The Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever / Penny Lane (mono)

On a very personal level, this is a very special item in my humble record collection. As you can see in the first picture, this copy of the "Strawberry Fields Forever / Penny Lane" single by The Beatles was bought by a woman named Mary on February 17, 1967. That's the day in which this, perhaps the most important double A-side single ever, was released in its country of origin (four days before in the United States).

But what makes this record very special to me is that February 17, 1967, is also the day I was born. I have an eternal debt of gratitude with Mary, whoever she is, for leaving proof of what she did in this exact date.

The record isn't in the best condition. It has lots of groove distortion, particularly noticeable on "Penny Lane". But oh well, what it represents to me is more important than its sound quality.

(00:00) Video intro

01. (00:14) Strawberry Fields Forever
02. (04:21) Penny Lane

Numark TTXUSB turntable - Nagaoka MP-500 phono cartridge - ART DJPRE II phono stage preamp - Vinyl record vinilo 45 RPM

[grandier]

The analogue mono mixes still stand as the best.

[kathrynmcmullen]

The mono recordings sound so much better

[RamansSon]

Its a tradition for me to go back to this rare ‘still up on youtube’ masterpiece

[alvinbreadcrumbsh]

imagine being a person in 1967 when this single came out, that person must've been hella mindblown

[kurikokaleidoscope]

Nothing compares to the magic of The Beatles.

[bobnodzo]

You know a band is great when they create a double sided hit about their neighborhood! The Greatest ever!!

[propagafun]

Undoubtedly the greatest 45rpm ever. What a vibes!

[davedee]

The mono mixes are the best. They are the ones the Beatles approved of. They are the hits; the records we heard on the radio, the records we bought.

[martincaldera]

That version of Penny Lane is sublime.

[Edandush]

Sometimes I think the Beatles’ mono mixes are better than the stereo ones.

[thetid]

John himself said that everything before The White Album should be listened to in mono, as those are the mixes that the Beatles themselves signed off; they weren't generally present for the stereo mixes.

[stevewalton]

Having grown up listening to The Beatles on a mono system, I pretty much agree that mono Beatle records are best. A true Beatlemaniac since Feb 64, there were only a few stereo record player systems. I listened to every Beatle record on mono. I was in my late teens when I had gotten a stereo system. That led to shutting off one channel to hear just the vocals, then the other to hear the music. I realize there's quite a bit more on each track, I'm just going with basics here.
Anyway....yeah, mono over stereo.
(In no way am I dissing stereo!)
The Beatles. The Gods of Rock n Roll!

[bobnodzo]

Just an example why these lads are greatest ever double sided prog rock hits

[elvisleeboy]

I'm astounded that this has managed to remain on YouTube for two years. Delighted that it has.

[enricosanchez]

Special thanks to Sir Paul, for granting us a boon by not taking it down.

[gordonovenshine]

Mono sounds better to my ears, I hear detail that is lost in the stereo. Plus, as others said, The Beatles preferred mono.

[baberoot]

The way...they were intended to be heard. The way...they would have been played over AM Radio, in 1967. Except for the missing, extra horn notes...at the end of 'Penny Lane'. Very nice.

[marafolse]

You're doing great work! Don't want these mixes to be lost to the revisionism of the current holders.

[Wordman]

On the day I was born (April 1, 1967), the Beatles were recording the Sgt. Pepper theme reprise, which sets us up for the "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album closer, "A Day in the Life." It was the last track they recorded for the album.

[tbwatch]

wait hang on-- are these BOTH mono mixes? they sound INCREDIBLE. cheers for this.