Mixology: The Mono/Stereo Mix Differences Podcast

A Gift From a Flower to a Garden by Donovan - LP1 [aka Wear Your Love Like Heaven]

Hello Friends,
Today on the show we're back again in 1967 with our next Graduate Patron selected album, taking our first look at Donovan and his fantastic double LP A Gift From a Flower to a Garden. Much like our look at The Beatles at the beginning of the year, we will be splitting these two LPs in to two episodes of Mixology, with this week's episode looking at the first LP, also released individually in the USA as Wear Your Love Like Heaven. A glorious psych/folk/pop collection of 10 tunes, this album was released in both mono and stereo upon its original release. Thanks to some insider comments, we can confirm the mono was definitely the focus at the time, but how well does the made-for-USA stereo mix hold up by comparison? Oh Gosh, come along with Skip-a-long Sam and let's listen to Someone Singing Under The Greenwood Tree and find out.
Happy Listening, 
Frederick
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Younger Than Yesterday by The Byrds

Hello Friends! In another episode chosen by our Graduate Tier Patrons, today on the show we are taking our first flight with the fabulous Byrds, and their fantastic fourth LP, 'Younger Than Yesterday'. Released in 1967, this album was subject to mono and stereo mixes, and for almost 30 years these were the only mixes of these 11 tracks. However, in 1996, due to the poor state of the stereo master, all 11 songs also received remixes from the 3-track masters to create the current in print and streaming version of the album we hear today. So, with three mixes of the album in hand, and a bonus single edit to boot, how should you be listening to this album? Everybody's Been Burned by one of these mixes, so Why hold back any longer and see what Thoughts and Words I have on the subject.
Happy Listening, 
Frederick
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Headquarters by The Monkees

Hello Friends. Today on the show we're returning to LA's favourite foursome, with The Monkees' third LP 'Headquarters'. Their 2nd of 3 LPs release in 1967, this marked their debut as a self contained unit, and was of course released in mono and stereo mixes at the time. However, while the previous albums we have look at from the group were littered with little mixing treats for us to pick out, things are a little more straight forward here. But despite this, which of these mixes should you be seeking out? For Pete's Sake, there's No Time to waste! 
 
Happy Listening,
Frederick
 
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Pandemonium Shadow Show by Nilsson

Hello Friends! Today we're taking a look at our second (and last) Nilsson album on the show, his fantastic debut 'Pandemonium Shadow Show'. Much like 'Aerial Ballet', this album features some wonderful differences between its 1967 mono and stereo mixes, and once again we'll be subjecting ourselves to the remixes from 'Aerial Pandemonium Ballet' for even deeper comparison. So, without further ado, grab your Cuddly Toy because She's Leaving Home, but is it with the mono or stereo LP? Let's find out...
 
Happy Listening,
 
Frederick
 
P.S. This may be the end of the Nilsson journey on the podcast, but there's more on the Patreon on Mixology on 45, looking at the Rainmaker single and both of it's A-Sides, I Will Take You There & Mourning Glory! Listen, support the show, and get hours of extra content at: https://www.patreon.com/backtomono
 
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Buffalo Springfield Again by Buffalo Springfield

Hello Friends! In our latest Patron requested episode of Mixology we're taking a look at the second album from the short lived LA group Buffalo Springfield, succinctly titled 'Buffalo Springfield Again'. This time we have two contemporary mono and stereo mixes to be looked at, each with their own flavour to be observed, digested, and ultimately hung upside down. So, if you're expecting to fly with the bluebird, why not come along for the ride and let's find out if we should be taking this journey in single or dual channel sound!
 
Happy Listening,
 
Frederick
 
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Small Faces by Small Faces

Hello Friends, and today we're in 1967, with Small Faces' first album on the Immediate label, and their second self-titled album overall. Including 14 original compositions, ranging from Pop, Soul, Psych, and Baroque, this album truly covers an undeniably broad range, and leads into a lovely broad range of mixing differences too! So, let's go up the wooden hills to Bedfordshire, and dive right in!
Happy Listening,
 
Frederick
 
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Surrealistic Pillow by Jefferson Airplane

Hello Friends! Today we're travelling to 1967 San Francisco, with the hit LP from Jefferson Airplane, 'Surrealistic Pillow'. Hailed as a revolutionary turning point in the merging of Folk and Psych, this album is home to such hits as 'Somebody To Love' and 'White Rabbit', and wonderfully has two very contrasting mono and stereo mixes! But which should you be listening to? The dry and raw mono, or the reverberant and more psychedelic stereo? Come on the Embryonic Journey, and let's find out...
 
Happy Listening,
 
Frederick
 
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Magical Mystery Tour by The Beatles

Hello Friends, and today we're going with a slightly controversial option, and that is The Beatles 1967 US-Only LP 'Magical Mystery Tour'. Originally released as a double EP in the UK (as well as a number of places in the rest of the world), the US rejigged the track order, and filled Side 2 with the non-LP songs from earlier in the year. While another Capitol Hodge-Podge, this album works extremely well, and has now been assimilated into the official catalog, and so today, we're going to be looking at all 11 tracks from this wonderful beastie. With far too many mixes of I Am The Walrus, along with a couple of later mixes from the 70s to bump things up, let's hop on the Coach and go off to meet the Fool on the Hill.
 
Happy Listening,
 
Frederick
 
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Bonus Episode - From Me To You b/w Thank You, Girl by The Beatles (Patreon Sneek Peak)

Hello Friends! On this fine Tuesday afternoon I thought I'd treat my listeners, by sharing an example of the sort of exclusive content supporters over at the Back to Mono Patreon have access to, with an episode of Mixology on 45, the Patreon-Only series where I take a look at non album A and B-sides, and their many occurring mix differences. With this in mind, I've decided to dig out my episode on The Beatles' 3rd single, From Me To You. Here's the original description from my Patreon:
In the 3rd installment of Mixology on 45, we're jumping to 1963, with the 3rd single from The Beatles, the great 'From Me To You', and it's flipside 'Thank You, Girl'. These tracks have an interesting history, with From Me To You being mixed in to stereo in 1966 for 'A Collection of Beatles Oldies', and Thank You Girl getting a stereo mix for 'The Beatles' Second Album' in the States, but this was only released after Dexterization. The EMI Stereo mix was not released until 2009! With differences focussed heavily on echo and harmonica, it's once again a rollicking good time with the Fab Four!
With this in mind, if you wish to access the rest of the ever growing catalog of Mixology on 45 episodes, as well as extended Back to Mono episodes, Longplayers in Mono, and even Artists in Mono, you can do so at patreon.com/backtomono
Happy Listening,
Frederick 

Happy Together by The Turtles

Hello Friends! Today we're in 1967, with The Turtles, and their wonderful album "Happy Together". Obviously including the title hit, this album has an absolutely wonderful selection of cuts, ranging from the upbeat and uplifting opener "Makin' My Mind Up", to the beautiful ballad "Like The Seasons". However, how does it compare between it's original mono and stereo mixes? The stereo certainly features a number of well thought out panning decisions, but the mono brings in a number of effects used more haphazardly in the stereo. To top it off, we get two mixes only issued on 45s, with missing overdubs and alternate fade outs! So consider this your Guide For The Married Man!
Happy Listening, 
Frederick 
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All Summer Long by The Beach Boys

Hello Friends! Today we're basking in the summer of 1964, with The Beach Boys' Summertime Magnus Opus, 'All Summer Long'. Featuring Classics such as I Get Around, Wendy, the title track, and Little Honda, this album was originally released in both mono and stereo mixes, but both versions suffered on two differing tracks. With a modern remix or two to help us out, which of these equally fantastic yet equally compromised mixes is the one to go for? Don't Back Down from the decision, let's find out!
Happy Listening, 
Frederick 
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The Spirit of '67 by Paul Revere & The Raiders

Hello Friends! Thanks to the appearance of their music in Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" in 2019, Paul Revere & The Raiders have entered into the musical radar of many people, myself included, and this group are like any other when it comes to their Mono & Stereo mixes! With this in mind, I've today chosen to take a look at their defining LP, "The Spirit of '67", with 11 classic tracks, including an alternate single version for good measure in there as well! So, is the added separation and clarity of the Stereo where it's at, or should you seek out a Mono copy of this album for that grit and punch that can drive those more Garage Rocking tracks home? If you're deeply Hungry for the answer, don't wait 1001 Arabian Nights - let's dig in right away!
Happy Listening, 
Frederick 
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Hollies by The Hollies

Hello Friends! Today we're targeting the second half of 1965, with the 3rd LP from The Hollies, simply titled, "Hollies". This album was very much a case of two steps forward and one step back from their previous LP, with Folk Rock seeping into the formula, and some interesting production techniques popping up across the album. However, the decreased level of original material is certainly disappointing, but of course the entire LP is presented with that classic Hollies polish. With that in mind, upon release the UK only saw a mono copy of this album, with the stereo remaining an export until 1969, when it was reissued with a new title and cover under the budget Starline label. With this in mind, should you be seeking out that original mono pressing, or will this readily available stereo pressing suit your needs, despite it's instruments left and vocals right mixing? Let's move on Down the Line and find out!
Happy Listening, 
Frederick 
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Sounds of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel

Hello Friends! Today we're returning to Simon & Garfunkel, with their breakout LP "Sounds of Silence". This wonderful hodge-podge collection of Folk and Folk Rock tunes was subject to Mono and Stereo mixes in 1966, along with a faithful 2001 remix of the entire stereo album, as a well as a partially re-recorded single edit of I Am A Rock, giving us plenty here to work with. This has been one of my favourite episodes of Mixology to compile yet, with huge sonic differences between a large number of tracks, with many of the Folk Rock tracks being bathed in echo in mono, and vice versa for the Folk tracks in stereo. So, why sit in silence any longer? Let's get a Groovy Things Goin' and dig right in!
Happy Listening, 
Frederick 
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Aftermath by The Rolling Stones

Hello Friends! We're jumping to June 1966 today, with The Rolling Stones leap forward into the world of 60s Pop and Swingin' London, and their classic LP 'Aftermath'. Released in both mono and stereo at the time, both these mixes offer us a different flavour for the album, replete with extra echo, longer fades, and just an overall differing vibe between the two. So, with both these mixes, and a copy of Flowers in hand for one more, let's dive in before we're Out of Time!
Happy Listening, 
Frederick 
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If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears by The Mamas and The Papas

Hello Friends! Today we've got another Patron requested episode, taking a look at the debut LP from The Mamas and The Papas, "If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears". This California pop classic includes hit singles "Monday, Monday" and "California Dreamin'", along with classics like "Go Where You Wanna Go" and "I Call Your Name". The stereo mix of this album is notoriously wonky and unpleasurable compared with the cohesive sound of the mono, and with extended fades and variable balance between the two, we've got another treat for you to enjoy! 
Happy Listening, 
Frederick 
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The Doors by The Doors

Hello Friends! Today we're making the trip to January 1967, with the debut LP from LA's most renound, The Doors! Classically self titled, 'The Doors' combined the evolving rock, psych, blues, and r'n'b movement at the time, to create a raw yet timeless effort, often heralded as the group's best. As always, the album received mono and stereo mixes upon release, and while there aren't that many explicit differences, the overall sound of the mix is vastly different, with the stereo having the clarity, but the mono having the crunch and the punch. Which is better? Let's take a trip to the Whisky Bar at The End of The Night, and find out...
Happy Listening, 
Frederick 
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Boots by Nancy Sinatra

Hello Friends! Today we're hanging out in 1966 with Nancy Sinatra's debut LP, 'Boots'. The first in a string of albums produced by Lee Hazlewood, this album was host to smash hit "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'", along with classic tracks such as "So Long, Babe", and many fantastic covers, including my personal favourite, "Run For Your Life". Remaining unissued in mono since 1966, let's see how the in-print stereo mix holds up to the single-channeled punch of the mono. So, get ready to count those Flowers On The Wall, and let's dig right in!
Happy Listening, 
Frederick 
P.S. - This episode was voted on by our Graduate Tier Patrons. If you want to control which albums I look at in the future, consider signing up at https://www.patreon.com/backtomono
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The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees by The Monkees

Hello Friends! We're travelling back to 1968 this week with The Monkees, and their slightly unusual LP 'The Birds, The Bees, & The Monkees'. Recorded almost totally separately by each of the members of the group, the album is a bizarre mish-mash of styles that just about manages to come together as one. Released at a time when mono was becoming deeply uncool in the USA, many people have never heard the true mono version of this LP, and today we find out if seeking out this incredibly rare mix is worth your time. So, get back upon your feet and come with me to Auntie's Municipal Court!
Happy Listening, 
Frederick 
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Highway 61 Revisited by Bob Dylan

Hello Friends, today we're taking it back to 1965 with the second LP in Bob Dylan's iconic electric trilogy, the incomparable 'Highway 61 Revisited'. Release in both Mono & Stereo mixes in 1965, the album has never been subject to a remix, and as such, these are the mixes we still reference today. So, with every track being longer in stereo, is this an easy decision to make? Let's hop in a car down Highway 61 to Desolation Row and find out!
Happy Listening, 
Frederick 
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The Kinks are The Village Green Preservation Society by The Kinks

Hello Friends, today we're taking a lazy trip down to the village green, with The Kinks' utterly fantastic 1968 LP, "The Kinks are The Village Green Preservation Society". Released in both mono and stereo mixes at the time, this 15 track collection throws a gratuitous quantity of top quality mix differences at us, with a keen focus on the inclusion/absence of that legendary overdub - the little ol' Tambourine! To top it off, two sneaky alternate mixes leaked out on an alternate 12 Track version of the album in Europe, and of course we couldn't ignore these. So spend your afternoon Sitting By The Riverside with Johnny Thunder & Monica, and let's get in to this utterly scintillating classic.
Happy Listening, 
Frederick 
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I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonite? by Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart

Hello Friends! We're staying in 1968 this week with a look at an underrated pop gem from that summer, 'I Wonder What She's Doing Tonite' from Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart. The Monkees songwriters would put together a top tier collection of Monkees styled jams, ranging from top tier pop hooks, riffs on psychedelia and beat, to just an all-out good time. Released to the public in a stereo mix in 1968, the album received a mono promo mix for radio airplay, and somehow this is the mix issued digitally today! Which should you seek out? The answers lie in the lap of The Countess down in Tear Drop City!
Happy Listening, 
Frederick 
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The Beatles by The Beatles - LP2

Hello Friends! Today we continue our journey with The Beatles in 1968, covering LP2 of The BEATLES (better known as The White Album), and even diving in to the two cuts from the sessions released on 45, Hey Jude & Revolution. In this half, things start to get a bit dark, a bit weird, but who doesn't love it when the Fab Four get weird...? So let's get munching on a Savoy Truffle with Honey Pie in tow, and let us finish off this beast of an album! 
Happy Listening, 
Frederick 
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The Beatles by The Beatles - LP1

Hello Friends, and welcome to the first Mixology of 2021! We're diving headfirst in to a brand new year with our first double album, the 1968 classic 'The BEATLES'. More commonly known as the White Album, we'll be exploring these notoriously different mixes across two episodes, this week focusing on Disc 1. So join me in discovering just why Happiness is a Warm Gun, where the Handclaps went in Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da, and above all, why does the stereo mix of Back in the USSR end in an arctic storm?
Happy Listening, 
Frederick 
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