question re: (Yet another) Beatles remix/remaster/reimagining/retread whatever

mhardy6647
mhardy6647 Posts: 33,895
edited October 2018 in Music & Movies
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I may be totally barking up the wrong tree asking here, but I imagine that some of you have had more than passing exposure to the Fab Four's oeuvre, so I figured I'd ask your opinion.

There is, of course, a cottage industry (check that, more like a big business) of remixing, remastering, repackaging any and all snippets of anything Beatles recorded or related -- almost to the point of comic exaggeration.

I am also not particularly a Beatles completist, even though I'll admit to more than a passing fancy for their records (at least, as I knew them growing up, as US Capitol LPs played on a Magnavox tabletop record player, which in my memory sounded pretty damned "right").

But, I got sucked in and I just read this review of sorts of the "White Album" re-whatever by Giles Martin:
https://www.analogplanet.com/content/beatles-re-mixed-giles-martin-any-good

... and I am wondering, I suppose:

If any of all y'all'd care to share your opinion(s) on any and all of the recent (last 20 years'!) worth of Beatle album retreads? There have been so many (and, yeah, I've gotten suckered into springin' for a few of 'em already) -- any that you think are great, or terrible for that matter? "Terrible" might mean "so different to what you grew up with that you wouldn't like it", I suppose. :)


Would (will?) any of you invest in any shape or flavor of this particular... umm... reissue? Exhumation? Whatever one would call it?

Thanks for your consideration and insight!

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Comments

  • kharp1
    kharp1 Posts: 3,453
    I heard they broke up
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,895
    Yeah, something about Yoko.
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  • pumpkinman
    pumpkinman Posts: 9,882
    My second favorite Beatles album after Revolver. The one set I saw had a book and a Blu-Ray. I’m not sure if I’ll swing for this one.
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    Because I am The Pumpkinking


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  • OleBoot
    OleBoot Posts: 2,773
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    (and, yeah,yeah, yeah I've gotten suckered into springin' for a few of 'em already)

    FIFY

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  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,124
    edited October 2018
    The third disc of the new Beatles remaster of the White Album is mostly Demos, I'm content with the LP and the CD I've had for years, therefore I will pass. Looking forward to hear what Mr Hardys impression is on this latest and greatest. The White Album ranks third behind Rubber Soul, then Revolver for me.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,895
    It's the well-known Esher demos -- but supposedly with high sound quality.
    In May, Lennon and McCartney, home tape recordings in hand, met with George at his Kinfauns bungalow in Esher and recorded 26 demo versions of songs, most of which would appear in finished form on The Beatles, which, thanks to the late pop artist Richard Hamilton’s stripped down plain white cover became known as “The White Album” (but you already knew that!).

    The Esher demos escaped the bungalow as poor sounding bootlegs but here they are presented as the superior recordings they always were—taped on Harrison’s 4 track Ampex recorder. The Esher tapes’ inclusion is but one of the vinyl and digital set’s attractions and offers irrefutable documentation that the studio effort that followed was more cooperative and collaborative than was at the time reported.
    (from the review linked to in the OP)

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  • motorhead43026
    motorhead43026 Posts: 3,900
    edited October 2018
    As I approach the twilight years of my life, I have developed an almost radical appreciation of the Beatles.
    The best way to predict the future is to invent it.

    It is imperative that we recognize that an opinion is not a fact.
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,446
    The best recordings for me, have been the MoFi editions, though I really like the "Let it Be-NAKED" edition. The sound quality is much better than the 1970 release. IMHO, "The White Album", "Abbey Road", and "Let it Be" all sound very similar, in that they were recorded in a manner that made you feel like you were an invited guest and sitting in the studio with the Fab Four. I appreciate the intimacy and connection I feel to the performances.
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    The Rolling Stones rock. The Beatles have a few good songs. However, they did start Beatlemania, which is still a good thing. :)
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  • chumlie
    chumlie Posts: 8,658
    Me being the Beatle nut that I am. I'll be getting the 4 album vinyl set and the deluxe CD/Blu-ray set. As far as re-issues go. Hard to top mono box set. For stereo I prefer the Japanese blue box set over the MoFi. Agree with John on Let It Be Naked. I think Giles Martin id doing a great job with the re-mix.
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  • muncybob
    muncybob Posts: 3,052
    Another fan of the Naked release. For me it has a more "they are in the room with me" feel.
    Yep, my name really is Bob.
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  • tophatjohnny
    tophatjohnny Posts: 4,182
    Ringo is dating Yoko and said "it don't come easy"
    "if it's not fun, it's not worth it & remember folks, "It's All About The Music"!!
    *****************************
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,446
    tophatjohnny wrote: »
    Ringo is dating Yoko and said "it don't come easy"

    You do still have a day job, right? I don’t think I could bear the thought of you being another struggling comedian. :p
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  • afterburnt
    afterburnt Posts: 7,892
    I sometimes think about The Beatles while listening to Jethro Tull.
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  • kharp1
    kharp1 Posts: 3,453
    Good info here as I've been thinking about getting some Beatles stuff but with so many re-releases I didn't know where to start.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,895
    kharp1 wrote: »
    Good info here as I've been thinking about getting some Beatles stuff but with so many re-releases I didn't know where to start.

    I (still) pretty much feel the same way :|
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  • afterburnt
    afterburnt Posts: 7,892
    @mhardy6647 you should get the Steven Wilson remixes
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  • SIHAB
    SIHAB Posts: 4,958
    This is all personal opinion but...
    I haven't heard the "new" 'The Beatles' yet...
    but Giles SPLHCB remasters were a missed opportunity.

    You might find yourself thinking well this isn't what
    Sir George nor the Beatles were going after.

    OTOH,
    John was quoted saying he would redo all the Beatles work.
    The plus side is there is more bottom end on Peppers. I don't
    think this is needed on 'The Beatles.'

    I just listened to the 5.1 of Peppers and it wasn't any great shakes.

    As noted, the Esher demos have been bootlegged from at least the
    early Nineties. (see Unsurpassed Demos)

    I memory serves, the white LP tapes (safety) were stolen out of an airport
    years ago as well. (was this the Stones tapes?) I have heard most of the
    Ultra rare trax series and it is pretty darn good.
    Some of this problem leak was fixed for EMI in the Anthology
    series. I don't think I've ever heard the full long/slow version of
    Helter Skelter reported by Lewisjohn's book (1988) I wonder if it
    is in this release?

    If you want to trip, listen to Yoko's audio diary of the events during
    the white LP
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU_dIRAL6as


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  • tophatjohnny
    tophatjohnny Posts: 4,182
    nooshinjohn wrote: »
    tophatjohnny wrote: »
    Ringo is dating Yoko and said "it don't come easy"

    You do still have a day job, right? I don’t think I could bear the thought of you being another struggling comedian. :p

    Couldn't resist.
    "if it's not fun, it's not worth it & remember folks, "It's All About The Music"!!
    *****************************
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  • SIHAB
    SIHAB Posts: 4,958
    edited October 2018
    Wish I could just buy the Bluray...

    Blu-ray:
    PCM Stereo (2018 Stereo Mix)
    DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (2018)
    Dolby True HD 5.1 (2018)
    Mono (2018 Direct Transfer)

    No video?
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  • drumminman
    drumminman Posts: 3,396
    I bought the Sgt Pepper remaster last year and it has given me a newfound appreciation for the greatness of that music and their performance. I really like the Abbey Road remix that was released with the box set too. I plan on buying the white album from the reviews I’ve read and Giles’ involvement.
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  • motorhead43026
    motorhead43026 Posts: 3,900
    ^^I agree, it was almost like hearing Sgt Pepper again for the first time, only better.
    The best way to predict the future is to invent it.

    It is imperative that we recognize that an opinion is not a fact.
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,387
    Same experience as above with Sgt Pepper.

    My son recently has gotten in to the Beatles and has gotten me relistening. Having a bit maturity in me, and maybe the better audio equipment, I have a new appreciation of the details contained in their music.

    For some of the behind the scenes, demos and alternate mixes, check out the Beatles Anthologies. Anthology 2 has a beautiful version of "Across The Universe".
    Stan

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