Songs stuck in mono

[The infamous Baldwin Organ]

As I asked a similar question in a different thread, I was wondering if we could compline a list of songs that we know cannot be converted from mono to stereo, without losing any overdubs, etc.

For example, I have been told a true stereo version of the Help Me Rhonda single is impossible. What else can't be done

Also, I'm not hating on mono; for many songs, I prefer it! 

[Jason]

Do You Wanna Dance
I Get Around
Ballad Of Ol' Betsy
Be True To Your School
Car Crazy Cutie
Cherry, Cherry Coupe
Spirit Of America
No-Go Showboat
A Young Man Is Gone
Custom Machine
Wouldn't It Be Nice
You Still Believe In Me
Help Me Rhonda
The Little Girl I Once Knew

[Jay]

I have a question, if I may. Why can't certain songs be mixed to stereo? I've seen it mentioned a few times, but I've never understood why. I'm not an engineer or producer, mind you, so maybe it's just a process that has gone over my head, so to speak. 

[Jason]

You require the multitrack master tapes, which are basically the rough elements of the recording as they exist on a reel. They then need to be properly combined in a mix on another tape. If you do not have the multitrack master tapes, or elements are missing from them, it's impossible to create a new mix.

For tracks like Do You Wanna Dance or Help Me Rhonda, Brian mixed to mono and then overdubbed elements on top of them. Unless technology permits isolating those elements from the mono masters so they can be used in a stereo remix, a stereo remix is impossible. Of course, Mark Linett did it for Wouldn't It Be Nice, but that's still a sort of bastard stereo. It sounds great but if you're a PURIST it sticks out. Basically Mark couldn't mix the bridge properly in stereo because Mike's bridge vocal wasn't on the multitracks, having been replaced by a vocal from Brian. Mark was able, later on, to isolate Mike's vocal in the mono master and then make a new mix following his original work.

[petsite]

One more track......Good Vibrations.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Ballad Of Ol' Betsy
Be True To Your School
Car Crazy Cutie
Cherry, Cherry Coupe
Spirit Of America
No-Go Showboat
A Young Man Is Gone
Custom Machine

errr... aren't those in stereo anyway ?

[Jay]

You require the multitrack master tapes, which are basically the rough elements of the recording as they exist on a reel. They then need to be properly combined in a mix on another tape. If you do not have the multitrack master tapes, or elements are missing from them, it's impossible to create a new mix.

For tracks like Do You Wanna Dance or Help Me Rhonda, Brian mixed to mono and then overdubbed elements on top of them. Unless technology permits isolating those elements from the mono masters so they can be used in a stereo remix, a stereo remix is impossible. Of course, Mark Linett did it for Wouldn't It Be Nice, but that's still a sort of bastard stereo. It sounds great but if you're a PURIST it sticks out. Basically Mark couldn't mix the bridge properly in stereo because Mike's bridge vocal wasn't on the multitracks, having been replaced by a vocal from Brian. Mark was able, later on, to isolate Mike's vocal in the mono master and then make a new mix following his original work.

Thanks for the info. 

[hypehat]

God Only Knows as well, don't forget.

The Vegetables stereo mix on Hawthorne is also missing a part at the end, so technically that counts too

[c-man]

Also "Girl Don't Tell Me" and "Wild Honey".  And isn't the "Hawthorne" stereo mix of "Heroes and Villains" lacking a part or two as well?

[The infamous Baldwin Organ]

What about "Darlin"? That was a minor hit single, and on many compilations; but we haven't got a remix of that yet.

I know at least some of the tracking session exists.

[PongHit]

The Vegetables stereo mix on Hawthorne is also missing a part at the end, so technically that counts too.

What's missing?

[Roger Ryan]

The Vegetables stereo mix on Hawthorne is also missing a part at the end, so technically that counts too.

What's missing?

The vibes overdub. On SOT, you can hear Brian attempting the part himself which takes him quite a few takes to get the melody right.

[PhilCohen]

Ballad Of Ol' Betsy
Be True To Your School
Car Crazy Cutie
Cherry, Cherry Coupe
Spirit Of America
No-Go Showboat
A Young Man Is Gone
Custom Machine

The single version of "Be True to Your School" isn't available in stereo. The others that you mention ARE available in stereo.
errr... aren't those in stereo anyway ?

[PongHit]

isn't the "Hawthorne" stereo mix of "Heroes and Villains" lacking a part or two as well?

Vocal parts?

[Andrew G. Doe]

This doesn't exactly explain why, but somewhere in here are all the BB songs still released in mono only.

http://www.btinternet.com/~bellagio/monostereo.html

[sockittome]

Let's not forget "Do It Again".  If I understand correctly, it's because the processing of the snare drum was done when the mono mastering was done.

[sockittome]

And isn't the "Hawthorne" stereo mix of "Heroes and Villains" lacking a part or two as well?

I don't know if anything is missing, but I believe there were a few brief segments that got a fake stereo treatment.

[The infamous Baldwin Organ]

Let's not forget "Do It Again".  If I understand correctly, it's because the processing of the snare drum was done when the mono mastering was done.

You may be right. But if the track is  available unmixed without the snare sounds, it should be pretty easy to redo the effect. Of course some may not like the idea of that, but I'd encourage them to try.

[c-man]

Let's not forget "Do It Again".  If I understand correctly, it's because the processing of the snare drum was done when the mono mastering was done.

You may be right. But if the track is  available unmixed without the snare sounds, it should be pretty easy to redo the effect. Of course some may not like the idea of that, but I'd encourage them to try.

No, the processed snare drum sound is an actual overdub (played by John Guerin), and it may in fact have been added during the mono mixdown (not sure, though).  If this is true, then it would be impossible to duplicate on a new stereo mix. 

[Sam_BFC]

How exactly was that snare sound done? I have read something about a bit of tape delay but of course there is more to it than that, as touched upon by c-man.

Ta
Sam

[MBE]

With the Beach Boys Brian produced stuff it's always interesting to hear the many elements that are picked up in stereo. Still I don't consider those accurate as far as what Brian considered his final product. For me mono is the way to go, except on a purely academic level.

[runnersdialzero]

I'd think a stereo mix of "Do It Again" would be very easy, seeing as how that snare track is isolated in the very beginning. Wouldn't think it'd be that hard to get something really, really similar out of it.

[punkinhead]

Is the Concert album in stereo or mono?

All the 70s albums are all stereo, right?

[Andrew G. Doe]

Is the Concert album in stereo or mono?

All the 70s albums are all stereo, right?

Which 'concert' album ?

And yes, all albums after Wild Honey are stereo*.

[* yes, I know there are UK mono fold-downs of  Friends and 20/20]

[DonnyL]

They used a special tape delay unit made by philips for "do it again".

the stereo mix of "let the wind blow" is missing an overdub, sounds like an organ.  which brings to mind the way that WILD HONEY as an album was recorded/mixed - it may not be possible for complete stereo mixes of all of the songs