Sound Quality of Beach Boys CDs

Posted by: jim learoyd on 30 September 2001

Can anybody tell me what the sound quality is like on the early Beach Boys CDs? Or for that matter any Beach Boys CD.

jim...............

Posted on: 01 October 2001 by Mike Hanson

I've got the "Pet Sounds" remaster. It actually contains the album twice: once in it's original mono, then again remixed in stereo (under the direction of Brian Wilson, I believe). Neither sounds "good", and Beatles albums from the same period far surpass it.

BTW, Brian Wilson's recent "Imagination" album also sounds awful, but that can be blamed on tacky production goals.

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

[This message was edited by Mike Hanson on MONDAY 01 October 2001 at 17:16.]

Posted on: 01 October 2001 by Martin M

The original stereo mixes of the early stuff (think Fun, Fun, Fun, I Get Around) can sound excellent. As Brian got more and more into overdubs so the sound got worse until Pet Sounds and then they vered back toward excellence (in sound at least)....

If you really like the Beach Boys and want to spend the money, the two DCC Gold CDs (Endless Summer - a OKish best of, and Pet Sounds) are worth the cash. They are more 'musical' than the other versions of the same discs I have heard.

The best music to sound quality ratio comes from the Beach Boys box-set (can't remember its name), which in general sounds great (the standout being the Good Vibrations backing tracks in the bonus disc sound amazing and are in stereo). Where there are common tracks between the DCC and the box-set the DCC wins though.

PS I can't say I fully agree with Mike that the Beach Boys have poorer sound than the Beatles (although to say Pet Sounds sounds great would be a lie even for the DCC). This assessment is made more complex by the fact that the Beach Boys back-catalogue has seen much misguided re-mastering and 'restoration' in the past so its diffuclt to know what you are comparing. The Beatles stuff has never really be trashed (sound-wise) in the manner that the Beach Boys stuff was. Having said that, the current Beatles catalogue is rather poorly served by the current CDs and LPs. Having heard the original vinyl of The Beatles and Revolver, I know they can be a lot better.

Posted on: 01 October 2001 by Tony L

quote:
If you really like the Beach Boys and want to spend the money, the two DCC Gold CDs (Endless Summer - a OKish best of, and Pet Sounds) are worth the cash.

The DCC vinyl of Pet Sounds is pretty damn good too. A fabulous album.

Tony.

Posted on: 01 October 2001 by Tony L

quote:
Having heard the original vinyl of The Beatles and Revolver, I know they can be a lot better.

Agreed. The Beatles CDs are crap quality compared to late 70s vinyl let alone original, and the current vinyl is just the CD masters pressed to LP. Full price too

Tony.

Who has a nice original mono copy of Revolver...

Posted on: 01 October 2001 by Martin M

quote:
Tony.
Who has a nice original mono copy of Revolver...

Do you own a CD Recorder too?

PS The DCC vinyl of Pet Sounds is superb also, agreed.