My Beatles Remastered Review, Coming Soon (I Hope!)

posted by Rob on September 10, 2009 at 12:19 pm | Comments (1)

I received an email from Amazon on Tuesday, September 8, 2009, that my Beatles mono and stereo boxed sets have been shipped! When I pre-ordered them several weeks ago, I chose Amazon’s free (slow) shipping in order to save a little money. Yes, I was extremely excited to hear what the remastered songs sound like, but I’ve waited this long and figured a few extra days wouldn’t hurt.

I scrolled down to read the rest of the email and couldn’t believe my eyes. Evidently, in all of my excitement, I must’ve accidentally clicked my family’s address instead of my own because it turns out my boxed sets are being mailed to their address, 725 miles away from mine. I told my mom and asked her to please mail the package to me as soon as she receives it.

So, I was hoping to start posting my impressions of the remastered CDs next week, but now it’ll probably be another week after that until I’m even able to listen to them. D’oh!

I’m going to try to be patient during these next couple of weeks. I promise, as soon as I get my hands on the sets, I’ll post detailed comparisons between the 1987 and 2009 CDs, as well as mono vs. stereo. Expect full write-ups, with audio clips and waveform images.

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UPDATE September 14, 2009: I just posted my Abbey Road 1987 vs. 2009 remastered review: Beatles Review – Abbey Road Remastered CD. I hope you find it useful!

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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:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download:
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:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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

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

Listen:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download:
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:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download:
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:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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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Touch Me – live at Madame X, NYC 5/4/09

posted by Rob on May 6, 2009 at 6:51 pm | Comments (0)

On Monday, May 4, 2009, I performed “Touch Me (I Want Your Body)” by Samantha Fox at the Lady Jane’s Salon romance book reading, which took place at Madame X in NYC.

YouTube – Touch Me – live at Madame X, NYC 5/4/09

The crowd loved it and I had a really fun time. Thanks to Hope, Leanna, Maya, and Ron for inviting me to perform!

If you’d like to learn how to play “Touch Me (I Want Your Body),” check out my video guitar lesson.

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Come see me play in NYC tonight

posted by Rob on May 4, 2009 at 3:13 pm | Comments (0)

I’m playing a song at Madame X tonight as part of the Lady Jane’s Salon romance book reading. If you’re in the area, come see me:

Lady Jane’s Salon romance reading
Madame X bar
94 W. Houston St.
(between Laguardia Pl. and Thompson St.)
New York, NY

7:00 p.m.
21 and over, $5 or one gently used romance novel

Google Maps – Madame X, 94 W. Houston St.

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