I’ve listened to The Beatles Red & Blue album 2023 remixes. The results are a mixed bag. Most of the early tracks benefit musically in instrument clarity, but some vocal harmonies are revealed as off. Later period tracks tend to present well overall except for “I am the Walrus” which is weaker than its stereo and mono predecessors. The original 45 mono mix has punch. I listened on Event studio monitors with flat EQ. Additionally, the track is extended with other radio chatter that is charmless.
For the casual Beatles fan, the Red & Blue remixes are probably most songs you’d want (although “Rain” is missing!). Hardcore fans may enjoy a wee bit of subtle variance from revealed instruments and vocals. Listening to the Red album, particularly the first 10 12 tracks back to back was a little irritating in that the remix styles and volume is inconsistent. So far my favorite Beatles remixes are on the Yellow Submarine Songtrack release from the 1990s. Potato, potato.
@Nick_Searles the remixes give and take away. Then, growing up with the US releases only to hear the UK versions (as the band & Martin intended), was quite an experience.
@CanisPundit
I still havent listened to the red/blue 2023. Have you heard the Rock Band remixes?
@MPCavalier I recall liking what I heard.
@CanisPundit
I listened to the Red album today and yeah ..... the 2023 re-mixes seem to be a case of "coulda not shoulda". Pretty extraneous.
@MPCavalier that’s a pretty good description 🤣. Still, a nice gateway drug for casual fans born after 1980.
I thought they both were a chance to listen with new ears. I'm old enough to have been around when they were all first released.
@tgraph52 @CanisPundit
I will say that the new mix of "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" is kind of nice. Lennon's vocal seems closer to the mic - and the original mix seemed "gauzy" - this one is clearer and a little brighter.
I thought there were a few instances where I could hear the doubling of Lennon's voice more clearly.
@tgraph52 @CanisPundit
Agreed. Now, I don't what the heck is going on with "Day Tripper" but it's an unholy mess. The whole middle section - it sounds like Lennon and Harrison are still working something out but they left it on the take. I mean, I hear bum notes.
on the other hand, I'm listening to Duke Ellington's Far East Suite, remastered in 1988 and streaming on Amazon Music at 24/192 and it's pretty glorious! 🎶
@tgraph52 Thanks for the rec! Listening now. @CanisPundit
@MPCavalier @tgraph52 and agreed back. Yeah, analog is much kinder to washing away some errors, and the added US reverb, and some things may have been intentionally mixed down but kept because the overall performance was good (or time constraints). Some harmonies are less than harmonious, but I don’t want pitch correction applied.
@MPCavalier @tgraph52 agreed. There’s ample opportunities for cork sniffing, but I’m trying to keep my negative criticism to standouts. At the same time I could critique the removal of little mistakes. I want to hear the piano stool creaking in fade out chord in the original “A Day in the Life”. 🤣
@CanisPundit I just think a new gen being able to listen to the Beatles is so cool. I have to give a listen to this so I know what you are saying. And Rain...I now have to play it and sing it. Great song to practice vocals with.