Log In
Register
9.57pm
Reviewers
29 August 2013
Offline
Billy Rhythm said
I can understand them doing some tweaking for the technology has changed so much since the original vinyl releases that it does need to be calibrated somewhat to match up with the current hardware. The thing for me is that no modern day tweak can alter the reality that the Capitol albums are vastly inferior to the UK releases in just about every way, even if they were to achieve the closest possible representation of the originals. I can see a certain attraction to hardcore collectors who have the money to spend on it, but it’s really difficult for me to see this as nothing more than an Apple cash grab (timing of the 50th Anniversary U.S. Arrival, etc.). The Capitol releases would’ve been far better left forgotten, in my opinion, it would’ve also increased the value of the original pressings for collectors and this possibly cheapens them even further than many all ready view them as…:-)
As noted elsewhere – almost everything placed up for sale in a market economy is a ‘cash grab’ – no one does this for charity. I think it is a nice anniversary package, updated for the times, and am very glad they decided to be so ‘greedy’ 
I couldn’t care less about ‘value for collectors’ and their hoards – sorry, just me – but music is for listening. I feel the same way about comics collectors who keep their stuff sealed for 100 years so it goes up in value and complain whenever something is reprinted for the rest of us to read.
==> trcanberra and hongkonglady - Together even when not (married for those not in the know!) <==
10.49pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline 
trcanberra said
meanmistermustard said
And this is why i never felt any requirement to buy the box. All the reports from the beginning said that Apple were fiddling with the offerings so whilst its a right pain in the backside, and another blatant statement of Apple’s incompetence, you can’t really buy the box and then bitch you don’t get what it originally was in the 60’s. You knew before because you were told before.Reminds me of John’s comment on And Your Bird Can Sing “another of my throwaways … fancy paper around an empty box”. The contents in the box are largely throwaways but the packaging is nice. Definitely not worth £120 or whatever it is.
Well I’m glad those nice Canadians sold it to me for around half that price then
Going by the reports i’m now not sure i’d spring for it half price. £60 for a handful of alternate mixes that i already have in good sound quality doesn’t seem like a decent investment. More than likely if i get anything then it will be the two soundtrack albums and Something New.
How are folks here finding it? Are they happy with what they have considering what they paid? Do you think you’ll pull out the albums often or will it sit on a shelf gathering dust?
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
11.31pm
8 January 2014
Offline will admit, the differant mixes are interesting. ( i have “Meet The Beatles” and “Yesterday & Today” on vinyl LP) and i have been listing on Youtube. but now i’m confused. apparently there are 4 differant mixes: the U.K. Mono Mix, the U.K. Stereo Mix, the U.S. Mono Mix and the U.S. Stereo Mix. Yall would think the Capitol albums would only use the orginal U.S. mono and stereo mixes but… 
Thats what i’m most disapointed about. But here’s the MAIN question: What about the tapes (8-tracks and cassettes) which mixes were those? because i remember (it was an Elvis album) i had a record and cassette of the same album but there were 3 or 4 songs on there that had differant mixes on the cassette than on record. And i’m wondering if any Beatles U.S. album/tape differ in mixes.
11.44pm
18 April 2013
Offline I only paid the equivalent of 74 pounds for it, so regardless of how it sounds I won’t feel I’ve paid too much. I’ll give my verdict soon.
"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
12.26am
Reviewers
29 August 2013
Offline meanmistermustard said
[SNIP]
How are folks here finding it? Are they happy with what they have considering what they paid? Do you think you’ll pull out the albums often or will it sit on a shelf gathering dust?
Since I don’t have a mono box or anything much really apart from the 2009 stereo box it is a really great buy for me. I will be pulling it out a lot, every time I want to listen to any of their early songs this will be my ‘goto’ choice. I agree that it’s most likely not as exciting for people who have most of the earlier releases (including a mono box) – though as you note the soundtrack albums would have been interesting to me even if I had that earlier stuff.
==> trcanberra and hongkonglady - Together even when not (married for those not in the know!) <==
1.25am
18 April 2013
Offline First impressions:
My box has a small dent in one corner, which I can live with. This usually happens when things are shipped.
Once removed, it is difficult to get the plastic and paper sleeves back in the covers. So, I have followed trcanberra’s advice and put the plastic sleeve inside the paper sleeve, which works fine.
The box looks great. I’m importing into iTunes at 320 kbps as I type.
"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
2.03am
Reviewers
29 August 2013
Offline Expert Textpert said
First impressions:My box has a small dent in one corner, which I can live with. This usually happens when things are shipped.
Once removed, it is difficult to get the plastic and paper sleeves back in the covers. So, I have followed trcanberra’s advice and put the plastic sleeve inside the paper sleeve, which works fine.
The box looks great. I’m importing into iTunes at 320 kbps as I type.
I also ditched the foam insert which gives the albums a little room and makes it easier to get them in and out of the box – I think it was there for protection and they seem a bit squashed with it still in. I managed to avoid the dents but had a bit of the cover ‘lift’ – a touch of glue seems to have done the job!
==> trcanberra and hongkonglady - Together even when not (married for those not in the know!) <==
3.03am
18 April 2013
Offline trcanberra said
Expert Textpert said
First impressions:My box has a small dent in one corner, which I can live with. This usually happens when things are shipped.
Once removed, it is difficult to get the plastic and paper sleeves back in the covers. So, I have followed trcanberra’s advice and put the plastic sleeve inside the paper sleeve, which works fine.
The box looks great. I’m importing into iTunes at 320 kbps as I type.
I also ditched the foam insert which gives the albums a little room and makes it easier to get them in and out of the box – I think it was there for protection and they seem a bit squashed with it still in. I managed to avoid the dents but had a bit of the cover ‘lift’ – a touch of glue seems to have done the job!
I did the same. The discs fit fine without the foam.
"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
3.25am
18 April 2013
Offline Once you take the Yesterday and Today sticker off of the paper, does it only stick onto the album once, or can it be removed and replaced forever?
"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
4.31am
14 January 2013
Offline ^ I wondered that myself. I’m just going to leave as the butcher cover just in case.
6.15am
18 April 2013
Offline I’ve just done a tiny bit of comparison, and She’s A Woman and I Feel Fine mono versions have the reverb of the original Capitol mono mixes, but are actually sonically improved. The stereo versions, however, are the same as the 2009 masters. This is just as wogblog reported.
As far as how the 2009 stereo master of She’s A Woman sounds compared to the Capitol stereo dexterized mix, I prefer the dexterized version, so it’s a shame they opted for the 2009 master, and I can’t see why they would, while keeping the mono with the reverb.
So, it’s going to be a mixed bag.
EDIT: I see the reasoning now. They got rid of all fake mono and stereo. Some of the fake versions sound really good, though.
"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
2.25am
18 April 2013
Offline I am comparing Meet the Beatles and there is no contest. The US Albums version sounds better than the Capitol Version. The instruments sound very clear and crisp.
"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
1.09pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline The previously-mentioned-but-only-on-iTunes-at-the time-but-now-on-youtube US Beatles Albums iTunes Trailer
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
1.41pm
6 August 2013
Offline Expert Textpert said
I am comparing Meet the Beatles and there is no contest. The US Albums version sounds better than the Capitol Version. The instruments sound very clear and crisp.
C’mon end of the month so I can get paid and buy these US albums!
"There's no such thing as bad student... only bad teacher."
6.44pm
24 July 2013
Offline
I am listening to them now, and I think they sound quite awesome. I never got the latest remasters of the UK albums so idk if I am just hearing that for the first time and being amazed, but I am happy. 
10.34pm
18 April 2013
Offline They are definitely an upgrade from the Capitol sets. I am now sold on the idea of replacing the fake stereo and mono tracks. They sound way better. I’ll spare everyone my album-by-album comparison, but right now I am on the “Second Album” and what I’ve noticed is that they have taken away the reverb on the stereo tracks, which sounds like it might be a bad idea, but you can actually hear the vocal harmonies better in some places as a result. The mono in general sounds way better. I think there are a couple of unique stereo mixes they didn’t go with according to wog blog, but I didn’t hear a difference (except lack of reverb).
If anyone was going to buy one US box, I would recommend the new one. But for the slight differences on a few tracks, it will be worth it to have the Capitol boxes too.
"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
1.35am
6 August 2013
Offline Expert Textpert said
They are definitely an upgrade from the Capitol sets. I am now sold on the idea of replacing the fake stereo and mono tracks. They sound way better. I’ll spare everyone my album-by-album comparison, but right now I am on the “Second Album” and what I’ve noticed is that they have taken away the reverb on the stereo tracks, which sounds like it might be a bad idea, but you can actually hear the vocal harmonies better in some places as a result. The mono in general sounds way better. I think there are a couple of unique stereo mixes they didn’t go with according to wog blog, but I didn’t hear a difference (except lack of reverb).If anyone was going to buy one US box, I would recommend the new one. But for the slight differences on a few tracks, it will be worth it to have the Capitol boxes too.
I’m pretty much getting what the Capitol box sets didn’t release (Yesterday and Today, Hey Jude , etc.) so I won’t be able to compare and contrast the Capitol/US box set albums. But for what it’s worth, it was the reverb that led me to buy the Capitol sets in the first place (will be getting Volume 2 with our income tax return) and I love that those sets have the mono/stereo comparsion.
"There's no such thing as bad student... only bad teacher."
8.56am
20 September 2013
Offline I bought the first Vol of the Capitol Albums when it came out, besides the packaging being dodgy [in that no matter how careful I was the cds would always end up in a pile on the floor], I can’t say I was that impressed with the erratic mixes that were on it. The added reverb was truly awful [I Feel Fine & She’s A Woman were unlistenable], the duophonic tracks were quirky, but reminded me of all those terrible ‘jump on the stereo bandwagon’ albums from the 60’s/70’s. I’d already had a few import US albums I came across as a kid [Early Beatles & Beatles 65], so was aware of what they may be like. I ripped them and occasionally listened to them for a bit of a change. I didn’t bother getting Vol 2 until a couple of weeks ago, mainly due to them going out of print.
I fully understand these mixes/treatments were what American fans grew up with, so replacing these versions with the 2009 remasters to a degree messes with memories, but I think if this set had been another reissue of the Capitol Albums, Apple and Universal would have had much more criticism as those sets are still [just] available?
Another point of view is how the Capitol albums’ content is superior to the UK versions, as if there was a conscious decision to leave tracks for the next album, second guessing the new material would have more of a ‘folk’ feel to them etc. The US Rubber Soul I enjoy, The Beatles’ Second album is a great ‘rock’ album, Meet The Beatles a great introduction, but even after all these years they seem like iTunes playlists to me. Having Yesterday next to Doctor Robert was and still is ridiculous. What I am interested in are the unique mixes, and I think I’m right in saying the correct US mixes as issued on their respective first issues are included in the new set? Please correct me if I’m wrong! The Yesterday & Today release on this new set lacks the unique stereo mixes, but they were only issued in the 70’s???? Imagine the furore if they’d been included here?
Anyhow, I’m glad we have both sets, even though we don’t have a Vol 3 of The Capitol Albums.
10.19am
Reviewers
17 December 2012
Offline I’m sorry, but I just don’t believe The US Albums are what they say on the label. It’s easy to say that replacing the original tapes/some mixes with the EMI remasters makes for improved listening so far as sound quality goes, but it cannot escape the fact that they are now reinterpretations of the Capitol albums – not the Capitol albums.
Had Apple been prepared to spend the time and money, I’m sure they could have remastered the original US masters for those albums that were an upgrade on previous quality in boxes 1 & 2, and not disappointed. In truth, what they are flogging is, bar some exceptions, a playlist that many of us could put together without spending the money (and those of us with good bootleg collections [Purple Chick, Dr. E] could duplicate with ease.
Oyster Black Pearl, the stereo versions of I’m Only Sleeping and Doctor Robert may have been duophonic on the initial release, and replaced the duophonic on later versions – however, they were George Martin stereo mixes prepared on 20 May 1966. Both were stereo remix one, whereas Revolver used stereo remix two in each case (all done on the same day).
If Yesterday and Today does include stereo remix two instead of stereo remix one in the case of those two tracks, then that is disgraceful! An example of Apple’s laziness, as mmm would say. The US stereo mixes of both tracks have their original masters in the UK tapes, as that is where they were created. If RS1 has been replaced with RS2 in both cases, as you suggest, that just says they couldn’t be bothered to pull the original masters and remaster them for this release.
When Capitol first released the RS1s doesn’t really matter, it matters when, and by who, they were prepared – and that was GM in 1966. That for some reason Capitol decided to use duophonic mixes created from the mono for a time, and then switched to using the proper GM RS1 mixes, doesn’t forgive them using the remastered RS2 if they have, as they could have remastered RS1 for this release as easily as they remastered RS2 for the 2009 release.
"I only said we were bigger than Rod... and now there's all this!" Ron Nasty
To @ Ron Nasty it's @ mja6758
The Beatles Bible 2020 non-Canon Poll Part One: 1958-1963 and Part Two: 1964-August 1966
12.00pm
20 September 2013
Offline mja6758 said
Oyster Black Pearl, the stereo versions of I’m Only Sleeping and Doctor Robert may have been duophonic on the initial release, and replaced the duophonic on later versions – however, they were George Martin stereo mixes prepared on 20 May 1966. Both were stereo remix one, whereas Revolver used stereo remix two in each case (all done on the same day).
Points taken, but they weren’t released on Y&T until the 70’s, not 1966? Don’t get me wrong, I want those mixes too, preferably on Vol 3 [which ain’t gonna happen?].
I don’t think Apple have been lazy, far from it – they’ve presented what they believe to be the “best” upgrades in sound quality, they never liked the way Capitol presented their material and have taken the chance to “correct” this. I’m sure this edict has come right from the top. Don’t think I’m an Apple apologist, Vol 3 would have been the way to go, but I’m enjoying the new box as it is.
1 Guest(s)