This is a strange one...the remixes are patchy and inconsistent, the overall production values here are so varied it sounds like it was done by several different producers. The bass is overprominent throughout, the drums still lie way back in the mix, unlike the recent Sgt Pepper remix which brought Ringo's wonderful drumming to the fore, and as these songs were mostly done either side of, and in some cases during the recording of Sgt Pepper a better remix should have been possible. It is clumsy, lazy and a real missed opportunity to re discover this classic album, and it has been done a real injustice with this sloppy work. The music remains incredible, timeless and thought provoking, shame the same couldn't be said for the remix !!. The best way to listen to this album is to hunt down the mono mix from the Beatles in Mono series, remember that George Martin did not believe stereo would take off and he lavished his attention on mono mixes. Sublime packaging though.
Unlike many i loved this album and its remastering. I listen to music for entertainment not to criticise. I had this album when it first was released and back then it lacked something which many albums back then lacked. Plus of course, our systems back then left a lot to be desired and often were mono decks or early stereograms. Many Beatle albums back then were in "pathetic" stereo, music on one channel and voices on the other. Remastering has, in my opinion, improved this album like so many of the era. I love it
There's very little that can be said about the Beatles that hasn't already be said and I guess that anyone buying this album will already know what a brilliant album this is. Other reviewers have offered opinions on the improved sound quality that the re-issues offer and I can't really add to that. One thing that I particularly like about the new CD format is, however, the packaging of the albums themselves...rather than a cheap looking plastic box with inlays, this comes in a really nice cardboard gate-fold, booklet style cover and is, in that regard, quite reminiscent of the 12" format (only much smaller, obviously). Also there is a certain uniformity to the packaging across the entire back catalogue - every album from Please Please Me through to Let It Be (the White Album notwithstanding, for obvious reasons) share certain design features, so if you buy the full set they look great on the shelf
I still have the original double ep, but decided to get hold of the remastered CD. I also have a very old imported copy of this album, which I got in the states in 1974, before this album was released in the UK. This album has "mock"stereo, so it was a real pleasure to hear the remastered (proper) stereo version. Highly recommended.