Beatles Remastered Vinyl

Posted by: matt podniesinski on 20 September 2012

I just received an e-mail alleging that the vinyl is finally arriving. Anybody else seen similar announcements?

 

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-1...aign=soundbytes&

Posted on: 17 November 2012 by fathings cat

All this talk is killing me........ £275 at What Records. In the words of the Borg resistance is futile..........

Gary

Posted on: 17 November 2012 by Paul@HiFi Lounge

Mine have now been delivered to my parents so it is just a matter of finding the time to go and collect them 

 

Steve, initially after reading your findings I was a little dis-heartened to be honest then I thought, actually I've never heard the 1st pressings and am very unlikely to, unless you tie me to a chair and bring one along to HFL Steve  so I'm excited again now, I'm sure it is the best I'm going to hear the Beatles on Vinyl, be interesting to compare them to the 24bit versions that I have though.

Posted on: 17 November 2012 by naim_nymph
Originally Posted by Steve J:

Relatively speaking Debs it would have cost much more in the '60s/'70s than the box set costs today. 


I think so too, maybe an extra weeks pay packet [or two] to buy a box back then.

It's probably why they didn't bother market one, would have been far too expensive for most people to afford.

 

Debs

Posted on: 17 November 2012 by Quad 33
Originally Posted by naim_nymph:

Question ~

 

If, hypothetically, forty years ago in 1972 they produced a Beatles stereo box-set of their 14 albums, how much would it have cost back then?

The new box-set @ £300 or so is a little less than an 'average' weeks wage, but how much would it have been in 1972, and how would it relate to how many average weekly wages?

I would think that adding up the 1972 prices of all the 14 albums would probably be a good approximate [we can throw the box and the book in for free]. I was too young with no money in the early 70’s and had no idea how much LP’s cost in those days, or how much an average weekly wage was.

 

Debs

Hi Debs

using my memory of 1972 (which may not be totally reliable!) I think I was earning about 20 quid a week and LP's probably cost £5 - £7, that's would be in the region of a third of my income. Multiply that by the 14 LP's in the box set we are getting near to a £100 which would have been over a month's wages for me as a young photographer working at British Steel. Relate that to the average monthy wage today and you have your answer - quite pricey. Anyone lucky to have the set (me included! - opened it last night, couldn't wait until Christmas!), have quite a bargain!

 

regards Graham

Posted on: 17 November 2012 by Kevin-W
Originally Posted by Quad 33:
Originally Posted by naim_nymph:

Question ~

 

If, hypothetically, forty years ago in 1972 they produced a Beatles stereo box-set of their 14 albums, how much would it have cost back then?

The new box-set @ £300 or so is a little less than an 'average' weeks wage, but how much would it have been in 1972, and how would it relate to how many average weekly wages?

I would think that adding up the 1972 prices of all the 14 albums would probably be a good approximate [we can throw the box and the book in for free]. I was too young with no money in the early 70’s and had no idea how much LP’s cost in those days, or how much an average weekly wage was.

 

Debs

Hi Debs

using my memory of 1972 (which may not be totally reliable!) I think I was earning about 20 quid a week and LP's probably cost £5 - £7, that's would be in the region of a third of my income. Multiply that by the 14 LP's in the box set we are getting near to a £100 which would have been over a month's wages for me as a young photographer working at British Steel. Relate that to the average monthy wage today and you have your answer - quite pricey. Anyone lucky to have the set (me included! - opened it last night, couldn't wait until Christmas!), have quite a bargain!

 

regards Graham

Hi Graham

 

I started buying albums in 1976 and I distinctly remember them costing about £3.70 (for a "deluxe" platter like Wish You Were Here). I can't imagine that they would have cost more in 1972 (it was pre oil crisis don't forget), so I reckon a similar box would have cost about £55 or £60 in 1972.

 

According to an old FT report I have, average UK annual salary in '72 was £2,262 (£43 a week).

 

But as you say, the box set today is something of a bargain compared to what it would have been in '72.

Posted on: 17 November 2012 by Kevin-W

Skipping through all the albums in the box (I haven't sat down and listened to any all the way through yet) it strikes me that the albums most improved seem to be first two (I otherwise only have them on '87 CDs, 2009 mono CDs or late 1980s UK LPs) which sound pretty wonderful; and those songs with intimate settings - "Norwegian Wood", "Blackbird" "And I Love Her", "Julia" etc.

 

Most disappointing for me so far is "Abbey Road" which sounds a bit bloated, mushy and slow. Will have to make a comparison with my Jap LP at some point.

 

Will start going though all the LPs later today I think...

Posted on: 17 November 2012 by Quad 33
Originally Posted by Kevin-W:
Originally Posted by Quad 33:
Originally Posted by naim_nymph:

Question ~

 

If, hypothetically, forty years ago in 1972 they produced a Beatles stereo box-set of their 14 albums, how much would it have cost back then?

The new box-set @ £300 or so is a little less than an 'average' weeks wage, but how much would it have been in 1972, and how would it relate to how many average weekly wages?

I would think that adding up the 1972 prices of all the 14 albums would probably be a good approximate [we can throw the box and the book in for free]. I was too young with no money in the early 70’s and had no idea how much LP’s cost in those days, or how much an average weekly wage was.

 

Debs

Hi Debs

using my memory of 1972 (which may not be totally reliable!) I think I was earning about 20 quid a week and LP's probably cost £5 - £7, that's would be in the region of a third of my income. Multiply that by the 14 LP's in the box set we are getting near to a £100 which would have been over a month's wages for me as a young photographer working at British Steel. Relate that to the average monthy wage today and you have your answer - quite pricey. Anyone lucky to have the set (me included! - opened it last night, couldn't wait until Christmas!), have quite a bargain!

 

regards Graham

Hi Graham

 

I started buying albums in 1976 and I distinctly remember them costing about £3.70 (for a "deluxe" platter like Wish You Were Here). I can't imagine that they would have cost more in 1972 (it was pre oil crisis don't forget), so I reckon a similar box would have cost about £55 or £60 in 1972.

 

According to an old FT report I have, average UK annual salary in '72 was £2,262 (£43 a week).

 

But as you say, the box set today is something of a bargain compared to what it would have been in '72.

Hi Kev

as I said memory not totally reliable - you are probably right about about the LP price. Evenso, can't imagine a wage of £43 a week "t'up North" arrived until about 1975 - my partner didn't get the magical £1 a hour until 1979! 

 

take care Graham

Posted on: 17 November 2012 by osprey
Originally Posted by Kevin-W:
Originally Posted by Quad 33:
Originally Posted by naim_nymph:

Question ~

 

If, hypothetically, forty years ago in 1972 they produced a Beatles stereo box-set of their 14 albums, how much would it have cost back then?

The new box-set @ £300 or so is a little less than an 'average' weeks wage, but how much would it have been in 1972, and how would it relate to how many average weekly wages?

I would think that adding up the 1972 prices of all the 14 albums would probably be a good approximate [we can throw the box and the book in for free]. I was too young with no money in the early 70’s and had no idea how much LP’s cost in those days, or how much an average weekly wage was.

 

Debs

Hi Debs

using my memory of 1972 (which may not be totally reliable!) I think I was earning about 20 quid a week and LP's probably cost £5 - £7, that's would be in the region of a third of my income. Multiply that by the 14 LP's in the box set we are getting near to a £100 which would have been over a month's wages for me as a young photographer working at British Steel. Relate that to the average monthy wage today and you have your answer - quite pricey. Anyone lucky to have the set (me included! - opened it last night, couldn't wait until Christmas!), have quite a bargain!

 

regards Graham

Hi Graham

 

I started buying albums in 1976 and I distinctly remember them costing about £3.70 (for a "deluxe" platter like Wish You Were Here). I can't imagine that they would have cost more in 1972 (it was pre oil crisis don't forget), so I reckon a similar box would have cost about £55 or £60 in 1972.

 

According to an old FT report I have, average UK annual salary in '72 was £2,262 (£43 a week).

 

But as you say, the box set today is something of a bargain compared to what it would have been in '72.

 

Here an LP cost 24 marks in 1970 (unfortunately I do not have the '72 price in hand) and the average yearly inflation rate since has been 5,2% which would give the box a current value of 507€ (assuming that the price of a double LP would be 50% higher). I paid 449,90€ (~ £360) for it. So there seems to be small discount but I still not would call this as a bargain. 

Posted on: 17 November 2012 by count.d

I was thinking of buying this set, but I'm not sure it'll beat my MFSL's.

Posted on: 17 November 2012 by Pedro
I bought my first LP in 1972 for £2.19p. Pete
Posted on: 17 November 2012 by FangfossFlyer

I really enjoyed playing through the box set from Please Please Me to Magical Mystery Tour last Saturday night. I found the SQ engaging and I sang along to every track!

 

Then this evening I picked up my journey from The White Album and oh what a disappointment!!!!....it sounded flat, muffled, lacked engagement and that FAB sing along factor.

 

Then the surprise of the evening in that Yellow Submarine got back to the early SQ and FAB factor 

 

Now listening to Abbey Road and that is back there in terms of enjoyment and engagement.

 

What oh what have they done to The White Album and why is it so different? 

 

Richard

 

p.s. Steve sorry that you are not so impressed with the re-masters.

Posted on: 17 November 2012 by FangfossFlyer

.....She Loves You sounds great in MONO as does I'll Get You...so maybe an interesting indicator of more to come?

 

Richard

Posted on: 17 November 2012 by Steve J
Originally Posted by FangfossFlyer:

.....She Loves You sounds great in MONO as does I'll Get You...so maybe an interesting indicator of more to come?

 

Richard

I had a few friends around after the Tom Tom event and I played the old new BFS comparison. The vote of the 7 people in the room was unanimous, strongly in favour of the 1st press.

 

No problem Richard.

 

ATB

 

Steve

Posted on: 17 November 2012 by FangfossFlyer

Well, I must hear them sometime as the few 1st press I have are well and truly kn******d!

 

i did enjoy my journey through the box set as I listened and joined in with the band.

 

 

Richard

Posted on: 17 November 2012 by Steve J
Originally Posted by FangfossFlyer:

Well, I must hear them sometime as the few 1st press I have are well and truly kn******d!

 

i did enjoy my journey through the box set as I listened and joined in with the band.

 

 

Richard

As I said previously if you don't have the early presses then the new box set will sound OK. To replicate the box set with good quality 1st presses would cost many hundred of pounds so the box set is good value in that sense.

Steve

Posted on: 20 November 2012 by connon price
I bought the US box set and a single of Abbey Road to play before I open the set. Glad I did because, judging from the sound of that one, I'll be returning the unopened box. I have an Abbey Road Capitol pressing that I grew up with, so likely from very early '70s, and though it has a chunk out of it now that renders the first two songs of side two unplayable, the rest of the album, though quite scratchy in spots, is alive with harmonics and energy. The remaster is just smooth and nearly joyless to me. I'll have to compare it to the 24/44 USB file. Maybe the music is not there either but enjoyed it as the best digital example so far.
Curious to know if UK (German?) pressings are significantly better.

I do hope the monos come out and are good. They were such a revelation to me and if done well, would rather have them anyway. Still blows me away to think they were all intended as mono through White Album.
Posted on: 21 November 2012 by Thorsten_L

I found a wonderful early Japanese TOSHIBA-EMI-pressing with 1st press stampers...

 

Dear Steve, now I know what you mean...this Japanese-pressing blows the new remaster to the moon...

 

But still, the new Abbey Road sounds good to me.

 

Posted on: 21 November 2012 by Redmires

I started buying albums in the mid 70's and remember paying around £3.50 for "proper" albums (and 99p for cheapo Woolworths Music for Pleasure types). In 1978 I bought the Blue Box set for around £59, which compared to my weekly wage of £40 was quite expensive. The new set for £275 may be equivalent today to a weeks wage for 17 year old kid doing a labourer's job on minimum wage but I'm not best placed to judge that.

 

 

The Beatles Collection - Box Set[1978)

 

I do remember feeling ripped off though when EMI released the "Rarities" sampler album as a separate item. I've never trusted them since.

 

I also have the "From Liverpool" box set, featured in a previous posting so I think I have enough Beatles vinyl to last me a life time but I'm still deliberating !!!!

 

Posted on: 21 November 2012 by Cbr600

And does your cheapo range include such gems as Ronco? Or stars on 45?, ktel maybe?

 

They were the bad Old days

Posted on: 21 November 2012 by Redmires

Well, I've never gotten rid of any of my vinyl. And who amongst us haven't got a few skeletons in the cupboard

 

Actually, it wasn't all bad. I remember "Relics" by Pink Floyd being an MFP, along with quite a few Beatles / Lennon related LP's.

Posted on: 21 November 2012 by Cbr600

For sure!

I have some really dodgy old music and often wonder what possessed me to buy some of the stuff

Posted on: 22 November 2012 by Hook

Boxed up the box set and returned it yesterday to Amazon due to quality problems.

 

Revolver was very noisy. Beatles for Sale was warped. Abbey Road had two long scratches covering the first half of side b (click/click...click/click...click/click...).  Didn't bother to open the rest.

 

Maybe the EU pressing are of higher quality?  Very disappointed!

 

Hook

Posted on: 22 November 2012 by Michael

How disappointing Hook. Yes my European set is beautiffuly quiet the whole way through. I have read on the Steve Hoffman forum about the problems with the US pressings.

Posted on: 22 November 2012 by joerand
Originally Posted by Michael:

How disappointing Hook. Yes my European set is beautiffuly quiet the whole way through. I have read on the Steve Hoffman forum about the problems with the US pressings.

Interesting reading on that forum, Michael.  Sounds like the European pressings are the way to go.  There seems to be some level of disappointment, generally, with Abbey Road compared to original vinyl.

Posted on: 22 November 2012 by Michael

I haven't dared play my original Abbey Road since getting the box set... but think I know what my reaction will be if my audio memory serves me well!