[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: Mono vs. stereo recordings



     
     >>1.  which CD's were released in mono version (my copies of 'my 
     >>generation CD   doesn't say anything, but it sounds like mono to me)
     >>2.  which LP's were originally released in mono and stereo versions 
     >>3.  which songs are only available  in mono
     >>4.  what was the first album to only be released in stereo 
     (I'm guessing 'tommy')
     
     
     I may not be the best person to do this (chris or fang know more than 
     I do) but I've got the time at work so here goes.
     
     The High Numbers tracks (I'm the Face, Zoot Suit, Here 'Tis and 
     Leaving Here) were all recorded in stereo, but the single was, of 
     course, released in mono.
     
     All the Talmy recordings (the singles I Can't Explain, Anyway Anyhow 
     Anywhere, and My Generation and the My Generation LP) are only 
     available in mono.  The only way the album is available on CD is on 
     the "simulated stereo" CD "The Who Sings My Generation" which is not 
     only heavily processed but distorted as well.  If you get a chance to 
     pick up a mono vinyl of the British My Generation LP (different cover 
     from the CD plus the track I'm A Man instead of Instant Party) don't 
     pass it up.  There is evidence that the tracks could have been mixed 
     in stereo at some point.  There are stereo versions of Daddy Rolling 
     Stone and I'm A Man on the U.S. "Missing" CD's.  Talmy also says he 
     has multitracks of all these songs if we ever live long enough to hear 
     them.
     
     The singles Substitute, Happy Jack, Pictures of Lily and Call Me 
     Lightning are only available in mono.  I'm a Boy was released in 
     stereo on the Who's Better, Who's Best and the new Best Of collection. 
     The flip side, In the City is available in stereo on some European 
     vinyl collections.  I've Been Away, the flip of Happy Jack, is also in 
     stereo on the new A Quick One CD.
     
     The Ready Steady Who EP is in mono only except for Disguises which was 
     mixed for stereo for Europe and crops up on the 30 Years box set and 
     an alternate version of Batman on the A Quick One remastered CD.
     
     A Quick One was released in Britain only in mono.  The U.S. release 
     (which was until recently on CD) has some tracks in true stereo and 
     some in simulated stereo.  All the tracks have been released in true 
     stereo except for See My Way, but you have to dig for old vinyl 
     versions (the German stereo has them all).  P.S. it's more than worth 
     it, the stereo is wonderful.  The current remastered CD has the album 
     in mono except for Run Run Run (which was IMHO the only track that was 
     better in the mono!)
     
     The Who Sell Out was released in both stereo and mono.  The stereo one 
     is the only one available on CD (although I have heard the mono one 
     was released on CD in Britain).  The mono LP in the U.S. had different 
     guitar parts on some of the tracks.  These can be heard on the Maximum 
     BBC bootleg.
     
     I've never heard of a mono Tommy on vinyl, so you may be right about 
     it being the 1st stereo-only Who LP.  Pinball Wizard was the 1st Who 
     45 that was released in stereo only.
     
     After this everything is in stereo with the unfortunate exception of 
     the studio Heaven and Hell which is only in mono.
     
                        -I hope this is all correct,
     
                         Brian