Beatles remasters are here!

[bigideas]

I don't think they ever released mono versions of those albums.

 

That is right - I just mentioned as an example of what they didn't have - Abbey Road, one of their most popular and swan song.

 

The famous Ringo drum solo wouldn't be as cool in mono(but that album was definitely recorded in Stereo).

[Analogman]

It's not about recording in Mono or Stereo, it's about the mix. By that point, mono was not the preferred mix. This was due to the emergence of FM Radio, the rise of the LP over the 45, and also the fact that more kids had stereos, instead of just one speaker transistor radios.

 

I can't recall what the last Beatles album was that received a mono and stereo mix/release. I think it was The White Album. It's probably noted somewhere in this thread.

[bigideas]

It's not about recording in Mono or Stereo, it's about the mix. By that point, mono was not the preferred mix. This was due to the emergence of FM Radio, the rise of the LP over the 45, and also the fact that more kids had stereos, instead of just one speaker transistor radios.

 

I can't recall what the last Beatles album was that received a mono and stereo mix/release. I think it was The White Album. It's probably noted somewhere in this thread.

 

yeah, but i think Ringo's drum solo was specifically conceived for stereo. I don't think it was recorded with mono in mind and then panned around to sound cool (like with various sound effects on the album), I think it was actually miked to so you could hear it that way.

 

then again, i have only heard the CD versions so it may sound different if you listen to an original vinyl copy of Abbey Road.

[Analogman]

The Making of Revolver (The Beatles.com)

[MattZ]

The Making of Revolver (The Beatles.com)

 

Don't get me wrong. I am sucker for all this stuff and will likely be buying as much of it as I can afford. But we are approaching ridiculous levels of recycling and reissuing. Weren't most (if not all) of the quotes there also used in the Anthology?

[Analogman]

I think you are right.

[Synthesizer Patel]

comments about how George Harrison thought Rubber Soul and Revolver are part 1 and 2 of the same ideas etc... is that really "the making of revolver"? or some old man talking crap because he can't be bothered or can't remember what really happened at the time? Revolver sounds nothing like Rubber Soul, so those sort of comments are just meaningless. oh, well.

[bigideas]

Weren't most (if not all) of the quotes there also used in the Anthology?

 

really?

now that is just ridiculous.

so i guess that's the format - someone just does some animation with the artwork and pictures from the era and they play sound clips over it?

 

i guess better than nothing, but kinda crappy if it makes a long time fan shell out hoping for new insight - of course, at this point with only 2 living members you can't really expect much'new.'

 

what needed to be done was releasing the unreleased studio recordings - this is the Beatles - they should do 4 disc box sets like Pet Sounds got for each album.

[Synthesizer Patel]

at this point with only 2 living members you can't really expect much'new.'

 

all of the engineers, producer, etc... are still alive though, and that's what i thought a making of "album" would be about - how they got the sound, or at least how they worked in the studio etc... even a making of the remasters would be more interesting than those comments from the band.

[TimRoss]

Finally, Paul collaborating with a talent that rivals his own...

 

[TCP]

In highschool I dished out all the money I had on all the Beatle albums I could afford. Even though I'm an audiophile I'm not willing to dish out that kind of cash. I don't have the original Let It Be (trivia fact: first Beatles album I ever bought was Let It Be Naked) and some of the early records, so maybe I will purchase those and just download the rest never hear the rest.

[Analogman]

This is a good sign:

 

DOCTOR EBBETTS CALLS IT QUITS

 

Dear friends,

 

I sincerely hope all is well with you and yours.

 

Indeed, this is an unexpected mass-mailer. Please forgive the

unsolicited rambles that follow.

 

To start, there are many of you who have outstanding orders with me at

this time. Some of you have been waiting for a while, and I wish to

apologize for that. Please don't worry. Each and every one of these

outstanding orders will be tended to this week. You have my word.

 

I appreciate your patience and understanding.

 

Second, there has been considerable buzz surrounding the new Beatles

remasters, due for release in September. There should be. We have all

been waiting for this day, and it is about to arrive - finally! Thanks

to a long-time supporter and friend to this project, I have had the

opportunity to hear genuine samples of the new remasters due out in two

months.

 

They are good.

 

Very good.

 

Those of you who will be buying them - and those of you who have already

preordered - will not be disappointed.

 

In fact, I will venture to guess than many of you will be more than

pleasantly surprised at how good they sound.

 

And with what promises to be outstanding packaging all around, it will

be a collector's nirvana.

 

From the outset of the Dr. Ebbetts Sound Systems project, I swore that

once EMI did the right thing and released remasters to be proud of, I

would not continue doing what I was doing. After all, the only reason I

did this was because Apple/EMI/Capitol would not - and because I so very

much love the Beatles.

 

While my love for the band has not changed, everything else has.

 

EMI/Capitol began their release of the American LPs on compact disc a

few years ago, and now EMI has tackled the British catalogue in fullest

detail.

 

It's what we all wanted. As Beatles fans, it's what we've prayed for.

 

To that end - and with the heaviest of hearts - effective immediately,

Dr. Ebbetts Sound Systems will cease operations.

 

Many of you will recall that the entire purpose of the Dr. Ebbetts

project was to make available to the public the best sounding versions

of the Beatles' original LP releases - with emphasis on the American and

British catalogues. Believe me, it wasn't a hard thing to do considering

the substandard quality of the original CD catalogue from 1987 onward.

 

The fact of the matter is, the Dr. Ebbetts material does not - and will

not - sound better than what is coming commercially in September. People

I trust agree with me. The remasters sound remarkably well balanced,

with solid, punchy bass, smooth mids and not-to-harsh, yet crisp highs.

In comparison, many of the Ebbetts masters fall short - weaker bass,

dimished mids, and often too-bright highs.

 

It's a given that the remasters will not please everyone, but they will

be good enough to make the Ebbetts catalogue solidly inferior.

 

The artwork and packaging of the EMI material will prove to make current

Dr. Ebbetts releases look like Xerox machine fodder.

 

It pains me, seeing as I have invested so much time in this thing, but I

humbly and officially put this nearly-fourteen year project to bed.

 

I have outlived my usefulness in this hobby.

 

I know there are many who will ask why I just don't continue releasing

titles that are NOT being put out by Apple/EMI - foreign releases, rare

pressings, etc..

 

My reasons are complicated, but they are what they are. In short, if the

Dr. Ebbetts BLUE BOX set is not the definitive sounding version of the

original UK stereo LPs, then why issue them at all?

 

Many will remember the original BEAT CDs of the 1990s that presented the

Beatles US LPs sourced from cassettes. I surely do. They became

immediately obsolete with the advent of Dr. Ebbetts. No one bought those

BEAT CDs anymore when I came along. Why would they? At the time, my

material was far superior.

 

The Ebbetts BLUE BOX series was only issued because Apple/EMI's versions

were substantially inferior to anything I - or any number of

needledroppers - were putting out. The Ebbetts BLUE BOX set is at THE

HEART of the Dr. Ebbetts Sound Systems collection, in my estimation. If

that set is now inferior to the commercial release, then it has no

business existing. Suffice to say, I would not release the BLUE BOX set

today if new remasters were already commercially available.

 

I would have no need.

 

And if my CORE SET is inferior, I don't wish to have the rest of the

catalogue branded as such either.

 

Therefore, it is time to put it all on the shelf.

 

I am requesting that all of you who have LPs with me contact me as soon

as possible and let me know which ones are yours so that I might send

them back to you. I promise I will get those to you in short order.

 

So that your return LP requests will not be lost in what promises to be

a hectic e-mail shuffle, please put "MY LPs" somewhere in the subject

line.

 

Your generosity, kindness and willingness to share your treasured

possessions with me is something I shall never forget.

 

To each and every one of you who has supported me and befriended me

throughout the years, I wish to extend my deepest gratitude. Your

loyalty has moved me beyond words. This entire project began as a

fanciful hobby many years ago and has mushroomed into something far

beyond anything I could have imagined.

 

From every corner of the entire world, I have been blessed to meet some

of the best Beatle people out there. I will never forget you.

 

But now it is time to make way for the "big boys."

 

Please be sure to secure your copies of the remasters. I guarantee they

will replace your Dr. Ebbetts CDs in your rotations and playlists - as

they should. Display them proudly and let people know who the greatest

band of all time is.

 

Remember, quoting my project motto from all those years ago, it is ONLY

about the music.

 

That is why I do what I do today.

 

Now go put your hard-earned money to good use!

 

God Bless.

[Sir Stewart]

Finally, Paul collaborating with a talent that rivals his own...

 

 

That link doesn't work.

[bobbob1313]

That link doesn't work.

 

That's obviously the point.

[TimRoss]

Let's try again with the pic of who Paul is working with...

 

http://twitpic.com/al9lw

[bigideas]

all of the engineers, producer, etc... are still alive though, and that's what i thought a making of "album" would be about - how they got the sound, or at least how they worked in the studio etc... even a making of the remasters would be more interesting than those comments from the band.

 

geoff emerick put out a book not too long ago.

[imsjry]

So looks like Amazon has pre-order pricing on both box sets. Anyone else just gonna wait to see what the sales are that week?

[solace]

i am.

 

or if i actually truly want both.

[jimtweedy1977]

i am.

 

or if i actually truly want both.

 

I noticed the box sets are limited editions. I wonder how limited they are exactly. I can't imagine them selling out too quickly, considering the price on those suckas.

[MattZ]

I wonder what percentage of the folks buying these remastered cds will actually be able to hear/appreciate the difference. And what percentage it has to be for this to be looked at objectively as something other than a money grab.

[Sir Stewart]

I wonder what percentage of the folks buying these remastered cds will actually be able to hear/appreciate the difference. And what percentage it has to be for this to be looked at objectively as something other than a money grab.

 

This is why I am not even considering buying any of these. I'm no audiophile, so even if I did notice a better sound at all, I still wouldn't be able to shake the feeling that I'd been had.

[MattZ]

This is why I am not even considering buying any of these. I'm no audiophile, so even if I did notice a better sound at all, I still wouldn't be able to shake the feeling that I'd been had.

 

Yeah, I dont know what happened. When it was first announced, I was really excited and convinced that I'd find a way to get both boxes. But as time goes on, my interest level is going down, and my suspicion level is going up. I guess we all become jaded, but I never wanted to become jaded about the Fab Four and their music. Oh well.

[solace]

i'll definitely listen to them before i buy, but if the sound quality is on par with the LOVE disc, it'll be a huge upgrade.

[MattZ]

i'll definitely listen to them before i buy, but if the sound quality is on par with the LOVE disc, it'll be a huge upgrade.

 

Yeah you are right, but I wonder if that will eliminate the star in the back of my mind that's just waiting. For it's cover. To be blown.

[Synthesizer Patel]

if people won't be able to tell the difference between these and the old cd's they're hard of hearing - it will be really obvious. the stereo cds won't sound as good as the LOVE remixes, cos they're not remixed. but, if people fork out for the mono versions then they will sound better than the LOVE versions, they'll also be different mixes (other than just being mono) from the other versions so you'll hear the difference in what is played too. download it illegally and you'll see what i mean.