scandal. I wanted it to sound bad, like I was biased against mofi because of buying so many I thought were AAA. But it blew me away. White rabbit on the mofi is far superior due to the 45rpm, there's alot more clarity and the dynamics are much better due to having a whole side as opposed to a tiny spot at the end of the record. The mofi is worth it for white rabbit alone. The mofi isn't leaps and bounds better, but it is overall better, with most agreeing. Infact, it's held up as one of the better mofis, because it's stunning that they got more out of such a low grade recording. I really can't see what would make you say it's so much better. Also is your OG a mono? Because maybe it's stereo and you just prefer stereo and reverb to mono? The mono doesn't gave test crazy reverb like the stereo, so most prefer it, but if yours is stereo maybe you just prefer the reverb. Like the mofi iron butterfly is awesome and much better dynamically than the OG, however, it lacks the reverb so it sounds really weird to me. So maybe a similar thing happened to you? But I assume you have the mono since you didn't specify. The pros of the original are a little more lively sparkle in the highs, mofis got more clarity, wider Soundstage, and bass. But the original mono is brighter with a lively high end, with more air. So I can see you preferring those elements, because there is a noticeable difference. Also many people will often enjoy originals more just because theyre used to them, so even if its improved the original will always sound "right" to them. But me and most reviewers have found the balance, clarity, higher resolution, bass, of the mofi far outweighing the positives of the original. I say this all as someone who buys primarily 1st pressings and most often prefer 1st pressings. Granted it does really annoy me when people who just got into "OGs" this past year, with groups like the OBC, blindly label any original better, because many times they're not. Many there are vinyl noobs who just follow what Michael says, don't actually listen or have experience or research. They'll just blindly upvote comments that trash mofi and praise a 1st press, even if it's fringe and against mass consensus. Most cases I prefer a 1st pressing too, but I take it case by case, and the mofi wins here. In this case me and most believe the mofi is superior. I can totally see you preferring the OG since they are different and at times I still play my mono. But to think it "whoops" it makes me think you have to have the best OG ever and the worst mofi ever. I'm just shocked to see you think the original whoops it since most think the opposite. Many like fremer, will prefer the mofi, yet say you're good with an original, and I agree. However the mofi is worth it for white rabbit alone if you're big on JA. I say this as someone who has mofi on their shitlist for being jerks, and doesn't blindly prefer mofis. I'm also a huge JA fan having 7 copies of this album (mono, sundazed mono, dcc, og mono, og stereo us, uk, and japan). The mofi is the best, by a good margin. Dcc is the best stereo by far, and the 1st press mono is right behind the mofi. The mofi Volunteers and crown are both excellent too. I respect your opinion but completely disagree.
@@simonemurray1345 I too was a bit shocked with the comment you're referring to. It didn't provide much context and not having my original mono, I sort of let it go. But your comment brilliantly and completely explains the general consensus on this particular MOFI, and from an honest and balanced viewpoint. Much more valuable info from someone who was hesitant about another MOFI, like I was, and half expecting to be disappointed. To each their own I suppose but anyone who loves this record cannot fail to be impressed by what MOFI has achieved here. Thank you for stating the case so eloquently from an obviously well informed perspective. Hope to hear more from you on other videos in the future!
LMAO Micheal!. I call it as I hear it. I think I few people thought I had it out for MOFI. I do try to keep the scandal out of the way and focus on sound. I'm happy to lavish some praise where it's warranted!
Based on this evaluation, I couldn't agree more with you're second statement. I think MOFI did a great job bringing out the best in the mono. It's now a very listenable album even with its issues.
I don't see it that way at all. Try listening the isolated vocal of White Rabbit sometime. For a rock vocal it's pretty amazing. Is she a technically perfect singer? No, but she can deliver what's needed within the Airplane at this time.
Embryonic Journey is Jorma’s signature composition. What a great acoustic tune.
Absolutely, a standout on an already excellent album.
I have had this pressing for a little while and I am embarrassed to say, I didn’t know it was mono. After watching this video I went back and played it on my newly set up mono rig and it was stellar. Favorite track, Today; dead quiet and stunning. Thank you for reason I broke this out again.
Today is perhaps my favorite cut. I've never heard anything quite like it. The mono is so much better than the stereo. Glad you finally got to hear it properly. Sorry for the late reply. I just came across this comment.
I totally agree with your assessment. This is my favorite mofi in my collection. Along with the Santana self titled 45.
I just love that it is not like a typical MOFI. Very tastefully enhanced, in subtle ways, at the service of the music. That Santana has been on my radar and is back in stock. Good to know you think highly of it. I no longer have my original. Did you do any comparisons on that one?
I enjoyed your review Scott. I also own the MOFI (mono) release and think it's one of the better mono pressings in my collection. I don't own a stereo version, but the mono pressing by MOFI is a great pressing by any standard.
I'm around your age and just loved White Rabbit when it came out. I didn't have the money as a child to purchase the album, but I did buy the single / 45. Being a kid, I don't think I fully understood the theme of White Rabbit, but there was a hint of mystery in the music and lyrics. That song, as much as any, "kind of" opened the door for me regarding alternative music.
Keep up the great work, Scott!
Hi Paul! It really is excellent -probably all I'll ever need for this title.
I was you de but I new about the counterculture and the drugs, and those two singles just seemed to reflect all that period so well. Cool times!
Like you, Mazzy’s endorsement of this release got me to dip my toes back in that MoFi water. Glad I did. Great video, per usual Scott 👏🏻
Thank you Chance, Glad you are enjoying this. A great restoration of what is a very good set of songs. I do hope Mazzy checks in with his perspective!
Hi Scott, many thanks for another great video. Thanks for promoting MoFi at the same time which hopefully somewhat helps stop the decreasing interest in these fraudy marketed digital products in the second market. For us in Europe who have been originally grossly overcharged for the real worth of these products and have no real chance to get the compensation according to the court settlement, and who want to get rid of these, we are loosing a lot of money vs original prices when selling for reasons of disengaging from MoFi. Never mind!
Hi Thomas,
I'm empathize with those who are excluded from recourse if they wish to return the products. I may in fact return a few of mine, but not this one! I've been negative on some products but only on sound quality if it warrants it, and tried to keep my reviews to that issue only. If this positive review helps the market recover a bit, I guess that's a good thing. I do hope you can recoup some of you decide to sell.
Nice review Scott. “Somebody To Love” is high energy and should make for a decent stereo mix, but back then, many were novices in it.
Thanks so much David. I wonder if anyone has ever attempted a stereo remix or if there is anything to here to even work with. I know when I used to play that single the last thing that occurred to me was sound quality! We all thought it was awesome!
Great review that does this fabulous album justice. I have a 2017 repress of it and that sounds pretty good to my ears but then I only have a CD version to compare it to. I’m not big into ‘luurv’ songs but Today would be my contender for best ever in that category. It wasn’t until an ex girlfriend told me she had made it ‘our’ song that I realised how good it was. She’s long gone in my life but the song is still perfect.
Hi Robert,
Thank you for your comment! Today is a very special song and has always stood out to me as a highlight of the material, apart from the great singles. I hope you'll be able to hear this version sometime. For so many years I considered this a poor sounding album, but hearing what they've done with the mono has had me rethink this. As I said it will never be a sonic marvel but this version presents the superior mono mix in a beautiful clear and honest light. It's a keeper.
Thanks for this very informative video, Scott. I wore out my original mono 45 of "Somebody to Love" and my mono 33 of Surrealistic Pillow. All I've got now is a stereo CD and the Sundazed mono LP. The mono is better than the stereo with those two releases. I'm going to keep an eye out for the MOFI mono. Great songs from Marty and Grace.
Hi John, if it's a favorite, which I gather it is, this is a beauty. You'll love it. Let's hope for a repress soon!
Fantastic. Great job.
Thank you so much Jason! I really enjoyed doing this video and think this pressing is exceptional. Glad you liked this one!
I remember back when I was growing up and mono LP's were still being made, most people would preferably buy the stereo versions. Many stores which sold records usually had cut-out bins. I remember seeing multiple Jefferson Airplane Mono albums in them as well as tons of other Mono albums in the late-60's to early-70's. About the only time that I bought Mono albums is because, new or cut-outs, they were cheaper than the stereo versions and I had very limited funds. I did have a stereo but I just couldn't swing an extra dollar for the stereo versions sometimes. The cut-out LP's were always under $2. and sometimes K-mart had them 2/$1. How could I pass that up? The mono LP's usually had different mixes(outside of being Mono), but a lot of the time, these Mono LP mixes weren't even the same as the Mono single 45 mixes. Those single mixes were what I heard on the radio, so I often didn't like either the Mono or Stereo LP versions. There are multiple stereo re-issues out there is a re-mastered version from 2021 and was pressed by MPO. That may be a good version to try as Amazon still has them at a 30% off discount. Friday Music also re-mastered and released different colored vinyl versions in 2019. I have several copies of those and they sound OK to me. They were pressed at RTI.
I think many of us thought this way, that the monos were somehow "lesser" and if a choice was there, that the stereo was preferable. I too recall monos in discount bins and boy wouldn't it be cool to time travel and snatch those up! Learning about mono mixes of rock albums from this early period has been a great revelation for me. One that's based on an open mind and not assumptions and marketing. I'm sure there were careful listeners who realized the truth them, but I think the general public was clueless.
@@ThePressingMatters My first Jefferson Airplane LP was the Mono "J.A. Takes Off", which I got from a cut-out bin for under $2. Eventhough it was considered an early copy, it had been made after they had done a song change. I love Nancy Sinatra, and her "Boots" album was my first and it was not only a birthday gift when it was just out, but it was also Mono. Most of her other albums I got from cut-out bins and they were Mono, but I did buy some new ones in stereo. When I bought her "Sugar" album and the woman clerk looked at me and said "I know why you are buying that". Well, I was buying it for the Stereo version of her current hit "Sugartown". Then it dawned on me that she was referring to Nancy in the pink bikini. That was cool too! Her "Movin' With Nancy" album was available in Mono, but I never saw one until I got a radio station copy. It was in a stereo cover, but the "Stereo" mas marked out. All of them had both the stereo and mono numbers on the back.
I never really cared for the Mono versions as so many of the sounds which you could heard on the stereo mixes were buried. This was even more true on the stereo recordings which were folded down to Mono. When you have a really dynamic recording, with lot's of instrumentation, it is way too much sound to pack into a Mono groove.
That's true, and in some cases the monos Can sound rather drab. I always used to feel that way. But sometime after I started to upgrade my system, I tried Sgt Pepper in mono and Piper at the Gates Of Dawn. All of a sudden it clicked and I immediately preferred the mono mixes. On current equipment they sound spacious in a different way to the stereo, and mixed with more care. It's often said that the artists and producers were mainly focused on getting the mono mix right, and now I have many examples of where this is true. This album shines in this new mono mix.
@@ThePressingMatters "Sgt. Pepper's..." and most other Beatles albums, their priority was Mono and had the Beatles input. The stereo versions were an afterthought and just thrown together without the Beatles input.
The stereo version of "Sgt. Peppers..." was unbalanced to the point of being irritating. You definitely didn't want to listen to it through headphones.
Now, when they did the anniversary editions of "Sgt. Pepper's", they remixed the stereo and, to me, it sounds better than the Mono.
I had the original stereo Capitol version of "Sgt. Pepper's..." soon after it came out and I never even considered buying the Mono version. Maybe 10 or so years ago, I was in Chicago for a jukebox and collectibles shows. It just happened that they were having their regular flee market at the kane County Fairgrounds while we were there, so we went to check it out. There were a few sellers selling records. Most of the prices were reasonable, records were priced like used records and not gold platters. One record seller had 2 Mono Capitol copies of "Sgt. Peppers..." in great shape and the seller let me put together the best copy out of the 2. When I god back home and played it, I was impressed.
Before that, one of the collectibles shows that I regularly attended in San Mateo, CA, a seller was selling bootlegged CD's of Sgt. Pepper's..." which had both the original stereo on Mono versions on it. I'm going to have to get it out and compare it to my 2009 Mono CD box and the later Mono LP box.
@@automatedelectronics6062 Interesting recollections of this unique time! I'm glad mono had a comeback in reissues, and people are becoming aware of it again.
Great job Scott, as usual! I have those two editions somewhere around here plus a Sundazed stereo edition which sounds awfully good to me. I guess it's time for me to do my own 3-way shootout!
I'd love to see the results of that!
Great review Scott, hopefully they repress this, would love to grab it at some point. In my experience, the MOFI 45's have all impressed me. Brothers in Arms (quite possibly one of the best records I own, top 3 easily.), Eye in the Sky, and Electric Warrior all sound good on my system. They have impressed me more than the singular One-Step I own, Thriller. My biggest gripe with MOFI is their packaging though, with the Thriller One-Step I was seriously thinking 'is that it?' when I opened it, something a little extra like a booklet would be nice. I much prefer the gatefolds of the standard MOFI pressings to the One-Step box (even though I wish they went with something nicer like AP's.)
My taste leans more towards classic 60's/70's rock and I wish MOFI would do more titles like this (but Van Halen for a One Step, really? Surely there are better options!), as not enough interesting titles, in my opinion, is what limits my purchases a little. I wonder if it would be possible for them to revisit bands like Pink Floyd? I was thinking the other day that a raw sounding mono pressing of The Velvet Underground & Nico would be great, if it's even possible!
Awesome content, keep it up!
Thanks Levi,
It will be interesting going forward what kind of titles companies like MOFI will be able to access. With the majors getting into the market with their own audiophile series like Rhino Hi Fidelity, the owners may be reluctant to license stuff out as much. This could end up a good or bad thing. Either they'll allow it for super premium priced 45 boxes, or they'll start allowing more deep catalog titles to be done by third parties. I'd be a little nervous if I was a boutique audiophile label right now.
note,.There was a mono cd of S.P.. years back i cant remember who released it... I think it was gold plated cd release. that contained the stereo - mono verisons?
Perhaps Audio Fidelity?
@@ThePressingMatters Thanks!
First of all Mr Wilson, I’m gonna have to ask you to never do that dance move again… That aside, good take on the Mono v Stereo mixes. I re-listened to everything today and I concur !! I’ll have to find my early OG mono copy now.
J Deuble
Lmao! Maybe I should edit out my personal anecdotes! I was more cringing at the poor resolution of the photo of the single! But yes I will restrain myself going forward haha.
Glad that a person who's ears I respect has come to the same conclusion. Now we BOTH have to find our OG monos! I could sell that for $$$!
Excellent review Scott and proof positive you’re not a MoFi hater, you just call em like you hear em 😉. Out of curiosity (not that it matters), do you know the sourcing on that MoFi? I did not pick this one up personally as I’m more a fan of their 70’s output (especially Red Octopus…the OG Kendun master sounds incredible) but it’s proof positive that MoFi, while inconsistent can sometimes knock it out of the park. Here are my top 5 recent MoFi releases that IMO are the best available (in no particular order)
-Bill Withers Greatest Hits
-Miles Davis In a Silent Way
-Miles Davis Nefertiti
-The Eagles ST
-Jeff Beck Truth
Thank you Brad,
I'm definitely not a MOFI hater, and I was glad to give them praise where it was due. This is 1/4" / 15 IPS analog mono master to DSD 256 to analog console to lathe. Although I neglected to mention the sourcing, I guess that shows how it little it matters to me how they got there! The results speak for themselves!
I do need to pick up a copy of Red Octopus, I was just discussing that with another commenter! Thanks for the recommendation on pressing and another vote for the Bill Withers. Everyone seems to love that one!
I really appreciate that you take the time to watch and comment, and share some good information! Thank you!
@@ThePressingMatters you won’t be sorry on Red Octopus. Miracles is an amazing song with Marty Balin’s vocals just sublime. Make sure you get the KENDUN master though - I see them in the bins all the time for $10-20
Ok I'll search that one out. Thank you! I love Miracles!
Try to tweak your eq on the the CSN. I originally thought no good. I did shootout with like 3 other pressings. I now prefer the CSN. On the airplane. I actually like my original mono and stereo. With my sugar cube they sound clean. The Mofi is pretty great too. Lots of clarity in there especially in the voices. I also really like the first Jefferson Airplane album. Killer great songs and the sound is pretty good on that one too.
I'll revisit it at some point. I don't have tone controls or eq, so any experimenting would be with VTA, cables and tube rolling! Not sure if I want to do that but I've switched positions before. Thanks for your perspective on it!
@@ThePressingMatters I just relistened to my mofi 45. It is very crisp. It almost doesn’t even sound like the original recording. It is so “clear” especially in the voices. The backing music (rest of the band) is like it’s in a tunnel. But I think this is just the way it was recorded. Compression? Too bad the band wasn’t presented in the same way the voices were. But you gotta love this album. Good stuff. The only one that sounds amazing instrument wise is Embryonic Journey. White rabbit sounds pretty good too!
I think your right, the recording of the band, is rather recessed. It's an odd recording for sure. At least the mono is not bathed in excessive echo. The studio sounds cavernous as it is! The album is such a trip in time. I used to only like the singles. But there are incredible moments of subtle beauty throughout. Today is just lovely. Embryonic Journey is a beauty. A nice blend of acid rock and folk rock elements.
@@ThePressingMatters I am just finishing my original stereo listen again. Of course stereo has some great sound stage and the band and voices are in the same ✈️ (haha). There is a lot more reverb. Plastic Fantastic Lover Smokes. But I do like the mono too. Suggest getting an original stereo. My guess you may like that too. I love reverb so I don’t mind it in the stereo. It makes it sound huge!!!!!
Wombat Remixer on youtube does a good remix in stereo. He takes the mono and makes a stereo mix. I would put a link but I can't...
I'll see if I can find it and link it. Thanks!
I’ve had originals , SACD version…the MOFI 45 is a killer
It really is! One of my favorite rock reissues in many years
One day I'll find my original!
@@ThePressingMatters my original was VG at best so maybe it wasn’t a fair comparison.. the MOFI is my end game on that recording
@@robertpannullo5687 I agree. It's great when you feel you've finally found the best, and don't need to look further. I never felt that with the DCC Stereo, obviously!
@@ThePressingMatters Fun review. Would be a great update to this shootout if you found either of the OG mono or stereo. I recently picked up an OG stereo, and while I've listed to all these songs digitally in the past, this version felt more like a religious experience. While reissues like Mofi can be "clearer", they rarely capture the magic and the intensity of OG pressings. Would be curious to know if its worth getting the MOFI version.
Jefferson Airplane changing their name to Starship and having such success with their Red Octopus album, supposedly influenced the cover of the debut Boston album a year or so later. One of the local FM staions played the track Miracles to death. It didn't even sound much like a rock song that belonged on there. I think teenagers would often go into the kitchen and get some chips or something when that song came on. Their Worst Of Jefferson Airplane (which was their joke title), was actually their Best Of album. A lot of great music is on that one, maybe too much as the grooves on the lp had to made really narrow to accommodate that many tracks. With the cd, which can sound good on a good player fid not have that problem. I liked some of their later songs too, like Ride The Tiger, Jane etc. I think Red Octopus was the album of the year in what was it, 1975?
Red Octopus is in my must have list. I enjoy that period as well. Good sound I imagine at least from hearing Miracles!
@@ThePressingMatters I think I only played that album one time. I didn't mind it, but I was trying to figure out why it was album of the year. Mid 1970s was a good time with a lot of great music. Undoubtedly the lower 100 albums would have beaten the top 20 albums of nowadays. I forget what all came out in 1975. Maybe it was a slightly off year. They say 1966 and 1967 were the pinnacle years for good new music that came out. It took a little dip in 1968 and 1969 was a super good year again for new music. Surrealistic Pillow was one of the main albums of The Summer Of Love in 1967 along with Sgt. Peppers and others. I wish I would have been a little older then. But that would mean that I'd be a little older now. I'll stay.
I used to wish I was born earlier so I could have been of age in the summer of love. I was only 6 in 1967. Had I been of an age where I had the freedom too, I no doubt would have been right there in Haight Ashbury and attending Monterey and Woodstock.
@@ThePressingMatters I was really young then too. I think I can remember though how there were so many great songs. Music played on the car radio, music played in stores that really caught my attention. It was probably the beginning of the development of my love for music. I had a little transistor radio. My mother would make me turn it off and go to bed at 10 o clock. I would ask her for a little more time and she'd say get to bed, you got school in the morning. I looked into that little box that my transistor radio came in. There was a wire of some kind with a plug at one end and something that looked like you could put in your ear at the other end. Probem solved! I did listen under the covers though
@@sidesup8286 Thats so cool, i did the same thing. Radio under the covers!
im listening to the DCC stereo lp right now. a bit overly echoey but i like that its all on 1 lp. i like the album a lot but psych isnt in my top 5 genres. just cant justify the 45.
Yes, that excessive echo muddies up the sound compared to the more natural reverb on the mono. I get that a 33 is preferable for this album. I wish this MOFI mono mastering was on a 33 as well. If you love the album, you really do need to hear this mastering if you ever get the chance.
Except for the last track, which isn't even needed as the album finishes stronger if you stop it after "White Rabbit", the whole album is fabulous. It's far better in mono. The stereo mix is weak, has far too much echo, feels limp, and sounds old in a bad way. The mono is very well mixed, feels more direct and fresh, and really gets the music across with a vitality that is so much better in basically every way. It's never going to be this ultra hi-fi album, but the mono version is fine enough sounding, with a vintage character from the period in a good way.
I couldn't have said it better myself! I'll never listen to the stereo again. Good observation about the closing track. Would have been perfect to just end with White Rabbit. Spectacular. Thanks for sharing your views on this album.
@@ThePressingMatters The ending of this album reminds me of the UK version of The Beatles HELP! album. Stop it at the end of "Yesterday", and it ends perfectly. Same for side one of PET SOUNDS...end it on "Let's Get Away For a While" before "God Only Knows", and it flows just right.
@@owlnswan4016 Yes it really is questionable sequencing all all those examples!
In my listening, the original mono is very weak and thin sounding compared to the Mofi. The soundstage on the former is almost non-existent and sounds like it was recorded in a cave. Great video and hopefully you track down your original copy.
Im so glad you came in with this info Cameron. I had heard this about the original mono before, but I couldn't confirm as it's "lost in the stacks." I hope I find it too if anything just to confirm my suspicions. Another commenter had asked about the original mono - I hope he gets notified of your post. Thank you so much for watching and adding to the conversation!
Own the MOFI and an Original, the OG whoops the MOFI
I do wish I could have evaluated the original mono, but it couldn't be located in time for this video, hence the different angle of talking more about the differences in the mono and stereo mixes and these two versions in particular. It will be interesting to hear for sure, and I'll update here if I come across it. Thanks for your comment.
I have a clean mono original Hollywood press and I'm actually genuinely shocked you said the OG whoops it. Because imo the mofi is far better, and most people on sites like hoffman agree. Even post scandal most prefer it. Infact, I've never seen anyone say the OG whoops it before you. Some people prefer the OG, but 90% acknowledge the mofi improved it. However, the OG is very good where the mofi isn't essential if you own it and are not a huge fan.
I bought mine recently post mofi scandal. I wanted it to sound bad, like I was biased against mofi because of buying so many I thought were AAA. But it blew me away. White rabbit on the mofi is far superior due to the 45rpm, there's alot more clarity and the dynamics are much better due to having a whole side as opposed to a tiny spot at the end of the record. The mofi is worth it for white rabbit alone.
The mofi isn't leaps and bounds better, but it is overall better, with most agreeing. Infact, it's held up as one of the better mofis, because it's stunning that they got more out of such a low grade recording. I really can't see what would make you say it's so much better. Also is your OG a mono? Because maybe it's stereo and you just prefer stereo and reverb to mono? The mono doesn't gave test crazy reverb like the stereo, so most prefer it, but if yours is stereo maybe you just prefer the reverb. Like the mofi iron butterfly is awesome and much better dynamically than the OG, however, it lacks the reverb so it sounds really weird to me. So maybe a similar thing happened to you? But I assume you have the mono since you didn't specify.
The pros of the original are a little more lively sparkle in the highs, mofis got more clarity, wider Soundstage, and bass. But the original mono is brighter with a lively high end, with more air. So I can see you preferring those elements, because there is a noticeable difference. Also many people will often enjoy originals more just because theyre used to them, so even if its improved the original will always sound "right" to them. But me and most reviewers have found the balance, clarity, higher resolution, bass, of the mofi far outweighing the positives of the original.
I say this all as someone who buys primarily 1st pressings and most often prefer 1st pressings. Granted it does really annoy me when people who just got into "OGs" this past year, with groups like the OBC, blindly label any original better, because many times they're not. Many there are vinyl noobs who just follow what Michael says, don't actually listen or have experience or research. They'll just blindly upvote comments that trash mofi and praise a 1st press, even if it's fringe and against mass consensus. Most cases I prefer a 1st pressing too, but I take it case by case, and the mofi wins here.
In this case me and most believe the mofi is superior. I can totally see you preferring the OG since they are different and at times I still play my mono. But to think it "whoops" it makes me think you have to have the best OG ever and the worst mofi ever.
I'm just shocked to see you think the original whoops it since most think the opposite. Many like fremer, will prefer the mofi, yet say you're good with an original, and I agree. However the mofi is worth it for white rabbit alone if you're big on JA.
I say this as someone who has mofi on their shitlist for being jerks, and doesn't blindly prefer mofis. I'm also a huge JA fan having 7 copies of this album (mono, sundazed mono, dcc, og mono, og stereo us, uk, and japan). The mofi is the best, by a good margin. Dcc is the best stereo by far, and the 1st press mono is right behind the mofi. The mofi Volunteers and crown are both excellent too.
I respect your opinion but completely disagree.
@@simonemurray1345 I too was a bit shocked with the comment you're referring to. It didn't provide much context and not having my original mono, I sort of let it go. But your comment brilliantly and completely explains the general consensus on this particular MOFI, and from an honest and balanced viewpoint. Much more valuable info from someone who was hesitant about another MOFI, like I was, and half expecting to be disappointed. To each their own I suppose but anyone who loves this record cannot fail to be impressed by what MOFI has achieved here. Thank you for stating the case so eloquently from an obviously well informed perspective.
Hope to hear more from you on other videos in the future!
Scott, it is not allowed to praise a Mo-Fi product - what's the matter with you? 😜
LMAO Micheal!. I call it as I hear it. I think I few people thought I had it out for MOFI. I do try to keep the scandal out of the way and focus on sound. I'm happy to lavish some praise where it's warranted!
Maybe I should put "the following is not a paid endorsement" 🤣
Its a terrible sounding album to begin with. I do prefer the mono.
Based on this evaluation, I couldn't agree more with you're second statement. I think MOFI did a great job bringing out the best in the mono. It's now a very listenable album even with its issues.
Which ever pressing if Grace slick is (attempting) singing then it belongs in your garbage.
I don't see it that way at all. Try listening the isolated vocal of White Rabbit sometime. For a rock vocal it's pretty amazing. Is she a technically perfect singer? No, but she can deliver what's needed within the Airplane at this time.