Buying '60S Lps - Stereo Or Mono?

[Premium Stuff]

Hi everyone

When there is a choice about buying a stereo or mono version of a '60s album (e.g. Hesitations 'Soul Superman' LP) are there any general rules about which format is considered more desirable in terms of quality or collectability?

I would have thought stereo, but sometimes I see comments suggesting that mono is better and the preferred choice.

Interested in any thoughts on this, and the reasons why please.

Cheers

Richard

[Benji]

Some 60s LP's (usually french or german) have what I call "fake-stereo". these are to be avoided if possible, they sound horrible.

Genuine stereo albums are the ones to have for home listening but when playing out loud I prefer mono.

[Premium Stuff]

Some 60s LP's (usually french or german) have what I call "fake-stereo". these are to be avoided if possible, they sound horrible.

Genuine stereo albums are the ones to have for home listening but when playing out loud I prefer mono.

Hi Benji

Thanks - but what makes mono better for playing out please?

Cheers

Richard

[Pete S]

Hi Benji

Thanks - but what makes mono better for playing out please?

Cheers

Richard

All the sound's concentrated in one place straight down the middle instead of being split up and filtered, who wants drums in one speaker and guitar in the other, stereo records always sound a bit wishy washy compared to the ir mono counterparts.

[Windlesoul]

Tempests stereo version Lp suffers a bit from this, not so noticeable at home though

Edited December 20, 2012 by Windlesoul

[Citizen P]

I'd agree that the mono is the one to go for for playing out.

B

[Premium Stuff]

Thanks guys

So it sounds like stereo for the house and mono for playing out then - so got to have both!

Cheers

Richard

[Philippe]

So it sounds like stereo for the house and mono for playing out then - so got to have both!

Richard

To me the mono versions are the ones to have, they sound much better.

Though some labels had some very cool stereo pressings,(e.g. RCA with Sam Cooke).

Edited December 20, 2012 by Philippe

[Jim G]

Mono all the way for me, some stereo albums are truly awful

[Premium Stuff]

All replies much appreciated - thanks guys

So thinking about a couple I have then, as examples, would I be best having mono versions on the Hesitations - Soul Superman and the Metros - Sweetest One LPs?

I think I have mono and stereo of both those - plus both formats on things like the Platters - Going Back To Detroit.

Basically, if I was to let one go, would I keep the mono or stereo? Keeping the mono looks like the best option by the sounds of it

Cheers

Richard

Edited December 20, 2012 by Premium Stuff

[Only Dreaming]

_{It all depends on the LP in question and your personal preferences. I've only heard the stereo version of 'Soul Superman' and it sounds great to my ears. However,my 'Souled out' LP by the Rightous Brothers sounds much better in mono as does 'Feelin' Bluesy ' by Gladys Knight & the pips. I really feel that the last two lps were actually intended as mono cuts and the stereo versions sound too separated. In terms of which to buy, I always go for the stereo version and convert to mono on my pc using cooledit pro or similar. I also convert all my mono 45's (recorded with a stereo cartridge) by the same means to save them to digital, as it reduces distortion. Finally, I remember reading somewhere that a lot of 60's recording sessions were 'mic'd' for mono as the studio engineers were trained in that format. The mixing engineeers also specialised in mono so those mixes were of a higher quality than the stereo versions.}

_{Good topic,}

_Best,

_Dave

Edited December 21, 2012 by Only Dreaming

[dthedrug]

HI ALL

The best sound reproduction is of 4 track tape or multi track studio recordings, hours of fun if you are lucky to have the opportunity, vinyl reproduction standards were tech more advanced than the equipment used to play vinyl on,

STEREO was always seen as a superior way to listen to recordings in the mid 6ts, as such it was very much in vogue, post Sgt Pepper, Pet Sounds, Axis bold as love, which gave birth to UK Progressive Blues,

by 1969 most LPs were STERO with 2 or 3 tracks of special effex to turn you on when smoking dope,

MONO was doomed? However not to for SOUND SYSTEM OPERATORS, DJ & PA COMPANYS. who indeprom each other, seemed to discover a new approach to sound in the following way:~-

SPEAKERS In the late 50s in JAMAICA the home of the SOUND SYSTEM, They were trying to capture the best bass sound, to do this bigger is best, speaker cabinets when I first went to a ALL-NIGHT BLUES, HAD 28" RCA SPEAKERS & LINED INSIDE WITH CURTAINS, damping down,

In 1968 a friend of mine, was working with ROGER CHAPMAN & FAMILY, a LEICTER BAND, Who were the 1st group in the world to use fold-back as a separate sound system PA, the band also introduced the BASS BIN, A BASS BIN was exactly what the SOUND MAN wanted, & very simple to make (speaker tech, has always been superior than amplification) the US comp JBL made the best speakers for BASS BINS,

Instead of mounting the speaker facing out, they turned it around & made the sound funnel, this advancement was already known to prisoners around the world who had a transistor radio, by putting a empty tin can on the speaker, you have a bass bin (try it)

AMPS PA, SOUND MEN & DJ use heavy duty CROWN AMP 500watt valves, for the solid sound and a mixer

ROSE MORRIS was a pioneer of the sound desk which worked on equalising each input, he built a 12 channel desk which went very quickly to 32 then 64, this enabled the sound of a live band to place parts of the sound in any area of the room, (i can remember micing a drum kit with 8 mice's even the drummers fart could be miked up)

Just a thought, in 1965 the loudest group in the world were the WHO, LIVE they were kicking out 200 watts! in 66 they bought half of the biggest sound system in the world it was 1k, and belonged to "

FRANK SINATRA, HE DID IT HIS WAY"

TURNTABLE. IN 1971 my turntables were GARRARD SP25MK2, GREAT DECKS, But as much as I have a great fondness for them, they were a poor relation to what we now consider to be the finest deck ever, apart from some modification, the TECHNICS 1210 is the #1 worldwide.

This little write up i hope explains that sound mono through mixing can give you a better output than any stereo recording, professionals will always go for MONO :thumbsup: DAVE K

[Premium Stuff]

Some great responses guys - thank you very much.

I appreciate the time taken to reply with some very useful detailed analysis - especially as I thought my original post might be see as a 'daft question' in the first place.

Looks like Mono is the one to go for then.

Cheers

Richard