The Smiley Smile Message Board

I just bought the Fuzzy CD/DVD set and am about to check out the new remastered PS. So far I'm impressed with the packaging and such - it seems tastefully done. Anyone else have thoughts to share?

Just picked this up at Best Buy for $17.99 Sticker says "Exclusive. Package contains a unique digital download code for 3 bonus live tracks".  Since I won't have
a chance to do a download today, wondering if anyone knows what are the live tracks and the venue and year they're from? Anything previously released
or new for these live tracks?

Thanking in advance!

Regards,
Cal
:

All I can say at this point is the set is worth it just for the cover; I love the feel of that thing! It's comforting, like having a pet which is what I assume the designers were going for.

The liner notes are a conglomeration of everything Brian, David Leaf and Mark Linett have written about the album over the last 16 years, so nothing new there. I look forward to hearing the new improved mono mastering and seeing how the "Making Of Pet Sounds" and "Pet Stories" differs from the previously released versions.

The live tracks are "Wouldn't It Be Nice", "God Only Knows" and "Sloop John B." I would have to think they are the Beach Boys versions- possible from the '73 live album? UPDATE: According to Man@Work below, the tracks are from "Live In London" (I wouldn't know because my computer won't access the site for some reason).

Which version did you find at Best Buy, the jewel case version or the "fuzzy" version? Given the list prices of each, I would guess $17.99 would be for the jewel case version (Amazon has the jewel case version at $19.99 and the "fuzzy" version for $22.99). I was iffy about picking this package up, but I'm sure I will eventually. Normally, I prefer jewel cases since they are much more functional than digipak-type packages. But at the same time, I kind of have the impulse that if I'm going to go to the expense and trouble of buying "Pet Sounds" yet again, maybe I should at least get something new out of it from a packaging standpoint.

What's on the DVD?

Man, I despise both "digital download" bonuses as well as bonuses exclusive to one retailer, and this particular setup accomplishes both at the same time! I sure hope these are simply downloadable versions of tracks from the '73 "In Concert" album and/or the "Live in London" album. If I buy this thing, I'll probably be buying it at Best Buy, but I still don't like doing the download thing. If they just gave a password to go to a website where I can download the mp3 or whatever, that wouldn't be too bad. But it's probably some sort of strange encrypted file that only plays on certain software or is otherwise somehow more complicated than simply clicking on a file link and downloading it.

If this is just a cross-promotion to get people to go on the web to learn more about the group, and/or if this is just cross-promotion for the live album catalog, then I think this is a fine idea. But if this is something that people can't buy on CD and can only get via download, and/or if it's something that only people who shop at Best Buy can get, then that's pretty messed up. And I'm not even getting into the question of why they would design this huge, expansive, "deluxe" CD/DVD set and yet not include some material that they are only going to offer via download.

The one I bought at Best Buy at lunchtime today for $17.99 was the "fuzzy" version. I didn't even see a regular jewel-case edition ...

Just listened to the remastered Hi-Bit Stereo mix on the DVD and it sounded great! I do prefer the mono of course, but the crispness of the new re-master is real nice on the ears...

I bought the 40th Anniversary release at Best Buy today for $17.99.

I immediately went out to my car and opened it up. The fuzzy packaging itself is very tasteful. Inside the liner notes are stapled to the packaging in the middle. It appears to be an edited version of the notes that appeared in the 2001 remaster.

The mono mix on the CD is worth the price of admission. I knew it was going to make me cry the first second or so into 'Wouldn't It Be Nice'. This song in particular always bugged me on the 2001 remaster, because the intro never sounded quite right. It's much better, and at least to my ears most of the hiss is gone.

The free downloads are from 'Live In London'. So they aren't anything special.

The intro is obviously edited on from a different source (probably the multitracks).  The guitar before and after the drum slam don't match up in tonality and level of reverb.  Same thing I believe on "God Only Knows".

The WIBN on the mono mix sounds exactly like the version used on the 1990 mono issue with the multitracks used for the intro. I like Mark's version on the 1996/2001 version from the NY master.

The only thing about it that bothers me is really either tape dropout or bad edit on the mono Sloop John B right before the second chorus. When Brian sings "SO - HOIST UP". Right after "SO" there is a major glich that is not on the 1996/2001 or the 1993 DCC version. Since we know that this mono came from a 1987 U1630 tape, maybe the transfer in 1987 was poorly done. I pulled out my copy of MADE IN USA CD from 1986 (which used the single reel for Sloop flat transfered according to Larry Walsh at Cap) and no glitch is there. (edited in two days later - their is a glitch - I am an ass!)

Other than that, I really like the transfer. And the DVD is awesome! So is Mark's little easter egg at the end of Caroline No.

Bob Flory

Regarding the DVD: How much is different on the documentaries compared to what we already had before?

Got the two LP set on its way. Will let you know what it's like.

I just bought the set but haven't watched the DVD yet. But as far as I can tell based on what I already know and what is listed on this set, the only thing completely "new to DVD" is the promo film for "Good Vibrations" and the "Rhythm of Life" documentary segment. The packaging states that both the "Making of Pet Sounds" footage from the 1997 boxed set promotion as well as the "Pet Stories" documentary flown in from the "Brian Wilson - Pet Sounds Live" DVD are "new edits." What I don't know is how the edits are different. They could just be shorter, or longer, or just different here and there. I also don't know if the "new edit" of the "Making of Pet Sounds" is the same "new edit" included on the 2003 DVD-Audio (since that version was also edited compared to the original 1997 EPK footage, apparently).

I've given the CD in the package a listen. I like having the mono mix for historical purposes, but because the mono mix is so muddy and cluttered to begin with, I've usually listened to the stereo mix since it was done ten years ago. I'm not quite a super audiophile, so I don't know quite how to size up this new mono remaster. It sounds better than the 1990 CD. The thing is, I don't know if I've ever met an audiophile BB fan who loves the mono mix who still doesn't hold up the DCC Steve Hoffman mono remaster as the best available representation of the mono mix. Sure enough, over on Steve Hoffman's board, the consensus among those audiophiles seems to be that the DCC CD is still tops for the mono mix. I have to say I probably prefer the DCC CD as well. But as I said, I rarely listen to the mono mix much anymore, so I'm usually listening to the stereo remix (preferably the version from the PS Sessions box, as I like Brian's bridge vocal on WIBN, but any mastering of the stereo remix is just fine).

What is strange is that among all of the mastering, mixing, and remastering credits on this new release, I can't find any direct reference to a new mono master being used, let alone remastered. It lists the CD stereo mix as being done in 1996. It lists the one mono bonus track as having been mixed in 1987. Then there is a general "remastered by Joe Gastwirt" credit from 2000. The rest of the credits pertain to the surround/DVD elements. What I don't understand is that, if a new mono master was used, thus neccesitating a remastering of this CD for at least the mono mix portion, shouldn't there be some new remastering credit on this CD? Did Joe Gastwirt remaster this 2006 CD as well? I dunno. No big deal to me, the super-audiophile types really like to know who mastered what, when, where, and how. I'm interested as well, but only to a point in this instance, since I'm happy with decent-sounding mono remasters and a great-sounding stereo remix.

The whole project is just another rehash. I just picked it up today because I figured I'd probably be picking it up sooner or later, so I might as well pick it up while it's available at such a cheap price. I had assumed, having not looked at any Best Buy ads, that they might not even have this new thing in stock. But they had plenty of copies, and the set is in their weekly circular. It's almost like the 2003 DVD-A has been forgotten by almost everybody. Funnily, the 2003 DVD-A was on a rack right next to the "new music release" rack full of copies of the new set at the Best Buy I went to today.

Anybody getting the 2LP colored vinyl set? If yes, where can one get one as I have not found anyone selling it. I need this mother!

I just ordered one on Ebay. try
www.gemm.com
www.ebay.com
www.vinylmatters.com
www.musicstack.com

I've watched most of the DVD video. Has anybody else noticed the sort of slightly strange video quality on a couple of the clips, specifically the "Good Vibrations" promo film and the "God Only Knows" photo collage flown in from the "Endless Harmony" DVD? It's a rather subtle effect, but I can't think of any other way to describe it other than sort of "video noise." It isn't film grain or pixellation or anything like that. It's just a sort of dotty video pattern that can be seen on the screen. It almost seems like some sort of signal interference or something, as if some appliance was messing with the picture on the screen (I re-watched this several times, and I'm sure that interference isn't actually the problem).

It isn't as noticeable on smaller screens, but on a large screen it's somewhat noticeable. Since the GV promo film is already from a sort of not quite pristine film print, the effect isn't as pronounced on it. But on the "God Only Knows" photo collage video clip, it is somewhat noticeable. I thought maybe something was wrong with my disc, but the other clips are just fine. It seems to be an artifact introduced in mastering the video on the DVD. It's sort of strange though that it would affect two clips from totally different sources. It's not a big deal, since the "GOK" clip is on the EH DVD, and the GV promo film is already sort of from a middling quality print to begin with (or was just shot to look that way). This weird video effect seems to also appear very, very briefly during the "Making of Pet Sounds" documentary as well. Again, I'd think there was something wrong with my copy, but a manufacturing defect or something usually wouldn't present itself in this way. The DVD would be all pixelly or stutter or have problems playing if it was a manufacturing defect, or the video quality issue would be seen throughout. I dunno, it's a bit strange but not too problematic. It's a bit off-putting considering the paucity of "new" material on the thing that enticed me to the buy the thing in the first place, though.

In any event, it's worth noting that the "Making of Pet Sounds" is indeed a somewhat drastic re-edit. It mixes in some "Endless Harmony" interview footage, as well as some presumably newly or relatively recently-shot interview footage with Al Jardine. It makes you wish they would just scrap the Brian-centric "Pet Stories" and get the surviving BB's to do all-new interviews and put together a long, in-depth documentary.

I didn't watch all of the "Pet Stories" documentary, and I haven't watched the original version in awhile, so I'm not sure of the differences there. The new re-edit seems shorter.

The "Good Vibrations" clip suffers from the above-mentioned, sometimes barely-noticeable video quality problems. I'll have to pull out my VHS tape from when they aired it on AMC a few years ago. I kind of recall it looking a bit better. Probably the same film print used, but the video mastering issues on this DVD might make my old VHS copy from AMC slightly better.

The "Rhythm of Life" thing is short, but interesting, and the video quality is just fine.

Most everything else is re-hashed.

If you have the last remaster and the DVD audio version (two sided one with
audio, the other with promos, etc) the real only reason to get the 40th anniversary edition is for the stellar new mono remaster from another source tape closer to the album master, and for the GV "Fireman" promo video and interview segment with George Martin. If you have all the rest you're in good shape. Though this mono sounds the best ever! Finally has real "punch" to it compared to the last mono remaster release a few years back. In comparison--this is as good as the Beatles Capitol Albums Vol. 1 and 2 mono remasters. For once I enjoyed the mono better than the stereo on PS!

Regards,
Cal
:)

You certainly get a lot more Al Jardine in the "Making Of Pet Sounds". Also, you don't get Mike's "Home Improvement" hat logo as it's been digitally blurred out for all of his on-camera segments!

The video distortion HeyJude mentioned in the "Good Vibrations" clip surprised me as well. It looks like the film was transferred to 3/4" U-matic videotape using a deck with malfunctioning recording/playback heads. I mean that seriously since I've seen the exact same problem with video equipment I've used in the past (I would have immediately taken the deck in for service!). You can even see the white lines of dropout near the end.

Apart from this issue, I think the set is wonderful and the mono mix does sound better, despite the "Sloop John B." dropout moment.

Well, sounds ok, I don't know if I'll buy it.

I think I'll get the LP, just because I'm a sucker for coloured vinyl. Hopefully it will not ONLY be pretty to look at, but be a decent pressing as well. Anyone got their copy yet and would like to comment on the quality?

How does one access the easter egg?

Also, here's a new BW interview promoting PS40:
http://www.avclub.com/content/node/52251
The interviewer seems to be quite interested in BW's deaf ear

Just allow the CD to keep playing after the stereo "Caroline, No" ends! (It's not a DVD Easter Egg)

Ahh! Haven't made it that far yet, I'll check it out though

Same on mine.  Sort of looks like the interference you used to get when you used an electric razor while someone was watching TV.  It really bugs me when something like this gets past quality control.

Yeah, it's video "noise" or dropout. A time/base corrector should have taken care of that. I have the version played on AMC as part of their "Beach Boys Then & Now" series (transfered from a digital signal onto my DVD recorder). There is no noise or dropout on that version.

I'd also like to make a proposal to Mark or Alan regarding the new BeachBoysCentral website. See if you can get permission to load Pet Sounds for download as a mono flat transfer from either the rediscovered U1630 or the "New York" master (I know Mark hates that term but I don't know any other way to id the tape) at a hi-rez bitrate (256 kps+). I for one would pay to download that!

Bob F.

I posted this link in Marks thread but I thought some of you might enjoy this discussion from the Steve Hoffman board:

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=89675

I've never ever read a posting on the Hoffman board where someone likes a cd other
than a Hoffman remaster! I think they're all a bit prejudiced and one sided over there--
and I can't be swayed 'cause they think Hoffman remasters are the work of  G-d. For
me that board is not fair and balanced.

Regards,
Cal
:)

Haha, instead of Brian saying that he's deaf in one ear, he says "I only have one ear"!

SEE THE EDIT! SEE THE EDIT!!

Got the vinyl reissue and compared it against the 2000 HDCD issue (for which I have a decoder).   The mono LP fares best, though I hear the little drop-out in Sloop John B everyone else noticed, it's not on the prior LP or the 2000 CD.  The high end appears to have been rolled off just a tiny bit compared to the CD.  That's not Mark's doing, it's the doing of the lacquer cutter.  Not enough to offend but enough to notice if you're doing the critical A-B like I was.

The new stereo LP is supposed to match the 2000 version, right?  Well -- its high end is rolled off a bit too, but here's the kicker - THE SPEED IS OFF - maybe a fraction of a percent SLOWED DOWN.  BUT WAIT - today I checked it again.  This time the LP and CD match up fine speed-wise, both stereo and mono.  Yesterday I heard an audible pitch change, perhaps an eighth tone or so.   But this time, it was OK.  Very strange, since on both occasions I had both the LP and CD playing together as closely as possible, and did an A-B with Grado headphones, checking the strobe on the turntable much more closely  to be sure it wasn't the culprit.  Hmm.  Well, never mind - with these caveats, the vinyl sounds pretty good, it's fair to say mostly all the customers willing to shell out $23 for it will be perfectly happy.  Only mooks like me are likely to bloviate about these things.  And  now you have to deal with it too 'cause I mouthed off here.

Mark Linett hears the roll-off too but says well, that's vinyl.  See his thread (where I already ate my crow, thank you very much).  I think he's selling himself short, since he did such a damn fine job with the BWPS vinyl.  But he didn't cut this LP, so we can't  blame him for it.

Good thing nobody reads what I say here.

While I don't agree with everything said there, it is worth noting that the Steve Hoffman forum has deleted all posts regarding the PS set. No reason has been given. When someone asked why the posts had been deleted, the question itself was also deleted.

Now some have taken it upon themseleves to bash the crap out of Mark on the internet both here and other places (Steve Hoffman's forum, etc.). Mark has done a superior job with the BB catalogue and though we may find fault with the new PS release, this in no way should be meant to impune Mark's rep. Bottom line, s**t happens. As a software developer, I may put out a program that blows up when that was most certainly was not my intention. If it repeatly happens, I am a jerk. Same with Mark. It HAS NOT happened before (yes, we all have our gripes about the 1990 PS CD - Hell so does Mark.).

SO while we maybe upset with the release, it is not (at least on my part) a direct attack on Mark. If you need reassurance of Mark's work, go back and listen to the 1997 PS box and the 1993 GV box. Excellent.

Nuff Said

Bob F.

PS-Don't forget the multi-platinum SOS and the GV 40th CD which is fantastic!

Even though Brian intented only mono, which is well known 'cause of
his bad ear-- he couldn't hear in stereo--but, does that mean the mono's better when he never had the ability to discern a stereo mix vs a mono mix due to his hearing limitations?

The 1997 stereo mix isn't much of a radical mix as say early Beatles tracks in stereo with many having vocals on one channel and most of the instrumental work
on the other. The stereo mix here is very faithful and is not like remixes today
that add or elimiate either instruments or vocals or makes some louder and
some quieter. I love the stereo mix and find it's very faithful to the essence
and sound of the mono. The new mono remaster (from a newly found closer
source to the mono album master)sounds better than the last mono version
available on cd. I found the stereo mix had more punch and life and breath, (naturally as it's stereo and newly done with modern mixing and mastering equipment.) But...the new mono finally equals that, having it be more open
and not feeling compressed with no hiss that's discernable as the Hoffman gold
disc is in comparison. I really think the Hoffman disc for it's time was the best.
Not any more. This mono mix mastering kicks ass and is comparable to the recent
Beatles Capitol Albums Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 mono masters in quality!

Regards,
Cal
:)

I wonder if I was responsible for getting the PS thread deleted over at SH forums?  I mentioned the dreaded "New York tape" and the administrators get very fidgety when anyone other than Steve Hoffman discusses the state of the master tapes, which generation was used, etc.  It's ridiculous because Steve himself has written about what tapes he used for the DCC Pet Sounds, and the damaged Wouldn't It Be Nice being replaced on the master with the second generation NY tape version, but if anyone else mentions it the post (and now the entire thread) gets deleted!

I"m still waiting for someone to compare the new DVD-A mono mix soundwise (I'm not talking about the "new" intros, just the overall sound of the album) with the previous DVD-A mix, and the new redbook mono mix with the old (PS box set and subsequent mono/stereo release).  I'm getting the thing regardless, but I'd like to know if people think the sound improvement is minor, major, or undetectable.

Hmm, perhaps I wasn't responsible after all.  Steve posted a note about the deleted threads:

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=89838

Apparently he's trying to license Pet Sounds for an LP release and doesn't want Linnett bashing to endanger that project!

That's Linett, of course!

Hm... excuse my ignorance, but who is Steve Hoffman ? Seriously.

How does the high-resolution-stereo-version on the DVD-A compare to the HDCD-stereo version on the 2001-release? I'm asking this because I recently bought a player that is able to play DVD-A's and HDCD's.

Or in other words: which release contains the best stereo-version?

A mastering engineer and the host of a music forum that emphasizes the technical aspects of recording, mixing and mastering.
His Beach Boys resume is:
Lost & Found 1961-1962 (CD and LP)
Pet Sounds (DCC Gold CD and LP)
Endless Summer (DCC Gold CD)
Spirit Of America (DCC Gold CD)
Greatest Hits (Razor & Tie, 2 CD set)
His mastering style is to stay faithful to the master tape and he refuses to use a digital audio workstation.

Actually, there is no DVD-A mono mix on the second disc of the new set, just a high resolution stereo mix and a standard resolution 5.1 surround mix.

Thanks Andreas

I've had the chance to listen to the new mono remaster a couple times, and I have to say that I'm quite impressed with the sound. To me, it's a significant upgrade over the 2001 Mono/Stereo two-fer. While the DCC version is also fantastic, I think this latest one is as good as that....and I got it for a hell of a lot cheaper. I don't have one of the earlier mono CD issues to compare it to, but I'm trying to acquire the Japanese Pastmasters Pet Sounds, and further compare it to other issues. For now, I'm quite satisfied with the latest remaster.

I'm also looking forward to getting the colored double vinyl, but that will have to wait for the weekend.

The PastMasters Series version of PS is the same as the American CD release in 1990. I have both and they are the same. Japan issued the one with the bonus tracks before they were suppose to. They recalled that issue and released the mix sans the extras in their PastMasters series.

I want to make a point about something in one of my earlier posts. After all that has been said about the new PS release (the drop out in Sloop, the edited WIBN) it still is a great sounding release! Every bit as good as the DCC version. And because I put forward the dropout in Sloop as a possible mastering problem, last night I pulled every freaking CD I have with Sloop on it, from MADE IN USA until the latest version. There is a very bad dropout in Sloop at the point of the 2nd chorus begining. On those releases that used two playback heads instead of a mono playback, the dropout appears only in the "right" channel. The only three versions that you really don't hear the dropout are the DCC version, the 1993 GV box and the 1995 version of 20 Good Vibrations. The worst sounding versions are on Made In USA, Absolute Best Vol.2 and the 1999 PS remaster. So Mark tried his best. It is a tape problem. You can only do so much with what you've got!

Bob F.

Thanks to some of the info you posted on the SH Forum (before censorship reigned supreme), I figured I'd pick it up rather than a 1990 CD, seeing as how they both can be had for pretty cheap, and since I've heard good things about the Pastmasters series (except for Pet Sounds), I figured I'd pick up all available titles on that line rather than have all of the Pastmasters CDs, except for PS.  I'm even confused about what I was trying to say.  ???

I guess my question was missed, so I ask it again:

"HDCD stereo" vs. "DVD-A stereo"?

Is the new PS CD Windows XP compatible? XPCD?

I don't know how the DVD-A sounds since I have not bought that particular version, but as a general observation, DVD-A offers an increased resolution and sampling rate which gives the opportunity to present a recording in more detail and accuracy than on a plain CD.

By the way, HDCD is just a variant or modification of CD, not an extension. HDCD is still based on 16 bits and 44.1 KHz.

Sales wise here at the store I work at, since they came in Tuesday, nobody has purchased a single copy of the double vinyl or the new CD's. (Same with "The Flame" CD)

Thanks for the answer, Andreas! I decided to buy the DVD-A and give it a try. It's also a great opportunity to make my first experience with full resolution-5.1 (of course I already watch DVD's in DD-5.1)

Although this has probably already been answered (I haven't read entirely through the thread), the but the three live tracks are definately from Live In London.  Kind of a disappointment actually.  The wishful thinking in me had hoped these were unreleased live versions.  I would love for a live version of "Wouldn't It Be Nice" with Carl singing lead to be released.

As far as this new release is concerned, I can't say I really notice much difference in the sound compared to the 2003 release, at least with the stereo mix.  The mono mix sounds pretty good from what I listened to.  It would be nice if they gave some of the other Beach Boys albums this kind of treatment; some of those late 90's re-releases of the Brother Records stuff could probably afford a new coat of remastering.

I just dug out my Beach Boys 1993 boxset. I'm listening to the Pet Sounds tracks and they sound A THOUSAND TIMES BETTER than the 2001 mono mix and the 40th anniversary mono mix. So much better to my ears that I tracked down a new factory sealed 1990 Pet Sounds CD, with the three bonus tracks, and just ordered it. The remastered mono Pet Sounds sound so shrill with a good deal of static. The mono tracks on the box set have clarity and depth and are not shrill at all, and at the same time have plenty of punch. I hope these are the same mono mixes on the 1990 cd. It almost seems like the mono remasters are downgrading the sound.

Another thought, usually on these remastered versions, when they hit real high notes it sounds like the cd is clipping out. Like it can't handle that frequency. Sorry, I'm not an audiophile or a musician.

"The mono tracks on the box set have clarity and depth and are not shrill at all, and at the same time have plenty of punch"

Well you may be disappointed in the 1990 release, as it uses no noise extensively which degrades the highs and causes a "pumping" sound in the background of the music.  Apparently no noise was not used on the box set, nor on the subsequent releases which explains why they have more treble information and more hiss (the shrillness and static you are hearing - which, if you can get past it, should result in more natural and audible highs in the music).

Yeah, the GV boxset was mastered at Capitol and as Mark has stated, they didn't even have NONOISE in their mastering studios. Also, by the time of the GV box, the original master and the digital safety copy taken from it had both gone AWOL so only the NY tape was used for all following releases except the current one which uses the newly re-discovered U1630 digital master.

Bob F.

PS - I know that Mark reads this thread and wanted to say that even with all my complaining, I still bought 2 copies of the 40th Anniversary set and will probably buy more for friends at Christmas!

I've been listening to this quite intensely and I don't hear the things you are mentioning. What kind of system are you listening to?

I just have a couple of Edirol MA-20D speakers hooked up to my Mac.

That's my system.  :lol


But actually they are very nice speakers. There's more expensive stuff out there, but the quality is amazing.

Ok, so I got my DVD-A of Pet Sounds and finally found some time to check it out. First of all, I have to say that this is my first DVD-A, so I obviously can't compare it to others. Here are some thoughts (if anyone is interested):


The first thing I noticed is that the handling is a pain in the ass. There are two sides withoug explanation on which is which; you need the TV to control it; it doesn't start with the title-menu etc...

The documentary is certainly nice, but contains nothing new or special. I laughed my head off when Mike imitated Macca ("tears in me eyes"  :lol), and Brian is dead on when he says that PS should be heard with headphones in the dark.

The high-resolution-surround-mix sounds very good, even if my system isn't exactly HighEnd. I guess, you can impress some friends with it, who only listen to mp3. But I have to say that I find surround too distracting from the music itself. I guess, more than anything else, it's a matter of taste. I prefer good old stereo, and most of the time I listen with headphones. That's were we come the interesting stuff (at least to me):

I did some serious comparing between the DVD-A stereo and the HDCD-stereo from the 2001-CD. The first thing I noticed is that the DVD-A is way louder. I'm not talking about loudness, the volume is just higher. Once I got the volumes on the same level, I noticed that there actually isn't much of a difference. The DVD-A is slightly ahead in terms of the bass (it's louder in the mix, "fuller"), but any other difference is almost unnoticeable on my system (and ears).


In the end, I'm gonna keep the DVD-A. The documentary and the bonus-tracks are nice additions, the 5.1-mix is an interesting alternative listen and the stereo-version is a little bit better.

P.S. after all that I listened a little bit to the "Sgt. Pepper"-CD. We all can't thank Mark Linett enough for what he has done with the BB-records.  ;D

AMEN! :)

Seconded!!!  ;D

Yep.

I certainly have taken for granted what wonderful riches we have as Beach Boys fans, compared to other "catalog" fans.  What other fanbase of a group has been lucky enough to get:

Such a diverse smattering of completely unreleased tracks
The relatively unusual presentation of so many track or vocals only versions of songs
Such great, balanced stereo remixes

And more.

And speaking of the Beatles, How can it be that Sgt. Pepper hasn't got the Box Set treatment? 

Yeah, a Sgt. Pepper-Box would be very interesting.
Has the original mono-mix been released on CD yet? I think I got it somewhere on vinyl, but my record-player isn't working the way it should.... ::)

I may be off base on this, but I recall hearing that The Beatles had a clause inserted in their EMI contract when re-negotiated that their records would only be released in their original form. Hence no mono/stereo 2fers, no bonus tracks. I think they got around the 5.1 problem because it uses the original multitrack.

Plus, given how they raped the Pepper sessions on Anthology 2 to concoct 'new' mixes, I'd say that's a good idea.

I'm not sure I've ever heard of those specific terms as part of an agreement with EMI. What I have heard and what has been widely reported is that one of the parts of the settlement the Beatles and EMI made in the late 80's was that the Beatles (via Apple) were given the right to sign off on *any* release of Beatles music, whether it was reissuing an old album, compiling hits, or issuing previously unreleased material. EMI retains ownership of all of the Beatles albums and session recordings made under contract to EMI. But unlike the Beach Boys, where Capitol/EMI can to this day still issue any permutation/compilation of previously issued material without approval from the Beach Boys, the Beatles have to sign off on any release. This is why EMI/Capitol no longer attempts to issue things like the compilations they did in the 70's and early 80's like "Rock and Roll Music", "Love Songs", "Reel Music", etc. Apple even vetoed the CD issue of the "red" and "blue" albums; they were only released after Apple signed off on it in 1993.

If Apple agreed to it, EMI could do mono/stereo two-fers, bonus tracks, etc. EMI/Capitol's "Capitol Albums" boxed sets include both mono and stereo mixes of the albums. Neil Aspinall recently commented that they are currently remastering the Beatles catalog and are still considering whether to issue mono/stereo mixes on one CD or release them seperately, etc. So there is no indication that there is any ban specifically on mono/stereo mixes on one CD, or bonus tracks, etc. There simply seems to be a general rule that Apple signs off on anything EMI does with their music.

I predict one of three things happening with the Beatles catalog on CD:

1. Remastered mono/stereo two-fers, no bonus tracks
2. Remastered albums, with seperate mono and stereo releases
3. Remastered albums, no offering of both mono and stereo (whether this means stereo for everything, or mono for the first four, etc., I don't know.)

Apple recognizes the interest in mono/stereo two-fers as demonstrated by the "Capitol Albums" boxed sets. It's just a question of whether they will try to milk the fans by making them buy all the albums twice seperately. Remember, a two-fer of the White Album would require four CD's, and I really don't picture them keeping the standard, stock version that everybody can buy of the album as a 4-CD set. I also don't see Apple wanting to spur so much confusion by issuing mono and stereo versions seperately and have them all appear on the shelves at the same time. So what we may see is single CD's with only one mix (basically remastered versions of what's out there now), and then some sort of boxed set for alternate album mixes.

I don't see any bonus tracks being included, because there wouldn't be much room left on the two-fers anyway, and they do seem to want to keep the outtakes seperate from the albums (according to older comments from Paul McCartney, for instance).

On my DVD-A, near the centre, it is printed which side is which. Obviously you cannot print on the disc surface as one does with a one sided disc. Its just like the old "flipper" two-sided DVD videos we used to get before they developed dual layer discs.

I find the pukka DVD-A side to be distinctly superior. Of course you need a machine capable of playing DVD-A discs...a regular DVD player will not play the super high resolution recording.

How many  times will they mess with Pet Sounds before the masters burst in flames..hehe

I want a Sunflower boxset and a Surf's Up boxset. Please.

Yeah, I discovered that by now. Thanks!

??? Sorry, but what does "pukka" mean? And btw, I have a DVD-A player.

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??? Sorry, but what does "pukka" mean? And btw, I have a DVD-A player.

Defined on Google as - absolutely first class and genuine; "pukka sahib"; "pukka quarters with a swarm of servants", well worn British phrase annoyingly said by Jamie Oliver

It existed before Jamie Oliver.....and seemed appropriate in this instance.

Still waiting for amazon to deliver my Pet Sounds 2LP :(