Search - Beatles :: Help! [CD/T-Shirt]

Stereo over Mono for Help

PAC MAN | NEW YORK | 02/10/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Stereo over Mono for Help. The mono version is terrible. The song help sounds muddy with the vocals and song structure. But, mono is where its at for the first four albums, sgt. pepper, and magical mystery tour. Hopefully mono will not be limited edition because that is how the beatles mixed and recorded the material. The first two albums in stereo are unlistenable in stereo because of the left right vocal issue."

I prefer George Martin's 1987 remix over remaster

Nick | Los Angeles, California | 05/09/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Even though the mix is the same, the remastered version seems to have less clarity.

Mr. Martin certainly knows what he is doing in the studio. Perhaps the masters of 'Help' had already been compressed to the limit and needed no additional compression in the remastering process. It seems like the remaster has more treble but less presence than the 1987 release. Overall the original George Martin 1987 remix is more balanced and sounds better than every other version I've heard so far. However, the 2009 Rubber Soul remaster actually sounds better than the 1987 Rubber Soul CD. I think it is due to the fact that the Rubber Soul masters do not suffer from the audio problems that the Help masters suffer.(i.e. compressed ride and crash cymbals, too much reverb ect..) In all fairness, the remastered Help actually sounds excellent if you give the bass a healthy boost. I can't figure out why they didn't do this in the remastering. Past masters disc 1 has the same problem. Listen to Long Tall Sally from the 1988 release and then listen to the new remastered version. You have to boost the bass to really hear Ringo's drumming. If you are looking to upgrade, first get Rubber Soul or Hard Days Night. Their sound is much improved by the remastering."