The Beatles: STEREO or MONO? | Secrets and Changes Guide

We've been listening the beatles' recordings for so many years that we know the details and sounds of each recording so well. Vinyl, cassettes, CDs, streaming and other formats have standardized the stereo sound, but the Beatles always prioritized their recordings in mono. So today, we present a brief guide to some of the differences in the beatles' mono and stereo recordings.

Joseph Brennan List:

[SpenBoy]

Just purchased The Beatles in Mono Audio CD Box Set and I could not be happier. Their sound in mono seems a lot more natural and live. Definitely prefer most of the mono mixes over the stereo ones, especially sgt. peppers.

[Robil]

3:46 Sexiest riff ever. From the first time I heard it and 50 years later, still blows my musical mind.

[FrankieLovesElvis]

Most within the Beatles enthusiasts, hold the Mono mixes with high regard, praise and respect. I’m glad we have them and we know The Beatles always preferred them. 😊

[kathyhollenbach]

This might sound stupid but when the Beatles came out there was no stereo sound. We could not hear the bass at all. I remember when stereo was invented. We ran out to the department store and bought a stereo record player. I was amazed at how well Paul McCartney's bass sounded. I remember saying to my brother, "wow Paul Does know how to play the bass" I don't understand what you call mono and stereo and why anyone would want to listen to mono. My Mom played a classical record and it was amazing to hear the full quality of an orchestra!!

[georgeprice]

The variant for Don’t Pass Me By has been available in America since 1980 on Capitol’s version of the Rarities album, as has the Mono version of Helter Skelter.

[scottxu]

The mono “White Album”’s “Helter Skelter” ends after the first fade-out. Only the stereo version has Ringo’s iconic “AH GAHT BLISTAHS ON MAH FINGAHS!!”

“Revolution 9” on the mono version has a far different mix (and I believe is shorter as well).

[denniswood]

This presentation is very good but the first 3 Beatles albums are better in mono. Beatles for Sale can be argued, sounds better in stereo. However, Rubber Soul has that vocals on the right channel & the instruments on the left in stereo so the mono version is the best Rubber Soul. Singles like "Paperback Writer" & "Revolution" sound amazing in mono. By the White album (although the UK released it in mono) Yellow Submarine, Abbey Road & Let It Be, stereo became the industry standard.

[daytripper]

Yes I knew about all of these actually. I think one of my favorites is the mono paperback writer. The echo is a lot more up front and a bit different at the end of the song and when Paul says writer Ringo's drums can really be heard.

[paulgeorge]

nothing wrong with a good stereo master/mix, its just that the mono mixes were carefully supervised by the beatles themselves but the stereo mix was relegated to the engineers . sargent pepper is a good example, i've also been listening to my jimi hendrix mono/stereo records and the early ones ; hey joe/purple haze/wind crys are alot better than the stereo mixes because jimi wasn't involved in the final mastering/mixing but by electric ladyland he was firmly in control and you can hear the wonderful stereo sounds especially in your ear goggles

[balkandancer]

When stereo came out it was like the flood gates opening, the sound was so different and it would suck you into the music. However, over the years as technology improved now it's hard to say just what the band really played and how much was changed through electronic manipulation. Personally, I just listen to the music because I enjoy it, don't see any reason to pick it apart.

[mraaronstewart]

If I Fell's intro going from, double tracked in stereo mix, to the just the raw vocal on the mono mix, was just shocking.

Growing up with the CD, it was by default the stereo mix, that's why it's important for these mono boxsets to come out every now and then, so they aren't lost to time/being expensive.

[jesserussell]

I love both stereo and mono because you get different versions of all the Beatles songs from older recordings. my favorite stereo and mono versions of songs are the she’s leaving home and I love Lucy in the sky with diamonds with John Lennon‘s water bowl affect which you can only hear in the mono but you can’t hear it in stereo. and I also love baby you’re a Rich Man with that wonderful piano affect think it’s a tremolo effect which is great and I love the longer fade out of all you need is love as well as baby you’re rich man and I love the stereo version too.And I also love got to get you into my life but the stereo and mono mixes.

[gdholmfirth]

Surprised the entire American vinyl version of "Rubber Soul" is not even mentioned. I grew up listening to that and loved that I could hear ow each song was constructed by listening to one track at a time.

[michaelnyny]

On the original United Artists mono LP the mistake mentioned at 3:18 is there. It has single track vocals for John and Paul. It sounds like the UK version uses the second track vocal to fix the problem.

[stevenbrown]

The one I noticed the most that’s not on here is Lucy in the sky with diamonds. The mono version starts with a lower key than the stereo

[luvmyrecords]

...it gets even crazier with variations among different countries in mono and srereo each.

[stitchgrimly]

Blue Jay Way doesn't have a chorus effect - it's the track playing backwards underneath itself.

[jrockofages]

I remember when Al Gore invented stereo. He was so excited he was beside himself.

[adamquinn]

I love both Mono and Stereo. If you’re an American, you probably grew up listening to your parents’ stereo albums. I’d argue that only the first 2 Parlophone albums, Please Please Me and With The Beatles, are essential in mono. By A Hard Day’s Night, the stereo mixes started getting better, and I know quite a few people actually prefer With The Beatles in Stereo.

[ProfessorKenneth]

Ive always liked the mono version of the Beatles songs..and other bands too, like stones, animals.