New Beach Boys 2012 Remasters!

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

They're good. Very good.

[Aegir]

To echo what a few others are saying, I read about so many people complaining about popping and clicking and such on TSS, but I couldn't hear a thing. I'm sure I won't hear anything on the remasters.

[Bicyclerider]

While we can't (or shouldn't) NOT criticize someone's mastering or remixing - this is a forum about the Beach boys and their recordings, after all - there should be a way to do it in a civil and properly respectful way that doesn't drive our distinguished guests away from posting.  Of course if the individuals being criticized are hypersensitive, perhaps any criticism would drive them away.

While everyone seems focused on the new stereo remixes, I'm much more interested in the previously unavailable Brian Wilson supervised mono mixes of Surfin USA, Surfer Girl, Little Deuce Coupe, Shut Down Vol 2, and All Summer Long!  Any word on sound quality of the mono mixes?

[EgoHanger1966]

To echo what a few others are saying, I read about so many people complaining about popping and clicking and such on TSS, but I couldn't hear a thing. I'm sure I won't hear anything on the remasters.

To be clear, it's only on two songs on the Summer Days remaster, and it's really minor - and it might only be on certain copies. I tried it on a couple cd players with headphones and I heard them, but still, no big deal.

[Heysaboda]

The crackles and clicks were put there to make it sound warm like vinylsss, Phil, and to also remind one of cooking bacon. Dick Rising called me and told me this a few days ago.

Mr. Rising is out of the office for the rest of the day.  His phone messages will be answered by Hugh Jardon.

 

[I. Spaceman]

While everyone seems focused on the new stereo remixes, I'm much more interested in the previously unavailable Brian Wilson supervised mono mixes of Surfin USA, Surfer Girl, Little Deuce Coupe, Shut Down Vol 2, and All Summer Long!  Any word on sound quality of the mono mixes?

Agreed X1000.

[LetHimRun]

While we can't (or shouldn't) NOT criticize someone's mastering or remixing - this is a forum about the Beach boys and their recordings, after all - there should be a way to do it in a civil and properly respectful way that doesn't drive our distinguished guests away from posting.  Of course if the individuals being criticized are hypersensitive, perhaps any criticism would drive them away.

While everyone seems focused on the new stereo remixes, I'm much more interested in the previously unavailable Brian Wilson supervised mono mixes of Surfin USA, Surfer Girl, Little Deuce Coupe, Shut Down Vol 2, and All Summer Long!  Any word on sound quality of the mono mixes?

Amen, with all of the things wrong with trying to make these particular albums fully stereo (Brian recording on the mono master, missing masters, etc) the release of the full original mono mixes is what should be the point of this whole thing. Some of the stereo mixes are a novelty. Now, don't get me wrong, the full stereo mixes of songs that are able to be properly fully done will be fantastic, and I am sure to love them, but those true original mono mixes in digital format are the real gems.

The only click I notice on TSS is the one on Cabinessence, but it doesn't bother me like some.

[Andrew G. Doe]

You guys are crazy.  You're jumping to conclusions based on what...three, four people's reports? Suddenly you've all decided these must be awful?

Still, online reports DO seem near unanimous that the stereo remix of "Smile Smile" does sound good, so my upcoming shipment shouldn't be a total loss.

Shame.

[PhilCohen]

If there are defects in any of the 12 titles, let's hope that Capitol will set up a system for consumers to exchange for corrected discs. You may recall, that in 2004 & 2006, Capitol released two Beatles 4-CD sets, "The Capitol Albums Vols. 1 & 2", each containing the stereo & mono versions of four of Capitol's re-compiled 1960's Beatles albums. While it was correct that in "Vol.2" the mono mixes of "The Early Beatles" & the U.S.A. version of "Help" were fold-downs, the mono mixes of "Beatles VI" & the U.S.A. "Rubber Soul" were dedicated mono mixes. By mistake, the first production run of "The Capitol Albums Vol.2" presented fold-down mono for "Beatles VI" & the U.S.A. "Rubber Soul". Capitol realized their mistake within a few days of release, and they set up a system whereby consumers could exchange for corrected discs.

On the other hand, EMI in the UK have a dismal track record on replacing "faulty" discs, and they won't even correct the problems on subsequent pressings. Between 2007 & 2010, EMI/UK released a number of 4-CD, 5-CD & 6-CD sets, including budget-priced various artists collections, and mid-priced single artist career retrospectives, and many of them had instances of incorrectly placed "P.Q. Codes"(I.E. track start points), caused by a problem with Abbey Road Studios' computerized mastering system. if the CD's were played in their normal running order, the problem wasn't audible, but, if you accessed the songs individually or in random order, the starts of some songs were being lopped off. Did EMI offer to replace the bad discs? No. Did they correct the problem on later pressings? No. And, in one instance(on a 4-CD set "Manfred Mann-Down The Road Apiece"), there is a glitch in a previously unreleased song(from the group's EMI audition tape), causing a skip in mid-verse, omitting 15 seconds of the song. EMI never corrected the set. The complete song("Let's Go") without the skip/glitch later circulated unofficially on the internet.

And when EMI issued deluxe 2-CD + DVD box set editions of Duran Duran's "Duran Duran"(debut album) & "Seven and The Ragged Tiger" albums, the "CD 1" in both box sets was badly distorted and shrill, and there was an odd skip/glitch in the intro of "Girls on Film". EMI's strategy was to admit that these masterings of these albums sound "different", but denying that the discs were faulty, and refusing to correct or replace the bad discs. EMi did themselves no favors. Later they released similar 2-CD + DVD box sets for the group's "Notorious" & "Big Thing" albums, and the CD's in those sets sound fine...but EMI had already scared away potential purchasers, so the box set series ended without being completed, and EMI permanently damaged the future commercial possibilities of the "Duran Duran" back catalogue.

[Custom Machine]

It has been long established that Dick Reising was an actual person, who worked at Capitol Records for some years before The Beach Boys were signed to Capitol.

While Richard Reising was an actual person who worked for Capitol Records, the Dick Rising whom Dennis refers to as "one of the greatest guys I've ever met" was an entirely different entity.

[Jeff]

And when EMI issued deluxe 2-CD + DVD box set editions of Duran Duran's "Duran Duran"(debut album) & "Seven and The Ragged Tiger" albums, the "CD 1" in both box sets was badly distorted and shrill

That's true of all of Duran Duran's music.  It has nothing to do with mastering.

[PhilCohen]

You guys are crazy.  You're jumping to conclusions based on what...three, four people's reports? Suddenly you've all decided these must be awful?

Still, online reports DO seem near unanimous that the stereo remix of "Smile Smile" does sound good, so my upcoming shipment shouldn't be a total loss.

Shame.

Ah, Mr.Doe, being your usual charming, curmudgeonly self.

[ontor pertawst]

EMI permanently damaged the future commercial possibilities of the "Duran Duran" back catalogue.

Why the Nobel Committee doesn't want to honor this achievement is beyond me.

[Justin]

Anyone get their CDs from CDBANQ yet?

[drbeachboy]

Anyone get their CDs from CDBANQ yet?

Not yet. It shipped Air Mail Express, though I think the plane they used to ship was those ones made of balsa wood and a rubber band powered propeller.

[PhilCohen]

Anyone get their CDs from CDBANQ yet?

No, but they said it would be 10 to 18 days. Next Monday is 11 days.

[runnersdialzero]

How the f*** do fold-downs make it to onto discs advertised as mono so often? Is it some asshole engineer saying "lol i'll just fold this down if they want mono" and no one in the band, the record company, or involved with the original creation of the album not bothering to listen to the results before this sh*t is all pressed up and ready to be shipped?

[drbeachboy]

How the f*** do fold-downs make it to onto discs advertised as mono so often? Is it some asshole engineer saying "lol i'll just fold this down if they want mono" and no one in the band, the record company, or involved with the original creation of the album not bothering to listen to the results before this sh*t is all pressed up and ready to be shipped?

Well, technically it is mono. Nothing on the old LPs ever said "Dedicated Mono Mix". It is the lazy way out, for sure.

[EgoHanger1966]

How the f*** do fold-downs make it to onto discs advertised as mono so often? Is it some asshole engineer saying "lol i'll just fold this down if they want mono" and no one in the band, the record company, or involved with the original creation of the album not bothering to listen to the results before this sh*t is all pressed up and ready to be shipped?

I don't think this happens often. I mean, it did, but in the current cd age, I don't think engineers are folding down 60s stereo mixes and presenting them in mono, or presenting fold downs as authentic mono mixes.

[The Shift]

Also, can't see why people would want a box set full of the albums, rather than a box set full of previously unreleased stuff. I would TOTALLY take the previously unreleased stuff. This is probably one of our last chances to hear some of these holy grails people!

I don't think a box made up of only unreleased stuff has ever been planned or suggested.

Wrong. 

Yeah, but here's the question - is it still being planned or suggested?

Didn't there used to be a thread for box set content speculation?

Anyways my bet's on the set including remastered Surfin' Safari album, the Carnegie live audio and video material, Wild Honey and Friends stereo albums, 20/20 remaster, a vast quantity of previously unreleased and/or remastered Sunflower and Surf's Up era material (possibly as simulated unreleased album of the era), some SMiLE session leftovers, all Mike's unreleased solo albums and a 4CD presentation of the Teeter Totter Love sessions.

Y'know, the new Japanese Stereo Smiley is so good that this afternoon I caught myself humming the stereo version of IJWMFTT instead of the mono, for the first time.

[EgoHanger1966]

Also, can't see why people would want a box set full of the albums, rather than a box set full of previously unreleased stuff. I would TOTALLY take the previously unreleased stuff. This is probably one of our last chances to hear some of these holy grails people!

I don't think a box made up of only unreleased stuff has ever been planned or suggested.

Wrong. 

Yeah, but here's the question - is it still being planned or suggested?

Didn't there used to be a thread for box set content speculation?

Anyways my bet's on the set including remastered Surfin' Safari album, the Carnegie live audio and video material, Wild Honey and Friends stereo albums, 20/20 remaster, a vast quantity of previously unreleased and/or remastered Sunflower and Surf's Up era material (possibly as simulated unreleased album of the era), some SMiLE session leftovers, all Mike's unreleased solo albums and a 4CD presentation of the Teeter Totter Love sessions.

Y'know, the new Japanese Stereo Smiley is so good that this afternoon I caught myself humming the stereo version of IJWMFTT instead of the mono, for the first time.

Huh?

[drbeachboy]

Also, can't see why people would want a box set full of the albums, rather than a box set full of previously unreleased stuff. I would TOTALLY take the previously unreleased stuff. This is probably one of our last chances to hear some of these holy grails people!

I don't think a box made up of only unreleased stuff has ever been planned or suggested.

Wrong. 

Yeah, but here's the question - is it still being planned or suggested?

Didn't there used to be a thread for box set content speculation?

Anyways my bet's on the set including remastered Surfin' Safari album, the Carnegie live audio and video material, Wild Honey and Friends stereo albums, 20/20 remaster, a vast quantity of previously unreleased and/or remastered Sunflower and Surf's Up era material (possibly as simulated unreleased album of the era), some SMiLE session leftovers, all Mike's unreleased solo albums and a 4CD presentation of the Teeter Totter Love sessions.

Y'know, the new Japanese Stereo Smiley is so good that this afternoon I caught myself humming the stereo version of IJWMFTT instead of the mono, for the first time.

Huh?

It's a joke, son!

[runnersdialzero]

How the f*** do fold-downs make it to onto discs advertised as mono so often? Is it some asshole engineer saying "lol i'll just fold this down if they want mono" and no one in the band, the record company, or involved with the original creation of the album not bothering to listen to the results before this sh*t is all pressed up and ready to be shipped?

Well, technically it is mono. Nothing on the old LPs ever said "Dedicated Mono Mix". It is the lazy way out, for sure.

I mean more recently, though. I think it was Pink Floyd's first album a few years back, they were releasing an expanded edition that was said to contain both the original stereo and mono mixes, but it was found out that the mono mix wasn't the original mono mix and was just a fold-down of the stereo mix that someone who was entrusted to master the set (and do a good job, obviously) did just a few years ago when assembling the set. It was later corrected, but how in the hell does this even happen?

So often anymore, it's like the folks involved are asleep at the wheel when it comes to making sure the final product is correct. An album by a band I like released an album with not one, but two incorrect mixes (one including entirely different lyrics for one section) in 2005 and initially streamed the first single from it with a very, very rough mix by accident. Lyric sheets anymore have tons and tons of spelling and grammar errors, and even sometimes straight-up typing errors such as "anoyher" instead of "another" in one album insert I saw. It wasn't just some word in the middle of the lyric sheet (although there were errors there, too), either, it was the second word sang on the album.

Anywayz. Not to get Cohenesque on you, here, just sayin' it's odd how often things are released anymore with huge errors. I sincerely hope we don't get these discs in September only to find out that one of the albums has a fold-down or something instead of Brian's original mono mixes or something. Loud mastering to the point of distortion and clipping is no mistake, sadly.

[PhilCohen]

How the f*** do fold-downs make it to onto discs advertised as mono so often? Is it some asshole engineer saying "lol i'll just fold this down if they want mono" and no one in the band, the record company, or involved with the original creation of the album not bothering to listen to the results before this sh*t is all pressed up and ready to be shipped?

Well, technically it is mono. Nothing on the old LPs ever said "Dedicated Mono Mix". It is the lazy way out, for sure.

I mean more recently, though. I think it was Pink Floyd's first album a few years back, they were releasing an expanded edition that was said to contain both the original stereo and mono mixes, but it was found out that the mono mix wasn't the original mono mix and was just a fold-down of the stereo mix that someone who was entrusted to master the set (and do a good job, obviously) did just a few years ago when assembling the set. It was later corrected, but how in the hell does this even happen?

So often anymore, it's like the folks involved are asleep at the wheel when it comes to making sure the final product is correct. An album by a band I like released an album with not one, but two incorrect mixes (one including entirely different lyrics for one section) in 2005 and initially streamed the first single from it with a very, very rough mix by accident. Lyric sheets anymore have tons and tons of spelling and grammar errors, and even sometimes straight-up typing errors such as "anoyher" instead of "another" in one album insert I saw. It wasn't just some word in the middle of the lyric sheet (although there were errors there, too), either, it was the second word sang on the album.

Anywayz. Not to get Cohenesque on you, here, just sayin' it's odd how often things are released anymore with huge errors. I sincerely hope we don't get these discs in September only to find out that one of the albums has a fold-down or something instead of Brian's original mono mixes or something. Loud mastering to the point of distortion and clipping is no mistake, sadly.

Actually, the Pink Floyd "Piper At The Gates of Dawn" mono mix released as a mono-only CD WAS the correct mono mix, but due to an error by a mastering engineer, one measure(four beats) of music towards the end of the song "Flaming" were accidentally edited out. The same mono mix(but without that defect) was later offered as part of 2-CD & 3-CD editions of the album.

[TV Forces]

To echo what a few others are saying, I read about so many people complaining about popping and clicking and such on TSS, but I couldn't hear a thing. I'm sure I won't hear anything on the remasters.

I can't speak for others, but nowhere in my remarks of how bad the "Today!" disc sounds did I mention popping or clicking. 

When you guys get your copies, you'll see.