November 2024 – Records, CDs and Music:

Sixty-one years ago today on November 22, 1963 The Beatles released their second album in the UK called “With the Beatles”.

That day of course may be better remembered to history as the day that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas but still nonetheless for Beatles fans it was a day of celebration, at least in the United Kingdom.

As for US fans, many of the songs from the “With the Beatles” weren’t released in the States until January 1964 when The Beatles American record label Capitol Records issued the album “Meet the Beatles” setting off a cultural explosion that still reverberates to this day over sixty years later.

Today I am, along with Capitol Records, celebrating the January 1964 release of “Meet the Beatles” with a brand spanking new vinyl reissue of the mono version of that Capitol album that’s been released today in honor of The Beatles taking America by storm in 1964.

Also being reissued today are mono versions of “The Beatles’ Second Album”, “A Hard Day’s Night” (UA Soundtrack), “Something New”, “Beatles ‘65” and “The Early Beatles”. There’s also a limited edition box set being issued called “The Beatles: 1964 Albums in Mono” that collects all of the above albums and throws in an exclusive reissue of the 1964 double vinyl album called “The Beatles Story”.

(Note: all of these albums except “The Early Beatles” were first issued in the States in 1964. “The Early Beatles” was issued by Capitol Records in 1965 but contains songs that were issued on the 1964 Vee Jay album “Introducing the Beatles” but I’m guessing Capitol Records didn’t have the rights to issue the artwork and label for that album so they chose to reissue “The Early Beatles” instead to fill its place for the 1964 US Beatles albums)

This time I didn’t splurge for the expensive box set and have only acquired the Target exclusive blue vinyl issue of “Meet the Beatles” … so far. But I have to say this new blue vinyl version from Target sure is purdy.

The cover is also well done with sturdy card stock that has a glossy finish. There’s also a nice card stock replica of the original Capitol inner sleeve as well as a terrific small booklet that features excellent notes and photos supplied by author Bruce Spizer.

As for the sound, this newly remastered mono album sounds really nice. In fact the album practically explodes from the speakers from the first few beats of “I Want to Hold Your Hand”. There’s definitely a lot more bass than the original mono pressings from 1964 and there’s a nice clarity and punch especially to the two songs in true mono.

Most of the mixes on this mono version are fold-downs from the stereo mix meaning they weren’t dedicated mono mixes but the combination of the left and right channels mixed down from the stereo. They still pack quite a punch and the vocals are nice and clear as well.

I think the original 1964 mono pressings sound more lifeless than this particular version. You don’t notice the deficit in the folded down mixes as much on this version because the bass is much nicer. The couple of dedicated mono mixes (“I Want to Hold Your Hand”, “This Boy”) here still pack a bit more punch than the fold-downs but overall this is a much better listening experience of this mono Capitol album than the original pressing.

I think I will definitely add the new versions of “Something New” and “Beatles ’65” or maybe “A Hard Day’s Night” as those all contain true mono mixes and should sound great. You can still tell the fold-down mono mixes aren’t quite as full of life as the true mono mixes but they are improved sound wise for sure.

I do have to say this particular blue vinyl pressing is very impressive and very quiet and clean and sounds terrific; what more could you ask for?

(Note 2: the Capitol rainbow label on this new issue is the first label “Meet the Beatles” was released with without BMI or ASCAP – nice touch courtesy of Mr. Spizer)

Of course if you’re hoping for the same dynamics as the true UK mono mix of the “With the Beatles” songs that are on this album well they aren’t the same. The Capitol mixes were designed to be heard loud and clear over old portable record players and this new mastering definitely improves that sound and is actually a really nice listen.

If you want to listen to the mono Capitol 1964 albums, these are the way to go for sure.

Time will tell if I add a few more of these new pressings, and I’m guessing that I probably will, but until that time I have to say this is really a great way to celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Beatles arriving in America.

Also next week a new documentary will be premiering on Disney+ called “Beatles ’64” which is a perfect tie-in for these albums and also the perfect way to experience what it was like first hand to view Beatlemania in the US in 1964.

That’s all for now and as usual you can see photos of this groovy new blue vinyl version above.

More to follow if I purchase any of the other 1964 albums that were reissued today – who am I kidding lol, I will.

Take care and be well and see you soon.

Well here we are, yet another 50th anniversary of a beloved record from my past.

(Note: It’s technically the 51st anniversary but I won’t quibble)

Yesterday, several brand new 50th Anniversary editions of George Harrison’s 1973 “Living in the Material World” album were issued on both vinyl and CD formats and of course I have a couple of them to share with you: the 2 CD set which features a nice poster, booklet as well as a second disc of outtakes and the orange vinyl version of the single album that is a Barnes & Noble exclusive.

(Note 2: There’s also a deluxe set that includes CDs, vinyl, Blu-Ray and a hardback book as well another vinyl version available separately that includes a double vinyl version of the album with the outtakes on a second vinyl disc.)

My history of this album dates back to 1977 when I purchased the album on vinyl at a local record store called Karma Records. I remember it well as the guy at the register looked at the album as I brought it up to pay for it and said that this album wasn’t as good as Harrison’s first album and then he proceeded to take me to a copy of the “All Thing Must Pass” 3 Lp set.

Of course the eleven year-old me only had enough money to pay for the single album of “Living in the Material World” and besides I was so attracted to the front cover which I thought looked like some sort of pirate hand outstretched from the great beyond that my mind was set on (sorry for the pun) getting this particular record.

My oldest brother who was buying “The Stranger” album by Billy Joel came up behind me and said to the clerk that I wanted the album that I brought to the counter so off I went with my first copy of “Living in the Material World”.

I have always enjoyed this record and even way back in 1977 I thought the musical textures of the songs on the album were very rich and I was then, and still am, a huge fan of the album especially the songs “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)”, “Don’t Let Me Wait Too Long”, “Try Some, Buy Some”, the title track “Living in the Material World” and most especially “Be Here Now” which is my favorite song on the album.

Since that time of course I have purchased multiple copies of this album, mainly various CD issues, and each time I have enjoyed it more and more and as time goes by it stands up as one of my all-time favorite solo albums by George Harrison.

I will say the thing about many of the most recent CD and vinyl reissues of the album, and the original vinyl album as well, is that the sound of the album is a bit murky in spots.

That may be a hallmark of Harrison working with Phil Spector but nevertheless while I enjoy the songs on the album I have always wanted a bit more clarity in the mix to help make the album sound a little less congested.

With this new 2024 remix I think Dhani Harrison, George Harrison’s son, along with Paul Hicks who are responsible for this new remix have done an admirable job of making the album sound less congested and they’ve also boosted Harrison’s vocals up more in the mix this time out.

I’ve read online that some people don’t like Harrison’s vocals this much up front as they think it exposes his weaknesses as a singer but for me I think it works fairly well. While not being known as quite the vocalist that Lennon or McCartney were George Harrison still has a way with his vocals in that the emotion always filters its way to the top even if he isn’t quite as smooth at times as he fellow Beatles in his delivery.

My only real criticism of this new 2024 remix is that it’s mixed a tad bit too loud for my tastes but it’s not horrible. In fact I think the vinyl version as usual sounds a bit more dynamic than the CD but at lower volumes the CD sounds good as well. If you play the CD loud though the bass tends to overwhelm the mix making it somewhat congested sounding as the original mix which is a shame.

The outtakes on the second disc of the 2 CD set however have really nice dynamics and aren’t as punched up sounding as the regular album. I would have preferred that the main album remix was mastered this way but overall I think it’s a nice mix and one I will return to when I’m in the mood for this album.

I also have to say my pressing of the orange vinyl was perfect, no distortion, no ticks and played perfectly all the way through and didn’t really need a major cleaning.

The loudness of most current remixes these days of older albums makes the vinyl versions well worth seeking out if they’re available as most of the time they sound more dynamic allowing you to enjoy the remix more than the CD counterpart.

(Note 3: Why oh why don’t they save the loudness for streaming and let the CD and vinyl issues have the best dynamics. I’m sure it’s mostly an older crowd buying these formats so why not make them sound as good as possible – rant over.)

And I must say I really enjoyed the alternate takes of the songs on this album from the 2 CD set as they are more stripped down then the original 1973 versions which really benefits some songs on the album such as “Sue Me, Sue You Blues”, “The Lord Loves the One (That Loves the Lord)” and “Try Some Buy Some” for instance.

The only other nitpicky thing which I think is kind of crazy is that on the deluxe set with the vinyl, CDs and Blu-ray there’s a bonus track on CD 2 as well as a 7-in single – “Sunshine Life for Me (Sail Away Raymond)” . That bonus track could easily have fit on CD 2 of the regular issue. You can stream it and download it but I think that’s really short-sighted not to include that track on all versions. Just my opinion.

As for the groovy orange vinyl Barnes & Noble version that I bought if you’re interested in it it seems like they didn’t press a lot of them. In fact at the Barnes & Noble store I bought it from they only had one copy sent to them and it wasn’t even unpacked when I went to the store to inquire about it.

If you’re a diehard fan of The Beatles or George Harrison this new remix is well worth it in my opinion. Of course to me these remixes aren’t better then the originals just a different way of listening to a particular album. If you don’t want a physical copy check it out online and give it a sample.

I can see the resistance to remixing older recordings but with the lovely outtakes and the nice liner notes it really does give a new way of appreciating older recordings like “Living in the Material World” album and if you can afford it and are a fan of physical media then you should seek a copy out.

As usual you can take a gander at the two different versions of the new “Living in the Material World” that I bought above and below.

Well that’s all for now.

Until next time be healthy and well and see you soon!