Is the Duophonic Stack O'Tracks actually Duophonic?

[Joel Goldenberg]

I've never heard the LP, only the mono and true stereo backing tracks on the CD twofers. Is the LP mixed in Capitol's patented Duophonic delay method, or the  more conventional method used for Smiley Smile and Wild Honey? If it's the latter, it's even stranger that Smiley and WH would be labelled "stereo."

[Andrew G. Doe]

Strictly speaking it's the later process of Electronically Re-channeled Stereo.

[Jason]

Do It Again on 20/20 was also in rechanneled stereo.

[feelsflow]

My DKAO-2893 says STEREO on the front cover.  On the back:  The original monophonic recordings have been electronically enhanced by a brilliant two channel effect for today's stereo phonographs  The record label says:  DUOPHONIC   For Stereo Phonographs.  Sounds like they have all bases covered.

The cover looks much better than the  reproduction print they use on the CD booklet.  The printed words on the long-player is red, not orange.

[Jason]

The rechanneled vinyl of Stack-O-Tracks are ridiculously common. I've seen a mono with the booklet ONCE in a store near Bryn Mawr, PA...for the ripe price of $250.

[halblaineisgood]

.

[Jason]

The album was released in mono and in rechanneled stereo. Either one with the original booklet is tough to find.

[bgas]

The album was released in mono and in rechanneled stereo. Either one with the original booklet is tough to find.

  Uhhh, NO. There's absolutely zero evidence of the existence of any USA released copies of Stack-O-tracks with a T or KAO prefix( or any other Mono release).
If you have photographic evidence/ you canproduce evidence of the copy you believe you saw near Bryn Mawr, I say bring it on.

 The record as released, did however, contain both mono and Duophonic recordings   

[Mitchell]

Mine are DKAO 2893 and E-ST 24009.

[drbeachboy]

The album was released in mono and in rechanneled stereo. Either one with the original booklet is tough to find.

  Uhhh, NO. There's absolutely zero evidence of the existence of any USA released copies of Stack-O-tracks with a T or KAO prefix( or any other Mono release).
If you have photographic evidence/ you canproduce evidence of the copy you believe you saw near Bryn Mawr, I say bring it on.

 The record as released, did however, contain both mono and Duophonic recordings  

That must have been very unusual for that time frame to mix both types on one album?

[bgas]

The album was released in mono and in rechanneled stereo. Either one with the original booklet is tough to find.

  Uhhh, NO. There's absolutely zero evidence of the existence of any USA released copies of Stack-O-tracks with a T or KAO prefix( or any other Mono release).
If you have photographic evidence/ you canproduce evidence of the copy you believe you saw near Bryn Mawr, I say bring it on.

 The record as released, did however, contain both mono and Duophonic recordings  

That must have been very unusual for that time frame to mix both types on one album?

   Hey, It's a Capitol release, after all... 

AND, doing more investigation, I asked Frank Daniels( noted Beatles, Capitol expert)  for his opinion; He says: 

>>  The cover indicates that it was ordered before mono was eliminated.
 However, it first appears in Billboard on September 28, 1968.  They list a four-track tape and a Duophonic LP.
 No mono LP listed.
 
By June, Capitol albums were showing up in Billboard with the designation "no mono."  I think the album might have
been delayed, and that because of that delay it wasn't issued in mono.  If someone has a mono copy, I'd sure like
to see it.  << 

[feelsflow]

Mine are DKAO 2893 and E-ST 24009.

My DKAO 2893 does have the booklet, as it was found under the tree in 1968.  It's in good shape, couple of small coffee stains on the cover page.  Hey I was only 16, and used it to play along with... The cover is in what I'd call very good shape, with no ring ware - no clue as to what it's worth.  Pretty good for something I've been moving around the country from coast-to-coast over the years.

By 1979 or so I found the E-ST 24009 UK vinyl, alt. cover with no booklet but a cardboard inner with lyrics.  That's mint.  Will give them both a spin this week to check for this some mono/some Duophonic idea.  I listen to the CD when I want to play it.

I have read (Wiki source) that many BB titles came out years later in the UK (that would make for a good thread, if there was enough older UK fans here that collected in the 60's ).  bgas, solid researcher that you are, a question.  Wikipedia says that it failed to chart in the USA or UK.   Discogs lists 24009 as coming out in 1976.  Is that correct, or was it in 1968?  Sure you have this record.  On the back cover is printed 7612 TM Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. - the only clue, no date is on it.

.

Posters are always talking about updating the Wikipedia pages.  They do state that DKAO 2893 was released in mono.  I don't think I'm tech-savvy enough to go play around with those pages, but if they are found to be wrong someone should.

[bgas]

Mine are DKAO 2893 and E-ST 24009.

My DKAO 2893 does have the booklet, as it was found under the tree in 1968.  It's in good shape, couple of small coffee stains on the cover page.  Hey I was only 16, and used it to play along with... The cover is in what I'd call very good shape, with no ring ware - no clue as to what it's worth.  Pretty good for something I've been moving around the country from coast-to-coast over the years.

By 1979 or so I found the E-ST 24009 UK vinyl, alt. cover with no booklet but a cardboard inner with lyrics.  That's mint.  Will give them both a spin this week to check for this some mono/some Duophonic idea.  I listen to the CD when I want to play it.

I have read (Wiki source) that many BB titles came out years later in the UK (that would make for a good thread, if there was enough older UK fans here that collected in the 60's ).  bgas, solid researcher that you are, a question.  Wikipedia says that it failed to chart in the USA or UK.   Discogs lists 24009 as coming out in 1976.  Is that correct, or was it in 1968?  Sure you have this record.  On the back cover is printed 7612 TM Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. - the only clue, no date is on it.

.

Posters are always talking about updating the Wikipedia pages.  They do state that DKAO 2893 was released in mono.  I don't think I'm tech-savvy enough to go play around with those pages, but if they are found to be wrong someone should.

  My research as concerns Collecting, I'm willing to say is very good. Anything else, maybe so-so ( or less, sometimes)
 I don't really know dates on the UK issues, but the UK 24009 sounds about right for 1976. Know it wasn't a 68 release.
 For scholarly questions I generally defer to bellagio10452 
Wiki gets  things wrong often. I never bother changing it.  ( or even hardly ever visit)

[Mikie]

Stack-O-Tracks UK 24009 is the 1976 UK release.   There was also a vinyl re-issue of the original album in the U.S. in 1994.

[bgas]

Stack-O-Tracks UK 24009 is the 1976 UK release.   There was also a vinyl re-issue of the original album in the U.S. in 1994.

Wow, 20 years past for the reissue; doesn't seem that old!

[feelsflow]

Thanks guys.  Which cover did they use for the re-issue?  Gate-fold?  Booklet?  I need to go sit in the big chair and snooze in front of the TV.  I've been answering PMs for two hours, and I'm tired.  Time for more research tomorrow.

[metal flake paint]

Thanks guys.  Which cover did they use for the re-issue?  Gate-fold?  Booklet?  I need to go sit in the big chair and snooze in front of the TV.  I've been answering PMs for two hours, and I'm tired.  Time for more research tomorrow.

The front and rear covers of the '94 US reissue closely replicate those of the original US release, bar the omission of the white border and File Under: Beach Boys, Rock - DKAO 2893. It is a gatefold sleeve although I don't know if it includes the booklet (although its inclusion is implied on the front cover) as my copy is sealed, which also means that I'm none the wiser as to whether they used the original's inner photos of Carl, Bruce, and the group, or those that were used in the record club edition

[metal flake paint]

Interestingly, the Japanese LP version of Stack-O-Tracks TOJP-7241 makes a clear MONO/STEREO distinction on the front cover and side 1 and 2 labels of the vinyl (Darlin', In My Room, Catch A Wave, Wild Honey, Little Saint Nick, Do It Again, Wouldn't It Be Nice, and Surfer Girl). It's unclear though whether these tracks "...have been electronically enhanced..." as most of the text is in Japanese.

[Mikie]

I like to tell this story:

In the late 70's I was in Castro Valley, Ca. and stopped by a used record shop. After looking through the records there, I found something I didn't have and was standing near the front counter ready to pay for it. Suddenly, an African American gentleman came through the front door with records and stacked them on the counter. Then he went out to his car and brought in another stack and put them on the counter. At first, I thought they were mostly going to be R&B and Motown and maybe some Rock & Roll stuff. While the owner of the store was distracted with another paying customer, I asked the man if it was OK to look at his records. He said, "Sure!". About half way down one of the tall stacks, I found an original "Stack-O-Tracks". It was about M-/VG++ but didn't have the booklet. I already had one with the book, but I asked the guy how much he wanted for the record and he said, "Ah, make me an offer". I said, "How about $5.00?", thinking that he didn't know what he had. Sure enough, he didn't know what he had and he took my $5.00!!! After I paid him and the store owner what I owed him, the owner said to me, "Why did you do that?" I innocently replied, "What?" "As soon as a customer comes into my store with records for sale, they're in my jurisdiction and I get first choice" (or something like that). "Please don't come into my store again". I said, "OK". and walked away a very happy man!  I believe he knew the value of this one and it would have ended up for sale on the wall behind the counter with big dollar signs on it, along with his other rare records.

[metal flake paint]

.

[gxios]

In DC circa 1973-74 we has a small chain of stores called Discount Book and Record.  They always had imports and hard to find stuff at regular prices, no special section of rare records.  They must have gotten a few boxes of warehouse stock from somewhere, for there in the stacks one day were 25 or so sealed copies of Beach Boys Party and Stack-O-Tracks.  Both were fake stereo versions.  Needless to say I plonked down my $4.00 each and they're still in near mint condition today.  I have never seen a mono Stack-O-Tracks, and I have searched high and low.  BTW- the 1994 repress has the photos in the gatefold and a nice repro of the booklet.  Sounds real good t0o, using the 1990 stereo remixes on some cuts, mono on others.