Mixology: The Mono/Stereo Mix Differences Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Hello Friends! Here we are, at episode 99, and what better way to hit the end of double digits with than The Kinks curio of a live album from 1967/68 [US/UK], Live at Kelvin Hall. Notorious for its overbearing loop of screams edited into the mixdown, the album is nothing if not an exciting listen. But what of the two mixes available for this sonic experience? Well, between the Stage Front of the Mono and the Hall Rear of the stereo, they couldn't be more different, including heavy echo usage in stereo only, entirely different guitar overdubs throughout in each mix, and a generally different balance and track edits in each. All-in-all, a vastly different experience that can be hard to initially quantify. So come on now - Batman wants answers!

Happy Listening,

Frederick

Patreon

Email Instagram - @hypnoticfred

Hello Friends! It's Beatle time here on the show again, as we finally round out our look at all the catalog LPs in the Beatles canon with a look at 1963's With the Beatles. Originally issued in mono and stereo, this twin-track recording seems like a simple comparison on the surface - and yes, many of the tracks are - but there's some real hidden secrets in these mixes that demand your attention, including unique overdubs in each mix, alternate edit pieces used, and a couple of odd balance moments independent of each other. We also have a couple of curious international variations, one with some extraneous session sounds, and the other the fault of a tape machine. Of course, MONEY makes a completely worthy climax to this knock-out programme. Hope it doesn't leave you too breathless to flip back to Side One for a repeat-play session WITH THE BEATLES.

Happy Listening,

Frederick

Patreon

Email Instagram - @hypnoticfred  

Hello Friends! It's that festive time of year again, so I thought I'd pull out one of the few 60s seasonal LPs in my collection for your listening pleasure today, courtesy of Andy Williams. Today, we'll be looking at the first of his 5(!) Christmas albums, here sensibly titled The Andy Williams Christmas Album from 1963. Not reissued in it's mono mix since it's first issue, this LP is home to the classic 'It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year', along with other Side 1 bangers such as 'Kay Thompson's Jingle Bells'. Side 2 then delves into the more secular side, which while not my usual chosen side of things, seems appropriate to cover, and overall, this is certainly a solid holiday LP from the period that deserves to have it's poppier material heard in that punchy monophonic sound, but the stereo is certainly no slouch - if anything, it's a little too bombastic! So let's weigh it all up, and most importantly, don't forget to hang up your sock!

Happy Listening,  Frederick

Patreon   Email   Instagram   Back to Mono

Hello Friends! Today on Mixology - you guessed it - we’re covering all the new remixes featured on the 2023 expanded and remixed editions of 1962-1966 & 1967-1970 by The Beatles - better known as the Red and Blue albums. Expanded to 3 LPs each and compiled entirely from either remixes done from 2015 to the present, or from brand new remixes, these LPs pack quite a punch, and these 36 brand new remixes make up our look today. Extending well over an hour, this is a deep dive into the many approaches taken to give this material a fresh shine, and help you understand exactly what makes these mixes different compared to their most recent or common mix options. 

Happy Listening,  Frederick

Patreon   Email   Instagram   Back to Mono

Hello Friends! We've got a slightly different look this week, with The Doors' 3rd LP, Waiting For The Sun. Released in mid 1968, this was at the height of the phase-out of mono in the USA, and is the only Doors mono LP that has never been reissued. As such, I wanted to take a look today and see if we can pick apart the many different takes on this album on the internet. Is it true mono? Is it a fold? Or is it a mixture - and if so, how much? With a fresh needledrop of the original US mono and US stereo in hand, let's breakdown the similarities, and see what secrets we can find...

Happy Listening, Frederick   Patreon   Email   Instagram

Hello Friends! We're completing The Kinks' studio LP output on the show today, with a look at their debut LP, succinctly titled Kinks. Issued in October 1964, the album is built around 'You Really Got Me', with a snatch of Ray Davies originals, R&B covers, and two dire Shel Talmy compositions. That said, we have a shockingly fun stereo mix for a pop LP in 1964, and a random unique US mono mix too, giving us a lot to look at with surprisingly little effort. So let's hop in the Cadillac to Bald Mountain and see if we Got Love... If You Want It.   Happy Listening, Frederick   Patreon   Email   Instagram   Back to Mono

Hello Friends! We're finally taking time out with Gerry and The Pacemakers on Mixology this week, with a look at the soundtrack LP from the group, Ferry Cross The Mersey. Issued in mono and stereo, this album included 9 originals from the group, plus three other cuts produced by George Martin from The Fourmost, Cilla Black, and The George Martin Orchestra. This fantastic beat collection features some huge differences in editing and vocal mixing, as well as a general balance difference between the mono and stereo, making a break down like this shockingly essential. So let's hop on the Ferry and find out Why Oh Why mono is the way forward here...

Happy Listening,

Frederick

Patreon   Email   Instagram   Back to Mono

Hello Friends! After a suggestion by Ethan from the wonderful Fans on the Run podcast (an episode of which I will be appearing on very soon - and a huge thanks to Ethan for this episode's flatlay!), we're today looking at the 1968 epic from Small Faces, Ogden's Nut Gone Flake. Part ripper song collection, part fairy story, this fascinating collection was of course issued in mono and stereo, with some tasty differences throughout, and a real power factor at play. We also get a later single remix of the fantastic 'Afterglow (of your Love), and of course address the horrendous 'additional production' on the US issue of the album, if only briefly (in short - avoid). So let's take a ride out with Happiness Stan to HappyDaysToyTown, to the Song of a Baker!   Happy Listening,   Frederick   Check out Fans on the Run wherever you get your podcasts, or here.   Patreon   Email   Instagram   Back to Mono

Hello Friends! Taking the moment for a little bit of a palette refresher, we're taking a trip out today with Chris Montez, and his smash A&M LP The More I See You. Following on from hit singles including the title cut and 'Call Me', this easy listening LP manages to pack in a surprising amount of differences between the original mono and stereo mixes for the genre (most focused around handclaps), so let's ease up for a second, and let Chris fly us to the moon, regardless of how high it is!   Happy Listening,   Frederick   Patreon   Email   Instagram   Back to Mono

Hello Friends! We're jumping around in the Bee Gees canon again this week, moving back to their second LP on Polydor, the fantastic Horizontal. Issued at the start of 1968, this LP came in mono and stereo mixes, including some classic Bee Gees differences in the different echo textures, and the use of said effect. However, unlike Idea which had some different vocal and instrument tracks highlighted throughout, generally here everything present in one mix is present in the other - with a few small exceptions. That said, the speed differences persist, which give both of these mixes a very different feel, and could make or break either mix for the listener. Regardless, Birdie Told Me you're excited to dig in, so let's hop on a ship to Massachusetts and dig in!   Happy Listening,   Frederick   Patreon   Email   Instagram   Back to Mono