Home Theater Forum - View Single Post - Rhino Records -- Nice 70's catalog, but...MONO MIXES???

Jamey K · 03-20-2008, 07:06 PM

In very few cases, the stereo mix was, far different than the original "hit" mono mix. I totally understand what you're saying about prefering a stereo mix of your favorite song but some stereo mixes, from that era, leave out a key instrument, background vocal, or even replace the original vocal with a different one from another take.

Examples: "Gimme Gimme Good Lovin" by Crazy Elephant. The stereo mix is a completely different from the original hit mono mix. The big drum sound in the hit mix is gone from the stereo version. The keyboards are brought forward, the BG vocals are mixed way low, and the lead vocal is from a different take altogether.

"Bend Me Shape Me" from the American Breed. Everything in the stereo mix is the same from the hit mono version, except ..it is a completely different mix, either from another session or a different engineer.

"I Fought The Law'-Bobby Fuller Four. This one is tough. The stereo mix is great and the only giveaway is in the main vocal. But, it is a different performance than the mono hit version. They were both done in the same session, but they are two seperate perfomances.

In the early 80's, some bands or publishing companies were shopping around -re-recorded stereo versions of songs that never existed in stereo. They might have the original lead singer in most cases or all of the original members in a few cases. But, they were new recordings. Rhino has been the very best in sorting out bad or different versions that were available.

Again, it doesn't make it right but some songs until the mid 70's were not mixed for stereo until after they were hits on AM radio and then there were done in haste or without the original studio participants.

I hope that helps.

03-20-2008, 07:06 PM	#3 of 9
Jamey K *Jamey Karr* Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Local Time: 10:42 PM Local Date: 10-11-2008 Posts: 41	Re: Rhino Records -- Nice 70's catalog, but...MONO MIXES??? In very few cases, the stereo mix was, far different than the original "hit" mono mix. I totally understand what you're saying about prefering a stereo mix of your favorite song but some stereo mixes, from that era, leave out a key instrument, background vocal, or even replace the original vocal with a different one from another take. Examples: "Gimme Gimme Good Lovin" by Crazy Elephant. The stereo mix is a completely different from the original hit mono mix. The big drum sound in the hit mix is gone from the stereo version. The keyboards are brought forward, the BG vocals are mixed way low, and the lead vocal is from a different take altogether. "Bend Me Shape Me" from the American Breed. Everything in the stereo mix is the same from the hit mono version, except ..it is a completely different mix, either from another session or a different engineer. "I Fought The Law'-Bobby Fuller Four. This one is tough. The stereo mix is great and the only giveaway is in the main vocal. But, it is a different performance than the mono hit version. They were both done in the same session, but they are two seperate perfomances. In the early 80's, some bands or publishing companies were shopping around -re-recorded stereo versions of songs that never existed in stereo. They might have the original lead singer in most cases or all of the original members in a few cases. But, they were new recordings. Rhino has been the very best in sorting out bad or different versions that were available. Again, it doesn't make it right but some songs until the mid 70's were not mixed for stereo until after they were hits on AM radio and then there were done in haste or without the original studio participants. I hope that helps.