Please consider registering
Guest
sp_LogInOut Log Insp_Registration Register
Register | Lost password?
Advanced Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
sp_Feed sp_TopicIcon
I Feel Fine/She's A Woman
22 December 2012
3.59pm
Avatar
RunForYourLife
London Palladium
Members
Forum Posts: 153
Member Since:
18 November 2011
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Our friends across the pond may be unaware of this, but when “I Feel Fine ” and “She’s A Woman ” were released in the United States, George Martin added a layer of reverb that was absent from the original UK release. Before the 1987 CDs, these versions were how the majority of Americans heard those songs. I always wondered why they sounded so drastically different on my vinyl copy of Beatles ’65 in comparison to my Past Masters CD.

Which versions of these songs do you prefer?

I place my vote for the American reverb versions. I realize that they aren’t how The Beatles intended them to be heard, but they’re the versions I grew up with. The original UK versions sound a bit too “naked” to my ears without the reverb, especially “She’s A Woman “. However, I will say that I do enjoy the British “dry” versions for letting you clearly hear what the band is playing.

[sp_show_poll id=”22″]

 

NOTE: To those unfamiliar with the term, “reverb” (short for “reverberation”) is a type of echo in which a sound is immediately “bounced back” to the listener (Whereas a regular echo is more delayed).

 

 

22 December 2012
9.30pm
Avatar
Nepomuceno
somewhere in the black mountain hills of South West Germany
The Jacaranda
Members
Forum Posts: 30
Member Since:
18 January 2011
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

In the first place, I wonder why George Martin did this? Was it really him, or was that done by Capitol or whoever in America?

I always found She’s A Woman a very empty song, “naked” as you said, just boring. The reverb certainly adds something to it and improves it somewhat. I Feel Fine doesn’t really need it at all, it’s interesting to hear it like this, but I definitely stick with the original version. In general I would say that such strong reverb makes a song less listenable.

Just like George’s voice on Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby .. don’t like it very much (Well, okay, that wasn’t reverb, but some echo delay stuff, but… anyway.)


22 December 2012
9.47pm
Avatar
RunForYourLife
London Palladium
Members
Forum Posts: 153
Member Since:
18 November 2011
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Upon further research, it appears that Capitol demanded that Martin add more reverb to American Beatles releases. In response, he added an extreme amount to that single, figuring that they would reject it in favor of the British mix. However, they put the reverb-soaked versions out, and for 23 years, that’s how they sounded over here.

23 December 2012
1.44pm
Ben Ramon
Carnegie Hall
Members
Forum Posts: 613
Member Since:
26 March 2012
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I’m probably just too used to the British versions, but I find the extreme reverb pretty hideous. The sparse, empty groove of She’s A Woman is what’s great about the song. Rather than filling all the space with a wash of rhythm guitar chords like in many earlier rockers, you get those stabbing, angry chords which gives the song so much more character and originality, and the reverb detracts from that. I Feel Fine just sounds really muddy.

SHUT UP - Paulie's talkin'

23 December 2012
5.32pm
Avatar
Joe
Pepperland
Admin
Forum Posts: 5690
Member Since:
31 March 2008
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

It was Dave Dexter from Capitol who was responsible for plastering everything in reverb. He’s quite an interesting guy – here’s a comment by the respected audio engineer Steve Hoffman (who himself has worked on a number of Beatles-related releases): http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/…..ost-252290 (the whole thread is worth a read too).

The following people thank Joe for this post:

WeepingAtlasCedars

Can buy me love! Please consider supporting the Beatles Bible on Amazon
Or buy my paperback/ebook! Riding So High – The Beatles and Drugs

Don't miss The Bowie Bible – now live!

12 December 2019
7.52pm
Avatar
BeatOfTheBrass
The Kaiserkeller
Members
Forum Posts: 49
Member Since:
12 December 2019
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I think Capitol’s inclusion of these single-sides onto their assemblage of BEATLES ’65 is what, to me, “rescues” the Beatles For Sale -era material into seeming like a fully coherent album was made from it; by contrast.  It doesn’t make (me) lose interest in side two the way the British counterpart gets disjointed.

Though, never having heard what the October 12, 1964 U.K. mono mix of S.A.W. sounds like (the one sent to Capitol was the mono mix from October 21st)…I presume(?): the U.K. one is a lot like the stereo on Past Masters 1, with just the length at 3:03 instead of being faded-out at 2:57?  However, the echo and delay added to the Capitol makes the opening riff, among other things, sound like a wailing anvil being struck and: (accidentally) winds-up turning the song into a embryonic example of a Heavy Metal euphoric gauntlet one soon doesn’t notice the weak lyrics of. 

I, personally, love blasting the Duophonic version over big speakers. 

Sample vintage demo through phone input:

I will play the game Existence to the End ;)

23 December 2019
10.01pm
Avatar
William Shears Campbell
Somewhere In The Black Mountain Hills Of Utah
Rishikesh
Members
Forum Posts: 3629
Member Since:
14 June 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

A good amount of the Beatles 65 album is mixed different than the UK versions.  Some of the stereo versions sound like they were recoded in a bathroom due to the stereophonic effect capitol applied to them.  I always feel like the sound has its charm despite it being criticized.

The following people thank William Shears Campbell for this post:

vonbontee, WeepingAtlasCedars

Here | There | Everywhere

It's ya boi!  The one and only Billy Shears (AKA Paul's Replacement)

"Sometimes I wish I was just George Harrison" - John Lennon

 

Forum Timezone: Europe/London
Most Users Ever Online: 700
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 1
Top Posters:
Starr Shine?: 16105
Ron Nasty: 12534
Zig: 9832
50yearslate: 8759
Necko: 8043
AppleScruffJunior: 7583
parlance: 7111
mr. Sun king coming together: 6402
Mr. Kite: 6147
trcanberra: 6064
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 88
Members: 2858
Moderators: 5
Admins: 1
Forum Stats:
Groups: 3
Forums: 44
Topics: 5508
Posts: 380272
Newest Members:
jsullivan2112_1, catadorademusica, Slowhand, mirrortime, Julie
Moderators: Joe: 5690, meanmistermustard: 24944, Ahhh Girl: 22198, Beatlebug: 18181, The Hole Got Fixed: 8410
Administrators: Joe: 5690