Beatles Capitol vs EMI recordings talk

[Mikey]

The first four albums were recorded in Mono and would later be reissued as in fake stereo. The recent Stereo boxset contains the first four albums in TRUE stereo for the first time since they went in and utilized the 4 track masters to make them Stereo.
Hence why the Stereo versions sound much better than the fake stereo Capitol versions.

I personally love the Mono versions of Rubber Soul, Revolver, SPLHCB and The Beatles aka White Album. The Mono mix was the first mix they did with mostly the Beatles present, in the case of SPLHCB, they were there for the mix down of the entire album to Mono. Days later George and Geoff would mix it to Stereo as they would do with all the albums since Stereophonic made it's presence.
Yes there are differences if you compare the mono to stereo. Not just the sound coming from the speakers but the actual mixing of the instruments is much different. The mono sounds FULL and solid, IMO.

I love SPLHCB in mono BUT ......... I always hated the mono version's chicken/guitar between Good Morning and Reprise.

The stereo version does this effect 10,000 times better and cleaner.

[MIB41]

While we're on the subject of the Beatles, how does everyone feel about the two Anthology songs released years ago - "Free as a bird" and "Real Love" ? Do you feel they are contrived or an honest expression of what the band MIGHT have done had Lennon been alive and chosen to do them? For myself, I think those songs would have been better had Martin produced and mixed them. With Jeff Lynne producing, I felt they sounded too much like ELO songs. His band was always a pseudo-Beatles wanna-be anyway. Although ELO did release some good music in it's own right, the influence in the production of those songs was always glaringly obvious. Look at the songs he produced for George Harrison. Same way. So, for me, 'Free as a bird' and 'Real Love' kind of go with songs like 'When we were Fab'. Beatle-esque as a period piece, but not a true translation of what the band would have done. I think George Martin would have flushed those songs out better.

[huedell]

While we're on the subject of the Beatles, how does everyone feel about the two Anthology songs released years ago - "Free as a bird" and "Real Love" ? Do you feel they are contrived or an honest expression of what the band .... I think George Martin would have flushed those songs out better.

You may be right... but, because I liked them so much I never gave it
much thought... least of all second-guessed them.

[kingdom warrior]

While we're on the subject of the Beatles, how does everyone feel about the two Anthology songs released years ago - "Free as a bird" and "Real Love" ? Do you feel they are contrived or an honest expression of what the band MIGHT have done had Lennon been alive and chosen to do them? For myself, I think those songs would have been better had Martin produced and mixed them. With Jeff Lynne producing, I felt they sounded too much like ELO songs. His band was always a pseudo-Beatles wanna-be anyway. Although ELO did release some good music in it's own right, the influence in the production of those songs was always glaringly obvious. Look at the songs he produced for George Harrison. Same way. So, for me, 'Free as a bird' and 'Real Love' kind of go with songs like 'When we were Fab'. Beatle-esque as a period piece, but not a true translation of what the band would have done. I think George Martin would have flushed those songs out better.

I always felt that those songs were two throw away songs, that the three decided to add the "Beatle" sound to it just to make us feel nostolgic. thought it was completely contrived....those would have been album tracks not A list songs. Kept thinking if John was alive he would have been like ***? are you 3 idiots doing with my songs......lol

[Mikey]

I never considered Free as a bird and Real Love Beatles songs.

To me they are Lennon songs with a little help from former Beatles ... Like It Don't Come Easy and All Those Years Ago.

Because they totally screwed up Lennon's voice in Real Love I find it very hard to listen too... They make Lennon sound like Barry Gibb

As far as them remaking them and releasing them, I really don't think Lennon would have a problem with it ... He was way more easy going than people give him credit for ... He would just look at "mama" and ask her if it was ok.

I never cared for the Anthologies themselves because they were tinkered with too much -- mostly by McCartney.

I don't want to hear 5 takes mixed together to make one clean one.

I would rather listen to take (whatever) and hear the farts, burps and flat notes

[SeattleEd]

Tom,

I wholeheartedly agree with every sentiment you stated.
Sounds very much like Lynne material. It was interesting.

What bothered me is the takes they used for the songs. Not sure if you've heard other takes of the songs that have since come out in the underground but there are much better takes and I feel Martin would certainly have done better.
I actually never considered them REAL Beatles songs, just Lennon solo material. Plus there are much better selections of unreleased Lennon songs that would have worked better, IMO.

My vote for Anthology is thumbs up. Been waiting for something like this ever since they scrapped the "Sessions" album in '85.
Now I'd like to see/hear a remastered version of Glyn Johns' unreleased "Get Back" album. Just version 2 and 3. Also, the "Sessions" album and the Kinfauns/Esher Demos.

[Mikey]

Back in the day I used to have TONS of Beatles bootlegs albums.

In the early-mid 80's I had a record store not too far away from me that used to sell them.

I'm guessing at one time I had at least 20 different Beatles bootleg albums.

When Anthology was released I was let down that a lot of the original materal was messed with.

Anthology had better sound, but that's about all I can say for it.

[kingdom warrior]

Back in the day I used to have TONS of Beatles bootlegs albums.

In the early-mid 80's I had a record store not too far away from me that used to sell them.

I'm guessing at one time I had at least 20 different Beatles bootleg albums.

When Anthology was released I was let down that a lot of the original materal was messed with.

Anthology had better sound, but that's about all I can say for it.

same here still have my bootlegs always thought Anthology was the "Official bootleg" for casual fans.......hardcore Beatle fans really had all this stuff and more......

[Mikey]

same here still have my bootlegs always thought Anthology was the "Official bootleg" for casual fans.......hardcore Beatle fans really had all this stuff and more......

I wish I didn't get rid of my boots back in the late 90's

Some of them go for some pretty good change today.

I remember seeing the Get Back plus Don't Let Me Down red vinyl album go for like 50 bucks.

Also, the Pepper boot with reverse photo cover usually sells for 35.00 bucks today.

Same with the Abbey Road boot.

My only boot that I almost couldn't give away was As Sweet as You Are.
Nobody wanted it

BTW, the Swingin Pig CD's totally blow away Anthology

[kingdom warrior]

My only boot that I almost couldn't give away was As Sweet as You Are.
Nobody wanted it

Yellow matter custard/as sweet as you are boot has all of the Beatles BBC stuff so yeah nobody wants that now....lol

[Cosmicman]

I'm a big Beatles fans and when it came to that it was mainly just apples and oranges when it came to recording releases. It varied on the original recordings.

[SeattleEd]

I wish I didn't get rid of my boots back in the late 90's

Some of them go for some pretty good change today.

I remember seeing the Get Back plus Don't Let Me Down red vinyl album go for like 50 bucks.

Also, the Pepper boot with reverse photo cover usually sells for 35.00 bucks today.

Same with the Abbey Road boot.

My only boot that I almost couldn't give away was As Sweet as You Are.
Nobody wanted it

BTW, the Swingin Pig CD's totally blow away Anthology

I managed to get my Beatles boots from the guys that made them. Mostly from Ken of TMOQ fame at the Pasadena Swap Meet and other record shows back in the 80's. Manage to score the Get Back album press kit the day it came out on White Vinly. Also all the other cool boots on colored vinyl. When Swinging Pig came out, they blew everyone away with CD and vinyl releases.

I agree, there so much omitted on Anthology that should have been released but as stated, only the hard core fans managed to score those gems.

[kingdom warrior]

I always dug the boots because when I was teen I wanted to see and hear the process of how a song was made especially coming from them. To hear my fav songs in a raw version still being worked out was thrilling sound for me as a teen. I didn't realize back then that you could take different Takes of a song and mix them together to make a master..... like I saw her standing there which is Take one with take nines count in and take twelves overdubbed handclaps

[nvmbrsdoom5]

I love the mono versions of albums like Revolver, Rubber Soul, etc.

I can't choose between the EMI and Capital records versions, I grew up with both, and both have their positives and negatives. Nowadays I am far too used to the British versions to be able to tolerate the track listings of records like the U.S. version of "Revolver". I expect to hear "I'm Only Sleeping" right after "Eleanor Rigby" and get quite irritated when I don't while listening to the Capital version! lol

As for "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love", I think they're great, and I listen to them all the time. I don't get caught up in the drama and debate about whether it's "true" Beatles or the whole Lennon vs. McCartney thing, etc. They're gorgeous songs to me and I just dig 'em as they are.