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Even for a rush job, the stereo mix of Sgt. Pepper's has always been a much more captivating listening experience for me. The mono mix is fraught with errors (bad edits, mixing quirks and so forth). Not to mention the compression they used on the final mix just kills the dynamics.
Listen to the stereo copy and the bad edits are shored up, and the mix is nice and bright, dynamic, and clear as a bell. I would cite examples of the good and the bad, but I just want those who are intimately familiar with both versions to come forward and state which mix they REALLY like.
I personally think the Beatles and their camp were living in denial regarding their preference for the mono mix. They probably never did an A/B shootout, as if it's even really necessary. (no sour grapes, really)
Follow Ups:
Could you point out some of the "bad edits, mixing quirks and so forth" that you mention?
Gotta do this quick:
before "Reprise", the guitar cluck warbles quite a bit as the tape gets brought up to speed. I dont think there's supposed to be laughing by the audience before the guitars come in either. The audience track warbles as it's brought up to speed as well. I'm listening to this thinking "how could they not catch this--especially if so much work was put into it"
I'm a little hard pressed to come up with any more what I would call bad edits (it's just that those are such glaring mis-cues), but the mix on "Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite" is about the murkiest thing I've heared this side of the Mississippi River. Not much to go on, I know, but I gotta go back to work fer now. Thanks for responding!
TP
Okay, I'll bite. I have to say after listening to my different copies of SPLHCB: mint japanese red vinyl mono, near mint original Y&B Parlophone mono (XEX 637-1/638-1), near mint Y&B Parlophone Stereo (YEX 637-1/638-1), mint Silver and Black Parlophone Stereo (YEX 637-1/638-1) and MFSL, I like both the mono and stereo versions equally but for different reasons.There's no question that the stereo version has more air and better treble extension, but the mono's drive and bass easily bests the stereo copies. When I first heard the mono version of the title track it put me back in my listening chair. I could feel Paul's bass and Ringo's bass and tom-toms right there in my chest. Also, Ringo's drumming on "Lucy..." and "Being For The Benefit..." is definately louder on the mono, plus Paul's vocal on "She's Leaving Home" is at the correct speed versus the warped sounding stereo version.
The stereo version of "A Day In The Life" easliy blows away the mono version. It's air, extension and ambience seems right to me. I also prefer the stereo versions of "When I'm Sixty-Four", "Lovely Rita" and "It's Getting Better".
In summary, this is such a great album that I'm glad I do have copies of both versions to enjoy.
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