B: The Beatles

10-2-09 B: The Beatles

Ah, yes…Dear Beatles,

I happily bought your US albums when they all came out – almost all of them – certainly everything from “Something New” forward. Of course, I had to buy them again as British import LP’s – for the superior track listings and craftsmanship of the cover printing and construction. In the 70’s & 80’s, I had to buy Japanese pressings of your LP’s, too – Toshiba Japan really does fine work, don’t they?

The 70’s brought those collection LP’s that didn’t really interest me – “62-66” and “67-70”, “Rock ‘n’ Roll Music”, “Love Songs” etc.

The 80’s brought compact discs…had to get those, too. Mostly English / European ones, but a few Toshibas as well. All of them. “Past Masters” were really rather good, and very good sound too. Perhaps the earliest example of “brick-walling” that comes to mind. And then the “BBC Recordings” and “Anthology” CD volumes – the remixed “Yellow Submarine”, “Let It Be…Naked”, “1” etc.

Ooh, 2009 brings us 2 slightly different box sets – mono and stereo. The mono one has fewer CD’s and is more expensive – if you can find a copy for sale! Um, I don’t like the digipaks, folks. If the spokes break, you’re up the proverbial creek minus a paddle. I also just played my not-re-mastered CD’s (or, rather, CD-R’s made from them) in the car and they sounded, er, just fine. Besides, I would want Toshiba copies of the new boxes, as they are the only people who could conceivably print them close-to-correctly. And they’re f**king expensive, mate.

But I do still like The Beatles, and I keep all my nice vinyl LP’s in trust for a future generation. These days, I primarily listen for the sidemen on Beatles’ songs – Ronnie Ross on “Savoy Truffle” – was he also on “Lady Madonna” or was that Tubby Hayes? And how did Alan Civil get that credit on “Revolver” (English horn on “For No One”)? Ooh, and what did Mal Evans do here, and George Martin there? What is “not Beatles” on The Beatles’ records?

Still, The Beatles are the blue chip stock of the collectible world. Those YEX-1 matrixes will raise some eyebrows in a few short years. “Ooh, never seen one of those before!”, I can hear the voices from the future cooing. Yep, “White Album” is pretty good – whichever version you are used to – vinyl, mono / stereo…Toshiba or Odeon…did your copy come with the poster and the photos?

Beatles – good. Rolling Stones – good. The Who – good. British 60’s music – good. Bob Dylan – good. Old guy music – good. Old guy – good. Old – good. And The Beatles prove this theory.

- Ron

The Beatles

In England on 9-9-09, there will be 2 x Beatles boxed sets coming, one mono, one stereo. Doesn't look like any 'bonus tracks' per se - as the "Past Masters" look to be included. Yikes, I bet the Toshiba Japan box(es) will be perfect but pricey! They'll certainly be the only version printed correctly!