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Just been listening to various remasters of different songs and it's crazy how much some of them differ between stereo and mono. I think the 2008 stereo version of She Knows Me Too Well is hugely inferior to previous versions, Brian's voice sounds much weaker and the separation between the voices ruins the harmonic blend. Similarly if you listen to the 2009 stereo remaster of Don't Worry Baby the drum intro is different which spoils it for me a bit. On the other hand I do think songs like Kiss Me Baby and That's Not Me work better in stereo and are less muddy as a result.

When listening to the stereo remixes, it's important to consider how much of the problem is it being an inferior mix vs. simply letting your ears get used to the differences in the two versions. As someone who got into the group fairly late in the game, with compilations that largely featured stereo remixes, this actually bugged me in the reverse direction. I couldn't listen to the original mono mixes without wanting that separation.

Enough listens later, nowadays I don't find myself regularly finding one mix of a song vastly superior to another, but here are a few remixes I strongly prefer:

- California Girls
- Then I Kissed Her
- Please Let Me Wonder
- Kiss Me, Baby
- Break Away

(I'll also somewhat agree with you on She Knows Me Too Well and disagree on Don't Worry Baby -- I think the whole remix, including the drum intro, sounds wonderful.)

"She Knows Me Too Well" is one of those stereo mixes that are missing one or more key overdubs available only on the original mono mix (the guitar solo being one of them, I believe). I agree the mono sounds quite a bit better for this track.

I tend to think most of the stereo remixes sound better than the original mono...or at least as good.

WIBN in stereo is amazing.

Don't Worry Baby (2009) is another one of my favorites (especially with studio headphones on)....is it the tone in the drums on that version that spoils it for you? (to me they seem more muffled on the stereo version - but I still love it!).

PS, thanks for mentioning the stereo 'She Knows Me Too Well' - had no idea that existed - I agree, Brian's vocals sound weaker on that version....still nice to hear the background vocals in stereo.

Also, I really like Fun Fun Fun in stereo over mono.

I think most of the Pet Sounds tracks lend themselves to stereo really well, Wouldn't It Be Nice is glorious in stereo (the one with Brian singing the bridge) and I agree that California Girls is way better in stereo. I dunno what it is about the drums in Don't Worry Baby, i've actually put the two of them side by side in Spotify and I think they sound more forceful and immediate in the stereo version, I liked when they sort of had a little fade in, I don't think the guitar at the start is as clear either.

It's a really interesting thing to see how different people perceive the mono and stereo versions. Thanks for responding guys  :)

^Agree. All of Pet Sounds. No question about it!

Interesting with California Girls with the 2 mono and 2 stereo mixes. The 45 mono mix and the first Endless Harmony stereo mix sound similar. While the Summer Days album mono mix and the 2002 stereo mix sound similar.

All of pet sounds.  Pretty sure the same would be said for smile

I'm gonna have to check that out! I haven't noticed that before.

The Single mono version (only on GH-Vol. 1) has Brian's vocal on the chorus more out front, the background vocals a little more back and the horns and drums more up front. Also, you have the longer ending fade. The album version and 2002 stereo mix has everything more blended and evened out, and shorter fade at the end.

Whoa you really can hear the difference there! It's usually the later mix I listen to and it's definitely better.

The mono single mix was probably mixed that way to cut through AM transistor radio. If you listen Andrew Sandoval's Endless Harmony stereo version, he mixed his the same as the single, yet Mark Linett's 2002 mix was patterned after the LP mix. Also, check out Sandoval's stereo version of Kiss Me Baby and compare it with Linett's on the two Endless Harmony CDs.

The new stereo mix of "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" features a beautiful intro that was missing before. I also enjoy the remixes of "All Summer Long" and "Hushabye". There's absolutely nothing wrong with a stereo mix, damn it. Could you imagine if the only way you heard "Can't Wait Too Long" was in mono?

While we're on the topic, any news on a stereo Wild Honey?

That single version has some punch to it.

Simply put, all of them. ;D

Ah yes that version of Why Do Fools is sublime, I was actually just reading about that in Jon's FAQ book.

I think the mono mixes are superior on all tracks that had a mono mix until around '69.

By 1969 they were all stereo, except Cottonfields. But you are correct, the hit recordings had a lot more punch in mono.

I think the version of "Heroes And Villains" on Classics Selected by Brian Wilson and Hawthorne just blasts out of the speakers.  Definitely a favorite. The stereo "California Girls" from Endless Harmony is amazing. As for Pet Sounds, "Wouldn't It Be Nice" and "God Only Knows" really work in stereo.

I gotta say one that sounds way better in mono is "Please Let Me Wonder". It sounds so powerful in mono, and in stereo, it just doesn't have that same kick to me.

i'll disagree on please let me wonder. That song benefits from an updated sound, the original recording is so muddy.  The stereo versions sound super crisp and i love that

Some songs would be great in stereo if not for everything being compressed to holy hell and the waveforms resembling my ass. imo.

Salt Lake City owns every song ever written when it's Mark Linett's hot-ass Stereo Mix from a few years ago that was on the Hawthorne album.  Sounds unbelievable, it sounds like a Jerry Lee Lewis song or something, it's electric and what Rock and Roll's all about!

Maybe not better than EVERY song... but MOST songs. 

Getting your pants on must be a major struggle.

But yeah, the compression thing must end.

Haha you're probably right! I actually love Salt Lake City, it gets dismissed a lot because of the subject matter but musically it kicks so much a$$!

Aren't all the mono hits compressed, as well? Isn't that why most have that extra punch to them? Radio stations compressed them even more for broadcast. Rock and Roll is nothing but compression.

I'm with you on this. Of the newer stereo remix, Please Let Me Wonder is the only one I don't care for. Maybe there's too much separation in the stereo mix? The muddy mono mix adds to the mood. What a song though, so beautiful.

The other stereo mixes on the Warmth of the Sun comp. are great though; really jump out of the speakers at you.

I see that on this US Singles collection from 2008 there is a stereo backing track for Do You Wanna Dance. Is there a good sounding stereo version with the vocals? Has anyone else tried synching the stereo instrumental with the Today! version?

There's a really cookin' "California Girls" stereo mix on something where you can hear the drums really good.  That's my favorite version of that song without a doubt, I guess maybe it was on Endless Harmony?

As for compression, of course compression is on everything, and then they use it again when they master.  Some people bitch about it, and it does kind of suck when it's overdone.  I think it comes down to the people involved trying to make it sound as good as possible on all kinds of speaker setups. 

The WORST mixing I've ever heard was on Oasis' early stuff.  That was probably the first time when I woud listen to a cd, then play that one, and then afterwards the rest of my cd's sounded muddy because the Oasis CD was mixed so horribly.

Bands like Cake have somebody working for them that mixes their stuff to perfection.  You can hear every note, of every instrument, seperate from every other instrument.  Not that that would always be the best sound, but it works for what they do. 

So actually, I listened to a bit of the stereo mix of "Please Let Me Wonder" and I gotta say it really is even with the mono mix for me. I can take either. It finally just hit me. It does allow the track to breathe a bit more with the stereo mix.

Well, that's not really true -- I was thinking specifically of the mono mix of 'add some music' (which sounds better in stereo I'd say) ... but actually, the mono mixes of 'susie cincinatti' and 'cottonfields' are better than the stereo mixes.

the original 45s are pretty compressed.  but not hard-limited.

I listened to the different versions the other day and I think the one you're after with the prominent drums (a bit too prominent for my taste) is on Endless Harmony. I love listening to all these mixes side by side and picking out the differences!

Endless Harmony, Version 1 for stereo and Greatest Hits- Vol.1 for the single mono mix.

Perhaps they did - apparently, the studio dudes would use "Dobly A301" in "record stretch" mode to make the song sound hi-fi on AM radio (I swiped that from the Bruce Bostnik liners for the Doors CD '06 Rhino release)

Yeah; I hate it when you want to hear your 'favorite' version, but you're playing the CD with some 'inferior' version on it.  Then you have to decide if you're going to switch it, or if you're going to fight the urge to be that damn anal about it, lol. 

"Noooooo! This is the one WITHOUT the drums turned way up loud! sh*t!"

I gotta admit usually I change it. 

Me too I just deleted the 2009 mix of She Knows Me Too Well out of my Spotify playlist and replaced it with the "proper" version! There that showed 'em!  :lol

About a year ago I put together this mix (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nrj91gwuONM), which combines that stereo track with a vocal track of, ah, dubious origins.

I'm not aware of a sync with the mono mix, probably because it's so easy to run into phase issues, but it's probably doable with enough patience.

There's compression and then there's too much compression, though, y'know? I used to be extremely critical of these sorts of things, but nowadays I'm pretty lax as long as I'm listening to a good song. Some of the Beach Boys stereo mixes just have a world of it going on, though, and not even necessarily on the master - the individual tracks within the mix just sound extremely compressed and I'm puzzled as to why.

What I want to know is when the 2001 remasters came out, everyone raved about how much better these CDs sounded, especially when reading reviews. I tend to agree with that assessment when compared to the NR'd 1990 releases. The 2001 remasters really bring out the background vocals. When played back in HDCD they sound really nice and not too loud. Yet, by 2006 or so, I start reading how terrible they are. To this day the 1990 CDs sound lackluster to my ears, like they have no energy. The 2000 Brother remasters are a big improvement over the Epic/Caribou releases. Most of those Epic releases sound muddy and distant. People rave about the flat transfers of Japanese Past Masters series, though these releases do not sound like the LPs either. I really wonder if there is a happy medium in the CD realm where they can get the catalog sounding as originally intended?

Thanks. Don't know if I personally have the patience for it though.

GOOD TO MY BABY isnt that nice in stereo :p

Mono all the way for me.

Listening to the stereo remixes of She Knows Me Too Well and Please Let Me Wonder were a revelation to me, always liked those songs when listening to Today! but never loved them until I heard them in stereo. Same can be said for all the other stereo remixes of Today! tracks.

The mono mix is good for GTMB but the stereo mix allows you to hear the horns in the verses, I found this also with California Girls - never realised there were horns on the song until I heard the stereo remixes.

I think most of the Today songs sounds great with the separation of the stereo mixes, and a real shame about the missing overdubs for SKMTW as it's certainly lacking without them.

Fun, fun, fun - I just cannot imagine liking a stereo version over the single mono version on the US capitol boxset. The power and drive of that mono version is just brilliant.

Why do fools fall in love - I like hearing the new intro but totally get why he probably canned it. It's soooo sloppy. The timings are too out to be released as anything but a novelty.

Pet Sounds - The new mofi stereo is now definitive for me! Unbelievable. One question. Has anyone ever remixed a mono version using the multitracks? I seriously reckon a decent mono mix could be done to mimick Brian's mix, yet avoiding the muddiness of the second generation, bounced down copy that is hauled around for releases now. I know certain key parts would still be missing as per stereo vs mono but is that a stoopid idea?

I love PS in stereo, bar one track - YSBIM. BW's voice needs to be double-tracked on that one, it's far richer and more soaring. Alas, the double track wasn't available on the existing multitracks.

yes but i couldnt hear the vocals that much :/

Yes

If I understand correctly, this latest release of the album that people are talking about features the lead vocal restored to all of its double-tracked glory.

It seems nobody is sure how they were able get the doubled vocal in as I believe it was previously assumed to have been recorded live during the final mixdown.

You sure you aren't thinking of the restored bridge of "Wouldn't It Be Nice?"

Always preferred "You Still Believe In Me" with the single vocal.

No, he's right. The vocal is now double tracked on the mofi version.

if with headphones: all of PS and Smile (i use the Smile A.D 4 mix)

Where do you find the stereo versions of She Knows Me and Please Let Me Wonder?  That would be very interesting to listen to.

For me, Let the Wind Blow in stereo makes it a bit more interesting.

The stereo mix Mark Linett did for "Wouldn't It Be Nice" is remarkable.

I plan on starting work on a stereo mix of the alternate vocal version soon. Should be pretty cool!

PLMW (stereo) is on The Warmth of the Sun, SKMTW (stereo) is on the 2008 Singles Collection (if I'm not mistaken).

The stereo mix of PLMW is breathtaking.

Agree with all of Pet Sounds; great stereo mix.

Sadly, I don't much care for the "Hawthorne" stereo mix of Heroes & Villains, not so much because of the mix, but the added reverb. I like my Heroes dry, or close to it.

I'd still like to hear an official explanation from MFSL regarding how they did this.

I find that most of the new stereo mixes have alot of extra reverb applied. Either that, or a mono mix really hid this!

I really liked the stereo remixes of the Summer Days stuff on the Warmth of the Sun comp and other various locations. They won't replace the mono in my heart, but they were nice to hear. I wouldn't mind having that whole record in stereo, if possible (*HINT*).

On the flipside, all the Today remixes (aside from Kiss Me Baby) sounded...wrong. Can't pinpoint it, but things like "When I Grow Up" and "Dance Dance Dance" bug me. Maybe that one just wasn't meant to be heard in stereo (not that I would'nt buy a stereo remix if it were offered....*HINT*).

Right - also, the stereo field is very narrow. Pet Sounds (in stereo) has a pretty nice and wide soundstage - Let Him Run Wild, for example, does not.

Seems to be the best kept secret in town. I asked Mark Linett on the Hoffman board before the MFSL release and he confirmed it, but never explained how it came about.

Going back to the compression thing again, here is a comparison for Please Let me Wonder - Single track Mono Mix on top, bottom 2 are the stereo mix.

(http://www.majhost.com/gallery/bionicool123/other/plmwc.jpg)

I always thought the chorus hardly leaps out in the stereo mix like it does in the Mono mix, and this image clearly confirms why - the wave hardly changes!

I've always thought Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!!) was recorded on similar equipment to what was used on Pet Sounds - is this correct? If so, I was wondering why the stereo mix turned out lightyears better on Pet Sounds. I get Pet Sounds' arrangements lend it to being a better album to hear in stereo, but I can't help but feel that the Summer Days stuff would sound nearly as good if it weren't so heavily lathered in reverb and if their was more room for the waveform to breathe.

i loooove PLMW in stereo. The Summer Love Songs mix doesn't have the reverb of the Warmth of the Sun version either.  My problem with the mono version on Today is that it sounds muddier than the other songs, and that it was recorded on lesser equipment.

Let him run wild stereo disappointed me though, didn't help that the vocals were in one channel.  It didn't' sound as good as the mono either, which surprised me cause that song felt like one that would be wonderful in stereo.  coulda just been a bad mix.

Wow, hadn't noticed that until now. Thanks for the heads up. The stereo version on the US Singles Collection sounds like the TWOTS remix. I didn't check the booklet, but I have the Summer Love Songs remix dated as 2005, whereas the other two, I have as 2007. I wonder if this Summer Love Songs remix really is an earlier stab at a stereo version?