The Beatles Remastered CD Box Sets Now Available To Buy
By Long Bong on Jul 10, 2009 in Music News
Features the original mono versions of 10 of The Beatles albums (all but Abbey Road, Let It Be, and Yellow Submarine which were never recorded in mono in the first place.) This is the first time these mono versions have ever been officially released on CD. It also includes a mono version of the Past Masters collection (which are all of the non album tracks released during their career) called Mono Masters.
Features stereo versions of the 13 studio albums (along with the Past Masters collection of non album tracks) all remastered for CD for the first time since the mid 1980s when the CD versions of The Beatles albums were first pressed. Also includes a DVD with mini documentaries on the making of each album.
If you just want to buy particular albums (only the stereo mixes are available for individual purchase) and/or you want to order the new Beatles Rock Band game then CLICK HERE for The Beatles online store where you can find all of that stuff. You can also hear clips of some of the newly remastered Beatles songs.
The digital version of The Beatles in Stereo Box Set. It includes both 320kbps mp3s (as high quality as mp3s get) along with 24bit FLAC files (better sound quality than CDs!) It’s compatible with PC & Mac computers and with all mp3 players.
Those of you in the UK should go to the Amazon.co.uk Beatles Store.
In Canada: Amazon.ca Beatles Store.
Box Set, 2009, The BeatlesBecome A MusicByDay.com Music Blogger.
The Mono Box Set is out on Amazon currently — But try this: http://www.musicbyday.com/the-beatles-mono-box-set-available-at-collectors-choice-music/559/
Marvin Marks | Aug 17, 2009 | Reply
As of right now this is the situation:
Mono Box Set: Sold out on Amazon & Collectors Choice Music.
Stereo Box Set: Sold out on Amazon but still available (For now) on Collectors Choice Music. If you want this thing you should order it now.
http://www.musicbyday.com/the-beatles-stereo-box-set-now-sold-out-on-amazon-too/586/
Marvin Marks | Aug 28, 2009 | Reply
I have just purchased the Beatles stereo remastered box set. I cherry picked a few of my favourite tracks first of all and began with my all time favourite “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”. Superb, sent shivers down my spine, I then went to another favourite “Hey Bulldog” comparing it to the remixed version from Yellow Submarine. Very good but the remixed version from a few years ago sounds better. They hadn’t changed a great deal on the remixed version but set the vocals more central and it has more punch.
My immediate thought when I heard that it was to be a remastering and not a remixing project was that this is a missed opportunity especially with the stereo mixes. It is well documented that in the case of the Beatles much more time was spent on mixing in mono and many of the “rushed” stereo mixes were quite bizarre. As the Beatles went to four track recording from “Hard Days Night” many of these could have been improved drastically, particularly with regard to stereo imaging, without taking anything away from how the tracks should sound.
I like listening on my ipod, with improved head phones as the originals are not good, so next I transferred the whole lot on to my ipod. The albums in general sounded superb with the exception of some tracks on Help and Rubber Soul. They just sound different and as they are the result of 1987 remixes I feel a little bit of eighties technology may have crept in. For example, the vocals on “No Where Man” sound a little thin and it could be that it had been treated with some 1980s digital reverb, another track that sounds better on the remixed “Yellow Submarine” album. With this in mind it seems a bit odd that the original sixties stereo mixes of these two albums have been included in the mono box set where in general the people who buy them would be more into mono than stereo. The stereo fans are missing out, and it seems they have been put in the wrong box set. I would like to have these original mixes so does this mean I have to buy the mono box set or are they available separately. I have tried to shy away from the exploitation argument but there are a few little niggles that have occurred with the project that maybe wouldn’t have happened if Neil Aspinal had still been alive.
With regard to the first two albums which were recorded on two track, I think the only way to listen to “Please Please Me” is in mono. Although the hard right and left of the vocals and backing doesn’t seem to be a problem even on head phones, the trouble is that plate reverb from the vocals is fed to the instrument channel and is quite heavy and a little disconcerting. This doesn’t happen on “With The Beatles” as this album was recorded with the vocals much drier and even on headphones sounds great. Once again can you buy a mono “Please Please Me” on its own.
Minor gripes aside I feel in general, it’s been money well spent as most of the tracks sound superb both on speakers and head phones. The Beatles have been an important part of my life since 1963. I was fortunate to see them live on stage 10 times between 1963 and 1966 (the restraining order has now been lifted) and at sixty five years of age still feel passionate about their music, which has stood and continues to stand the test of time.
PAUL GRIGGS 23rd September 2009
Paul Griggs | Sep 23, 2009 | Reply