The Beatles Revolver

Oh my gawd @larsman, isn’t Let It Be absolutely dreadful?! I’d almost rather have a dentist do some work without novocaine than to have to listen to that pos. Naked or fully dressed, terr-i-ble. I’m surprised it ever esca....I mean was ever released.

Just think: at the same time The Beatles were recording Let It Be, The Band were recording their s/t "brown" album, The Stones Let It Bleed, and The Kinks Arthur, a trio of "pretty good" albums.

Each to their own. People have different tastes in music no different than with food or anything else in life. 

 Over the years, many of the records in my collection have given me an infinite amount of enjoyment. That will never change. If there is a way to get closer to those records, to hear details that I had never noticed before without adding anything; I'm all for it.  (Paul had WHAT for lunch?)   

Played a review copy of the upcoming Revolver release and both the stereo and mono remixes are superb. Instruments are well defined and in proper proportion.
I'd give Giles an A.

"It's about making money" is off-base. There's no sense in any Beatles production that money was or is the driving factor. Unlike so much in this world, it has always been about the music. It's one factor in the unique charm of The Beatles.The band and the production were a team then, and remain so now.

@bdp24 - 🤣🤣🤣  I think we are in the small minority of Beatles fans who kinda wish they'd never even recorded that!

And you are right - I remember that period very well, and those records you mentioned are indeed classics.... 

The Beatles started using a new SS mixing console from the Abbey Road. Here is about in from the book of Geoff Emerick "Here, There and Everywhere":

"As it happened, the first week of the Abbey Road sessions were quite peaceful without John and Yoko’s presence, though a bit tentative because of equipment problems. The new mixing console had a lot more bells and whistles on it than the old one, and it gave me the opportunity to put into practice many of the ideas I’d had in mind for years, but it just didn’t sound the same, mainly because it utilized transistor circuitry instead of tubes. George Harrison had a lot of trouble coming to terms with the fact that there was less body in the guitar sound, and Ringo was rightfully concerned about the drum sound-he was playing as hard as ever, but you didn’t hear the same impact. He and I actually had a long conversation about that, which was quite unusual, but after a good deal of experimentation I came to the conclusion that we simply couldn’t match the old Beatles sound we had become used to; we simply had to accept that this was the best we could achieve with the new equipment. Personally, I preferred the punchier sound we had gotten out of the old tube console and four-track recorder; every- thing was sounding mellower now. It seemed like a steр backward, but there was nothing we could do-there was an album to record and we simply had to get on with it."

@vair68robert  +1

Back in the day all the tens, hundreds (?) of snippets of taped musical components of a Beatles' song were individually mixed on 4 track and then "bounced down",  enabling more musical elements to be added, which inevitably degraded the overall SQ.

Giles Martin has been able to sync the original, first generation tapes directly to 100+ channel mixing boards and the results, to my ears, is superb. 

Sgt. Pepper on BluRay is the pinnacle of audio quality as played through my system.....and if you've never heard Ringo's uncompressed drums I encourage you to seek it out.

If the re-jiggered sound is offensively different than what you remember when the music was originally released, then most certainly ignore it.....just don't restrict my choice to enjoy it. 

(apologies if I've wrongly described the recording process)

@richardmathes The values of Beatles as artists in the ‘60s and the values of corporations in the 2020s are two different things.

To say one is besmirching the Beatles as mere capitalists when one criticizes the motives of corporations in the 2020s is a conflation.

The issue at hand when someone says, “it’s all about the money” is the relentless exploitation of the Beatles’ music by questionable means by corporations, not the Beatles’ personal values themselves.

The values of corporations in the 60’s were little different than those of today. You only have to look at the greed of Eisenhower’s military-industrial complex during Vietnam. Nothing’s new.

Sorry, Mr. Musturd, but I don’t see "endless exploitation" of The Beatles for money, nor do believe that the surviving Beatles have or would permit it. They seem to still have a hand in how their legacy is handled, and if cutting-edge can continue to add something to their music, I believe they are all in. After all, the fulfillment of their music’s potential happened in the studio.

Scratch that. Never mind the sorry part.

Would you argue that Free As a Bird was motivated by exploitation?

God knows greed is abundant. That doesn’t mean that it’s universal. Life isn’t the black and white of Revolver, it’s the color of Sgt. Pepper’s.

It wasn't Eisenhower's military-industrial complex. Eisenhower warned AGAINST the military-industrial complex...

The Revolver album sounds great as is.......just another money making over dubbed remix.

@richardmathes When people say, as many here are, I among them, that these remasterings are all about money, we’re talking about the motive behind the 4,678th remastered, re-issued, deluxe, super deluxe etc. etc. Beatles album.

This observation is completely removed from any judgement of the Beatles themselves.

" All About The Money "

Is it the fans wanting more or the " capitalists " creating a market ?

Either way what does this have to do with the question about  the new release being different and the quality of it ?   

I'll be answering that question after October 28th when the 2 LP issues is released and I can compare it to a 2009 digital copy and the last all analogue Japanese Box set copy .

Collect 'em all. Don't feel guilty about it. Enjoy.. Have fun. Let a zillion flowers bloom -- even if those flowers might seem to be ninety-nine percent the same.

Watch this:

Stereophile reviewer Ken Micallef has a YouTube channel. His latest video (posted yesterday 10-19) is dedicated to the new Revolver LP boxset, which he displays and discusses. A search of his name on YouTube will lead you right to it.

I find Ken’s evaluation and opinion of the Revolver album pretty much perfectly in line with mine, though I may like Rubber Soul (which he also describes much as I hear it) more than does he.

@bdp24 , do you have an atmos setup? Hirez? Would really enjoy checking out your system, can you post it in the virtual system area with a few pics if it isn't too much trouble? Thanks

vair68robert

I am looking forward in reading about your impressions and thoughts. That is quite a collection of The Beatles recordings.

Happy Listening!

lenmc2964

The answer is 2-fold. On one hand, it is Art via Giles Martin keeping these classic recordings anew. On the other hand, it is The Beatles machine attracting the next Generation of fans via newer technology. Not every music lover can afford those 1st pressing LP(s).  Win-Win.

Happy Listening!

@jafant 

1st I was misguided about a 2LP release , it was a 2CD release .

OK so now strike 1 , the album was shaped like a dinner plate !  I had to drive back to the record store where they replaced it , making sure this copy was flat .

Back on the turntable and Wow  a home run ,voices were centered and now so clear that you can hear every nuance , instruments that were in the background are now clear yet not overpowering or any louder .   I compared it to the 2009 digital stereo mix that was made from the original tapes , this is also the copy that Giles used for his remix . I also compared it to a 1982 Japanese pressing from the Beatles Collection box set .  

For originality the Beatles Collection Kicks Ass , skip the 2009 pressing , this new release is definitely worth having .

To prepare myself for listening and comparing I used the 25th Anniversary copies of Sgt. Pepper and Abbey Road and came to the conclusion that the re-mixing of the 4 track release of Sgt. Pepper turned out much better than the 8 track re-mixing of Abbey . I prefered my 1976 British copy and 1982 Japanese Collection box set copy of Abbey Road .

I didn't use copies of mono pressing during my comparison .  

I just listened to the Revolver HR download and though the voices are centered and overall, it sounds better, I was expecting much more.

Some of the music sounds a little sharp, and not in a good way. But again, overall, it is better, perhaps not up to the hype. IMHO.

ozzy

vair68robert

Thank you for the follow up.  Good to read that own those coveted U. K. and Japan box set copies for proper comparison.  My CD edition is enroute. Also, I own the U.K. Bread Box set. Any fan cannot own enough copies of The Fab 4 !!!

Keep me posted as you continue to compare the various copies in your collection.

Happy Listening!

@ozzy 

I'll have to listen to the album a few more times but saying the music is sharp is interesting because when comparing it to older pressing I'd say yes but I could also say that the older ones sound a little flat depending on which pressing when comparing .  One thing I've noticed about new music is the balance between voices and all the instruments where in older music ( 60's & 70"s ) some of the instruments were to much in the background and some to much of the time there was to much left and right verse the balanced approach the Giles created .

@jafant 

I had to look up the Bread Box set since I don't follow CD's , but I do have Rubber Soul , Revolver and Magical Mystery Tour CD's from 1987 , US EMI .

vair68robert

Excellent! Most Audiophiles will discard those 1987 CDs.  Most of those discs are Flat transfers. Not a bad thing. The other Audiophiles will say, purchase the 2009 Remasters on CD.  
Besides my Bread Box, which is a very cool concept and design, I own the Disk Union Japan SHM- CD set. This particular set is a beautiful package that sits in my safe.  I believe it is comparable to your 1982 LP Japan set. Only newer technology.

Happy Listening!

Never thought I’d get this kind of response thank you all for posting. I received my single LP copy yesterday and it sounds very good. Still prefer my Mono copy but it sounds good. But I still ask is it still Revolver? Same songs but different album. But if it opens The Beatles music to a new audience I guess it a good thing. And now I have 92 albums by The Beat;es. 

lenmc2964

92 albums, now that , is a Collection!

Happy Listening!

Listened to the Atmos version on Tidal, crystal clear and fresh. Vocals and strings sound amazing.

Now I’m curious.  I’ve been thrilled by this album in any and every format I’ve heard it.  My most recent purchase was the 1971 UK vinyl reissue.  I loved it.  The best version I’d heard yet (still not yet heard an original).

I really enjoyed Giles’ “White Album” mastering.

@tylermunns 

I'm listening to the White album remaster on vinyl right now and just happened to come across your post. I think Giles did a great job as well on the White album. He did an equally great job on Revolver. I like the originals and to me--they are the holy grail, but Giles' remaster is closer to what I think the Beatles would have gone with had they been mixing it today.

@gpgr4blu 

I agree with your statement   " Giles' remaster is closer to what I think the Beatles would have gone with had they been mixing it today . "  That is why I think that he had a harder time improving the Abbey Road album being how it's the only one that was recorded using 8-tracks .  Damn those conservative cheapskates at EMI .

@jafant 

Are the Japanese SHM-CD's better sounding than other ones , like the Bread Box set or newer CD releases ?

vair68robert

I have yet to open the Disk Union set. This is a very limited edition , high end, item.

maybe one day, I will break the seal.  You are fortunate to own the Japan 1982 Collection. I believe that Mobile Fidelity (MoFi) had a hand in the mastering. That one is a high end Collection as well.

I am quite satisfied with the Bread Box plus Giles Martin editions of The Beatles discs!

Happy Listening!

@jafant  and All

I had to take a break from listening to the Beatles , but after reading comments on the forum What's On Your Turntable Tonight and talking to the owner of House of Records here in Eugene I had to go back and listen some more .

It seems that the 2014 mono version ( I have the LP only ) is preferred or well liked,  I was informed that the cowbell was missing in the new re-mix !  Well is is there but less pronounced than on the mono version , listening to the 2009 digital from the original masters  , the 1982 Beatles Collection and to the 1987 CD they all have a less pronounced cowbell .  

There are differences between the original stereo mix and the original mono mix just as there are now new differences between the original stereo nad the new Giles re-mix .  Question  for those with an original mono and the 2014 remastered, do you here any differences ?

jafant. I would like to think that when the original master tapes were sent to Japan in 1982 for MOFI to make their 1/2 speed masters that the Beatles Collection was able to use the masters but since the Collection was started in 1978 with a UK pressing. and MOFI was pressed by JVC and the Collection was pressed by Toshiba / EMI it's hard to say .

I have the Japan black box set and the British Blue Box set I don’t have the MOFI set any more but I have always preferred the British Blue Box best for Stereo. But still not as good as the original mono or the 2014 Mono pressings. I have some of the Red Vinyl Mono pressings from the 80’s but haven’t played them in a long time more of a collector thing. 

 vair68robert

Thank you for the follow up. Agreed-  it would be difficult to say which batch of Masters were used for the 1982 set. Still, you have a very collectible. Not many of those sets were produced. I believe that each set is Serial Numbered as well.

Between the original Vinyl from the 60’s and Japan imports, any fan cannot go wrong.

Happy Listening!

@lenmc2964 

Do you if the original master tapes used for the UK pressing ?

Do you have a mono cartridge ?

Don’t know what tapes were used for U.K. pressings but I believe the U.K. pressings sound better than the Japanese ones. I do not have a mono cartridge. 

I read Martin wasn't doing anything to the mono so it should sound the same as the last reissue.

Spent some time with this over the weekend.  I don't know if the alternate version of Tomorrow Never Knows had been released prior but that is the highlight of this release IMHO.  Overall I think the mix is excellent and this release is worth paying attention to.  

ART! When you find a masters painting that has been in storage for years you restore it. You lift away the crud so you can see what is under it.

When I listened to the Atmos mix I heard separation of strings, inflections of voices, crispness of horns that I didn’t hear before. Isn’t that like a restoration of a masters art work? That wasn’t an accident, if you watch the video interview of Giles he discusses the process that was used to restore info that was on the original masters.

As above- Both, the Fans want more and Capitalists are creating the market.

Happy Listening!

After listening to the new mix it does sound better. It has to with 2022 technology. My original post was not to argue that point. I still say listen to both and enjoy. But the remix is not the album The Beatles released it’s the album Giles Martin released. I still prefer my original Mono Copy but that’s just me. It’s just great that in 2022 people are still buying and enjoying Beatles music 56 years later.

You can’t go out and buy that original mono copy at the store (maybe ebay?), but anyone can stream the new mixes. Congrats to the owners of the original but for the rest of us it is nice to have a refresh.