There has been considerable hype over this collection in the press, and with a series of programs on BBC 2 over the weekend (and I believe also this week) it will most certainly reignite a global love for The Beatles. I have heard that Amazon have already sold out of box sets prior to it's release on Wednesday.
Mono and Stereo Box Sets
Completely remastered and repackaged into two very appealing (and environmentally friendly) box sets. It's going to be the best The Beatles have ever sounded! As a collector I've been drawn towards the Mono set as once these are gone thats it, they are strictly limited edition. However I am still put off by Yellow Submarine not being included in this set as it was originally released in both mono and stereo. So theoretically I don't see why it has been omitted.
As for the stereo box, no doubt this will sound amazing but I have my reservations. As stereo was relatively new in the early 60's, the panning tended to be extreme, i.e. the vocals would either be panned far left or far right not both. You can clearly hear this in the unflattering 1988 Beatles CD box.
Technology at the time had its limitations which had reflected in the mastering.
In the mid 60's everything changed with the introduction of multitrack recording. Sgt Pepper was the first to be mastered on 8-track, prior to this 4-tracks were used. A Hard Days Night, Beatles For Sale, Help, Rubber Soul and Revolver were all 4-track. Anything before 1964 a 2-track would have been used i.e. Please Please Me & With the Beatles, and would have been recorded live. You will be able to notice both this technological progression and hear The Beatles creativity blossom in the new box sets.
See trailer for The Beatles Rockband below:
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