The Beatles DESS & MS Vinyl Rip Thread

[mikehattem]

I am going to post my collection of Beatles vinyl rips by Dr. Ebbets Sound System and Mirror Spock as well as a bunch of other stuff. I have outtake collections for almost all the records (some are 2 cd sets), rare studio stuff, sessions collections for individual songs as well as ORIGINAL Mono and stereo mixes of all the records. If you've never heard the records in the original mono mixes you're not hearing them the way The Beatles and George Martin intended. The stereo mixes, which were the ones used on the cd reissues in the 80s, were done as an afterthought as stereo was still a novelty in the mid-late 60s, kinda like 5.1 today (also there was a touch of remixing done to some of the 80s reissues further removing them from their original form). The stereo mixes were done by the engineer and not by the band or Martin. That's why you hear mixing experiments like all the drums in the left channel, etc... Most people had monophonic players and the radio was in mono so that was the REAL mix as far as the Beatles were concerned and it was the one they slaved over.

Anyway, pristine original editions of the records were transferred digitally by DESS and Mirror Spock in mono and stereo. We, and I mean those of us who were brought up on the CDs, have essentially been "lied to" when it comes to the music. Through the DESS and MS releases you can hear the Beatles as they sounded to someone who just rushed home from the record store in 1966. So each of my posts will include a sendspace link with an RAR file containing approximately 2-4 records/collections in it. If you've never heard these mono mixes and vinyl rips and you actually LISTEN (which can take some effort since we're all SO familiar with the material) it's almost like rediscovering the band. If anyone has any requests feel free to throw them out as I am gonna enjoy sharing these with the townhallers.

ROUND 1
http://www.sendspace.com/file/peg022
This link includes:
Dr. Ebbets Sound System - Revolver (UK MONO)
Dr. Ebbets Sound System - Rubber Soul (UK MONO)
Mirror Spock - Sgt. Pepper (UK MONO) from the Japanese Red Wax edition

The Japanese Red Wax pressings are generally considered by many to be the best sounding pressings of these records. I also have Revolver and Rubber Soul red wax rips which I will post with their respective outtake collections.

[mikehattem]

ROUND 2
http://www.sendspace.com/file/alhls0
This link includes:
Abbey Road - Mirror Spock EMI/Toshiba Pro Use Series EALF 97001
The Last Year: Abbey Road Outtakes (2cds) - Silent Sea 028

The Pro Use Series were a collection of LPs pressed in Japan. All the Japanese pressings are of very high quality and this is regarded as one of, if not the, finest pressing of Abbey Road. I just saw one being sold for $250. Mirror Spock is a bootlegger/transferer similar to DESS. The Last Year is one of 2 collections I have of Abbey Road outtakes which includes working mixes, overdubs, and early takes.

[pinocchio]

dude where do you get all of this from

[funeralpudding]

Thank you

[mikehattem]

They're all effectively bootlegs. Some of them I got on OINK! and Usenet but most of the more interesting like the outtakes and session stuff I got from different music forums i had been on a couple of years ago. I have something of an archive fetish when it comes to the Beatles, Dylan ('60s only), and the Beach Boys ('66-'67). So, anyway, what would you like next?

[mikehattem]

ROUND 3
http://www.sendspace.com/file/uylqpl

This link includes:
Revolver - Mirror Spock Japanese Red Wax UK Mono
Revolver - DESS Blue Box UK Stereo
Revolver At 40: Everything Was Alright (BBC Radio Documentary)

The "Blue Box" was a reissue collection of all Beatles UK records in stereo that also included a rarities LP (of which most was later released on CD in the Past Masters series). It was released on December 2nd, 1978. Here's what it looked like:

http://www.jpgr.co.uk/bc13_a.jpg

Next, I can do some Rubber Soul versions including an outtake collection. ENJOY!!!

[Slyowl]

Thanks so much, I can't wait to hear these...

I'd be very interested in the Beach Boys ones if its no trouble for you to upload them.

[mikehattem]

Slyowl, I'm in a sharing mood lately. I have loads of BB bootlegs from the Pet Sounds/SMiLE era. Multi-disc sets of studio outtakes including a 3 disc set of the Good Vibrations recording sessions. Cool stuff. Do you like SMiLE and PS?

[Slyowl]

Yes, very much! I've only recently started to discover SMiLE, which I love so far. I don't yet know much about either records, so I don't have any specific requests. This is so much better than Christmas as a six-year-old.

[mikehattem]

Sly, I'll put up the best version I have of the original SMiLE tapes. Someone edited them so they're the same arrangements as the new one but with the original tapes. I also have the Pet Sounds box set which includes the original mono mix, a new stereo mix (which is awesome), as well as a disc of the record without vocals, and then another disc without the music so you can hear how incredible the vocals really are. I also have the DCC 24 karat gold Steve Hoffman-mastered MONO mix of Pet Sounds which is considered the definitive version of the mono mix. For SMiLE, I actually have CD-ROM someone put together of all the pieces recorded for SMiLE so you can arrange them anyway you want because you know all the songs were recorded in pieces and then linked together after the fact. So it's your chance to be Brian Wilson in 1967 arranging SMiLE. It also includes loads of articles about the BBs and the record as well as all the lyrics plus some rare live versions of SMiLE songs. If nobody wants something different from the Beatles, I'll do the Rubber Soul stuff tonight. I'm glad some of you are enjoying the uploads.

[redbaron056]

that pet sounds box set sounds incredible... especially the part where it's just vocals god i want that so bad haha. rubber soul is also my favorite beatles album.

[mikehattem]

I'll put those up for you either tonight or tomorrow.

[theallnewcarefulmary]

I'd love some white album and help stuff is the offer is still on. I'd particularly like to hear the initial slower help and the really long 20-something minute helter skelter but i don't think the latter has been bootlegged?

[mikehattem]

I've fallen behind this week but I will resume posts including the Beach Boys requests today and/or tomorrow. I have a collection of HELP! outtakes as well as some live stuff from the HELP! tour. The next Beatles upload will be Rubber Soul including the original UK mono and Stereo mixes as well as an outtakes collection. I am then gonna do a strictly rarities post which will include a collection of all the major takes of Strawberry Fields including John's original wire recorder home recordings. And a similar thing, though not as exhaustive or thorough, of A Day In The Life. Sorry for the delay guys but they're coming.

Mike

[mikehattem]

Okay, here it is...

Round 4
http://www.sendspace.com/file/1c3uz1

This link includes:
Rubber Soul - Mirror Spock Japanese Red Wax UK MONO
Rubber Soul - DESS Canadian (UK) Stereo (This was supposed to be the US version but by mistake EMI Canada was sent the masters of and released the original UK Stereo mix. It is one of the rare remaining versions of the original UK stereo mix which was later remixed prior to its release on CD in the mid-late 80s.)
Rubber Soul Outtakes

Enjoy!!

Next up: I went through a number of different bootlegs containing Strawberry Fields sessions and compiled them into what is probably the most definitive collection of the SFF sessions. I also went through it and organized them into chronological order and retagged them all with all the studio and take information. It includes the original home demos John recorded on his wire recorder as well as the original recordings at EMI with different arrangements. Round 5 will also include a collection of "in-progress" working mixes of A Day In The Life. That will be up later today and then I'll do a Beach Boys round.

Mike

[mikehattem]

Round 5
http://www.sendspace.com/file/a6aizv

This link includes:
The Strawberry Fields Tapes - A self made compilation of Strawberry Fields sessions. It is the most comprehensive "document" of the sessions as I took it from the best available bootlegs.
A Day In The Life Sessions - 9 studio working mixes in stereo showing the progression of the track.

[blasticpubble]

Thanks Mike for posting these. Godsends, the whole lot! :)

Unfortunately, I noticed that the mono Sgt. Pepper file only contains 7 of the songs. I downloaded the file a second time to make sure something didn't happen during the download, but it came out the same that time too.

Do you have the full album in mono? If so, could you please post it?

I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but that's the album I've wanted to hear the mono mix of for so long.

Thanks,
Matt (and all the rest)

[mikehattem]

Oh wow... Are you sure?? Well, you must be sure if you checked it twice. I will definitely take care of that for you. I'm sorry about that man. Don't be afraid to tell me if something's wrong with any of the uploads as I want you guys to have them and I also want to know if something needs to be fixed. I'm just glad you guys are enjoying them.

Matt, did you get a chance to listen to the Strawberry Fields tapes at all??

I am gonna be posting some of the Beach Boys stuff... it's just taking me a little longer to get it together as I didn't organize it very well (mainly just the box set) since I got it from multiple sources. I may have to just post the acapella songs along with the best version of the original SMiLE tapes (the new one pales in comparison to the original tapes).

They're all very interesting in mono but for me my favorite mono mix is Revolver (because its a somewhat different experience than in stereo) and Sgt Pepper because it was an actual achievement to have a defined mix like that with a record with so many tracks bounced ahead of a final mix and then mixed to mono. People don't realize but alot of times its harder to mix in mono because you have to work that much harder to get everything to sit right and still cut through the mix when necessary. That's why SgtPepper, Pet Sounds, and SMiLE (among many others) are unbelievable examples of great record making.

[blasticpubble]

Hi Mike,

I did listen to the Strawberry Fields tapes. That was amazing. I had never heard anything beyond the demos and early takes on the Beatles Anthology, so I had no idea about the "It's Not Too Bad" stuff. The downer vibe of Strawberry Fields Forever had never really struck me before, with all the production around it, but take after take of the more melancholy takes started to get to me, so I had to take a break from it.

About mono Revolver, it is mindblowing. Apart from Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Sgt. Pepper was always the mono mix I was dying to hear and had read so many great things about. I was surprised how much more psychedelic Revolver is in its mono form. I didn't think Tomorrow Never Knows could be more mindmeltingly psychedelic! And the extra little bit of backwards guitar in "I'm Only Sleeping" was a nice surprise.

About Smile, I would love to hear whatever you have. When I was in high school in the late 90s, a friend with what was then a fast internet connection downloaded a Smile collection that I have listened to over the years, but it has pretty shitty sound quality (compressed, telephony mp3 sound with loud clicks at each track change). I was very proud of Brian for facing his demons and finishing it up, and it does sound very good in the ProTools 2000s kind of way, but I was heartbroken that it didn't use the original tapes or the Wilson family vocals. The insanity just isn't there. I am very happy that Brian is feeling better and functional, but I'm sure a lot of people on here find the finished solo project a little sterile. All the notes are there, but only about 10% of the vibe is. Long story short, I think Brian would have suffered more if he really did dig up the spirit of his 1967 and make the insane masterpiece we would have preferred, but it's a great piece of baroque pop (which does exude the joy of the ubertalented fans/musicians that got to play with the Master and get to execute his vision), and we still have the scraps from the lost masterpiece to drool over in childlike wonder. I'm rambling publicly, but I guess that's what these forums are for.

Thanks so much for posting this stuff. I'd been meaning to start a thread requesting a mono Pepper mix for a while. And all this other stuff is just too much (in a good way) to take in. I for one, will be digesting this stuff you've posted thus far for a while, but I do look forward to digging into Smile session stuff when you have time to get it up.

:)

[mikehattem]

Round 1 FIX
http://www.sendspace.com/file/kxknol

FIX: Mirror Spock Sgt. Pepper Japanese Red Wax UK Mono

I'm gonna post the BB stuff today but there is a problem... My Pet Sounds Box Set is .wma and a bit incomplete so I'm only posting the accapella versions of the songs (except Here Today) with some other rarities like Brian singing God Only Knows, etc... along with a couple other very cool things.

[mikehattem]

The thing about the SMiLE tapes are that people (and bootleg companies) have put them in their own order because no one ever knew what order Brian would've put them in. But Purple Chick released a version where it is the exact same arrangement as the 2004 version but with all the original tapes (even the extra part on Good Vibrations). It's awesome and the quality is very good. I was also waiting a long time to hear Piper At The Gates Of Dawn and I wasn't disappointed. Beach Boys stuff today.

[mikehattem]

Round 6
http://www.sendspace.com/file/ur2k0x

This link includes:
Pet Sounds (MONO) - The DCC 24kt Gold Disc Steve Hoffman Remaster (widely regarded as the best audiophile version)
Pet Sounds Sessions - This is just the accapella tracks from the box set (except Here Today) with a couple of rarities (sorry,wma)
SMiLE (Purple Chick) - A recreation of the 2004 SMiLE song and album arrangements with the original Beach Boys tapes.
Pet Sounds (STEREO) - This is the stereo half from the 2001 Mono/Stereo reissue by Capitol.

[redbaron056]

mike, you are amazing! these are sooo cool. much thanks.

[mikehattem]

Next up: Round 7 featuring 1965. HELP! Dr. Ebbets UK Mono, Blue Box Stereo, as well as HELP! outtakes and the unreleased Live At The Hollywood Bowl.

[mikehattem]

Round 7 - 1965
http://www.sendspace.com/file/epxgdo

This link includes:
HELP! - Dr. Ebbets UK Mono
HELP! - Dr. Ebbets Blue Box UK Stereo
HELP! Outtakes - This isn't a straight outtakes collection like the Revolver and Rubber Soul comps. It includes a number of live tracks.
Live At The Hollywood Bowl - This is the live album that's never been officially released in the UK or the US. It is taken from two shows; one in 1964 and 1965. It is a DESS release.

I think I'll do 1964 next which will be the mono and stereo versions of AHDN and BFS along with a BFS outtake collection and a live show from the first US tour in Indianapolis at a State Fair.

Enjoy!!

Mike

[mikehattem]

Round 8 - 1964 Volume 1
http://www.sendspace.com/file/insv8k

This link includes:
A Hard Day's Night (DESS UK Mono)
A Hard Day's Night (DESS Blue Box UK Stereo)
The Ed Sullivan Show (February 9th, 1964) - The first show in NYC in mpeg format.
The Ed Sullivan Show (February 16th, 1964) - The second show in Miami Beach, Florida in mpeg format.

Enjoy!!

[mikehattem]

Round 9 - 1964 Volume 2
http://www.sendspace.com/file/lsiron

This link includes:
Beatles For Sale (DESS UK Mono)
Beatles For Sale (DESS Blue Box UK Stereo)
Beatles For Sale Outtakes
State Fair, Indianapolis IN September 3rd, 1964 - Rare bootleg from 2nd US tour. They played two shows that day and this is the afternoon show. It is an A quality SBD sourced from FLAC.

Enjoy!!

I'm getting down to the nitty gritty now. I'm still gonna do Please Please Me, With The Beatles, and throw in a couple more extras.

[mikehattem]

I don't know if anybody likes Bob Dylan but as you can see I'm a huge 60s fiend and have been since I was a kid (literally). So I also have alot of interesting Dylan stuff like needle drop transfers of the Sundazed Mono reissues of the 60s records. Very cool to hear HWY61 and Blonde On Blonde especially in the original mono mix. It's the exact same situation as the Beatles where the mono was the real mix. Let me know if any of you are interested in that.

[mikehattem]

Round 9 is now up... see post above for link.

[JackAttack]

I'd really love to hear the Dylan stuff. Thanks a lot for posting all this.

[mikehattem]

No problem man. I was just listening to some of the Dylan today and I'll definitely put it up in the next couple of days.

[mikehattem]

Round 10 - Bob Dylan 1965
http://www.sendspace.com/file/bfih9y

This link includes:
Highway 61 Revisited (DCC Gold Disc Stereo) - This was mastered by Steve Hoffman and is by far the best version of the record.
Highway 61 Revisited (Sundazed Mono) - Sundazed reissued all the '60s records on vinyl in the original mono.
Bringing It All Back Home (Sundazed Mono)
Bringing It All Back Home (Regular CD side of the Hybrid SACD Dual-side remaster)

I'll do another Dylan post with the Blonde On Blonde versions I have and maybe some odds and ends but if there's another 60s record that you want me to include in mono then let me know. I also have loads of rare Dylan stuff including the complete 5 disc Basement Tapes set as well as bootlegs and outtakes but they're on a hard drive at my brother's house and I won't be able to get at them for a week or two. I'm also gonna do a very cool SMiLE post with the best of the original tapes in the 2004 order from Purple Chick as well as a great BBC Radio documentary on the record and maybe some other stuff. ENJOY!!!

Note: I'm uploading them now but I should've mentioned that the Sundazed albums were issued on vinyl only and these are good quality digital transfers (aka vinyl rip).

Mike

[call me hi]

thanks so much for all of this stuff, mike. very much looking forward to checking all of it out (especially the smile sessions; i haven't heard many of the older versions). i haven't been around here for a long time, and this was a nice little surprise to come back to. there's a pretty good blog that has an insane amount of beatles stuff on it. probably has a lot of stuff that would interest serious collectors.

http://yourmothershouldknow03.blogspot.com/


oh, and i would be very interested in the rare dylan stuff when you get a chance. thanks again, man.

[mikehattem]

This is the link for Round 10 above:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/bfih9y

Enjoy guys!! I'll do SMiLE next.

[mikehattem]

Round 11 - SMiLE
http://www.sendspace.com/file/4tsvef

This link includes:
SMiLE (Purple Chick) - This is a recreation of the arrangements and running order of the 2004 SMiLE but using the original Beach Boys tapes. It uses some of the new stuff but only for the interludes that were composed for the new version. It's done seamlessly and is the best SMiLE bootleg in my opinion (and I have about a dozen of them). The sound is very good and an amazing amount of work went into this.
SMiLE (BBC Radio Documentary) - This is from before the new version I came out I believe. It's pretty informative for someone who hasn't read alot of books about the Beach Boys or SMiLE and is a pretty good introduction with lots of interviews with Van Dyke Parks, Brian Wilson, and other SMiLE players.
SMiLE (Unsurpassed Masters) - This is a series of about 20 volumes of unedited studio sessions. However for one of their SMiLE volumes they put together their own mix of the record and that's this volume.

SMiLE was recorded in sections rather than whole songs so not only is the running order in question but even the arrangements of the songs themselves since it was never completed. For years, people have made "fan" mixes of SMiLE arranging the songs how they wanted because there was no precedent. You can find these all over the place. Enjoy!!

[mikehattem]

Round 11 from above:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/4tsvef

[brubrodksy]

Hi:

I'm new at this forum. I've been collecting Beatles Vinyl and CDS for quite sometime.Have most of the DESS releases. I'm wondering if anyone has "World's Best" DESS available for upload. I've been looking for it for quite some time. Appreciate anyone's help.
Look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Bruce brubrodksy at gmail dot com

[Dihnekis]

This seems like a fucking awesome thread, I'm sad I missed it. I just got the Dylan Highway 61 Revisited in Mono, and it is awesome. Now I want to hear sgt peppers in mono!

[lucyisabanana]

Now I want to hear sgt peppers in mono!

You must. It's so much better.

[Loomington]

anyone wanna repost this stuff? :D