(The Validity of) Friends (in Mono) by The Beach Boys

Hello Friends! We're kicking off the world of Mixology for 2024 with a bit of a theory based episode. Friends is one of The Beach Boys' best loved studio LPs. Issued in 1968, this did not see a mono issue in the USA, and elsewhere in the world any mono issues were done simply as fold-downs from the stereo mix. Thus, aside from 2 sides mixed to mono initially for 45 use, we have never been presented with an authorised mono mix of the album... or have we? Understanding the mixdown process for this album, and Brian Wilson's unique involvement in it, means that the monophonic LP saga for the group may not actually end with Wild Honey, and just maybe, that UK mono LP you hold might actually prove to have some worth...

 

Happy Listening,

Frederick

 

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