13th Floor Elevators: "Levitation" (Mono LP Mix) HQ

[jefffro1000]

Wow. Where did you get that pic of Tommy at 0:13 (coincidence)?

[Eightball69]

sounds altogether more 13th in mono......

[cheeezdooodle]

Thanks for uploading this song, it is awesome!!! Different, more intricate version.

I am a little confused about what "mono" is-?

Is this exactly what the album sounded like when it first came out in 1967?

[tanztante]

@cheeezdooodle

it's simply not stereo. ;)

quote from the almighty wiki:

"Monaural or monophonic sound reproduction (often shortened to mono) is single-channel. Typically there is only one microphone, one loudspeaker, or (in the case of headphones and multiple loudspeakers) channels are fed from a common signal path. In the case of multiple microphones the paths are mixed into a single signal path at some stage."

[cheeezdooodle]

@tanztante Oh that makes sense, thanks!

So is this version of 'levitation' the way it originally was released, then later re-recorded in stereo?

[johnfright]

@cheeezdooodle There were 2 mono mixes; one for the 45 and one for the mono mix of the LP, which is this one. The stereo mix was done later. The 45 was released in Feb 67, the album didnt come out til November. The mono 45 mix has some of the guitar solos cut out. The mono lp mix has the best of everything, I think. The guitar is much louder than on the single and the stereo mix. Hope this helps

[cheeezdooodle]

@johnfright Hi, it does help me understand the difference of mono versus stereo , thanks! And thanks also for posting this great song.

[broken1394]

great pro advert for drugs!! Roky E right on!!

[MrGeltabs]

@ 1:18 tripping balls lol

[Satyagrahaha]

Great 13th Floor photos! Who is the girl at 1:29 ?

[johnfright]

@Satyagrahaha Clementine Hall, Tommy's then wife.

[waynealarsen]

my cat and I dig this Levitation, they really muted the Elevator's down in the mastering process. 

[sclark5418]

No click on like - had to type LIKE - so so good.

[curbstompoioioi]

When the chorus kicks in it slays!!!

[sirPUNKsir]

really great to hear a mono mix of this as it makes it feel so much more like a belting Rock n roll number than the psychedelic headswirls of the stereo version. (incidentaly I made an animation of the stereo version if you check my youtube) Thank you for posting and nice picture montage also!

[written12]

@sirPUNKsir

I agree. Who would think the mono mix would be way better. You can really hear the instruments better and, as you say, it's more of a belting rock n' number than the stereo version.

[Satyagrahaha]

@written12 Of course mono mixes were almost always better. Few people had stereo vinyl turntables when this was released. Almost no stereo FM radio. Mosty AM stations, mono juke box machines, transistor radios and mono turntable needles. More production time went into nailing a best mono master because a vast majority of the record buying target audience listened in mono.

[xxALLUCINANTExx]

look at all those dilated pupils! it just warms the cockles of my heart

[written12]

@xxALLUCINANTExx

Wickedly funny line there, ALLUCINATE.

And I say that as someone not preaching the gospel of turn on, tune in, and drop out anymore.

[csensatvideos]

Excellent mix! Great picture editing too!

[johnfright]

@csensatvideos Thanks!

[KIDAmnesiacBends]

hmm...just a Lsd side effect

[sadhouse]

The Green Album was great changed music , Easter Everywhere , is an all time classic . Great song.

Levitation levitated Texas .

They don't write em like that anymore , great work heavy lyrics that came into focus just at the right time ,

Hey Man, it's freaky how much you look like Roky back then .

[imexiled]

I should add that I have listened to it like six times tonight this song is just so @#$@ing good though.

[imexiled]

Great song, nice tribute video. This band should have got all the attention that the stones got, and more. Its cool that more and more people are hip to themstill, it would have been better if they got the recognition they deserved when they were making these recordings.

[unclemeat2u]

Heh; this is the same vocal warble effect in the background that they use in "You don't know how young you are."

I like it here

=)

[gkoz791]

I love this mono version, you are right! Also, you did fantastic job on the pictorial tribute, extremely well put together!! Thanks for posting this!!

[johnfright]

You're quite welcome!

[gethepicture]

Brilliantly put together! Thanks a lot!!

[johnfright]

Thank you!

[Aquerotata]

does someone have the lyrics of this song? thanks

[fatherbruce4]

Un des groupe les plus mystique que je connaisse!! les images sont superbes!!! Merci Mille merci!!!!..... J'ecoute et je me rappelle certain "voyages"

[Cr3ativity]

I love this song for some reason. I never really liked Rock but this one is AWESOME!