Sgt. Pepper/White Album Mono vs. Stereo Versions

Howdy. Is anyone aware of a link or a list of the differences between the stereo versions and the mono versions of Sgt. Pepper and the White Album? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Sgt. Peppers Mono / Stereo Differences

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
The mono version has a more prominent guitar towards the end, which is barely audible on the stereo version.

Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
The vocal has a noticable echo on the mono version, which is not there on the stereo version. This gives the mono version a dreamier quality.

She's Leaving Home
The stereo version is slower than the mono version which sounds much faster.

Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
On the mono version the audience sounds begin more sharply, the drum intro is 4 drumbeats longer, and there are some words spoken by John and some audience laughter ALL of which are missing from the stereo mix.
Paul speaks at the end, but it can barely be heard on the stereo version, but ...
The transition from "Good Morning" is not as smooth on the mono release.

The White Album Mono / Stereo Differences

ack In The U.S.S.R.
The airplane overdubs occur in different places on the mono and stereo versions.

Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da
The stereo version has hand-clapping during the intro, the mono version does not.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps
The stereo version has some vocal sounds from George at the end, the mono version does not.

Blackbird
The bird sound effects are quite different between the stereo and the mono release.

Piggies
The pig sound effects are quite different between the stereo and the mono release.

Don't Pass Me By
The mono version is much faster than the stereo, and therefore is shorter.
The violin sounds at the end are markedly different.

Why Don't We Do It In The Road
The stereo version has hand-clapping during the intro, the mono version does not.

I Will
The stereo version has more prominent bongos.

Birthday
The stereo version has extra vocals at the end of the second chorus.

Sexy Sadie
The stereo version has two taps on the tambourine during the intro, the mono version only has one.

Helter Skelter
The stereo version has a fade-out/fade-in dummy ending with Ringo's shout of "I've got blisters on my fingers", the mono version does not ! ... this makes the stereo version almost a minute longer.

Long, Long, Long
The stereo version is fine, but on the mono, George's double-tracked vocal is embarrassingly out of synch.

Honey Pie
The stereo version has a shorter guitar solo than the mono version.

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LINK

i had a mono magical mystery tour too but all those songs are wAy better in sterio! save the mono helter skelter sounds louder to me and has a lot of extra "beeps and sqeek sounds"

Thanks a million for the info. I ordered these CDs through (what seems to be) a decent source and just found out that the versions I am waiting for are the 'Dr. Ebbett' versions. So I wanted to get as much info as I can and I thank you for going through all the trouble of putting this info together.

Welcome to Beatlelinks, juniorsfarm! A splendid time is guaranteed for all.

There's some more mono/differences I've just discovered...


Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite
There are different sound effects in the instrumentals and endings in the mono version.

Fixing a Hole
The mono version lasts three seconds longer.

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
The mono version is slightly slower.

When I'm Sixty-Four
The mono mix is slightly slower.

Good Morning Good Morning
The rooster crow at the beginning runs a little slower for the mono mix.

Happiness is a Warm Gun
The bass is louder in the mono version.

Savoy Truffle
Apparently the mono version has a different guitar.


These differences were listed on the 'Alternate' CD tracklistings.

I prefer the mono Sgt. Pepper, certainly. For instance, I think Good Morning, Good Morning is ruined in stereo, due to it being slowed down.

I have both versions of Pepper and I must say I really like hearing the mono version...

There are many other differences....I'll skip over the White album..

As far as pepper....With a Little Help is full of phasing that is not on the stereo. Lucy has phasing and echo added. Within you Without You...the laughing at the end is quite different from the stereo. On Getting Better, there is a ton of phasing on the song that the stereo lacks. Other minor differences on the other songs.

Originally Posted by juniorsfarm

Thanks a million for the info. I ordered these CDs through (what seems to be) a decent source and just found out that the versions I am waiting for are the 'Dr. Ebbett' versions. So I wanted to get as much info as I can and I thank you for going through all the trouble of putting this info together.

I know this is an older post, but I just wanted to say you should never ever buy bootlegs. That's a waste of money. You can download them all over the internet in perfect flac format. There is for instance a link on this forum that'll give you almost all Ebbetts albums, and the Purple Chick ones. Again, you should never ever BUY bootleg cd's!

BTW There is a big change you are buying cd's that are downloaded from the internet by the seller... How's that for an easy buck...! Better do it yourself.

I understand not buying all the bootlegs out there,
especially not the ones by PC and other fan made stuff, but I don't think you can demand that no-one should buy bootlegs.

I still buy bootlegs from time to time, especially stuff from great labels like Yellow Dog and Vigotone, and there is nothing wrong with that. If you can order original Dr. Ebbets through the man himself, it will be worth the asking price. Besides sometimes what you download isn't the right copy.

Well, I wasn't demanding it. ;) It was an advice! ;)

And I wonder if anyone can get in contact with 'the man himself'...! I really wouldn't know how.

Originally Posted by lennonluvr9

I have both versions of Pepper and I must say I really like hearing the mono version...

i have always wondered about that. A couple of the songs are much faster and seem to pack a bit more punch.

Originally Posted by PepperlandFrog

i have always wondered about that. A couple of the songs are much faster and seem to pack a bit more punch.

Er... actually, it's the other way around. On mono three songs are slower: Lucy in the sky with diamonds (very noticable), When I'm 64 (very slightly), Good morning good morning (very slightly). The only faster song is She's leaving home (which has the biggest difference in speed!), but that's hardly a song that has punch... ;)

BTW I like the mono version more: it's more tight and so on, just like I already said in a topic about that.

EDIT:
Oh, I guess you meant you liked the stereo version more because it has 3 songs that are faster... ;) My bad. Personally I like the slower Lucy (and the added echo): it really fits the song, and I also like the faster She's leaving because it keeps it from being too cheesy...

Originally Posted by J van E

I know this is an older post, but I just wanted to say you should never ever buy bootlegs. That's a waste of money. You can download them all over the internet in perfect flac format. There is for instance a link on this forum that'll give you almost all Ebbetts albums, and the Purple Chick ones. Again, you should never ever BUY bootleg cd's!

BTW There is a big change you are buying cd's that are downloaded from the internet by the seller... How's that for an easy buck...! Better do it yourself.

sorry to go off topic maybe a bit..

Is this the same J van E who started the thread about bootlegs you just HAVE to HAVE

But partly I do see your point. Now us Dutch are lucky that (of course) we have illegal Bootleg stores where you can/could just walk in and see what they have and buy it or not. Legs and I make a habit of that for years already.

In general yes I think 90% of the many many bootleg recordings I have are downloaded which indeed to me is a great option. I started probably at Napster and then via WinMX probably and all the others also used the addys which are mentioned here, the specialist ones.

However, I do make an exception for George's bootlegs and Wilbury ones. Many of those - not all - I just wanna have because of collector's feelings and also for instance because of the booklets of them which have stories and rare pictures. In a few cases it is indeed just someone making compilations of previous bootlegs, but often it is not. Same for DVD's btw. It's nice to have all George's promo's and additonal (rare) things just on one or more DVD's.

Ok...carry on

Yes, that's the same J van E. But I didn't start a topic saying 'Bootlegs to HAVE to BUY' so... why the smiley? :P ;)

The last time I bought a bootleg was around 1979 (if memory serves me well), in Groningen. I don't have it/them anymore (I even can't remember which/what bootleg(s) it/they was/were). In those days that was (obviously) the only way to get them. And there surely weren't as much bootlegs as there are today.
I know no bootlegstores btw: I know a few recordstores that have some unofficial Beatles-releases, but not much.

Originally Posted by J van E

I know no bootlegstores btw: I know a few recordstores that have some unofficial Beatles-releases, but not much.

We know a few locations. For instance one in Leiden and another one in Delft which these days sells beads ... but we have entrance to bootleg storage which is sort of hidden

It's not really the point how you can contact Dr. Ebbets, or how many people are on his list, there are plenty who are, how do you think his releases get spread through the internet.The point is that those who are on his list are glad that they are, and they won't listen to your advise, nor should they.There is nothing wrong with paying a little for the work the man does, and to get his work. Same goes for those behind great bootleg labels like VigoTone, with releases that has put most official Apple product to shame.

I believe that most of the Dr. Ebbet's stuff on bootleg blogs are genue, but you can never know for sure wheter a downloaded title is really a Dr. Ebbets release or some home made stuff. Still I agree that it's worse if you buy something from a bootleg dealer, and it turns out that it was taken from a PC release. So in any case you should never buy fan created discs that aren't meant to be sold.

Sorry to go off topic btw.

As for the mono-stereo differences, I think it's pretty much answered.
I do prefer the mono White album, but maybe it's because I never heard a good mono "Sgt. Pepper's" that I prefer my stereo vinyl. My mono version is full with cracks and pops, and strangely enough the Dr. Ebbet's mono release I have doesn't convince me either.

Originally Posted by J van E

Well, I wasn't demanding it. ;) It was an advice! ;)

And I wonder if anyone can get in contact with 'the man himself'...! I really wouldn't know how.

Originally Posted by Legs

There is nothing wrong with paying a little for the work the man does, and to get his work. Same goes for those behind great bootleg labels like VigoTone, with releases that has put most official Apple product to shame.

Well, yes, you've got a point there... I guess I am used too much to downloading almost all my music instead of buying it... I only buy cd's from artists I really admire and want to support (or from whom I like to have nice booklets and cases and covers): the rest I download, even though I know that also in those cases 'there is nothing wrong with paying a little for the work the artist does'... Even though it's legal to download music over here, that doesn't mean it's a matter of good ethics to do so.................

Anyway...

I rather like the Ebbet's mono Pepper. Can't find anything wrong with it. If it doesn't convince you, is that because of the technical sound quality or it is simply because you like the stereo mixes better?

Actuall mixes aren't that important.
I don't really care if the guitar on "Yellow Submarine" starts at the begining in the mono version, and a few seconds later on the stereo. Or that a mono mix last one second longer or whatever the differences are between mono and stereo Sgt. Pepper. When I put on my stereo U.K. version of Sgt. Pepper's the sounds just blows me away, the mono bootleg doesn't have that effect.