Back to Mono - Phil Spector
937177
I originally purchased cassette tapes of Back to Mono when it first came out years ago.  I just recently purchased the CDs to enjoy even better quality than I had.  What can I say that hasn't already been said about Phil Spector?  He is a genius, quirky, but a genius nonetheless.  Listening to the Ronnettes, the Crystals, Darlene Love, and the other artists on these CDs has to make anyone who was born in the 40s and 50s feel nostalgic.  They just don't make music like that anymore.  If you don't already have this box set as part of your collection, [pick] it up while it's still available.
3322645
Mono, on the whole, wasn't what I expected and I'm saddened by that fact. I actually heard Life in Mono before I heard anything else by the band and rushed out to by the album (Monico Blues), hoping beyond hope that the whole of the work would be like this song. And it wasn't. In fact, I have to say that I've been disappointed with Mono as a whole since this track. But, what a track.

Honestly, I have to say that I absolutely adore this song. Its haunting and almost surreal, and it evokes imagery within it that makes me feel good. Its atmospherically centering in a right, painting a picture within the wording, and the vocal presence behind it is amazing. Even now, some 8 years after its release, I still feel it when I close my eyes and listen, the track bringing back memories of old loves and old flames and the synthetic prowess that highs and a paintbrush can bring together.

O yeah.

The problem with this single is that it isn't simply the album version of the song. The remixes provided don't do it justice at all, changing the song in ways that actually take away some of the traits it possesses. The Alice Ban Mix slows it down to a minimalist crawl that loops into some sort of electro-house mix, starting the audio snail pace creeping along until the basic beat kicks in, and that's really redundant and fights the vocals. The "Sweat Band Mix" puts way too much beat to the track, giving it some kind of techno spaghetti-western appeal that is anything but appealing if you liked the first track, and I couldn't buy into that. The "Hope" mix is a club sound, bass and remix with the atypical 4x4 beat, and this isn't a cross-genre sound so that doesn't work. Also, the vocals are used as a loop when they are one of the most powerful instruments that the song has to offer. "Bushmaster" suffers alot of what "Sweat Band Mix" does, and it tries to scatter the sound wayyy to much and takes away what was appealing about the song. And the last is simply an instrumental, and the vocals are like a drug in this piece.

All that said, the song is a powerful one and is WELL worth getting your hands on. It has so many "pros" going for it that it powers this cheaply acquired single and might warrant the investment of a few more bucks so you can have the album its off of. Regardless, GET THE SONG.
342192
Classic song from the 70's. As downloaded, it has an unusually high-level of treble which was not, as I recall, an issue with the original recording, at least when heard on radio. This is probably the key, all stations equalize their music. Fortunately I have Media Center, which has a music edit function. I altered the high frequencies to my taste, and smoothed out some brassy passages, then saved the file. It is now perfect :)
2143998
Oh Phil. What the heck happened to you? You left a legacy though. Classic tunes which everyone should hear. He is a painting on the American canvas.
4591418
I have purchased some of the mono versions of the other Beatles albums that were decent. The mono version of Help is terrible. Sound quality is muffled and muddy. Returned it. Stick with the stereo version on Help.
1046494
I was very excited to receive this classic. I put it on as soon as I got home after it had arrived.  I was disappointed in the flat sound I was hearing. No life to the recording at all!  I followed this listening experience with my original, 1976 EPIC recording of this LP and what. a. difference! If you have the option to do a side-by-side compare, you will find that this re-release was not engineered well at all.
2038877
It's low fi mono, taken from bootleg sources. I bought it especially for the LA show performance, thinking it was the LA show
(A theater in San Pedro, to be exact) that I went to back in 72, and it wasn't. Everything else on this two disc set I have had from various CD/DVD boots. I am a collector, so of course I bought one. A very complex and progressive band that is so
under appreciated,Captain Beyond were way ahead of there time. I'm just so glad that I was able to see them live, they were an opening act at some theater in San Pedro, and I was there, according to the Captain Beyond web site (which no longer exists) that San Pedro show was Rod Evans very last show/performance with Captain Beyond. Then came the other lead vocalist, which is the LA show featured on this Two CD edition. RIP Larry "Rhino" Rinehardt and Lee Dorman I'll always remember you.
2803097
Their best Phillies album... Everything else is on the various compilations. So far there is only a Japanese version cd but I'm hopeful it will come up used or be released in the US. Still, get the mono version if you're nostalgia freak like me...
2747204
The vinyl version has always been one of the favorites in my collection.  I love the songs, their orchestral arrangements, and vocal blending.  So I decided to add the CD version to my music drive for the convenience of that form of playback.  I was shocked when the CD arrived MONO recording.  Why on earth would the remix of this great recording be done in mono when the original vinyl was stereo???  I almost returned this purchase but realized that, as far as I know, this is the only CD version of this album.  I gave it 3 star only because the music is the music, and it is great, but it is disappointing to say the least to have to listen to mono.
BTW, the page on Amazon does not indicate the recording is now mono, not stereo.
3160702
This recording sounds flat and monotone. I will look further for a better quality recording. Maybe I need a re-mastered copy?
UPDATE: Someone was nice and replied to this post of mine. I forgot that most of these songs were recorded in monotone back then so shouldn't have expected stereo quality. I will be searching now for stereo option as I consider this one of my favorite collection of songs!
2836912
Outstanding CD in STEREO!! Plus five bonus tracks! Since you cannot preview any songs on the CD before purchasing it, I was concerned if it was in stereo or not. Well it is! I purchased Space Escapades a while back and was disappointed to find out that it was in mono once I received it. Now the bonus tracks are in mono which doesn't matter to me since they are bonus tracks.
1532583
I first got this record as a Christmas present in 1968, but it was the stereo version. This mono version is an epiphany. The mix is amazing. I can't wait to get some of the other Beatle classics in mono.
2391324
Attention all music snobs! This SACD is just what you need to clean out your ears, and your soul. I just finished listening to it after spending a dispiriting morning with a 2004 multichannel release of a major, very serious violin concerto from a major label, major soloist, major orchestra and conductor. On that disc, tepid music-making, oh-so-careful recording and mastering. Oh so boring.

Now here's the real thing. Made back when people enjoyed making and hearing "light classics" -- and it really shows. Although I'm a boomer, I was not familiar with earlier iterations of this famous Boston Pops recording. Therefore I can't comment on whether it's as good as this remastering or that original shaded dog or whatever.

All I can say is, wow! This three-channel SACD really hits the spot. The pianist, Earl Wild, is probably unmatched in this repertoire. The orchestra, under its founding conductor, plays with matching exuberance. Everyone seems to be having a ball, first measure to last. When's the last time you heard a classical recording like that?

The recorded sound is open, colorful, engaging, and totally persuasive. Sure, the soloist is brightly lit, and there's a bit of suspect reverb. But I can hear the hall, the imaging is pretty good, and it's just so involving! Bless you, Richard Mohr and Lewis Layton and all the rest. Why can't they make 'em like this anymore?

So, unconditionally recommended. Once you've heard this, you can go back to your Magnus Lindberg or Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach or Pierre Boulez or 13th-century Moldavian motets or whatever and feel like one of the few, the precious few again. But at least you will have had some fun.

I have enjoyed many of the Living Stereo SACD remasterings, but this one is quite special.
3901328
This copy of the song is in STEREO, which makes it a bit rarer than the usually-found mono mixes found on Time-Life collections and the like. Unfortunately, it also has a bit of noise and an abrupt increase in volume during the intro, which tempers its great qualities a bit. I guess it wouldn't bother a lot of folks; just thought I'd share. :)
112926
Reading all of these reviews can be confusing. I was lucky enough to get an English mono copy of this album when it first came out, thanks to my wonderful nan, who sent it over from the jolly old UK. THIS IS THE MONO VERSION, and if you are okay hearing the album without the stereo separation, this is about as good as it gets. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE REMASTERING!! And  now this is getting to be a hard to find CD. Note: this review is about the English 'Castle/Essential' version from 1998. I don't know what version is on the 'Sanctuary' 2004 version. The American versions are usually stereo, which is also good.
489872
If you don't have the 2009 Mono CDs, I believe these 2014 Mono LPs (I also have Revolver and Help!) are better than the Mono CDs and recommend the Mono LPs over the CDs.  I believe this analog sound (especially the rolling quality of the bass) is better than the digital Mono of the CDs.  I have all the 2009 Stereo and Mono CDs and believe that there's value in having both, because of the different mixes on some songs.  Whether it's worth it or not to have both is really up to the individual.  I'm glad I bought this LP and do recommend it.
2644204
Beatles fan?Get this album and listen to the difference between the two albums and see how much Phil Spector had on the final out come