Personally, I love new music by old artists. I too have Paul's latest and I do enjoy it a lot. I also have Elton's latest, The Diving Board, its very good too. Simple , beautiful ,stripped down piano produced by T. Bone Burnett. I think a great radio station format would be new stuff by classic artists.
"The Beatles Live at the BBC": Should You Buy This (Again)?
The BBC did not preserve the master tapes of any of The Beatles BBC appearances. The tape was considered more valuable than the performances recorded therein. That's not exactly a secret. The audio used for the original edition of this set first issued in 1994 came from BBC Transcription Service vinyl, tape copies and radio broadcast tapes provided by fans.
The original was issued by Capitol on a double LP gatefold set that was not exactly distinguished for either the packaging or sound. But how good could it get should EMI choose to give it another go round? We now have the answer.
New sources surfaced for the same performances in the intervening years and executive producers Kevin Howlett and Mike Heatley listened to all of them before choosing which made the "final cut". Everything that had been mastered for the 1994 set was remastered using the latest digital technology and more importantly, with less fear that some tape hiss might intrude upon the musical proceedings. While the original "clean up" hitter, Abbey Road senior mastering engineer Peter Mew contended the final product back then was "the definitive article", a quick comparison between this remaster and the first one proves otherwise.
To produce the 1994 edition tapes and discs were dubbed onto Sony 1630 and then processed using the Sonic Solutions digital work station. In those days hiss had to go, even if at the expense of high frequency music.
This new edition sounds considerably more open and transparent than the 1994 edition. Though the performances are the same, the sources occasionally differ. Some recorded performances were used on a variety or BBC shows so where a version was found with no one talking over an intro or outro it was used.
Every track was remastered. The press blurb claims for this set "a remarkable improvement in the sound of the album" and I agree. High frequency extension and overall transparency are vastly improved, though keep in mind the source material.
The 71 tracks (14 of which are spoken), originally on two LPs are now on 3 and the Optimal, German pressing is far superior to Capitol's original. Add the glossy triple-gatefold packaging and well-produced graphics and you have a package fit for a shelf filled with a great Beatles vinyl collection. Yes the source is digital but for whatever reason or reasons the vinyl has that extra "something" whatever it is.
The anniversary of the Beatles' first Ed Sullivan appearance on February 9th, 1964 is days away as this is written. These early, basic performances are packed with raw energy. They only hint at what was to come just as the latest Paul McCartney album only hints at what Paul once could do, but for fans both sides of the phenomenon that was/is The Beatles are important! They inform and amplify the pleasures produced by the "core" albums and I for one can't imagine not having and listening to them.
When I hear people who purport to love The Beatles say they can't understand why I can listen to and seriously enjoy New Paul's latest album, I don't understand what they are talking about. This guy has been with me and I've been with him for 50 years! Now is not the time to drift off. He's not and either am I. Plus the album has many great songs only he could have written that refer to the earlier days.
The original Live at the BBC didn't often leave the shelves but when it did the listening pleasure was considerable. This one sounds much better and will not be gathering dust.
P.S.: You can still download for $40.00 from iTunes "The Beatles Bootleg Recordings 1963" a 59 song compilation of previously unreleased performances and outtakes that sounds very, very good. If you're a fan, I suggest you do before it's gone.
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COMMENTS
I just love it
Submitted by volvic on Tue, 2014-02-04 19:14
I also got Vol. 2 and love that just as much. The music is great and the vinyl is nice and quiet, just take out the records from the hard paper sleeves they come in and put em in mofi sleeves to protect them. Great stuff love it!
Hiss 'N' Fabs
Submitted by Paul Boudreau on Wed, 2014-02-05 08:13
Bumper sticker? "Embracesss The Hisss."
"When I hear people who purport to love The Beatles say they can't understand why I can listen to and seriously enjoy New Paul's latest album, I don't understand what they are talking about."
Some folks are frozen in time, musically and otherwise.
On Letterman this week, Broken Bells did what I think is a terrific Fabs cover. If I were frozen in time myself, I wouldn't deign to view it.
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/watch-broken-bells-ringo-starr-...
McCartney's new LP
Submitted by AlanWK on Wed, 2014-02-05 10:36
"On my way to work (What? Sir Paul working?) I rode a big green booos" , tell me did someone tell Macca this was good? or does he surround himself with yes men and ass kissers? Anyway I heard a track played on XM called That Was Me from a forgotten LP from 2007 called Memory Almost Full. This track was so much better than anything from his new LP he should have released it as a single track instead of a whole album. But I guess Paulie only hears what he wants to hear.
Not Too Harsh!
Submitted by Michael Fremer on Wed, 2014-02-05 10:51
Yes, "Memory Almost Full" is a terrific LP. Reviewed here, here:
http://www.analogplanet.com/content/paul-looks-back-great-life-and-looks-forward-too-0
But I'm sure Sir Paul did once ride a big green bus and is it fair to take one line out of context and stomp on it? As for "What? Sir Paul working?", damn, he's 71 and still touring the world and I'd call that working!
Someone has to be harsh
Submitted by AlanWK on Wed, 2014-02-05 13:11
What Macca needs is someone close to him to take him aside and say, you know Paul, your new music, it's mediocre at best, I mean people like Charles Rosenay!!! and Michael Fremer will love it, but the public at large will ignore a full album. If however you released a single killer track, which by the way is what now is all that the world's attention span can handle, you would be making music for 2014 not 1980.
Got Them Both from the UK
Submitted by rakalm on Wed, 2014-02-05 11:32
I was concerned after the Rainbo Box Set pressings, so, I preordered from the UK. Just in the event they pressed at 2 different plants for the US versus UK releases. Earlier release dates for at least one of the titles as well in the UK. I am glad they were from Optimal after enjoying my Box Set UK pressings. How did you figure out where the BBC releases were pressed Michael? I saw New was plated at Sterling but pressed in the Czech Republic. I love his latest effort, amongst his best and maybe his most varied ever solo release. The lyrics are pretty strong and the vinyl packaging, gatefold, download card, booklet, ect,... makes for a great deal. That Kisses Blu Ray has great sound and what a band. Not for all but I love it. Deserved it's 2 grammies. For my BBC releases, I just put round bottom Sleeve City liners in the original sleeves to preserve the order of the original packaging, seems to work well. Both fit into a SC box set outter sleeve. Lotsa Beatles still to enjoy. I am ready to preorder the Mono Vinyl when available.
Optimal Pressing?
Submitted by Michael Fremer on Wed, 2014-02-05 16:42
Told that by my EMI contacts.
The Beatles Lied!
Submitted by StonedBeatles1 on Wed, 2014-02-05 22:21
One day I'm going to have to dig up some old cassettes of these broadcasts and do some comparison listening. To my dead ears the original legitimate release sounded pretty decent so this new remastered album should be a treat.
As for Macca's album New, after 1 listen I was overly disappointed. And, Kisses on The Bottom was even worse (in my opinion). Played that twice back to back and it's been shelved ever since. Now Memory Almost Full was killer and Paul seemed to be on a streak after Linda died. That 50's cover album rocked and was as raw as anyone could have expected and the releases were great until Kisses (in my opinion which may be worth 2 cents, IDONO?).
In any event, I'm attending The Letterman taping today being the last show of the Beatles Week. I was hoping to catch a glimpse of Paul & Ringo but as it turned out they showed up Wednesday after taping Wednesday's show to tape a segment with Letterman to be aired this Sunday night with the special.
Damn those Beatles. Still part of our life's soundtrack and will always be the greatest pop/rock recordings of all time as far as I'm concerned.
One last note: I thought the ITunes Bootleg Recordings sucked. The bootlegs that they were compiled from sound much better (again to my ears).
ITunes Fabs
Submitted by Paul Boudreau on Sat, 2014-02-08 15:45
"P.S.: You can still download for $40.00 from iTunes 'The Beatles Bootleg Recordings 1963,' a 59 song compilation of previously unreleased performances and outtakes that sounds very, very good. If you're a fan, I suggest you do before it's gone."
Listened to it all today driving around in a Ford Focus. High fidelity? No. Fun. Yes, although if I ever hear another version of "A Taste Of Honey," my head will probably explode. Are these maybe the versions of the songs they played many times for Auntie Beeb that didn't make the sonic grade for the new compilations?
CDs or Vinyl?
Submitted by AnalogJ on Tue, 2014-02-18 15:51
Of course, a dilemma here is the potentially better sound of the LPs (plus greater expense) versus the CDs, which would allow me to just listen to the music tracks when I want.
A little off topic
Submitted by rubbersoulsoul65 on Fri, 2014-02-21 08:56
I listened to vol 2 on CD not on LP and they sound pretty good. Looking forward to getting vol 2 LP. But on a side topic. Does anyone know if EMI will be issuing the beatles mono box set on vinyl or is EMI shelving that project. Just asking.
Beatles mono vinyl coming out in 2014?
Submitted by luv74st on Wed, 2014-04-02 09:06
Hi
I read that Resnikoff (president-CEO of universal music enterprises, UMG catalog division confirms that a vinyl edition of the beatles mono vinyl albums will be issued later this year on a date to be announced. Just curious if you had any news on this or is this just rumours being spread. Thanks.
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