The Beatles Mono vs. Stereo, Part 2

posted by Rob on July 26, 2009 at 11:30 pm | Comments (24)

In April, I wrote a blog entry titled The Beatles Mono vs. Stereo (Remastered CDs Coming Sept. 2009). In it, I discussed the upcoming Beatles remastered CD boxed sets and my preference for the stereo versions of their albums. I also created and posted several mono vs. stereo audio clips, so you could hear the difference.

That post has been very popular, so as a follow-up – and as a reminder that the new sets are less than seven weeks away – I’ve created more mono/stereo comparison clips and posted them below. After putting these samples together, I still believe that the stereo mixes are superior to the mono mixes. Listen for yourself and let me know which mixes you prefer (listen to these clips in headphones for a more dramatic effect):

“I Call Your Name” 1964, short stereo/mono comparison clip:

Listen:

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Download:
58 second MP3 file – 2.2 MB (right-click to save)

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“If I Fell” 1964, short stereo/mono comparison clip:

Listen:

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Download:
58 second MP3 file – 2.3 MB (right-click to save)

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“I’m Looking Through You” 1965, short stereo/mono comparison clip:

Listen:

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Download:
59 second MP3 file – 2.3 MB (right-click to save)

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“I’m Happy Just to Dance with You” 1964, short stereo/mono comparison clip:

Listen:

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Download:
58 second MP3 file – 2.2 MB (right-click to save)

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“In My Life” 1965, short stereo/mono comparison clip:

Listen:

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Download:
58 second MP3 file – 2.2 MB (right-click to save)

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“I Should Have Known Better” 1964, short stereo/mono comparison clip:

Listen:

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57 second MP3 file – 2.2 MB (right-click to save)

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“Long Tall Sally” 1964, short stereo/mono comparison clip:

Listen:

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49 second MP3 file – 1.9 MB (right-click to save)

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“No Reply” 1964, short stereo/mono comparison clip:

Listen:

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56 second MP3 file – 2.2 MB (right-click to save)

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“Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” 1965, short stereo/mono comparison clip:

Listen:

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Download:
58 second MP3 file – 2.2 MB (right-click to save)

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“Please Please Me” 1963, short stereo/mono comparison clip:

Listen:

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Download:
58 second MP3 file – 2.2 MB (right-click to save)

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“Rock and Roll Music” 1964, short stereo/mono comparison clip:

Listen:

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53 second MP3 file – 2.1 MB (right-click to save)

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“Run for Your Life” 1965, short stereo/mono comparison clip:

Listen:

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Download:
58 second MP3 file – 2.2 MB (right-click to save)

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“Think for Yourself” 1965, short stereo/mono comparison clip:

Listen:

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Download:
56 second MP3 file – 2.2 MB (right-click to save)

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“Twist and Shout” 1963, short stereo/mono comparison clip:

Listen:

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Download:
37 second MP3 file – 1.4 MB (right-click to save)

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If you’re planning on buying only one of the boxed sets and aren’t sure which one, I hope my audio clips in this post and my previous one help you decide. Keep in mind, these clips aren’t comparing the remastered versions of the songs that are coming out in September. I obviously don’t have access to those yet (I wish I did!), but I assume their sound quality will be even better. For now though, at least you can hear the difference between the mono and stereo mixes.

While I’m on the subject of the remasters, I pre-ordered both boxed sets on Amazon about a week ago. They set me back $448. Ouch! At least if the price goes down between now and September 9, I’ll pay the lower price, though I doubt that’ll happen.

For the price I’m paying, I really hope the sets are worth it in terms of mastering quality. The first thing I’ll do when I receive them is rip a few of the songs to my computer and analyze the waveforms. If there are any signs of the loundess war (brickwall limiting, hard-clipping, or severe dynamic range compression), I’m returning them. I’ll post my impressions and waveform analyses as soon as the CDs arrive in September.

In the meantime, which boxed set are you going to buy, mono, stereo, or both?

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Guitar Lesson – Puberty by Belly

posted by Rob on July 25, 2009 at 12:43 am | Comments (0)

Here’s my video guitar lesson for “Puberty” by Belly:

YouTube – Puberty by Belly – How to play cool songs

I started listening to Belly in 1993. I thought their first album Star was great, so naturally I bought their second album King when it came out in 1995. I still remember the day I bought it. Actually, the two days I bought it. My friends Ljubisa, Chris, and I made our usual trip to Sam Goody in Willowbrook Mall in Wayne, NJ. King must have just come out because it was featured prominently in the CD rack and was on sale for $12. Perfect! I took a copy, along with a couple other CDs, to the cashier. The total seemed a little high, but I blamed my mental math and paid her.

When I got home that night, I checked my receipt and discovered that King rang up for $15 instead of $12. I knew something was off! I took the CD and receipt back to the mall the next night and was refunded the difference: $3.21.

Anyway, I remember getting home the first night, going up to my bedroom, putting King in my CD player, and being blown away. It was one of those albums that I could tell was amazing just from hearing the first minute of the first song, in this case “Puberty.” There was just something about it…the sparse, raw rock production (which I am often a sucker for), Tanya Donelly’s mysterious lyrics, her interesting vocal melodies, and the tight-yet-loose instrumentation by Tanya, Tom Gorman, Chris Gorman, and Gail Greenwood. King instantly reminded me of the straight-out, no-frills classic rock I grew up with, like Cream or The Jimi Hendrix Experience, on the New York K-Rock radio station in the 1980s (WXRK 92.3 FM). No fancy effects or editing, no wall of sound reverb, just a band playing great rock songs in a room.

King is still one of my favorite albums and “Puberty” is still one of my favorite songs. If you’re in the mood for a great rock album – one of the best of the 1990s – there are copies on sale at Amazon for less than $1. Enjoy!

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Guitar Lesson – Charles in Charge Theme Song

posted by Rob on July 23, 2009 at 11:10 am | Comments (1)

Here’s my video guitar lesson for the Charles in Charge theme song:

YouTube – Charles in Charge theme song – How to play cool songs

I watched Charles in Charge on TV all the time in the late 1980s and early 1990s and recently got to watch it again on DVD via Netflix. I prefer the later episodes of the show from 1987 to 1990, featuring the Powells instead of the Pembrokes. They’re sillier than the earlier episodes from 1984 to 1985, especially Buddy Lembeck – played brilliantly by Willie Aames – who started off normal and evolved into a scheming, woman-chasing buffoon. He was hilarious and the banter between Charles (Scott Baio), Buddy, and Mr. Powell (James T. Callahan) was great.

Charles in Charge is from an era when sitcoms were lighter on sarcasm and heavier on goofiness. Many of them also focused on family values and were a bit corny, but that’s what I like about them. Today, the sitcoms I watch (Family Guy, The Simpsons, South Park, etc.) often rely on sarcasm, put-downs, gross-out humor, and jokes at the expense of minorities, homosexuals, and disabled people. I admit, they’re funny – and I realize comedy has evolved – but sometimes I miss the more light-hearted, friendly, and seemingly-innocent sitcoms of my youth.

Watching those Charles in Charge DVDs now, I remembered that sitcoms used to be funny because of the situations the characters would get into. After all, “sitcom” is a portmanteau of “situation comedy.” I wasn’t laughing at gay jokes, black jokes, wife jokes, husband jokes, or disabled jokes, I was laughing at the silliness of the plots and the characters’ reactions to each other. And at the end of each episode, I could count on Charles, Buddy, and the children to do the right thing.

To top it all off, Charles in Charge features one of the all-time classic TV theme songs. I prefer the poppier, higher-pitched version from 1987, but both are catchy and melodic. The lyrics are drivel, but Shandi Sinnamon’s vocal performance is fantastic, as is the orchestral arrangement. (The original 1984 version features strings, while the 1987 version features brass.)

Have fun!

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Bass Lesson – Lounge Act by Nirvana

posted by Rob on July 9, 2009 at 12:23 pm | Comments (1)

I haven’t been sticking to my goal of posting a new video every week, but I’m going to try harder. Here’s my video for this week: my bass lesson for “Lounge Act” by Nirvana:

YouTube – Lounge Act by Nirvana – How to play bass

Ever since I listened to Nevermind in 1992, I knew that Krist Novoselic was a great rock and roll bass player. “Lounge Act” proves it. In this case, Kurt’s rhythm guitars are just that: they provide the backing rhythm for Krist’s intricate, yet catchy bassline.

Kurt Cobain’s voice, Krist’s bass playing, and Dave Grohl’s drumming set Nirvana apart from every other alternative rock and grunge band in the 1990s.

At a little over two-and-a-half minutes long, “Lounge Act” is a perfect pop rock song.

If you’d like to learn the guitar part, check out my video guitar lesson: Lounge Act by Nirvana – Guitar.

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New Videos Are Coming Soon

posted by Rob on July 8, 2009 at 3:24 pm | Comments (0)

I know it’s been a while since I posted a video guitar or bass lesson. New videos are coming shortly, I promise. It’s time I got this web site back on track. Thanks for being so patient and supportive!

In the meantime, check out episode 135 of my pop culture podcast, The Paunch Stevenson Show. My friend Greg and I reviewed Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), talked about meeting Dan Aykroyd, and discussed Michael Jackson’s death with one of the cast members of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Hair, Lauren Elder.

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