Orgasmic Vinyl

[DJ M]

Holy fu@king sh*t!
Having multiple orgasms listening to this perfect copy of Smiley SMiLE!!

https://twitter.com/AtBestIsKorny/status/830597876585631745

[Shane]

Find a mono version as opposed to the reprocessed stereo, and it will be even better!

[DJ M]

Find a mono version as opposed to the reprocessed stereo, and it will be even better!

True enough.
However, finding an equally clean, reasonably priced Mono copy may take awhile.

[jiggy22]

I'll always prefer stereo over mono, but something about the mono version of Smiley Smile on vinyl is just so perfectly appealing. It feels more lo-fi and homemade or something to that degree. Sure, the stereo mix is more polished, but I love how you can actually hear the cuts between takes in the mono mix. Just amazing.

[Shane]

But in this case, the original 1967 "Stereo" LP is actually reprocessed stereo.  Blech.


Still though, it's always awesome to find a gorgeous clean piece of Beach Boys vinyl!

[SMiLE Brian]

I had that same album on my system as well, it was truly amazing to hear the Baldwin!

[CenturyDeprived]

In answer to the title of the topic, I'm thinking that "Feel Flows" in vinyl would best fit that description 

(When I finally learned what the chorus on that song was lyrically about, it made listening to that tune a slightly different experience).

[DonnyL]

But in this case, the original 1967 "Stereo" LP is actually reprocessed stereo.  Blech.


Still though, it's always awesome to find a gorgeous clean piece of Beach Boys vinyl!

The late '60s Capitol fake stereo is not too bad ... sounds like a little treble boost on one side and a little treble roll-off/boosted lows on the other channel. I think the "stereo" Smiley Smile and Wild Honey actually sound a little better than the monos because those original Capitol pressings are super dark. Stack-O-Tracks sounds very nice too. I was lucky to find unplayed looking copies, super clean copies of Wild Honey and Stack-O-Tracks for a few bucks at a vintage shop in Portland a couple summers back! I actually sold my mono copy of Wild Honey (which was a little tattered) and kept the clean stereo version.

I too have a shrink-wrapped copy of Smiley similar to the above ... sounds great in my opinion.

That said, those 1980-ish reissues are probably the best sounding of all the vinyl pressings ... but if you like the '60s artifacts like myself, I'd go for the fake stereo.

[Shane]

You do have a point... by 1967, Capitol had toned down (pardon the pun) their whole process of reprocessing. 

It was the 1965-66 era where the Duophonic process being used was almost unlistenable.  Heavy delay echo on one channel, along with the extreme EQ.

[harrisonjon]

Isn't there a Dennis track that was literally orgasmic?

[DJ M]

Just bought the amazing 1967 - Sunshine Tomorrow.
If you haven't done so already, go out and buy it; you need it if you're reading this.



Listening to it led me to pull out my mono copy of Smiley SMiLE to compare to the re-channeled pseudo-stero copy posted above.




Usually, fake stereo versions suck.
This Smiley SMiLE is the exception.
It sounds pretty good to me - it's brighter than the slightly dark sounding mono version.
My earlier excitement was mostly in reaction to the pristine state of the vinyl.
It's rare to find a (likely un-played) copy of a 1967 record by a major band in 2017.
It's like entering a time capsule and experiencing another by-gone era for a brief moment.
The original mono version does have its own pleasures and cachet.
Hard to pick a favorite; mono probably gets the edge.



Further July 4th listening material: