How to Improve The Beatles 2012 Stereo Vinyl Box Set
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- Опубліковано 22 лип 2024
- In this video, we take the digitally mastered 2012 vinyl box set and re-fill it with the best value analogue pressings available.
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0:00 - Introduction
1:34 - Titles
2:23 - EU/U.S. pressing differences
2:55 - What's in my box
4:24 - Alternative analogue pressings
5:28 - Polydor Recording
7:11 - Please, Please Me
9:56 - With The Beatles
10:44 - A Hard Day's Night
11:32 - Beatles For Sale
12: 35 - Help!
12: 56 - Rubber Soul
13:34 - Revolver
14:21 - A Collection of Beatles Oldies
15:01 - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
15:58 - Magical Mystery Tour
17:05 - White Album
17: 29 - Yellow Submarine
18:12 - Abbey Road
18:45 - Let It Be
19:02 - Rarities
19:36 - Conclusions
20.13 - Outro
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The Yellow Submarine Songtrack is an underrated gem in the Beatles catalog. I prefer those remixes to the more recent series of remixes. They really sparkle. I remember reading that George was involved in remixing “It’s All Too Much,” as he had some ideas for how he wanted to improve that song.
Yes, I foolishly thought that YS Songtrack and Love were going to be the templates for how all the original album remixes were going to be done. How wrong I was.
@Stereo Masters The original mixes of Too Much and Only A Northern Song were not good, both suffered from the amount of layering and bouncing down, which made the former suffer from poor vocal clarity, and the latter having to be mixed in mono.
The YSS remixes solved those problems.
With all due respect to Giles Martin, but imho he mucked up the Sgt Pepper and WA remixes in some parts. The YSS mixes to me are still the yardstick for Beatles stereo remixes, both in terms of fidelity and spatial sound, and they are already over 20 years old by now. Which is funny, since new releases from that period are already being remastered. Seems like remasters and remixes of the recent past have indeed taken a step backwards. I too have noticed that they tend to put in too much bass and neglect the high end. Makes you wonder how old pressings that are 50-ish years old actually sound better than the freshly made ones.
Btw, the expression "Die zentrale Tanzschaffe" had me totally in stitches. If you don't speak German, you have no idea how outdated this sounds. 🤣
@@mondegreen9709 His mixing is gimmicky and horrid sounding. Pepper 50 is probably the worst remix of a classic album ever.
The only drawback is Eleanor Rigby vocals are slightly out of sync . The DVD / Blu-Ray is ok
Without wanting to sound crazy, I'd love for the same thing to be done again - but judging the CD's!
The way he says "manages to kill it stone dead" so calmly, gets me everytime.
Love the video Andrew!!!! I’ve already ordered a couple of the vinyls after watching this!
Hope you enjoy them, Edward. Thanks for watching!
Top class video Andrew. You and Mark Lewisohn would make a formidable double act at any Beatles convention.
I bought "The Early Years" LP after your precious suggestion and I really thank you! It is a great record!!! Thanks a lot...Keep Up the Great Work!!!! Beatles ForEver...
That's great, Massismo! I'm glad my suggestion worked out for you.
My ‘76 UK (-5) press of With the Beatles sounds amazing. Best I’ve ever heard it. Outside of that album, I acquired all the pressings recommended here in mint condition (MMT with the Apple logo) and I’m so happy with my collection. All sound Fab!
Thanks for confirming that the 2012 version of A Hard Day's Night sounds like it "was played back through an old sock." I got a copy of this box (for free, thank goodness, from a friend at EMI), and it was the first LP I put on, and I was astonished by how flat and distorted it sounded, and it killed any enthusiasm I had for exploring much further. I thought maybe my needle needed replacing! Thankfully, I have a 70s UK copy that will remain my go-to for listening on vinyl.
Thanks for the great detail in your video of each album and the release version.....very enjoyable and informative!
Glad you enjoyed it, David!
Andrew you have truly outdone yourself with this video !! Loved the intro with the trash can 🤣. I have duly written each recommendation down...you have given me a fun project to complete. Being in Australia it is shipping costs that will be the big killer. Thanks so much for the effort you go to. This is my all time favourite vid of yours.
All the best...stay safe
Steve
Cheers Steve and good luck with the hunt. Stay safe too!
You did it!!! I always wanted to know the best (and most affordable) stereo pressing available. Besides being too expessive, the 2012 stereo box is kinda hard to find. Thanks a lot for this.
BTW: thanks for the 2014 mono box vs assorted mono pressings comparision you did a few months ago. That was quite clarifying - although I know my chances to get one of those 2014 mono boxes are nil.
My pleasure, Rodrigo. Thanks for watching!
When your nearly seventy years old and virtually deaf in one ear every record sounds like muddy mono, but my stereo lp boxset has all of the discs marked "made in the EU" even the MMT lp. I just wish I had younger ears and could hear the difference in the mastering like I could years ago, but I do like the presentation of both the stereo and mono boxsets, even though they weigh a ton! I do love the video so keep them coming.
Another terrific video Andrew. Thanks very much for the analysis on these records. Very Happy Holidays to you and your family. Looking forward to more videos in 2021!,
Thank you, Bill. Happy Holidays to you and yours too. Lots more to come in 2021!
I USED TO HAD THE GERMAN ELECTROLA OF PLEASE PLEASE ME, AND YOU RIGHT IS UNBELIEVABLE AMAZING SOUND ,SO CRISP AND CLEAR .
Me too
Nice, now I just gotta get myself the stereo set just to keep the box to hold the other records👌🏼
Great video, cheers🤘🏼
This is what I wanna do with the stereo albums... I only own the german Emi Electrola "Please Please Me" Pressing... I love this video, I really wanted you made this... You read my mind! Thank You so much! 👏👏👏
loved this video. You really help the collector work through the myriad choices when trying to build a quality collection.
Glad it was helpful!
@@Parlogram have you thought of listing the releases in the notes? I’m about to watch again with pen in hand but if the ear and run out stamp was listed it would be a great help.
I LOVE this video. I've been going down rabbit holes ever since the Red & Blue remix was released. This is super great!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I want to thank you for this video. I found it to be very informative and quite a gift. I have purchased three of your suggestions so far and Abbey Road just arrived from Germany today. I inspected and cleaned the album first thing. Then I put it on the turntable and set back to see if I could hear any difference. My expectations were not high and my plan was to do a side by side comparison with my other Abbey Road pressing. Well --- I was stunned! I had no idea there could be so much difference from pressing to pressing. The music opened up, the separation and detail were unbelievable. It sounded like a whole new Beatles album. Yellow Submarine, a cut I thought so - so, sounded amazing and took on a whole new persona. I can't wait to hear it again right after I finish this note. I want to personally thank you for giving me the opportunity to hear one of my favorite albums for the very first time after fifty years of listening. Can't wait for Sgt Peppers and Revolver. I plan to collect all your suggestions if I can find them.
Hi Richard, I'm so happy to hear that you managed to find some of these pressings and that you are enjoying them. Keep an eye on our site for German copies of Sgt Pepper and Revolver - they really do sound terrific. www.parlogramauctions.com
From the Philippines
-very nice information...
I didn't know about "pressings" would sound differently, GOOD JOB😎 & THANKS, now we know!👍
1:25 I laughed my arse off while he casually just put all the records in the bin, and slammed the lid, great video as always
1:26 is pure comic gold. 🤣 Well done. My son and I were cracking up! Great way to start off the video.
I did purchase the German pressing of MMT and picked up The Early Beatles (with the ghastly cover)
Unbelievable difference. Right from the stylus drop...
Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it, Matthew!
That's My Name!
I played "Michelle" from the 2009 mono CD and the bass was so heavy it caused my speakers to distort. I found an original mono LP, played "Michelle" and, scratches aside, it was lovely.
I think that’s how the song sounded when it was mixed in mono. I love both versions.
@@jessierussell8011 I agree, the 2009 Mono cd box sounds great. All this complaining about the bass is silly. It's not overbearing and if it bothers you, turn the bass knob down.
It’s not really silly.
I love the bass I’m glad that they added that bass on the Beatles box that I would give anything to actually hear how The mono box that’s really good when I bought the CD version and I don’t find anything offensive as far as the Beatles music goes I love it. Whether it’s in a high mono or in stereo.@@cumbco
Beatles on vinyl have always been a little weak in the bass section. Many albums just sound a little midrange focused. So I understand why bass was boosted on those new pressings. The Beatles themselves complained about their albums having so little bass...(it was to accommodate the primitive record players from that time). It destroys the balance of the sound sometimes. I have to admit, that. I like added bass, because that was something I missed for centuries on the vinyl albums that I owned.
A safe place for the black box set!! 👏👏👏 Agree!
I got that stereo BFS and it was a 1st issue and I got it VG+ with a quite torn cover. Everytime ringo hits the toms on "Mr. Moonlight my room vibrates! I couldn't thank you enough!
The reason I got back into records is because I wasn't happy with beatles CDs even the remastered ones I found the 2012 records better than the cds I have the liverpool box set on the way so will be interesting to see how it compares .an excellent video once again Andrew
I’ve decided to take you up on this idea and am listening to my copy of A Hard Day’s Night that just arrived. Sounds amazing! Great find for £12 👍
Nice score, Robin. Glad you liked it!
You should take an album and rank all the pressings you have of it, would be gorgeous
Brilliant video and channel. Having watched this makes you wonder where the digital versions which are available on streaming services were sourced from.
Just great! As always !!
Thank you!
Bam. Aaaaaaand, it's a homerun!
Real chuffed that you included the Polydor recordings, as they truly are amazing!
In my ideal set, the Star Club tape would also be indispensable - not because of the sound quality, but for sheer energy and excitement. I'd also include the BBC recordings and, as long as I'm adding records, a UK copy of the Hey Jude lp. We can throw away that foam insert to make room. :-)
There's definitely a case for adding 'Hey Jude' LP. The UK pressed CPCS Apple export pressing is especially good, but not cheap.
Staggering insights, thank you
You are welcome, Geoffrey. Thanks for watching.
very interesting. i love the 1976 pressings from Japan. Love to hear your thoughts
You are well versed in Beatle vinyl. Cheers mate.
Superb Andrew!
Cheers Brian!
Fantastic video!
Thank you very much, Randy!
So after watching this I went out and bought myself a copy of the German Please Please Me A2 B2 disc. Mine is a 1976 Hor Zu copy on the pink label. You're not wrong about the open sound and Ringo's drums sound particularly crisp when compared to my 1979 UK copy. It did take a while to get used to the lack of reverb though. The best sounding copy, for me, is still the original mono pressing which has the best of both worlds but, for a stereo copy, the German record is definitely the best I've listened to.
As for vinyl, I began with the 2012 and onwards pressings and after first hearing the Criminal Anniversary mix of Abbey Road and then watching your videos, began replacing each one with your recommendations. Which, although spendy, has given me some of the best sounding Beatle records I have Ever heard! Thanks for that! But! Almost All the reissues I have sound pretty damn great, in their own right, overall. With the exception of MMT. The One Capital pressing of the bunch. Imagine that Lol. For example, my 2020 pressing of “Hard Days Night” sounds Fantastic! Of course there are a few cons to the reissues. But they all sound awesome on my system. Because my system is very detailed, I do hear embedded surface noise at the end of each track and then it stops for a second, and then the next song starts. Very strange. It’s in the mix. Only on a couple albums and it’s not jarring or disruptive. As for the Anniversary Giles Martin mixes, Let it Be is the only good one. But the Music itself on the others sound great!! As for all the albums I replaced, following your recommendations… Well, they are Off the Charts phenomenal, and I will continue replacing them with the best sounding versions til all studios are done. Then give my digitally sourced remasters to my Daughter. She’ll love them ❤️👍
The first I heard the remasters I immediately thought they were a significant upgrade on any previous versions I’d heard . I include stereo / mono / vinyl / cd versions in that .
Just a little update I’m only 3 albums away from making up this collection now 👍 it’s been an absolute revelation and listening pleasure. I must confess I deviated on your White Album and went for a 1973 French pressing with all -1 matrices. Sounds good 👍 only MMT, YS and Let It Be to go.
That's fantastic, Robin! Good luck with finding the rest.
How much have you spent so far I wonder?
@@renzonovara2728 it’s not been an expensive set to put together so far. A few items I already owned and the remaining ones were all under £20. Rubber Soul was the most impressive.
I love the Mono c.d. box set!
I love the mono CD box sent to an I also have the stereo box at which is great.
I love all the different model Lexus because he get the stuff that is not in the stereo mix like baby you’re a rich man I love the echo effect in the mono mix it’s a great song even though in stereo and you don’t have the echo effect.
This is brilliant! It helps a lot. Any chance to review pressings of solo albums: ATMP for instance?
Like you AndrewWhen I first got the Beatles song track when it was remastered in 1999 I was really blown away the remixes are just really awesome I love every remix of the Beatles anyway.
I still listen to the song track of the yellow submarine remix which is great even on vinyl.
There is a song on there called it’s all too much and I even have a an edited version which was eight minutes long there’s a third verse that was cut out of the mastered version from yellow submarine
I enjoy the 2012 set, plus I have the BC-13 and a few Capitol originals i've owned since the 1960s-1970s. I also bought the 2014 mono releases individually (instead of the box set). I hear different things from each, and enjoy all of them for what they are. One thing I like about this channel is Andrew does a good job of showing us what is out there to collect. I have purchased a couple of items based on his recommendations, and have been happy with them. I also share some of his observations, like the "Help!" album vinyl not being very good. I thought it was me. One of the best things I've learned, that has really made a difference, is how to use "Y" cables on my turntable for playing mono records. Ultimately, when it comes to listening to music, (as he says) it's what you prefer that matters.
Glad you’re enjoying the channel, Mark. The Y cable system is magic!
They did a great job on this box set... specially the book. However I still prefer the original copies. Thank you for this greaaat video, my friend Andrew!!! All the best from Brazil!!! ✌️😁🎶
Thank you my friend, I totally agree. All the best & Happy New Year from Austria!
@@Parlogram thank you very much, my dear friend!!! A healthy and Happy New Year!!!
Great review! Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I could afford but never justify the small fortune needed to curate a collection of your proposed versions in pristine conditions. I didn't want both a Mono AND Stereo version of each album but the best sounding version (TO MY EARS) of each album. And finally, I didn't have the time or the inclination to play the roulette game that buying second hand vinyl on eBay and Discogs has become. I have already been burned several times with fake gradings by shady sellers. This is what I did to compile MY ultimate collection:
- 2014 Mono versions of PPM, WTB, AHDN, Rubber Soul, Revolver, SPLHCB, MMT, the White Album and Mono Masters
- 2012 Stereo versions of BFS, Help!, Abbey Road, Let it Be and Past Masters (all pressed by Optimal)
- Giles Martin's remixed version of SPLHCB and the White Album pressed by Optimal (you need both the 2014 Mono and Stereo remixes of these albums depending the song)
- Yellow Submarine Songtrack
How did I do?
Not bad! I'd still try for the German - MMT & Die Beatles though, as it's not terribly hard to find these reasonably cheap and in NM condition, like I just did. ;-)
I wondered what you think of the Get Back bootleg album? Would you ever consider doing a video of your favourite bootleg Beatles vinyls?
I hope to be getting hold of some bootleg discs soon, so there will be a video about them in the near future.
Thanks for your insight and opinion Andrew! Off the back of this video I've purchased 'Rarities' for £12, 'A Collection of Oldies' for £9 and the 'Polydor' one for just £5! Money well spent and gives me plenty to enjoy during this 3rd UK Lockdown! 🙂
Glad I could help, James. Congratulations on your fine purchases!
@@Parlogram Andrew, I think we need a video explaining how one of the world's biggest Beatles fans ended up in Linz, Austria! 🙂 Do tell your story.
Although not the best set in the world, I'm now more pleased than ever with my late '70/early '80 complete collection of UK Beatles LPs. (Little did I know that future technical 'advancement' would produced an inferior set!) Yes, Side 2 (-1) of the 1976 Magical Mystery Tour sounds a bit tosh, but the others are pretty good. I particularly like the -4/-5 of Beatles For Sale and the the -4/-3 of Abbey Road (though I realise they're not the very best there is, but they're still very good). And the UK Rarities is definitely a winner for what it is. Indead, I did make a box for these LPs at one time (which, perhaps foolishly, I subsequently discarded).
Great job Andrew! Digging your videos! I still have my Contour vinyl which I bought when I was a teenager back in the mid 80s for around $4.99!! I also had the opportunity to buy a Horzu Die Beatles PPM around that time for a princely sum of $10!! Instead, being uninformed, I bought a copy of Capitol's purple label of Meet The Beatles. What was I thinking?!
For true analog sources of some of the songs like Hey Jude, Revolution, Paperback Writer, etc. I'd also recommend the 1988 Past Masters which I believe it's all analog. Just my $0.02!
Fantastic comprehensive video! A little more detail on the recommend Help! LP please, what year? What else should I look for?
The Dutch pressing I showed was late 70's, early '80s. Most Dutch pressings from this time are excellent.
Thank you for your videos, they are fantastic. When talking about “with the beatles” does analog 6 mean the 6th pressing? Cheers
Another fun post. Thanks for all the work these take to do.
I'm glad to see many Dutch pressings have made it as a close second and for Let It Be the one to include. I have the Dutch Blue Box (book hinged version). Are those the same quality as the Dutch pressings you mentioned in the post?
Thanks again!
I was really impressed with the Dutch pressings. They came a close second in many of my selections.
@@Parlogram What is the year of that Dutch Help pressing?
I am very grateful to you for this useful video! Superb! I had just quickly listened to the 2012 LP stereo version of Rubber Soul, which disappointed me: on my system this LP just does not sound good: completely flat, no space and no depth, no sound, just boring. In addition, the pressing has quite loud scraping, annoying noises - I hear these loud noises on quite many of the new Optimal pressings, also on jazz and classical records, all just bad. Will return this LP and try to find the one you mentioned!!
Glad it helped!
They’re actually really good sounding
You're right - Contour LPs always sounded brilliant.
Hey mate,
Continuing to enjoy your vidoes.
Great production values. I think your'e really setting a new bar for VC youtube channels.
I was actually taking notes on this one. I looked up the German Sgt. Peppers, but there were about 6 versions from 77-79 that looked the same. Can you give us the deadwax for the particular version you recommend?
Ta.
Cheers. The German Sgt Pepper's with this matrix sounds great: SHZE 401-A-1, 04177-A-1 & SHZE 401-B-2, 04177-B-2
@@Parlogram Sweet - added that one to my "Parlogram Dude Recommends" list. I have the 2014 Monos. So I'm missing a bunch of crucial later titles, and also would be nice to have good stereo cuts to compare. Look forward to tracking these down.
I live in the US so I got the Us edition of the early years, still sounds great.
I bought this box set when it came out, it was all manufactured in the US by Capitol under EMI before the Calderstone era began. Someday I would love to seek the stereo pressings from the 80’s , until then my set will suit me.
What are your thoughts on the Past Masters compilation and both the 1988 & 2012 pressings?
I have 1980's Russian pressings of most of these , and they sound really good to me .
Hi Andrew, great video. I was wondering what your thoughts were on the 1978 Pro-Use Japanese pressing of Abbey Road?
Another good example of the '87 mix vs the '65 (in my opinion) would be "I've Just Seen A Face".
Great info as usual Andrew.
An aside about Beatles For Sale is just how good the stereo mix is. How Rubber Soul followed it makes me question the mentality at EMI. Whilst it's true that Mono outsold Stereo amongst the group's fans, the inconsistency of the mixes are often a source of frustration. One day, that will be truly remedied I hope.
I hope so too, Bob. Thanks as always for watching.
Because they hadn’t discovered mix bouncedowns yet. Still tho the mix is pretty bad on both 1965 and 1988 mixes.
What a great video and great information! Thanks for that, stay safe and enjoy a couple of quiet and happy days, maybe even socially distancing from JPG&R! Here are some more comments on the German issues you mentioned. if you can bear with me for a minute.
The German MMT: The first issue, with the rectangular red Hör Zu logo had, as you say, the American version of side 2 with the reprocessed stereo. But the new version with the original new stereo versions specifically supplied by EMI London made its debut on the same label and sleeve and was then (a little later) replaced by the new Hör Zu logo sleeve which you show (that logo was a combination of a record player and TV set symbol, it seems). In contrast to Parlophone, the German (EMI) Electrola, which pressed all the Odeon and Hör Zu first issues of Beatles records in (then) West Germany, did not include matrix and stamper information in the dead wax. That may be the explanation for what you found with the Apple MMTs. Although they were pressed from the same A1-B3 masters, they were further down the line in terms of mothers and stampers. The copies with the two different Hör Zu logos seem to sound the same to me (no computerized comparison made), so it may not be worth chasing down a VERY first pressing (most rectangular logo copies will have the disappointing fake stereo mix anyway).
The White Album: Did you ever listen to the German DMM copy on white vinyl made from the analogue source? It's not quite clear in hindsight when it was issued, 1984 or '85 probably, and it must not be confused with the first white vinyl edition that more or less simultaneously in Britain and many other countries or the late DMM copies made from a digital source. This (numbered) release (with a slightly flimsier sleeve) has a black sticker with 'Pressung Weiss/DMM' on the cover ('White pressing, direct metal mastering', 1C 1723-04 173/4). Close your eyes and it kisses you. I knew that collectors praised it and thought, oh well, there may be some minor difference or improvement in mids, high or low end, but in the end they only try to justify their choice... But when I finally got hold of a copy I found that it conveys threedimensional spatial information that no other version known to me can convey. Put out the light and listen to 'Long, Long, Long'. Magic. Completely different. (We're not comparing with the new remix, which has virtues of its own.)
Yes, I believe for the PPM the engineers used a copy of the original master tape. Those tapes were sent to the most important affiliates (those with the biggest markets, that is) with notes on how to EQ and otherwise process the recording on acetate (soft master). It seems that the Cologne engineers deviated from the EMI London recipe and created a much drier and better balanced version.
Only one sentence re the Polydor recordings: I was so glad to hear that you mentioned the flawless state-of-the-art production (although that wasn't, and would probably never have developed into, that Beatles sound we have come to cherish). What is usually missed in every discussion of these recordings is the fact that they are the ONLY true stereo recordings ever made of the Beatles (read: pre-Beatles in this case). There's a difference between multi-channel-recordings with overdubs mixed into stereo from two, four, or eight final tracks (what the Beatles did in the studio) and a live stereo stage recording (soundstage simultaneously) with one or two supporting microphones (usually for the singer), which is what Kaempfert did. Oops, that was three sentences. Sorry for that.
I don't kow if you've delved into Japanese pressings. That might be something for the future. Best regards and wishes!
Great post, thanks for all that extra info.
I'll be covering the German pressings in more detail in the next video and will try to get hold that German DMM White Album.
Ooooh I am first. I've got one of those 2012's. Ooh oh! I want the full analog collection too! Nice!
Lovely presentation, but I really don't listen to the big black box after I first bought it. I think I listened to Abbey Road and Sgt. Pepper's. Maybe I subliminally hated the sonics. However, as with most box sets in my collection, unless I don't already have a copy, I never venture in. I think I've got most of the Beatles on other sources that probably sound better. These boxes tend to sit gathering dust unless I can side load and shelf them for accessibility.
Spot on. I remember playing an original (stereo) pressing of both Revolver and The White Album and they do have that extra something about them. You are right that the solid state Revolver had a bit more detail and is my go-to.
I would say that I enjoy a later 70s pressing of Abbey Road slightly more than the -2/-1 pressing. Perhaps your next video can be a shootout of the various Abbey Road copies like you did with Sgt Pepper?
To be honest, I still prefer the 2012 vinyl pressings over the cd equivalents. And in our country a locally pressed record using the YEX matrices is the best possible we can get for the money. Nevertheless, if ever I have disposable income, I will definitely hunt for the pressings mentioned above...
You're literally objectively wrong to prefer them to the CDs. They're just the CDs with more loss, at BEST. In some places they even have their own unique fuckups.
I listened (through headphones) to your Apple Germany choice for Please Please Me and I noticed it has a definitely improved mix, I like it. The vocals sound clearer, with some effective reverb(?) The first British Stereo sounds really clandestine compared to modern use of stereo, especially on With The Beatles lp.
The impact from the STEREO mixes always seems a little light, or maybe diluted with the imaging of everything.
I have now bought both the German ("Made in the EEC") Apple lps ;- 'PPM' (which looks like the one in your hand here, BUT ...it's A2/B1 matrices and not A2/B2.... can this be right?), and Sgt.P's LHCB. Yes you are SPOT ON with this lp, it's like a new listening experience of this album!
Is the Nimbus Edition any better than this one?? I can't imagine how tbh.
Hello it’s me again. I decided to update my list and this time I really went all out. Since you’re such a great guy who reads every single comment, I promise I won’t make this boring. Here’s my list. I’m including 2nd place, 3rd place, etc as well. I think they deserve to be recognized. For every single LP, I did a needle drop, added no filter and loaded them up as multitrack on my computer to A/B them using my headphones. Based on you, Steve Hoffman Forums, Brian Needle Meets Vinyl, Facebook Beatles fan pages, I believe I collected the most popular contenders for each album on stereo.
The Early Years
1) UK on Contour
2) German on Karussell
Please Please Me
1) German A-2/B-2
2) Hungarian on Pepita 1982
3) UK -4/-4
4) UK -1/-1
With The Beatles
1) Canadian Wide Stereo
2) UK -5/-6
3) UK -2/-2
A Hard Day’s Night
1) UK -3-1-3-/-4
2) UK -1/-1
Beatles For Sale
1) UK -1/-1
2) German A-1/B-1
Help!
1) German A-2/B-3
2) Dutch 2-Y/1-Y
3) UK -4/-4
4) UK -1/-1
Rubber Soul
1) UK -6/-5
2) UK -3/-3
3) German A-3/B-2
Revolver
1) Dutch 3Y/2-Y
2) German A-X2/B-2
3) UK -2/-2
4) UK -3/-4
5) UK -1/-1
Collection of Oldies
1) Dutch on Fame 1Y/1Y
2) UK on Fame -6-1-1-/8-1-2
3) Spanish on Odeon 1978
4) UK -1G/-1G
Sgt Pepper
1) UK -5/-4
2) UK -6-1-2/-6-1-3
3) UK -3/-3
4) UK -1/-1
5) German A-1/B-2
Magical Mystery Tour
1) German A-1/B-3
2) German A1+C/B1+C
Yellow Submarine
1) German A-1/B-1
2) UK -7/-3
3) UK -3/-1
White Album
1) UK 1978 White Vinyl
2) Dutch 1-Y/-3Y/1-Y/1Y (getting a Dutch cut on all 4 sides was quite a challenge!!!)
3) UK -1/-1/-1/-1 French contract pressing. I have no idea why this particular UK tube cut sounds better than other UK tube cuts but it somehow does.
4) German 1985 DMM White Vinyl
5) German 1968 SMO 2051/52
Let It Be
1) UK 1978 White Vinyl
2) Dutch 3-Y/4Y
3) UK -2U/-2U
4) German Y-A-1/Y-B-1
Abbey Road
1) UK -2/-1
2) Japanese Pro Use
3) UK -6/-4
Hey Jude
1)UK CPCS 106
Rarities
1) UK
Red & Blue Album
1) 2014 Edition
Obviously, pick the first place from each album, and if you still have enough space in that big black box, toss in Anthology 1,2,3, Now and Then single inside Anthology 3, and EU edition of Love and I strongly believe I did better than you! No, just kidding. Shootouts are always highly subjective and my opinion changes all the time. I’m fickle. For example, sometimes I prefer -5/-6 of WTB over the Canadian Wide Stereo. Here’s the thing I learned from this journey - it wasn’t really about finding the best sounding LP. I’m just happy I have the collection of best sounding ones. Asking what the best one… is like me asking you what do you like better, milk chocolate or dark chocolate? For you Star Wars nerds like me, I have a better analogy - which one do you like better, 4K77 or the despecialized edition? The correct answer of course is BOTH.
Once upon a time, I was happy with my 2009 remaster CDs. I didn’t even have a turntable. Look what you made me do man (= THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!) . Anyways, I’ve listened to these albums a lot. I need something refreshing…. Time to look and listen to my Beatles mono collection!
Hello again Andrew! I wonder if you checked out the Beatles HELP, Shell LP from Sweden with one EMI box? Might it be the same great quality as the Dutch stereo version you show in the video?
Thanks!
I agree that AHDN sounds clearer on that Parlophone pressing from the 60ies. I have observed a lot of sibliance and tracking problems on tracks like „I am happy just to dance with you“. This is not on the 2012 cut.
Im a mono guy, and I managed to pick up beat up pressing of a -5 and besides the crackle it's a masterpiece and it outlives the dull sounding stereo 2012.
Three things:
- The German MMT can also be had in a proper cover (a record club edition from 1973) with the same A-1/B-3 matrix.
- You could also take a look at the German Help! from late 70s (A-2/B-3).
- German "Rarities" has Rain in stereo (UK: in mono).
'Rain' is only in stereo on the German DMM pressing with A3/B1 matrices.
@@Parlogram I'll check that out. Don't have a German "Rarities", had this info from elsewhere.
Can you add a list of the records. With info to find them easier. Thanks
I’ve found the prices on the “new” Yellow Submarine album a bit strange as the yellow vinyl version arrived with a lot of hyped pomp and ceremony and must have sold a ton at the time whereas the black version just kinda crept out a few years later with barely a whisper of hype to it.
To my mind the black version should at this point be a lot rarer to find than the yellow?.....obviously people have bought into the coloured-vinyl hype?
You could be right there, Dai.
The 2012 box is the best bang for the buck vinyl set a new Beatles fan can get. Enough with the digi-phobia. Just because they were cut from digital files (all high resolutions, mind you except for Rubber Soul,) does not mean they "sound like CDs." The companion 2009 CD set had minor brickwall limiting applied to bring them in line dynamically with modern music, whereas the 2012 box utilized the same files but, again high resolution, and most importantly without the limiting applied - giving a much more dynamic listening experience.
Instead of tossing it, might as well hang them up for wall decoration, as their covers are pretty damn neat
I've got a -3 -5 copy of With The Beatles which I bought in 1979. It sounds OK to me as it's the one I grew up with, but I haven't heard the -6 or the -2 -2 copies although I do have -5 -5 and -7 -5 mono discs and they sound so much better.
I acquired a 1970s pressing of A Hard Day's Night, and it sounds wonderful You forgot The Decca Tapes, which is currently the cost of a regular album.
God. He’s hard to please eh. Some of the best records ever produced there ! Love my box set !
Can you find the German version of the Beatles stereo box that’s from 2012?
It’ll be cool to find the German pressing of all the different albums including a hard days night and magical mystery tour, and hopefully the German pressing has the longer version of and I love her an elephant which I have off of the Beatles rarities album and that’s a great one.
Question - Didn’t the Yellow Submarine Songtrack use digital technology (such as protools and sonic solutions) to rebuild and clean up the multi track tapes with distinct elements rather than remix from the four track final stages of recording (i.e the multi-generation reduction mixes on four track)? Wouldn’t that mean it’s not strictly an analog album but something of a digital one? In other words, weren’t the final mixes on the Songtrack created from digital files rather than the original analog tapes?
Glad I saw this first as there was a 2012 box set on eaby for sale at a good price-nice to have the box set but if the sound just isn't there no point for me its all about the sound. How about doing a video on the beatles deagostini box set ? next
You should audition Japanese Toshiba Apple pressings.i had the Japanese Box set from the early 80s, and it was sonically perfect
Would love to know your thoughts on the 1988 vinyl pressing of Past Masters?
Hi Andrew! You highly recommend the 1971 UK White Album. I could easliy be wrong and probably am but I see the 1970-71 fourth pressing matrix numbers for the White Album are the same as the orignal YEX 709 - 1, 10, 11 and 12. Same matrices on the fifth pressing Summer 1971- 73. How can we identify the White Album you are recommending?
THANKS Andrew!
Have to
Be honest - I think these records sound terrific 💁♂️
I would love to get a hold of all of the German albums that you suggested thank you very much Andrea that was a great video.
It’s fun to hear what people want and Beatles albums I’ll be at Manoa and stereo.
You probably don’t like the diva phonic or fake stereo that I uses on their albums.
I have some available on the site, Jessie: www.parlogramauctions.com/Browse/C918883/Beatles_German_Vinyl
Thank you!
You're welcome, Jonny!
Wasn't the Hey Jude compilation
that came out in 1970 in the US eventually
released in the UK in 1979? How do copies
from that year hold up ?
The early '70's UK export copies on Apple (CPCS 106) sound amazing. The later Parlophone ones, less so.
Merci beaucoup, cette vidéo est excellente.
Merci d'avoir regardé, Sylvain
Thanks Andrew, well done!
P.S. You appear to have a "White Album" Turntable behind you.
If you haven't already, perhaps you could have a video showing that off, and the rest of your system.
Have you replaced the EMT Turntable, I recall seeing years ago, on your Parlogram site?
Thanks, Michael. It's not a "White Album" turntable but a white Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit and it replaced the EMT 950.
The White Album version is also from Project, entirety white, and has "the Beatles" printed in light gray, plus a serial number.
But yours is a higher grade Project.
I put my Beatles LP collection together mainly from the German Odeon copies including REVOLVER and SGT PEPPER on Apple! For Please Please Me I got a HOR ZU mono version on Green Vinyl (possibly a bootleg but still sounding great). The German version of WITH THE BEATLES has a Hi-hat intro. I have the German and Newsagent versions of MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR. The German version is on Red Vinyl (bootleg again). My other LPS, The White Album, Abbey Road, Let It Be and Past Masters are also Newsagent versions.
Loving your videos. So informative. I played my De Agostini pressing of ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ for the first time the other day. The opening fraction of the opening chord of ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ is missing!!! Unbelievable. It starts sort of ‘mid-clang’.
That's unforgivable!
Interesting video. I personally own a European pressing of the 2012 Stereo box and seem to be one of the few people that doesn't have a problem with it. From what I can see of your set, there are glaring omissions I'd you replace Past Masters with Rarities as you're missing the later A & B side singles not included on Rarities and Oldies. Before I heard of it's release I did find an empty LP rolltop box & cobbled together a set of 2-EMI Box UK Beatles stereo LP's ranging from the 70's and 80's. I've not taken notice of pressing types or matrix numbers so I don't really know what I have in that regard. Seems like a lot emphasis is put on those.
About the Dutch Let It Be LP. There appears to be two versions to choose from. In your video you show the one with the two lines of Dutch writing along the bottom of the label. The other version that I've seen just has "Made in Holland" stamped at the bottom of the label. Is that version as good a quality?
THANKS Andrew!
They are both very good, Joe.
Would be nice if box that using the original stereo master thanks very interesting, I still have that final and I still love my Beatles box that’s on stereo and mono on CDs and the vinyl is good too.
“Seek out these wonderful sounding pressings....” wonderful sounding to you good sir. Sound is a subjective thing
Agreed. It's all just my opinion.
So true. But I will definitely add that 1969 Yellow Submarine soundtrack
to my Ebay shopping list.
Hi Andrew, another fab video. Great stuff. You dont mention Japanese stereo pressings, even the reasonably priced Beatles Forever series (I find Help particularly good). Don’t you like them at all ? Too bass shy ? Cheers
The Japanese discs sound really detailed and the vinyl is clean & quiet. They just lack a little in the bass department for my taste.
@@Parlogram My EAS Japanese Apple pressing sounds nearly identical to the first CD copies.
Most of my Beatles vinyl are older pressings, but I do own a few 2012 and a 2022 pressings. The best thing about them is they are cleaner sounding, but that’s because they were all purchased new. I think a lot of the analog vs digital is more based on personal preference, as opposed to any objective standard. I actually own more 2014 mono than the 2012 stereo pressings and I like both, just fine.