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Read the original blog post12.39am
26 November 2009
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Spent some time last night analyzing one of my favorite Beatles songs (definitely my most favorite on the “Beatles For Sale ” album). I've noticed one thing that may point to the differences between stereo and mono versions: listening to the stereo version, I've noticed how clearly the recording captures the sound of the room. Especially during the guitar solo, when the entire band goes into overdrive, you can palpably feel how the temperature in the recording room heats up. The players are getting extra excited, and you can feel it. The raw, exuberant energy of the young Beatles is definitely in the air, and you can hear its electrifying effect captured so faithfully on the stereo track.
Flip over to the mono version, and all of that electrifying room energy for some reason disappears! What you get on the mono version is a more polished, professionally sounding track, with all the instruments blending in more pleasantly. The music is indeed more presentable on the mono version, but alas! the electrifying energy that was flooding the room on the stereo version is nowhere to be heard.
Needless to say, I prefer the stereo version for the better depth and clarity and electrifying energy, even if it sounds a bit rougher at the edges.
Also, it looks like the differences between stereo and mono are more pronounced in the earlier recordings. This is due to the fact that the Beatles started experimenting in the studio only once they hit their mid period (1966 onwards). On the earlier recordings, they would basically set up the band in the studio and play mostly live into the microphones. After adding some minor touchups and overdubs, they would then fold the tracks into the mono mix, polishing the sound. Later on, the engineers would use the same master tracks to fold down to the stereo mix, but would be less skilled at polishing the sound, and so the sound of the recording room would 'bleed through'.
Not necessarily what the Beatles had originally intended to show on the record, but nevertheless it's fascinating to hear today, from the fan's perspective.
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Beatlebug, Shamrock WomlbsShow me that I'm everywhere, and get me home for tea
7.52am
14 October 2009
Offline I can appreciate exactly what you're saying here, but I think this extends to many more of their songs that we can hear in both mono and stereo. I suppose for the very logical reason that the mono is 'compact' we hear it as such, but with the stereo mixes the sound is panned giving a much wider and, quite often, looser sound. I was listening the the four 1964 EP tracks in stereo yesterday (Long Tall Sally , I Call Your Name etc) and I thought what a superb performance they put in on those songs but the playing wasn't 100% tight; however that didn't matter. This is 'lost' in the mono versions.
The stereo mix isn't always best mind. What spoils many is the placement of vocals / drums to one side when we all really want to hear them in the middle; but the more weird thing is when we get drums on separate channels (Lady Madonna for example) when it is quite obvious the additional drum parts were added later. The mono version makes you think it wasn't and sounds much, much better!
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Beatlebug, ewe2"If we feel our heads starting to swell.....we just look at Ringo!"
1.58pm
31 March 2008
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It's worth mentioning that drums (or any other instrument) can be recorded onto more than one track at the same time, and so can be spread across the stereo spectrum during the mixing stage. I don't think The Beatles did this until Abbey Road , though, when they had eight tracks to play with.
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10.57pm
12 January 2013
Offline I can never see a difference between Mono and Stero. But I do agree its a very swell song.
The Incedibly True Story THat Never Ends. By Sam.
Best Friend: WHat are you listening to
Me: The Beatles
Best Friend: Go Figure
11.09am
Moderators
15 February 2015
Offline *blows dust off thread*
ACHOOO!!! 
…I was listening to this the other day, and it struck me suddenly that one could conceivably perceive it as being about Julia . There’s a certain childish naivety* to lines such as
I wonder what went wrong
I’ve waited far too long
If she turns up while I’m gone please let me know
and how he feels compelled to remove his sadness from the scene because everyone else is doing just fine, and he doesn’t wish to spoil their fun with his own misery, which isn’t important enough to warrant anyone’s attention.
*Obviously not the ‘I’ve had a drink or two and I don’t care’ part. 
([{BRACKETS!}])
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11.24am
24 March 2014
Offline I listen to this album a lot lately. I listen to it on repeat while working (followed by Help !) … and after listening to this song i thought that it could be talking about their recent interest on pot, marihuana, etc… because whenever they had to attend to a party (official beatle business party) they couldn’t smoke and once they discovered hash drinking was not interesting anymore.
“I’ve had a drink or two and I don’t care
There’s no fun in what I do if she’s not there“
And then the line “I think I’ll take a walk and look for her” could be like “ok, off to search some grass around…”
But i guess it just could be about whatever thing we could think of.
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vonbontee, Ahhh Girl, Beatlebug, ewe2"I Need You by George Harrison"
6.11pm
8 January 2015
Offline Interesting ideas, I’ve never thought too deeply about Paul’s lyrics on this album, aren’t a couple some of his earliest?
I'm like Necko only I'm a bassist ukulele guitar synthesizer kazoo penguin and also everyone. Or is everyone me? Now I'm a confused bassist ukulele guitar synthesizer kazoo penguin everyone who is definitely not @Joe. This has been true for 2016 & 2017 
but I may have to get more specific in the future.
7.17pm
Moderators
15 February 2015
Offline ewe2 said
Interesting ideas, I’ve never thought too deeply about Paul’s lyrics on this album, aren’t a couple some of his earliest?
Eh? Oh, you mean I’ll Follow The Sun .
Anyway, I thought we were talking about John’s I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party …?
([{BRACKETS!}])
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3.16am
24 March 2014
Offline The subtleties on George’s guitar make all the difference
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sir walter raleigh, all things must pass"I Need You by George Harrison"
4.03pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline Been hearing this a lot recently as my phone seems intent on repeatedly bringing it up when on random. John sounds so damn sad on this (as he does so often on ‘BFS’ if he isn’t blasting out old R&R standards) and the guitar solo is fabulous. Love how they change the regular song order with verse 1 repeated before the solo and the backing harmonies are fantastic.
‘BFS’s has certainly lost some of it’s appeal over the years but the first five and then ‘ELT’ thru to ‘WYD’ are incredible runs.
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Rube"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
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