Do you prefer to listen to the Beach Boys in mono or stereo?

[JK]

Stereo all the way, to more distinctly hear all the instruments that Brian was directing.

I'd like to modify that: stereo for the above reason, and mono for sheer listening enjoyment. :=)

[Alan Smith]

Mono or any originally released version - I'm not a fan of retcon remixes over the originals.

Having said that, the majority of the stereo remixes are well executed and usually provide a different way of hearing these great songs.

Good: Gettin' Hungry (background harmonies in the middle bit I'd not heard clearly previously)

Bad: When I grow up (think that's more to do with the original recordings tho), 1st attempt at Cal Girls (as per the first run of the EH CD)

[drbeachboy]

Mono or any originally released version - I'm not a fan of retcon remixes over the originals.

Having said that, the majority of the stereo remixes are well executed and usually provide a different way of hearing these great songs.

Good: Gettin' Hungry (background harmonies in the middle bit I'd not heard clearly previously)

Bad: When I grow up (think that's more to do with the original recordings tho), 1st attempt at Cal Girls (as per the first run of the EH CD)

Alan, the first EH had the Andrew Sandoval mix of California Girls. That stereo mix matches the mono 45 mix where the horns, drums and background vocals are more prominent in the mix. Linett's first try at it was on the revamped EH. That and his 2nd try both sound more like the mono LP mix.

[Alan Smith]

Great observations, drbeachboy, re the Sandoval mix sounding akin to the mono 45; & I was definitely referring to the AS mix as the "problematic" one for me (the above "bad"was a lazy choice of words).

It's been a time since I've dug it out, but I recall thinking the vox are out of sync with the track - could be a dog's ears thing or hazy memories.

Sounds like it could be high time to dust it off and have a fresh listen.

[drbeachboy]

Yep, Linett's first try at it was out of sync. The corrected mix showed up on Sounds of Summer and every compilation since.

Also, recheck out Sandoval's stereo mix of Kiss Me Baby on EH v1. Terrific mix, imho.

[halblaineisgood]

.
 

[drbeachboy]

Yes, that is the first release of EH. The second release of EH has the out of sync Linett mix. That mix was corrected back in sync on SOS.

If you listen to the mono California Girls on Greatest Hits, Vol 1. and the Summer Days LP mix, you will hear the differences. Then play the stereo Sandoval mix and the SOS Linett second mix and you'll hear the similarities.

[sockittome]

Yes, that is the first release of EH. The second release of EH has the out of sync Linett mix. That mix was corrected back in sync on SOS.

Well this certainly clears things up (I think).  I had always heard that the Sandoval mix was out of synch, but it sounds fine to me.  Made me wonder if I was slipping in my old age!

One thing in particular that I like about the Sandoval mix is that it seems to be a bit wider stereo than the more recent mixes.  Why do the stereo remixes seem to be getting narrower all the time? 

[Micha]

Generally in mono.

Pet Sounds needs to be in Stereo for everything to be heard.

The stereo version however does not nearly have the emotional impact for me that the mono version has. I mean, a human being does not work better if you place some of the inner organs on the left or right speaker so you can see them better.

[drbeachboy]

Generally in mono.

Pet Sounds needs to be in Stereo for everything to be heard.

The stereo version however does not nearly have the emotional impact for me that the mono version has. I mean, a human being does not work better if you place some of the inner organs on the left or right speaker so you can see them better.

Oh, like kidney's, lungs, tonsils, etc.? Serious question, what does the mono have emotionally that the stereo lacks? I asked because emotionally the music affects me the same way whether I listen in mono or stereo. For me, the difference is only in sound quality; instruments and background vocals. Stereo separates them and makes them more clear, while mono squeezes everything down. For me the music is the emotion, not how it is/was recorded.

[Joel Goldenberg]

Generally in mono.

Pet Sounds needs to be in Stereo for everything to be heard.

The stereo version however does not nearly have the emotional impact for me that the mono version has. I mean, a human being does not work better if you place some of the inner organs on the left or right speaker so you can see them better.

Oh, like kidney's, lungs, tonsils, etc.? Serious question, what does the mono have emotionally that the stereo lacks? I asked because emotionally the music affects me the same way whether I listen in mono or stereo. For me, the difference is only in sound quality; instruments and background vocals. Stereo separates them and makes them more clear, while mono squeezes everything down. For me the music is the emotion, not how it is/was recorded.

For want of a better term, the mono sounds "scrappier" to me, in terms of a tougher sound, including from Brian's vocals. This is one factor for me liking the mono mix. But I like the stereo better for overall sound.

[Micha]

Generally in mono.

Pet Sounds needs to be in Stereo for everything to be heard.

The stereo version however does not nearly have the emotional impact for me that the mono version has. I mean, a human being does not work better if you place some of the inner organs on the left or right speaker so you can see them better.

Oh, like kidney's, lungs, tonsils, etc.? Serious question, what does the mono have emotionally that the stereo lacks? I asked because emotionally the music affects me the same way whether I listen in mono or stereo. For me, the difference is only in sound quality; instruments and background vocals. Stereo separates them and makes them more clear, while mono squeezes everything down. For me the music is the emotion, not how it is/was recorded.

I don't know, it's the way it is. Splattered over the stereo spectrum, my mind fails to put those clearer sounding parts together to that emotional experience the slightly muddled mono mix provides. If you experience the same affection with mono and stereo, that's fine, it just isn't the same for me, with Pet Sounds at least.

However, the stereo Darlin' I find more compelling than the original mono mix.

[drbeachboy]

Generally in mono.

Pet Sounds needs to be in Stereo for everything to be heard.

The stereo version however does not nearly have the emotional impact for me that the mono version has. I mean, a human being does not work better if you place some of the inner organs on the left or right speaker so you can see them better.

Oh, like kidney's, lungs, tonsils, etc.? Serious question, what does the mono have emotionally that the stereo lacks? I asked because emotionally the music affects me the same way whether I listen in mono or stereo. For me, the difference is only in sound quality; instruments and background vocals. Stereo separates them and makes them more clear, while mono squeezes everything down. For me the music is the emotion, not how it is/was recorded.

I don't know, it's the way it is. Splattered over the stereo spectrum, my mind fails to put those clearer sounding parts together to that emotional experience the slightly muddled mono mix provides. If you experience the same affection with mono and stereo, that's fine, it just isn't the same for me, with Pet Sounds at least.

However, the stereo Darlin' I find more compelling than the original mono mix.

Thanks for the answer! I agree too about the stereo mix of Darlin'. It jumps right out at you. One of the few times that a stereo mix is punchier than the mono mix.