The Beatles - "Please Please Me" (2009 Mono & Stereo Remasters) Comparison

[hpeche]

The Beatles and others back then considered stereo a fad - hi-fis, transistor radios, car radios were are mono. So they concentrated on the mono version and left the stereo to the engineers who need a product for America or the record company catalogue. So the versions are often quite different - different takes, mixes, and so on - all thru the albums depending on the whims of the engineers when they mixed the stereo versions. And the stereo is primitive - listen to If I Needed Someone.

[jdenicholls]

The mono version is a bit "harder" and sounds less produced in my opinion. All the instruments hit you with more punch and it sounds less smooth. Which is personally how I prefer it.

[govrom12]

Mono or stereo, it doesn't matter because this song and everything the Beatles put out is still so much better than the crap that passes for music today. 

[DDRaHolic]

I think it's so fascinating that artists cared so little about stereo back then that they would release a flubbed line as the master, and by 1968 they didn't even make mono versions of certain songs, like Revolution 9!

[Matrix803]

I actually prefer the stereo version. I like the "spacey" quality it has. It actually sounds a little clearer, and I could pick out the instruments better. ^^

[akeel456]

The stereo version is frustrating, for me anyway. Wearing headphones, the vocal is restricted to the right headphone and I feel like I'm sitting in a big blank space.

Thankfully, I brought the mono box set. ;v

[kinkcobra71]

i prefer mono!!!!

[paulfuckinmccartney]

Both great. Sony earbuds do the stereo justice. And I'm a bass guy and the bass is more prominent in stereo so stereo gets my vote

[tomster927]

No question the mono is much better. And that's true of a lot of their early songs.

[PaulMcCartne009]

Stereo version is more lounder than the mono version i like the STEREO VERSION

is more LOUNDER than the mono version.

[boxcharles]

I just bought the stereo box today, and I listened to this video before I bought it. I knew that their earlier records wouldn't sound as good in stereo. I got in my car, unwrapped the box, and put this cd in my car stereo...and it sounded exactly as it did here. I knew it would, but for some reason I was disappointed.

It sounded really muffled. In the mono version all the harmonies are crystal clear. Stereo sounds great on everything after rubber soul though....trust me.

[meridilynn]

John flubbs the vocal part, not Paul and laughs at himself

[m0t0psych0]

I love the remaster of this song. It's an amazing song, don't get me wrong, but did anyone notice that near the end of the song on the stereo remaster that the drums are off time with the song from roughly 3:42 to about 3:50?

I'm not sure why this happened, but this error isn't apparent on the mono remaster. Could anyone explain this to me, please?

[anonUK]

The recording hardware processes necessary for 'good' stereo weren't available by 1963 (they only came in towards the end of the 60's, in UK anyway) and 'fake' stereo always sounded a bit obvious. This song was conceived in mono- and the Beatles actually recorded even much of their psychedelic era material in mono, only turning up for mono recording sessions and letting George Martin et al do a stereo version afterwards. Only Abbey Road was recorded ab initio in stereo.

[glassoul]

3:25 you can hear Lennon flub the lyrics, and laugh/sing at the start of the next line.

[Sevecks]

i think up until the beatles were deciding how the stereo versions would sound, mono always wins. i mean, when they decided to put them in stereo, it wasn't part of creative decisions, it was more or less, how do we change this from mono to stereo.

[RkivUnderground]

I can make instant Beatle karaoke by turning the balance over to the left channel in the stereo mix.

[ziolet8]

when i heard the stereo version, i could hear the miss of john clearly!!:)

[Joshua12345]

The song is great of course, my No 1 all time favourite. But, odd comment to make I know, but the way the lads are stood in the piccy remnds me of me and my brothers when standing on the Kop at Anfield during a big game, the only way to stay anywhere near still was to stand like that. Back to the music methinks ...

[DAWNED]

Thank You so much for doing this, I can't afford to buy both Stereo and Mono version and have tortured myself as to which one to get. I appreciate being able to listen to both for comparison!

Thank you, thank you!

[BytteBob]

Haha I was wondering what on earth was going on in the last chorus when I first heard it on stereo lp

[Sampson1138]

very nice.

[Bose645]

mono.. hands down.. that's the way the beatles played and recorded it.. nothing is more important than the artists original intent (in my mind).. no offense to the fans of the stereo versions.. but.. after reading that they weren't even present for the stereo remasters.. explains it all in it self.. plus.. the mono versions are what i remember being played on the radio back in the day (as a kid).. the stereo verison seems somewhat unnatural to me (like 99,9% of all today's music)..

[beatlestarr5577]

The mono one feels more richer and fuller and the stereo just seems halfway full.

[1967beatlesfan]

Also in the stereo version at 3:25 John gets the line " I know you never even tried girl"

with "Why do I never even try girl" But still no matter what they're still the best.

[pokegundam767]

i like mono cause when i share headphones it helps for people to hear the same song. and my speakers and headphones.

but i like stereo cause you get that effect from switching from ear to ear.

[lifeisdead01]

What is that weird drum overlay thing near the end of the stereo version? That's definitely not in the mono one.

[marymungoandmidge]

brilliant track!!!

chestyx

[rayharryhausen6]

I don't own either remastered boxed set (yet), but I gotta say, as far as these earlier Beatles songs are concerned, mono is the clear winner. The stereo just sounds unnatural. When it gets to later stuff (i.e. 'Rubber Soul' and onward), it gets a little trickier.

[Ratelzwatel]

@rayharryhausen6 'Rubber Soul' is remixed in stereo in the 1980s. The 1960s stereo mix (included on mono box) has much separation.

[fggfggfggfgf]

in the stereo one i hear doubles at the end (3:43)

[Professor6871]

I love this song from their early hits.

[Professor6871]

Apparently, I read somewhere or other that the Beatles preferred the mono versions of their songs over the stereo ones. They considered them more raw and real then the stereo recordings and given the technology then to make stereo records so I don' t blame them for preferring their mono recordings . I think it wasn't until the Ballard of John and Yoko record of 1969 that you had a truly integrated stereo that we know today.

[DreamPark9]

Brilliance is easy to spot...*

[BobDylanFan1966]

my favortite song off this album cause i like the vocal parts between paul and john when they hold those notes like mmmmmmmmmmyyyyyyyy grilllllllllllll and trrrrrrrryyyyyyyy girlllllllllllllll soo cool

[fidodildo22]

Where is the bass on mono mix??

[Trekchick]

thank you so much! After much debate I now know which one to buy. Im totally going with Mono!! The clarity is better and the sound isnt split between channels. At work I often only listen with one headphone and it always annoyed me how the sound was split with the Beatles songs. This is great! :)

[jsr121689]

Honestly...I can't really tell the difference.

[dylan9094]

If you're just using your speakers, put on some headphones, then you will hear a big difference.

[carlo76adsl]

really... the first half unti 1:59min is in mono...then same song in stereo. In stereo listen to the harmonica and Johns lead vocal...it comes only from the right speaker.

[tripleJ1955]

Stereo mix splits the sound stage, mono mix fills it up nice.

Mono's my choice, on this song anyway.

[Professor6871]

@tripleJ1955 And so did the Beatle prefer it that way given the technology that available at the time to make stereo recordings.

[tripleJ1955]

@Professor6871 In the early years the Beatles spent a lot of time in the mixing room making sure that the mono mixes came out to their satisfaction and then left George Martin to deal with the stereo mix. The reason for this was that in the early 1960's there just were not that many stereo HiFi's around and the Beatles didn't expect to sell enough stereo albums to worry about working on the stereo mixes themselves. I don't believe the Beatles "preferred" mono, it was just more common.

[Professor6871]

@tripleJ1955 I know that they left Geoge Martin to mix their songs into stereo. Where did you get the rest of your information about what the Beatles thought of stereo on their recordings? They may have considered commercially that their stereo versions would not of sold as much as monos twould of done with their fans, but they were not just a commercial band they were also artistic as well.

[tripleJ1955]

@Professor6871 Most of what I repeated came from a George Martin interview on one of the Anthology DVD's and I have heard an interview with John Lennon somewhere in my large box full of Beatles VHS and DVD's, but I really couldn't say which one. You have to remember that Stereo was in it's infancy in the early 1960's and hadn't given any indication that it would eventually displace mono as the most popular recording format. According to Geo Martin The Beatles just didn't take stereo seriously.

[hookshot55]

the mono sounds better. mono sounds like you are in the same room.

[carlo76adsl]

the songs in mono are kicking you right into the face! GREAT MONO!

[chavezrocs]

im trying to figure out which albums are better in mono and which are better in stereo.

can i hear you guys' opinions?

[carlo76adsl]

My opinion; Please Please me, With the Beatles, Rubber Soul, Revolver, SGT Pepper, Magical Mystery Tour are better in Mono.

[SSaxdude]

in my opinion, all the available mono albums sound better than the stereo ones except for the white album and magical mystery tour. some albums are much better in mono (sgt peppers, revolver, please please me) while others the difference is smaller (rubber soul, hard days night). to give you an idea of some mono standouts, listen to lucy in the sky with diamonds, taxman, twist and shout, revolution, she's leaving home, and compare them to the stereo mixes.

[Saternoc]

I would love to see more album comparisons esp beginning with Help! and above.

[thetennahs]

around 3.24 john sings "I know I never even try" and paul sings "I know YOU never even try girl". Pauls lyric is right and it makes john laugh as he sings the next "come on"

[anthonykiedisbegod]

Shit I meant to give you thumbs up and accidentally clicked thumbs down! :(((( sorry!

[monusername]

@thetennahs Yes only in the stereo, i've always notified this laugh

[pianorman]

@monusername: The 'laugh' is John laughing, because he just 'blew' his line...instead of singing, "I know you [never even try girl]...", he sang, "Why do I (then caught himself) [never even try girl...] He must have been thinking of the 2nd verse. Anyway, getting through the 'flub', he laughed during the following, "Come on..." Since the mono version was a complete different recording, the mistake isn't there.

[wickedawesomemonkey]

mono. its weird listening to stereo beatles on ur ipod

[SymphonyOfDestruct99]

why they released in both mono and stereo remastered? fans will go crazy to make decision.

[ACDC983]

@SymphonyOfDestruct99 Im going crazy already!!!!!!!!!

[SymphonyOfDestruct99]

but for me of course i will prefer the stereo as both version supposed to be 2009 remixed and remastered version. For me no matter what they say about 'mono if you want the 70's nostalgia' i dont care because i'm sure this mono released will never sound the same like the original version. Different peak, different bass drum, guitar vocal, acoustic sound. So just go for stereo if you want buy the 2009 version ok?

[carlo76adsl]

Believe me some albums sounds better in MONO!! and by the way the stereo & mono albums were "only" remastered and not remixed. And why 70ies nostalgia? the entire original Beatles albums were released between 1962 - 1970.

[SymphonyOfDestruct99]

believe me i would like too if i have the chance. But like my Metallica collection which initially released on vinyl and casette in their respective released date, i choose the 1989/1990 released remastered version on CD because i dont have other choice. So you should let go your nostalgia and choose the Stereo because it is the new standard for audio experience.

[eugenecheung6]

if u got enough money, get both

[Flasoo8]

Also, the vocals are different in parts between the two. The once noticeable flub in the first version is absent in the second one.

[natedogis2cool]

mono feels like theyre in the room playing for you

[nerdz410]

Thank you for assuring my decision to ask for Stereo for Christmas :p lol This is only because hearing every part ( rythm, bass, lead) is wat i always try to listen to

[plangentmusic]

Nice posting . Thanks

[spiritoradio]

No prob.

[DAWNED]

@spiritoradio Thank You so much for doing this, I can't afford to buy both Stereo and Mono version and have tortured myself as to which one to get. I appreciate being able to listen to both for comparison!

Thank you, thank you!

[kanzosupremo]

how come the back picture of the please please me lp has capitol records logo on it i thought that capitol didnt release this album

[spiritoradio]

The pic that I used is the one from the CD stereo remaster. I believe that Capital/EMI owns the distribution rights to the Beatles albums. Originally Capital just picked and threw together songs and released them as albums, like "The Beatles IV" in the US.

[Zickcermacity]

The Capital song sequencing is different and it was the US that had the biggest market for stereo recordings.  The tapes went to America and were remixed and issued there in stereo.

[benngarcia]

can someone please explain to me why the stereo version has always had the ping pong effect right at the end, starting about 3:44 in this video. its real bad in headphones, and its in all of the stereo versions, just wanted to know the technical reason this occured.

[spiritoradio]

I don't know the technical reason for this, but I heard somewhere else, I'm not sure where now, that they put that in the song to give the final chorus a bit of oomph. I'm not sure if that is true at all, so if anyone has heard any different please let us know.

[BobDylanFan1966]

@benngarcia cause it was intentionael for stereo systems that put out sound and not headphones speakers and sometime in the early 60's they had portable radio in the shape of a mp3 and you only got one earphone pieace cause everything was in mono on the radio stereo. but i think emi/apple figure with the older generatinak audiences of the sixtys would use stereo systems than mp3 devices so

[pianorman]

@benngarcia: Seems I read a quote from George Martin, where John had trouble hearing the previous tracks that were laid down, when overdubbing his harmonica, so they 'fed' him a mix through a 'foldback' speaker (now called monitors), which created a delayed, 3rd track. Why this didn't occur in the intro of the song, I don't know - maybe John was able to pull this part off with headphones.

[celmendo]

Thanks for posting this. I've wanted to hear a comparison. I prefer the mono version myself. The stereo sounds good but the mono just sounds fuller and more right to my ears.

[spiritoradio]

I'm glad that you enjoyed it. I was looking for comparison videos too, but I couldn't seem to find any. So I thought that if I can put one up I should, because I can't be the only one who wanted to hear the difference and it was true.

[spiritoradio]

I prefer the stereo version myself, but I find it weird that the stereo version is longer and includes an extra chorus, but who 'am I to question George Martin?

[JPM2875]

I have to say I think I perfer the mono version over the stereo, how bout you