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There has been some discussion here as well as in other forums about the merits of original Beatles mono vs. stereo pressings. There is no doubt that original UK pressings are usually, if not always THE best, though relative affordability is another factor you have to weigh in order to determine which pressing is right for you.
That being said, in general, mono pressings have a more coherent, natural presentation, with the group appearing before you in a unified way. Up until "Let It Be" and "Abbey Road", the stereo mixes tended to have instruments extreme right and left with a general unnataral soundstage. The first couple of their albums were most extreme. Sometimes, stereo and mono pressings had slightly different mixes.
On the other hand, one advantage to the stereo pressings is that they are pretty much always more dynamic, supposedly because the mono mixes were mixed for AM radio consumption. Even in the vaunted case of the original White Album mono pressing, the stereo is far more dynamic.
In the case of "Beatles For Sale", most of the cuts on the mono pressing are pretty severely compressed, and you can hear the limiter on things like cymbals. A few cuts, though, don't seem to have been subjected as much to compression and they include "I'll Follow the Sun" and "Honey Don't".
I have had a remarkably mono copy, and while I note the severe compression on many cuts, images including voices are HUGE. This is something unique to first pressings of The Beatles albums and one reason why they are worth seeking out. I have a 4th press mono of "Please, Please Me" and while it is really good, it's not as huge sounding as an original gold/black label (with the victorian style lettering). Just find a good copy, though, for less than $500!
Anyway, I just obtained a first press UK stereo of "Beatles For Sale" (and they are quite rare due to few stereo copies were pressed compared to the oodles of mono ones). For sure, there is more space around the instruments and the music tends to breathe more on most cuts. Benefitting particularly from the greater space and dynamics are "Mr. Moonlight", "Kansas City", "Eight Days a Week", "I Don't Want to Spoil the Party" and "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby."
On the other hand, songs like "Every Little Thing" are not helped all that much and they are sometimes hurt by the extreme right/left mix and vocals and some instruments are often back in the mix. Most vocals are no longer huge and in the room. Near the end of "I Don't Want to Spoil the Party", you barely hear one of the acoustic guitars playing that is prominently heard in the mono mix. "I'll Follow the Sun" actually comes out much stronger in the mono pressing with McCartney's vocals much bigger and focused and without the reverb that seems to have been added to the stereo mix. Harrison's guitar solo still is huge, clear and dynamic in the mono pressing so there is nothing to gain in the stereo version, to my ears.
So, while most of the music does breathe more in the stereo version, to my ears, the cohesion of the presentation still may give a nod to the mono one, in terms of which one I'm likely to pull out. It's a tough call.
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