2. music
  3. 1211738189

The Best Sounding Beatles CDs

Give me your opinions. To date, which are the best sounding Beatles CDs? I'm aware of the Rolltop box sets, the Original Master Reordings, the Japanese imports, The Parlaphone remasters...... But I have never heard a single one.

I have always listened to them on vinyl. I had the MFSL set, The Parlaphone Blue box set (My personal favorite), The Red Mono box set and several other versions. But I've never heard the CD versions.

Which CD versions sound the best?
buscis2

Showing 3 responses by jax2

jax2
3,031 posts
 
I don't know if you're just talking about collective sets, since that what's you mention. The recently released CD titled, "Love" is quite good acoustically. Sgt. Pepper was revolutionary for its time, and still sounds engaging to me.
jax2
3,031 posts
 
I'm coming from a tough standard having listened to these albums on vinyl.

Understood. I'd stand by my recommendation of "Love" - Have you heard it? Sonics, mix and mastering quality are all top notch. As far as the rest of their offerings, you and others will know far better than me. Just thought to mention that more recent, creative compilation, which I was very impressed with.
jax2
3,031 posts
 
"Don't own "Love" as I don't buy novelty recordings."

Well now Buscis2 will know where to go when he needs to borrow some Grey Poupon ;-)

I'm pretty sure you can get "Love" on vinyl, so you won't have to do your grinding routine. I believe it was produced and mixed as a collaboration between George Martin (The Beatles original producer) and his son Giles Martin. If I'm remembering correctly, they used all music and background sounds that were on original master tapes (nothing added outside of what The Beatles had, at some time, put on tape) - someone correct me if I'm wrong. I'll be curious to hear what you think when you hear it. Given your predisposition, you may not like it at all.

Seriously, great music is great music. What's so offensive about the notion that someone could take it and mix it into a different form to make something, well, novel? All great art is inspired or derivative of something previously created in some remote way shape or form. I can think of covers and creative use of previously recorded music to form something new that I enjoy very much (Eno/Byrne, Gavin Bryars, Laurie Anderson, The Rachel's to name a few of the later - covers being more obvious). There was a thread on Beatles covers that discussed the idea that there were covers out there that others considered a "better" performance than the original version by the Beatles. Hey, whatever floats your boat.
More to discover