Question for the audiophiles out there...

I've always been a Capitol stereo "snob" all my life, but lately I have been really getting into all the various mono AND stereo versions that are out there. My question is this:

Is it a fairly easy undertaking to acquire every OFFICIALLY released version of The Beatle's catalog? When I say "official", I mean Capitol, Parlophone, and Apple releases between 1962 and 1970 - not any re-mixes that may have occured when compilations began showing up in the 70's ("Love Songs", "Rock and Roll Music", etc.).

Would the Capitol Albums mixes (stereo and mono) in conjunction with the UK album releases give a collector all the official versions he could seek of each song?

I am working on getting a hold of the UK EP box set that came out in the early 90's. I know there are mono and stereo discs of the "MMT" EP in there.

Thanks for any help, advice, etc. you can offer.

Don't forget about the CD Singles box set, it includes a variety of rare mixes, including a completely different vocal on "Help!"

Would the Capitol Albums mixes (stereo and mono) in conjunction with the UK album releases give a collector all the official versions he could seek of each song?

There are slight variations here and there--I have a German LP that has a different version of "All My Loving," but AFAIK, the majority of alternate mixes can be found on the US Capitol albums and the UK releases.

It would set you back a lot if you can find it, but in the early 80s they released a box set called "The Beatles Mono Collection" which includes all of their British albums in mono.

Originally Posted by ringo_rama

Don't forget about the CD Singles box set, it includes a variety of rare mixes, including a completely different vocal on "Help!"



There are slight variations here and there--I have a German LP that has a different version of "All My Loving," but AFAIK, the majority of alternate mixes can be found on the US Capitol albums and the UK releases.

It would set you back a lot if you can find it, but in the early 80s they released a box set called "The Beatles Mono Collection" which includes all of their British albums in mono.

I think I've got that German "All My Loving" on an album called, "The Beatles Greatest". There's a high-hat count-in on it. Is that the version you're talking about?

Oh, yeah... the singles box set! I think that version of "Help!" with the alternate vocal in on the U.S "Rarities".

So, basically.... U.S. and U.K. albums.... UK EP set.... and UK singles box set should give me nearly all the various versions of songs? Are there any anomolies within their U.S. single mixes? Hmmm...

For the UK mixes, the first four LPs (PPM, WTB, HDN, BFS) are in mono on the official Parlophone CDs. You can get the stereo mixes easily but only if you have a record player. eBay sell the stereo reissues of the first four LPs for a few pounds and usually they're in immaculate condition. The original stereo presses from the early 60's are very expensive to buy in decent condition.

After that the only way you can get the mono mixes of the rest of the albums (Help through to Yellow sub) is either with the original 60's pressings or the mono copies that were issued in the early 80's. Parlophone should do the dual-format CDs like Capitol are currently doing with the Capitol series box sets.

Originally Posted by Harbidge

Parlophone should do the dual-format CDs like Capitol are currently doing with the Capitol series box sets.

I agree 100%!

These are all the general audiophile consensus:

If you want to get the best stereo version of the Please Please Me album, you'll also have to get the German Hor-Zu pressing of Die Beatles with -2 matrix number. It is a flat transfer with less reverb than the Parlophone stereo. It is absolutely mindblowing.

If you want an all true stereo copy of the Magical Mystery Tour album (NO duphonic mixes like the other versions, incl. the current CD), you'll also have to track down a '70s German Hor Zu copy. With the EP and Singles collections, you can make your own mono MMT.

The easiest way to get the best sounding British album stereo versions is to find a '70s UK or Dutch Blue Box BC-13 LP collection. The best way to hear the Beatles is on vinyl, imho.

Originally Posted by child of nature

The easiest way to get the best sounding British album stereo versions is to find a '70s UK or Dutch Blue Box BC-13 LP collection. The best way to hear the Beatles is on vinyl, imho.

Doesn't the original pressings of the U.K. albums contain the best sound?
I rather buy the original albums seperatly. Also because I have a few already and want to complete my collection that way.

And yes I agree, the best way to listen to the Beatles is on vinyl.

Originally Posted by Harbidge

Parlophone should do the dual-format CDs like Capitol are currently doing with the Capitol series box sets.

I would prefer seperate CD's for each mix. I only need a song on an album one time. That way people could choose what mix they want to hear for each album. (ex. the first 4 in mono, and the rest in stereo)

Originally Posted by Harbidge

After that the only way you can get the mono mixes of the rest of the albums (Help through to Yellow sub) is either with the original 60's pressings or the mono copies that were issued in the early 80's. Parlophone should do the dual-format CDs like Capitol are currently doing with the Capitol series box sets.

Agree on the later, but unofficially you can always buy the mono mixes on bootlegs. Original vinyl is preferable tho.

Here is an extremely useful link that will help you in your quest:
http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beatles/var-1964.html

Also, I wanted to add that the best mono versions can be found on the Japanese '82 red wax vinyls (which are very expensive and much sought-after). The best version of Abbey Road on CD came out in Japan in 1984 and was quickly deleted--the famous Toshiba EMI Pro-Use.

As far as Capitol goes, here are how the mono's stack up:

Meet The Beatles - fold down, except "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and "This Boy"
The Beatles' Second Album- fold down on the songs from WTB plus "Thank You Girl"
Something New - dedicated mix
Beatles 65 - dedicated
Help! - fold down, even the duophonic "Ticket To Ride" is folded down
Early Beatles - fold down
Beatles VI - dedicated
Rubber Soul - dedicated
Revolver - dedicated
Pepper - dedicated
MMT - dedicated
(information courtesy of Mike Perko!)

But check out that link above for further details.

Originally Posted by Legs

Doesn't the original pressings of the U.K. albums contain the best sound?
I rather buy the original albums seperatly. Also because I have a few already and want to complete my collection that way.

And yes I agree, the best way to listen to the Beatles is on vinyl.

Those Blue Boxes are the exact same versions, just later pressings: it's just that it is less expensive that way than trying to find all the y&b Parlophones in NM condition. I typed it was the "easiest" way to get the UK stereo mixes in an excellent-sounding version. The Blue Boxes are great representations of the stereo mixes.

Also, I wanted to add that some think the German Direct Metal Mastering top-loader White Album is the best version of that particular album.

Yes you're right that's probably the easiest way, but since I read some opinions on the bootleg zone that the Blue Boxes are superior then then the original U.K. releases I ws just wondering.

Dr. Ebbet's already made needle drops of the U.K. albums, so why would anyone
want to get his needle drops of the Blue Box versions he is going to release if they are the exact same versions?

Originally Posted by Legs

Yes you're right that's probably the easiest way, but since I read some opinions on the bootleg zone that the Blue Boxes are superior then then the original U.K. releases I ws just wondering.

Dr. Ebbet's already made needle drops of the U.K. albums, so why would anyone
want to get his needle drops of the Blue Box versions he is going to release if they are the exact same versions?

Ebbetts used the MFSL for both his MFSL and Parlophone needledrops because they are from the same masters anyway. Now, that has all changed--he has the MFSL versions and the Blue Box versions.

From Dr. Ebbetts:

"By far, the most requested project for the Dr. Ebbetts Sound System is the remastering of the famed BLUE BOX set released in December, 1978. To many, this set offers among the best representation of the original UK stereo releases.

The Ebbetts catalogue has always offered both the MOBILE FIDELITY and ORIGINAL UK STEREO versions of the British titles. Indeed, up until now, the audio used in each of these sets were identical. The only thing that differentiated, for example, the MFSL version of “Please Please Me” from the standard UK issue of the same title in the Ebbetts catalogue was the artwork. Otherwise, the two were identical.

That will now change. The standard UK stereo issues, complete with the original artwork, will slowly be phased in to have the BLUE BOX transfers used as their source material.

These new BLUE BOX releases replicate with far more accuracy, the artwork of the original releases, right down to the Emitex logo on the back."

Oh, for the mono Revolver, there is a superior matrix number: XEX 606-1 (That's the one with the rare "Tomorrow Never Knows" original mono mix). The standard mono has the XEX 606-2 matrix number.

I think I've got that German "All My Loving" on an album called, "The Beatles Greatest". There's a high-hat count-in on it. Is that the version you're talking about?

Yep, that's the very same LP I have too.

Originally Posted by Ringo77

I would prefer seperate CD's for each mix. I only need a song on an album one time. That way people could choose what mix they want to hear for each album. (ex. the first 4 in mono, and the rest in stereo)

Since casual fans probably don't care and hardcore fans want both, why not just include both? It's a waste of materials otherwise, since those early albums are so short.

Originally Posted by ringo_rama

Yep, that's the very same LP I have too.

ringo_rama... It's got a photo from the "Beatles For Sale" photo sessions on the cover, and a shot from what appears to be a "Beatles VI" era (same thing, I guess) on the back cover, right?

All the talk above about vinyl has got me achin' to hear my LPs again! Next time I'm visiting my folks, I'm going to ship my LPs and my turntable to my apartment! I love my vinyl Beatles albums... and not just my Capitol albums. I've got French and Japanese EPs, German albums (mentioned above), etc. etc...

Originally Posted by child of nature

Here is an extremely useful link that will help you in your quest:
http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beatles/var-1964.html

Also, I wanted to add that the best mono versions can be found on the Japanese '82 red wax vinyls (which are very expensive and much sought-after). The best version of Abbey Road on CD came out in Japan in 1984 and was quickly deleted--the famous Toshiba EMI Pro-Use.

As far as Capitol goes, here are how the mono's stack up:

Meet The Beatles - fold down, except "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and "This Boy"
The Beatles' Second Album- fold down on the songs from WTB plus "Thank You Girl"
Something New - dedicated mix
Beatles 65 - dedicated
Help! - fold down, even the duophonic "Ticket To Ride" is folded down
Early Beatles - fold down
Beatles VI - dedicated
Rubber Soul - dedicated
Revolver - dedicated
Pepper - dedicated
MMT - dedicated
(information courtesy of Mike Perko!)

But check out that link above for further details.

Thanks for the great info and link!