I have had it up to here waiting for the Beatles catalogue to be remastered

Well they'd had a hard life of it compared to the entirely uneventful existence of Larry Mullen Jr.

Charlie had spent 25 years just waiting around iirc

He (famously) didn’t even change his snare drum head for decades!

Pop’s recording/release was delayed at least in part due to the back surgery Mullen had to undergo due to 16+ years sitting uncomfortably/unnaturally hunched over a drum kit.

Meanwhile, Watts sat straight up and continues to play through his 70s, without ever having needed surgery.

Re. Stereolab, was talking more about postmodernism in general but I did think they maybe had some '80s pop influences in there.

White Album Box Set?: https://beatlefansomethingnew.wordpress.com/2018/09/20/exclusive-report-white-album-50th-anniversary-reissue-details/

but the legendary 27-minute version of “Helter Skelter” will NOT be included.

why do they do this kind of thing

gotta have something left over for the 75th anniversary edition, right?

No mono version either?

"new remix" - bleah

yeah I'm not particularly interested in a new remix. the old mix is idiosyncratic enough

We’re told that the new remix of the album by Giles Martin has “incredible clarity and more bass and drums present.”

No mono version either?

― Plinka Trinka Banga Tink (Eliza D.), Friday, September 21, 2018 12:26 PM (four hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Even though I prefer the stereo mix (particularly on "Revolution 9" -- the mono of this is just a fold-down), it's weird/stupid/annoying that they're including a completely unnecessary remix instead of the mono.

fuck "clarity"!!!

why do they do this kind of thing

― Οὖτις, Friday, September 21, 2018 11:23 AM (five hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

At this point, it's like the express purpose of these reissues is to exclude the one most-sought-after unreleased track.

Can't wait for the Let It Be set that omits the Yoko/John/Paul/Ringo feedback freakout.

i never actually checked out the stereo remix of sgt peppers ... was it terrible?

I thought the sgt pepper remix was great. they used the mono as a reference then placed everything around it in a more contemporary style. the compressed drums especially stand out, ringo rages on good morning good morning. way better than the OG stereo mix, and better for headphones than the mono mix imo. looking forward to hearing back in the ussr done in that fashion.

Friend noticed the other day that, based on the first take on the Pepper set, there is a mysterious *third* guitar part buried in the mix. It's this really weird cluster of notes played mostly on the low strings that sounds almost like an electric piano. You can barely even hear it in takes with the bass, but it's there!

Pepper remix is great. And « Good morning », which I never particularly liked, is banging on it !

"Good Morning" was the winner, yes.

I did think "Within you without you" would also stretch out, but I guess if its not there then you can't bring it out.

why do they do this kind of thing

― Οὖτις, Friday, September 21, 2018 11:23 AM (five hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Seriously! These are compiled as if they don't want to put-off casual fans, but surely it's mostly Beatles nerds who are buying super deluxe editions of these albums? Instead, it comes off as a weird middle-ground that seems to not fully satisfy either faction. (Not too mention the hardcore fan base for the Beatles is probably larger than many other bands' entire fan base!) I'm sure Apple could put out complete session sets similar to Dylan's Cutting Edge and make enough back, even if they just do it digitally.

Absolutely fascinating stuff in this seriously. Drop everything for an hour or so, it's in 3 parts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=240&v=bDKPPRyoUdQ

bummed epic helter skelter won't be on it but would be happy to own the esher demos in full and on vinyl

Yeah the Esher demos in decent quality for sure, it's crazy there's never been a full set of those available before. When you look back on the Anthology CD set, it's a right mess. Should have been either more comprehensive like the Dylan series of bootlegs or just a 10-track album like the one they were planning; 'Sessions' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sessions_(album) instead it's some cockeyed triple-set-of-double-CDs thing.

I don't get that. You either want more or you want less?

MUCH more, ideally everything basically. I mean the man in the street didn't want/need 3 double out-take CDs and 6 hour-long parts of a tv show; a 100 minute film and a 45 minute long 'New Beatles Album' would've suited just fine. And hardcore fans weren't happy either not getting the full thwack (Esher demos, Cranival Of Light, 12 minute Helter Skelter, whatever..). It's why no one speaks particularly highly of it these days.

I mean the man in the street didn't want/need 3 double out-take CDs

I'll speak relatively highly of it. I like the way it's sequenced. Bootleg Recordings was interesting in part because there weren't twelve takes of everything.

Full White Album tracklist

http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/the-beatles-the-white-album-50th-anniversary-super-deluxe-edition/

Intrigued by Good Night's additional takes. Shame that Lennon's original guide vocal/demo was (apparently) wiped.

And an early version of "Let It Be"

xp OK, according to that link, the audio Blu-Ray does contain "a direct transfer of the original mono mix." So no mono remix, but you at least get the original, but I don't know if that means the remaster from the mono CD box set or not.

From that tracklist, it seems I know all the Esher demos and many of the studio sessions.
I'm not sure I need to hear all the other studio takes (I was never fond of the ones on Anthology).

Were the studio sessions for the Pepper 50th anniversary good ?

Most of the times, I find Beatles' sessions not very interesting (compared to the Pet Sounds sessions which is the ultimate sessions boxset).

The Sgt. Pepper remix was surprisingly good. It brought in the good stuff from 'Love' without tearing apart the album's flow.

Only thing I wasn't crazy about – and this isn't easy for me to describe – was Giles ratcheting up the whole Beatleness of the tracks. "Boosting the Beatles on a Sgt. Pepper remix, the very nerve..." yes, I hear you. What I mean are things like lifting Mal Evans up above the din of "A Day in the Life" - a resource that wasn't really intended to ever be heard, much less as loud as one of the background vocals. The studio banter that might seem endearing to Yellow Submarine fans but marred Let It Be as an album sneaks in here and there.

It wasn't a big deal at all, but it was noticeable. I'm almost anticipating the "paul is dead miss him miss him miss him" or whatever it says before "Blackbird" to be cranked up to 11.

Thing is, the original "blend" still exists, whereas the remix means you can pick out the facets.

It all started with that remix of "Yellow Submarine"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd1zG9isRqI

Hm, so the main differences seem to be slightly louder bass guitar, and additional/more prominent ad-libbed vocals by Paul at the end.

Also, sounds brickwalled as fuck.

you're listening on youtube tbf

The stereo picturing is a bit clearer (e.g. the plane sound effect moves around much more smoothly) and the whole thing is slightly crisper, but it remixing the White Album seems fairly superfluous by comparison to remixing Pepper which was mixed using much less advanced equipment and using different conventions (i.e. a mono-first mindset) and has tons of gigantic weird elements tucked away. I guess once they did it with Pepper successfully they were always likely to do it again.

I can imagine things like the intro to Dear Prudence which sounds sloppy with the stereo panning (albeit something everyone is completely used to) being mixed to more contemporary conventions, and they might also turn down Paul's stiff hi hats. Maybe Back In The USSR isn't a good example of it.

Listening on (decent) laptop speakers I have to say I'm impressed - it really "gels" in the way that the '68 stereo mix doesn't, all those midrange elements like piano, backing vocals, guitar lines, all sit very nicely together. Of course the EQ spritzing and thick compression are helping this - but I would go out on a limb and say that meaty compression is a worthwhile artistic choice for this track, it's a pastiche of a Beach Boys 45, not a Deutsche Grammofon symphony recording.

"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is on Spotify.

Bass is pushed up a bit. It's always been a good performance from Paul, but it's a little jarring after having heard the original mix for 30 years. (Also, it's a song about a GUITAR.)

There's a little.... I don't know, horse-gallop? rhythm that's been pushed up in the left speaker. It was always there, but listening to it yesterday, it really seemed distracting.

I think I showed my hand above, the original mix was just fine and any changes are going to take some getting used to. I fine with the remixes though, giving me an opportunity to listen to a familiar album in a new way yeah yeah yeah. I just wouldn't want the original mix to disappear after this. (And definitely not the mono.)

Oh, and they've made sure to make it clear that George isn't moaning, "Paul, Paul, Paul..." at the end. Made it painfully clear.

I hope “Paul is dead, miss him, miss him” after “I’m So Tired” is clearer on the remix.

but I would go out on a limb and say that meaty compression is a worthwhile artistic choice for this track, it's a pastiche of a Beach Boys 45, not a Deutsche Grammofon symphony recording.

(Though, as sic pointed out, it could just be due to whatever compression youtube adds.)

The remixed Back in the USSR and While My Guitar Gently Weeps are both available on Spotify if you want to hear in 320kps.

(plus the Esher demos and an alternate take of each, as 'single b-sides')

Ah, sounds much better. And the backing track...so...they sped it up for the vocal overdubs, apparently?

There's a little.... I don't know, horse-gallop? rhythm that's been pushed up in the left speaker. It was always there, but listening to it yesterday, it really seemed distracting.

I think I showed my hand above, the original mix was just fine and any changes are going to take some getting used to. I fine with the remixes though, giving me an opportunity to listen to a familiar album in a new way yeah yeah yeah. I just wouldn't want the original mix to disappear after this. (And definitely not the mono.)

― pplains, Saturday, October 20, 2018 8:57 AM (four hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Oh, and they've made sure to make it clear that George isn't moaning, "Paul, Paul, Paul..." at the end. Made it painfully clear.

― pplains, Saturday, October 20, 2018 9:05 AM (four hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

The clip-clop is louder, but weirdly, the drums are still in the right channel; on the "Back in the U.S.S.R." remix, they centered the drums. The organ is quieter (which is a shame; I loved that part), and Clapton's solo seems significantly quieter, too.

I think the bass could be even louder than it is! They've got that off in the right channel with the drums - seemingly a period-style move.

It's a nice mix overall, though. I would like to hear the background vocals a little more.

I also noticed the all four discs of the Sgt Pepper remix is up on Spotify now, as well.

The remix of “Guitar” makes each element pop in a way that the original mix doesn’t. I hadn’t realized just how crazy the bass playing is on it! Macca really busted it all out there. Not sure I don’t prefer the original mix tho; the new one sounds just a bit too squeaky-clean, maybe — tho the angstiness gets an upgrade here. Nice headphone candy, regardless.

“USSR”, on the other hand, for sure sounds better to me than the original mix. In retrospect, the wide stereo separation on the original sounds gimmicky. This one is way more integrated. Only complaint: I prefer how the outro vocals are de-emphasized on the original mix.

I’m actually really stoked about this. I didn’t really give a rat’s about the Sgt Pepper remix, but I’m into this one.