When most bands put their catalog on compact disc back in the 1980s, The Beatles held out. Back then, the technology was still new and engineer George Martin and wanted to make sure the CDs would be the best they could be.
Once The Beatles catalog was finally released, fans seemed happy. But those who recall the vinyl versions bemoaned the overall lack of warmth. The Beatles sounded sterile on CD and they seemed to lack the warmth and emotion they gave on vinyl records.
With the exception of the huge selling 1 compilation in 2000 and Let It Be…Naked in 2003, fans have mainly heard Beatles music from those 1987 CDs. Heard today, they CDs sound fine, but their audio quality pales compared to many recent and remastered CD releases.
Back To The Lab
Recording engineers went back to the original analog tapes that George Martin mastered. Like modern day archeologists, they uncovered the richness of the band’s meticulous music, as well as George Martin’s brilliant recording techniques. The result of The Beatles being remastered shows why they were so great.
Fans can buy the stereo box set, or the mono box set, or the CDs separately. Most of The Beatles albums and singles were recorded in mono sound. The last four albums were recorded in stereo. Purists will probably want the albums in the mono box set, but truth be told, the stereo versions sound excellent. Martin’s work in the studio was second to none and could be mixed either way and still sound great.
With digital downloads being popular, why would The Beatles catalog be re-released on a dying audio format? The compact disc is still the most widespread format today. Plus, with the exception of vinyl and Super Audio CD, the remastered Beatles CDs will sound better than any download.
How Do The Beatles Sound Now?
For what it’s worth, the 1987 Beatles CDs didn’t sound too bad. In comparison to the new remasters and the 1 compilation, the ‘80s CDs sound fairly dull. The new remasters add more life, more clarity and volume to each album.
On Rubber Soul, just one of the band’s treasures, Norwegian Wood takes on new life. Ringo Starr’s kick drum is now alive with authority and rhythm. John Lennon’s vocals, coming out of the right speaker, are clear as a bright day. Drive My Car is no longer strident as the original CD sounded. The song recording is much smoother and immediate and gets the feet tapping. It should be noted that this album, and Help! were sourced from the 1987 mixes. Some minor remastering was done. To get the newer 24-bit remasters, buyers must purchase the mono box set which includes the new stereo mixes.
Revolver, whose songs Taxman and Eleanor Rigby have been played so much over the years, now sound fresh. Eleanor Rigby has always been a melancholy song, but here, Paul McCartney’s vocals illicit goosebumps. The album has a lot of pop songs, but it also took the band into experimental territory. Tomorrow Never Knows is trippy, but it’s even more trippy with improved sound.
On Help!, Yesterday has been remade and played into the ground. Yet hearing it remastered gives the song new resonance and meaning. It’s a hauntingly beautiful tune. The entire album showcases the band’s ability to cross musical genres. Act Naturally is Ringo’s time to shine in a playful way with a little country-western music mixed in. Considering this and Rubber Soul were taken from the 1987 mixes, they sound pretty good.
Abbey Road is considered by many to be superior to Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Beatles fans will forever debate which album is their best. Nonetheless, this album is one other their most accessible, yet experimental. Come Together roars over the speakers with new clarity, as does I Want You. Side Two, if this was on LP, the recordings become cleaner sounding. Here Comes The Sun is a great George Harrison song and brings a smile with its optimism.
This is just a sampling of how good these new remasters sound. The only other way to get them to sound better would be to put them on LP or Super Audio CD. SACD is a niche format and Capitol Records didn’t support the format in the first place. Vinyl records are coming back on popularity, so there is a possibility that The Beatles catalog could be eventually released in that format. That would make some Baby Boomers very happy.
The Beatles Still Rock
Here’s a chance for a new generation of listeners to discover the magic of The Beatles catalog. The band was truly groundbreaking and could write and perform songs that have stood the test of time. These new remasters prove how brilliant John, Paul, George & Ringo were. Now it’s time to give The Beatles a whole new spin.
Bill Kallay - Bill Kallay is an award winning screenwriter and journalist with over a decade of professional experience. He's written for Widescreen ...
