News

Beatles Monos Get New York City Debut At Electric Lady Studios

Michael Fremer  |  Jun 27, 2014

After a successful Los Angeles launch, Universal Music Enterprises and Apple Corps today brought their Beatles mono vinyl "road show" to New York City's Electric Lady Studios.

Among those on hand were mastering engineer Sean Magee, project producer Steve Berkowitz, Guy Hayden, UMe's coordinator of all things Beatles (not his actual title) and veteran UMe publicist Jennifer Ballantyne who I've been dealing with for twenty plus years but never before met.

Also attending was Ortofon America's Louis Dorio who supplied the Quintet mono cartridge and McIntosh's Ellis Reid, who provided the audio system set up in Electric Lady Studios' Studio A.

The star of the show of course were The Beatles mono LPs and the mono box's book.

So, first: the jackets look fantastic—nothing like the stereo box set's unreasonable facsimile. These are fold over laminated, with opaque paper on the back very close to the originals right down to the "Garrod and Lofthouse" printer credit. The reproduction of the artwork appears to be spot-on and though the video shows The Beatles jacket opening to the side, the actual jacket will be "top loading" just like the original, the title will be embossed in raised letters and the version in the box will be numbered. Of course there's no bar code either—at least in the box set version.

The book, which I only got a short chance to peruse is more about the mono story and less about the stereo book's focus on The Beatles' story. The quality is high and it is filled with great photos and memorabilia.

We were assured this was a finished box set of records, not a test pressing set, nothing pulled and inspected first. Steve Berkowitz said he took the records out of the shipping box and played them in Los Angeles and they were flat, shiny and dead silent and that they were. All LPs were pressed at Optimal for worldwide distribution.

I played the EP mono version of "Yesterday" the other evening and noted its exceptional warmth both on McCartney's vocal and the string section. That is how the album version sounds as well. Yet when Berkowitz played "Don't Bother Me" from a much earlier recording it had a totally different balance as did "You Know My Name, Look Up the Number" simultaneous requested by me and CNET's "Audiophiliac" and Stereophile contributor Steve Guttenberg.

So based on how I know this was produced and on this look and listen I think we are in for a real musical and sonic treat next September!

COMMENTS
markp's picture
Submitted by markp on Fri, 2014-06-27 17:29

If they have them ready. I've already pre-ordered my box.

WINDIANRECORDS's picture
Submitted by WINDIANRECORDS on Fri, 2014-06-27 20:26

Hopefully they're doing due diligence on what was given to them vs. what they feel comfortable delivering - I know personally I had issues with the last Beatles box set {which I ultimately took a refund on from Amazon for multiple reasons}, and I'm currently pulling out every record sent to me before sale to check for pits and marks, so in our wildest dreams as 'audiophiles' (read: people who truly care about the product they are purchasing), we may actually be getting the care that's required/paid for!

Or something not as positive, but we can hope, can't we?

imthewalrus79's picture
Submitted by imthewalrus79 on Fri, 2014-06-27 23:54

If you're talking about the North American pressing of the Stereo albums on vinyl, I don't think we have anything to worry about. Rainbo was originally pressing them for North America. But they haven't used them since then. They used Optimal in Germany for the European Stereo pressings as well as the worldwide pressings for the BBC releases last year. And having all three of those releases, Optimal takes pride in doing amazing pressings.

Michael Fremer's picture
Submitted by Michael Fremer on Sat, 2014-06-28 14:37
an occasional "pit" or "mark" should not cause you to return a record. Pressing perfection is close to impossible. Many times "marks" are lacquer issues that don't affect play..
WINDIANRECORDS's picture
Submitted by WINDIANRECORDS on Sat, 2014-06-28 14:42

Sadly the pits I have do affect play on the three tables I've played them on;a classic POP is very audible ... They come from a totally different plant than what we're talking about here though, so that's a different story for a different time ...

readargos's picture
Submitted by readargos on Tue, 2014-07-01 14:41

I'll chime in to say that, despite reading a lot of complaints online before I purchased my stereo box set, my box was fine. I was tentative, starting with an individual Abbey Road (which was poorly pressed) and an individual Sgt Pepper (which was dead quiet). When the box set dropped another $50 at some retailers, I took the plunge. I didn't have most of the albums on any format.

Of course, now I'm lining up for the AAA mono box. The stereo box often seems lacking in top end air and, while well-controlled, a little too polite. There's no exuberance, and this is rock'n'roll!

Bix's picture
Submitted by Bix on Sat, 2014-06-28 11:45

Even on sale, the box is $50+ more than than buying them all individually. Mikey, now that you've seen the box/book, would you say it's worth the premium? It seems like a fairly significant markup without much benefit.

Michael Fremer's picture
Submitted by Michael Fremer on Sun, 2014-06-29 08:15
LPs in the box don't have a bar code. I suspect the individuals of necessity will. The Beatles in the box will be individually numbered as was the original. Individuals will not be numbered. The book looked well done but I didn't have a great deal of time to peruse. The box will be limited and as it appears to be HQ I think will be a long term collector's item. The individual albums less so.
Martin's picture
Submitted by Martin on Sat, 2014-06-28 11:56

It is looking better and better.
Amazing!
A reissue of one of the most important, meaningful catalogs in popular music. Done properly, with care, attention to detail and quality.
Who would have thought.

thomoz's picture
Submitted by thomoz on Sun, 2014-06-29 08:22

Price too high? It will surely drop to about $300, and if you end up paying slightly more consider that you're getting a high quality book exclusive to the box. Also this box at $350 costs 25% of what the 1982 mono set goes for on the used market - a set that has no book and no Past Masters or Magical Mystery Tour material.

DigitalIsDead's picture
Submitted by DigitalIsDead on Sun, 2014-06-29 18:57

The book is worth more than the records. Its really a treasure. I can't wait for the Mono box to come out. My only regret is that there was never a mono release of Abbey Road.

beaur's picture
Submitted by beaur on Mon, 2014-06-30 03:59

Just did the math on Amazon. Box is about $90 more than ordering all the LPs individually for inquiring minds. Will the $90 help you get a better mono cartridge, you decide. :)

punkzter's picture
Submitted by punkzter on Mon, 2014-06-30 08:57

I have the box set pre-ordered, but I'm thinking that I'll cancel it and get the individual records. Thanks for the tip.

firedog55's picture
Submitted by firedog55 on Mon, 2014-06-30 08:06

It would be interesting if someone made quality digital needle drops of some of the LP tracks and compared them to the 2009 mono CD's.

Michael Fremer's picture
Submitted by Michael Fremer on Mon, 2014-06-30 11:42
They would be very short so as to not run afoul of the "fair use" exception to the copyright laws.. but even then I would do it only with permission...
firedog55's picture
Submitted by firedog55 on Tue, 2014-07-01 00:28

Mike-

Are you trying to tell me that it would be illegal to digitize songs from your own LPs, even for review purposes?

markfig's picture
Submitted by markfig on Mon, 2014-06-30 11:41

AAA Beatles: the dream come true!

I'm so excited I may not be thinking clearly. Bear with me. Talk me down, here. MF writes:

So based on how I know this was produced and on this look and listen I think we are in for a real musical and sonic treat next September!

And

So how did it sound? That will have to wait for a full review of the box set because I have no idea if that test pressing “made the grade” but judging by what I heard that evening “A splendid time is guaranteed for all!”.

Am I imagining things or are MF's comments just a little reserved though when it comes to how the records sound? Am I picking up on some slight hesitation? Caveats? Is it all in my head?

Darn it Michael Fremer, a man whose opinion I hold in very high esteem: Can't you just write "this AAA release is the best-sounding Beatles release ever and my ears exploded with sheer sonic joy and I personally guarantee yours will do the same?" :)

Or is it not like that? Is there some hesitation? Or are you just not ready to review them yet? It's the Beatles. In an all-analog release. Shouldn't the whole post have been written in all-caps or something? Am I being paranoid? Somebody please tell me I'm being paranoid. And also that I'm wrong.

Michael Fremer's picture
Submitted by Michael Fremer on Tue, 2014-07-01 06:26
I heard a test pressing of ONE record from the box. Test pressings are not reliable indicators because it's quite possible a re-cut was ordered for one reason or another. You are being paranoid. I cannot write what you ask until I actually listen to the released box set. Well, I could write what you want as some wankers might. I try not to wank—at least in public.
jpg r's picture
Submitted by jpg r on Mon, 2014-06-30 14:55

the stereo box was different in both the pressings-usa rainbo & eu-optimal and the jackets. i compared both and the eu jackets had a glossier sheen. as far as you know, will the jackets be identical in the mono box for both the eu and usa markets?

thanks, nick

Michael Fremer's picture
Submitted by Michael Fremer on Tue, 2014-07-01 06:27
The boxes are pressed and packaged at Optimal for world wide distribution.
bill lettang's picture
Submitted by bill lettang on Tue, 2014-07-01 08:46

hello all, this is my first post. want to thank Michael for the most intelligent explanation as to why the beatles originally intended to mix in mono based on the way the tracks were recorded on the 4/trk machines and then stacked...makes a lot of sense. By the way Michael I'm originally from College Point Queens...We might even have rubbed elbows during rush hour on the #7 train...thanks, bill

bill lettang's picture
Submitted by bill lettang on Tue, 2014-07-01 08:46

hello all, this is my first post. want to thank Michael for the most intelligent explanation as to why the beatles originally intended to mix in mono based on the way the tracks were recorded on the 4/trk machines and then stacked...makes a lot of sense. By the way Michael I'm originally from College Point Queens...We might even have rubbed elbows during rush hour on the #7 train...thanks, bill

VirginVinyl's picture
Submitted by VirginVinyl on Thu, 2014-07-03 20:51

I just can wait to get hands on these puppies.

Mark Maloof's picture
Submitted by Mark Maloof on Wed, 2014-07-09 22:23

After having spent a bunch of $ in the past to acquire 1982 Japanese red monos of Rub Soul, Revolver, Pepper, and my very fave, the White album (which, strangely enough, I might slightly prefer to my UK original mono version, though that does have some wear), I feel trapped by my psyche into obsessively buying this box set. Will be interesting to compare, as Mikey himself told me he had spun some Japanese red monos for Geoff Emerick himself, who pronounced them to be tonally accurate (or close enough) to the originals. I figured these would be lower Rez digital sourced versions like the mediocre stereo versions (Love, sourced from
24/96 I think, to me sounds pretty cool. The dopes at EMI figured 16/48 was "good enough" for the previous stereo pressings, though some how Pink Floyd managed to get a high Rez treatment, thankfully). The AAA, supposedly good pressings and accurate jackets will make a fool out of me n' my wallet. Thanks Mikey for getting me to spend more $ on music I already have, ha ha ha!

cundare's picture
Submitted by cundare on Thu, 2014-07-10 09:55

I don't remember the first pressing of the White Album being "top-loading." In fact, I just pulled my copy off the shelf to double-check. Maybe only in the UK?

X