The Beatles - The Beatles white album - Capitol Records - SWBO 101 VG+/VG

ie if it aint broke, dont mix it...those hoping for the Ultimate White Album may be disappointed. Unlike last years Sgt Pepper remix, which was 100% awesome, here we have a very (ahem) mixed bag. The seven discs that make up the deluxe package are housed in a beautiful, white hardcover book, embossed The Beatles and individually number-stamped, like the original 1968 album. The book offers short introductions from Paul McCartney and Giles Martin, and details in photos, essays and handwritten lyrics, every aspect of the making of The Beatles. Audio-wise, the contents can be broken down into 4 catagories: 1) The 2018 remix: when it works, it works spectacularly, as in Honey Pie, where George Martins 20s era orchestration never sounded better, McCartneys stellar vocal is in perfect focus, Lennons (!) guitar solo hits the spot, gorgeous; or Piggies, where the irony and humor in Harrisons delivery has never been more clear. On the other hand, theres Yer Blues, in which the bass is pushed to such ridiculous levels as to recall John Lennons quote that he was tired of being a side man to Paul, now he is again. The tonal balance is thrown way off. Or Birthday. On the original mix, the vocals and guitars had automatic double tracking or something, it made it sound very full and cool. Here (as well as elsewhere), the tracks are presented dry, the result sounding more hollow and wimpy. The decision to present things as dryly and uneffected as possible, was in part, the original aim of the band, but taken to the extreme, and combined with the precision of state-of-the-art digital audio, too often produces a sound that, while very accurate, can tend to sound disconnected and clinical. Its like, that analog grit made for a more unified sound. But partly, its down to mixing choices. Boosting the background voices on Revolution makes it sound more sing-songy, not as menacing as the original, to its detriment. So, rather than look to the remix as the Ultimate White Album, it makes more sense to me to view it as a completely separate thing, like looking at the moon through a telescope, instead of with the naked eye. Or like examining the brushstrokes of a masters painting. The sounds are certainly wonderful, the playing exquisite. But whatever mojo they used to mix the original album still stands, and has not been surpassed; 2) The Blu-ray, which contains the new mix in PCM stereo, the 1968 mono mix, and a new 5.1 surround mix in two formats. I have not heard the surround mix. I guess having the mono mix is nice, although I always prefer listening to the Beatles in stereo. The PCM mix does not, to my ears, offer anything beyond the CD version, but again, good to have; 3) The Esher Demos. These have been available for decades as bootlegs, and frankly, were never very listenable. Recorded at George Harrisons home, the guitars are distorted, and all the vocals are double tracked, so it sounds less like demos than a badly made album. Highlights include a tough-guy spoken Me & My Monkey, While My Guitar Gently Weeps with different lyrics, and Georges (then) unreleased Sour Milk Sea. Most of it, though, does not warrant a second listen. If youve never heard Child of Nature, now you can; 4) The last three discs are the real treasure trove, packed with outtakes, early and alternate versions: two versions of Helter Skelter, a long foundation version of Revolution 1, containing stuff that ended up on Revolution 9...I dont want to give away too much, but surprises abound. Its evident from these tapes that the Beatles were enjoying each others company, and able to enter a creative, playful space together, contrary to the popular myth that they were at each others throats, and off doing separate things. Its also clear that many of the finished tracks on the White Album were performed live in the studio to a large degree. The early take with Clapton is particularly illuminating. These last three discs are a major contribution to the Beatles canon, and kudos to the guys for making it happen. Now, get to the job you should have been doing, and remix Revolver !

Why to get this? Two reasons, first the new Giles Martin remix is stunning in how it breathes new life and dimensions into the album. Second is the AMAZING Blu-ray Audio disc that has the album in Hi-Res stereo, 5.1, and Mono.

The only reason I purchased this. I dont understand the vinyl resurgence when Blu-ray audio is the way to go.

Seriously, an unsurpassed classic. Brilliant.

Holy cow. I have only listened to the first disk so far but, wow. Everything is so clear, so present. You feel like you are in the room with the guys as they make this music. I cant wait to hear the rest of it. My advice: listen first through headphones. Youll hear things you never heard before.

Muy bueno

a very poor to a not bad to a simply brilliant album rolled into two vinyls .......its a shame that the Beatles could not have put there personal diffidence aside what could have been one of the greatest albums ever ........There even got one of the worst songs ever well in my opinion it is in the top 10 surely on it ........9 what the fxxking hell that about

These eternal and immortal songs have been given a studio sweeping that reveals intricacies never before heard. McCartney’s bass playing is sheer genius. From the time when people still wrote with fountain pens - the whole package is a must for all acolytes of the Fab faith !

This deluxe package of the White Album is a revelation.

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