The Beatles - Past Masters, Vol. 2
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Free Music Notes for Past Masters, Vol. 2
Free Music Review: Companion to the British albums starting with RUBBER SOUL
Hit: 5 Stars
In the late 80s, the two PAST MASTERS discs, consisting of the non-album songs (mostly singles), were released to supplement the original, British-format albums.
VOLUME TWO picks up with late-1965 recordings and ends with the 1970 "Let It Be" single. Generally this compilation was welcome at the time of its initial release (we were happy to get these songs on CD), but numerous fans had some rather cold feelings regarding the poor choice to include the stereo versions of many of these songs. Excluding "You Know My Name," which has never received a stereo mix, eight of the remaining 14 tunes (those released prior to 1969's "Get Back," the first stereo Beatles single) were originally released in mono and sounded fabulous. Perhaps there's a bit of truth to Ringo's knee-slapper: "George Martin has gone deaf in one ear. Now he can only work in mono!" Martin spent the majority of time working on the mono mixes and comparatively little time on the stereo. No doubt, George Martin was a mono-mixing genius. So why did we get the inferior stereo versions here?
Mono had been the standard for years, but there came an industry-wide push around 1969 to make stereo the standard. Ever since stereo became the norm, the record industry has tried very hard to brainwash the public into thinking that stereo is--and always was--better than mono. It is unfortunate that their efforts have been surprisingly successful because the inescapable fact remains that most stereo rock music from rock's early years sounds terribly artificial compared with what we are used to from the 70s onward. The stereo mixes of several of these songs sound grossly anemic--a far cry from their clear, full, focused, and balanced mono counterparts. So my disappointment with PAST MASTERS VOLUME TWO is simply that marketing wins out over artistic merit. (Too often we consumers suffer because of myths propagandized by corporate marketing mentality.)
"Day Tripper" and "We Can Work It Out" were released together as a single around the same time as RUBBER SOUL. The stereo versions of both songs give us extreme channel separation: Bass and drums are shoved far left while the vocals are far right, sounding detached and cavernous. The stereo picture sounds synthetic and gimmicky. And with the bass and drums shoved into a corner, the music's power is sapped, the rhythm section lacking sonic unity.
The stereo version of "Paperback Writer" has the guitars and drums far left, leaving only Paul's bass far right. It sounds as though the drums and guitars are in a separate room, down a hall somewhere. The vocals, once again, sound detached and abnormal: The lead and some harmonies are in the middle while the rest of the harmonies are far right. The mono version, released as a single with "Rain" two months before REVOLVER, is shockingly powerful, focused, and realistic in comparison. Although "Rain," for the most part, was spared bizarre channel separation--the rhythm section is front and center where it should be--John's vocals (far left) are severed from the harmony vocals (far right). It's close to the mono, but the mono still sounds better.
The album notes to the PAST MASTERS discs lead one to believe that these stereo versions were the original releases. "Lady Madonna," released as a single in March 1968, was not given its lopsided stereo remix until December 1969 for the Capitol compilation HEY JUDE. "The Inner Light," the flip side to the "Lady Madonna" single, was given its first stereo remix in January 1970 and is actually a decent representation of the original.
This version of "Revolution," however, is anything but a decent representation of the original mono single--a song of intense, raucous power. In fact, this stereo account is perhaps the most dismembered-sounding Beatles remix of all. "Hey Jude" is not so bad in stereo--why it was spared the sonic contortions received by some of these others is beyond me--but I assure you that the mono still sounds better.
Thankfully VOLUME TWO includes the single versions of "Get Back" and "Let It Be," which differ from the tracks on the LET IT BE and LET IT BE... NAKED albums. The stereo versions of those two songs plus "Don't Let Me Down," "The Ballad Of John And Yoko," and "Old Brown Shoe" do not sound gimmicky, and I prefer them to the mono versions. We also get the glorious original version of "Across The Universe," for years available only on the World Wildlife Fund's OUR WORLD LP. Recorded in 1968, the song received its stereo mix for the Wildlife album in October 1969. So the six stereo tunes from 1969 are the reasons why I hang on to VOLUME TWO.
The only place I know of where you will find the original mono versions of the pre-1969 songs is THE BEATLES CD SINGLES COLLECTION, an outrageously priced boxed set of the British singles. And because of the audacious price, I will not recommend that collection to the more casual fans of this group. I do highly recommend the SINGLES COLLECTION to those fans who must have the mono; but trust me, the price is enough to make one gasp.
PAST MASTERS VOLUME TWO is okay for those who have never heard the mono versions. But to many of us who grew up listening to the glorious mono mixes of most of these tunes, PAST MASTERS VOLUME TWO was like a slap in the face. Again, those who are not used to the mono versions will have no reason to share in my hardened partiality and should be reasonably happy with the two PAST MASTERS discs; after all, they are reasonably priced. Know, however, that superior versions exist which make many of the stereo ones sound abhorrently weak.
Free Music Review: PAST MASTERS 2 - IT JUST GETS BETTER!!
Hit: 5 Stars
The compilation of this and it's sister volume was probably the most sensible & logical of all Post-breakup Beatles albums. With the CD transfer of their UK catalogue, we were still left with a lot of good stuff - singles, B-sides, EP cuts, non-LP tracks, German versions and a giveaway track. (a few of these had been compiled previously on the UK "Rarities" LP that accompanied the original "Blue" LP Collection Boxed Set. But the some of the hits were still missing). What we have is a completion of the CD collection.
This second volume covers the studio years between 1965-70. It doesn't get off to a better start than with 2 sides of a classic "Double A" 45 "Day Tripper" & "We Can Work It Out" arguably one of the strongest single pairings ever released, recorded during the sessions for, but not included on, the "Rubber Soul" LP and issued at the same time. "Paperback Writer" & "Rain" continue that trend and they are notable for the experimentation that abounds on these cuts. Paul's bass work is particularly prominent on both tracks, so much so that it just leaps out at you. There was much consternation from EMI's sound engineers at time of pressing, worried that such heavy bass in the grooves would make the record skip. No such problems occurred though. This was the Beatles pushing the envelope and breaking the rules as they went. Both could have fitted on "Revolver" and again were recorded and released at the same time as that LP but not included. "Rain" is arguably the best Beatles B-Side ever issued and is notable for some great drum work from Ringo, the heavy guitar sound and backwards tape experimentation that was typical of those sessions in 1966. It's A-side "Paperback Writer" features some tongue-in-cheek backing vocals from John & George singing "Frere Jacques". We leap ahead 2 years to 1968 for the next track "Lady Madonna", a superb McCartney rocker. It's B-side was George's sublime but complex Indian themed "The Inner Light" which was much underated in 1968 but was rightly and beautifully revived at the "Concert For George". The Apple Years kick off with Paul's superb "Hey Jude" and John's heavy metal "Revolution" which contrasts markedly to it's slower alternate counterpart on the "White Album". Paul's "Get Back" & John's "Don't Let Me Down", were issued as a single from the original but abortive "Get Back" sessions but the energy of both tracks belie the tense atmosphere that surrounded those sessions. The former track is superior to the version issued eventually on the "Let It Be" LP. "The Ballad Of John & Yoko" was a quick fire release which only features John & Paul who appear to be having fun despite the dramas and animosity between them at this time. George's "Old Brown Shoe" is a great track that probably deserved better status. John's "Across The Universe" was a track given away for inclusion on a charity LP. It is the same recording as that included on "Let It Be" minus Phil Spector's syrupy strings and heavenly choirs. "Let It Be" is the original single version which is actually quite different to the Spector mixed LP version. The album is rounded off with "You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)", a quirky B-side with a long & complex history which was 3 years in the making by the time it was eventually released.
So there you have it. This album is a testament to the quality work the Beatles consistently supplied to their fans and it's little wonder that it continues to be played decades after original issue. If you have all of the other Beatles albums, then you really need this and it's sister volume to complete the picture.
Free Music Review: It will leave you smiling
Hit: 5 Stars
The tracks on this album are incredibly hard to find. This is the Beatles as they really were, not after the polishing or adjusting for various markets. A classic is 'You Know My Name', I heard this played constantly when a bartender in a pub in Salisbury, it was a forgotten memory until today. It reminds you that the Beatles did not always take themselves seriously. Or take Rain, possibly the best ever single released by the Fab Four. You could go out and buy the Blue Album which has most of these tracks, however the packaging and selection is better on this, plus no self-respecting Beatles fan owns either the Blue or Red album.For the die hard Beatles fan these records are the heart and soul of the band. If you ever tire of hearing the hits, this will liven up your soul and leave you smiling, for a long time
Free Music Review: Rain
Hit: 4 Stars
If you have all of the Beatles albums, and the compilation 'one,' you'll get several repeats with this album. However, this CD is a must. I don't know of another place that you can get the songs Rain, The Inner Light, etc. which are among my favorite Beatles songs. If only for those two songs, it's worth it.Free Music Review: A great collection of non album singles part 2
Hit: 5 Stars
This second volume of Past Masters picks up where volume one left off!!! A great collection of non LP singles(Hey Jude,Revolution,Get Back,Dont Let Me Down,Ballad Of John And Yoko,Day Tripper,We Can Work It Out,Paperback Writer,RainLet It Be,You know My Name(look up the number) and more!!! Also includes a rare version of Across The Universe!!! An awesome collection!!! Two thumbs up!!! Five stars!!! A+