I just bought "The Capitol Albums" volume one by the Beatles, and the CDs include both the stereo and mono versions of the songs from the first four American releases.  I'm just wondering what do people here prefer, mono or stereo?  Personally, I like the mono versions better.

 

 

In the case of the Beatles, sometimes the mono mixes were the ones in which the band was most closely involved, with the stereo mixes being more of an afterthought. For example, I've heard from several sources that the mono Sgt. Pepper is the version the guys approved, while the stereo version had less band involvement. The hideousness of some of the duophonic stereo mixes would seem to support that as well.

What about the other one: Electronically Processed Mono, which will give a stereo effect on stereo equipment! I.E. I heard a stereo import of "Introducing the Beatles" and there's all extra reverb and shit. whereas the stereo version of the UK "please Please me" was- instruments to the left, vocals to the right. Which i think was basically taken from a 2-track recording type tape machine, (all they had at Abbey Road at the time). I love split stereo mixes though

Hi,

  It comes down how was it recorded with the  Beatles and or early  Rolling Stones LP they were all record in mono  so that the way I like listen and on vinyl but I hate the Beatles, but early Stones mono LP's kick ass.The mono recording that were change to stereo just don't sound right good mono recording sounded great!

if it's stereo that is.

Phillip Jaggar said:

glad to be of assistance. Though I do play alot of stereo records for DJing, most early to mid 60's stuff has odd mixing to it.

Marty Shane, Pacifiction Records said:

I put this question in the DJ group forum and this is the kind of input I was looking for, much thanks!

Phillip Jaggar said:

Mono for DJing, Stereo for home listening. Having to hear a shitty 60's stereo recording in a club sucks, especially bands like Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, and a few Beatles songs are horrid when played in a club. But I do agree stereo did do wonders for some psychedelia.

glad to be of assistance. Though I do play alot of stereo records for DJing, most early to mid 60's stuff has odd mixing to it.

Marty Shane, Pacifiction Records said:

I put this question in the DJ group forum and this is the kind of input I was looking for, much thanks!

Phillip Jaggar said:

Mono for DJing, Stereo for home listening. Having to hear a shitty 60's stereo recording in a club sucks, especially bands like Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, and a few Beatles songs are horrid when played in a club. But I do agree stereo did do wonders for some psychedelia.

Don't care either way as long as it sounds good.

 

There's good and bad mono records and there's good and bad stereo records so the issue is really all about whether the producer/engineer knew what they were doing.

Monoreo ???

Max Reverb said:

2 mono's are better than one!

Lord Muck!! said:

Does mono sound better in stereo...??

2 mono's are better than one!

Lord Muck!! said:

Does mono sound better in stereo...??

MONO PLEASE most of the time for old stuff

 

essential for great 60s bands like the 13th floor Elevators because they didnt know much about stereo then and did horrible terrible cheap whack jobs muddying up the mix.

 

heres a compare of the track fire engine by the elevators

stereo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkEd9_EDy1w

mono

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EadJKDz_PIg

 

 

 

I put this question in the DJ group forum and this is the kind of input I was looking for, much thanks!

Phillip Jaggar said:

Mono for DJing, Stereo for home listening. Having to hear a shitty 60's stereo recording in a club sucks, especially bands like Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, and a few Beatles songs are horrid when played in a club. But I do agree stereo did do wonders for some psychedelia.

The Beatles in mono is amazing, though I have a soft spot for lots of their stereo mixes. Back in the 80's I stumbled onto a mono version of the White Album and I was pleasantly surprised how much cooler it sounded then the stereo mixes I had heard my entire life. And back in the day they would spend a whole lot more time mixing the Mono versions since that was what would be played on radio and TV.

LOL!

Lord Muck!! said:

Does mono sound better in stereo...??

Does mono sound better in stereo...??

Mono generally. Seems more often the actual band are involved in a mono mix, whereas the stereo is done later by an engineer. Not always the case obviously, but generally. I guess later in the 60s people started to actually think more about stereo separation - advances in multitrack technology obviously makes a difference. 2 and 4 track stereo is pretty limited for obvious reasons.

Mono for DJing, Stereo for home listening. Having to hear a shitty 60's stereo recording in a club sucks, especially bands like Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, and a few Beatles songs are horrid when played in a club. But I do agree stereo did do wonders for some psychedelia.

He kept it very carefully hidden with his hair, and years later he underwent a series of operations to get this problem fixed.  I first read about this in Chris Lendt's book, "Kiss and Sell."

The Ultimatemost High said:

Really?  I didn’t know that about Paul.  I just went searching for photos and you can never see his ears.  He even wears a headband over them.

Really?  I didn’t know that about Paul.  I just went searching for photos and you can never see his ears.  He even wears a headband over them.

You're right, it does work better for songs that are more produced.

 

What you said about having two ears made me think of Van Gogh, so I couldn't resist:)  Maybe I should have made a reference to Paul Stanley, because he was born with a cauliflower ear.

The Ultimatemost High said:

Heh.  Yeah, that’s just a dumb joke.  But stereo experimentation in the 60’s has an appeal.  I think it made psychedelia that much more entertaining.  

Heh.  Yeah, that’s just a dumb joke.  But stereo experimentation in the 60’s has an appeal.  I think it made psychedelia that much more entertaining.  

I guess that means Van Gogh would have preferred mono:)  Can't say what his favorite band would have been, though.

The Ultimatemost High said:

Stereo.  I have two ears.  :)

Stereo.  I have two ears.  :)