THE BEATLES IN MONO - VINYL - THE BEATLES

	£		165
	$		219

THE BEATLES IN MONO - VINYL  -  THE BEATLES



The last five years have brought a flurry of Beatles CD box sets – the ‘core’ items being the 2009 Stereo digital re-masters (on CD and, in 2012, vinyl), and the Mono CD set. Other more recent variations include ‘The US albums’ and ‘The Japan Box’. In spite of claims elsewhere, the 2009 Mono CD set did a good job of delivering a digital representation of the analogue warmth and power that made the band’s original mono records sound so great. It was (is) a beautifully produced set, complete with its perfect CD-sized facsimile UK album covers and inner sleeves, with each album (up to and including the White Album) mixed the way The Beatles preferred and sanctioned: in mono.
So why release a mono set on vinyl in 2014? The new box offers something very different at a time when interest in listening to music on vinyl is gaining popularity. It also represents – to my 50+ age group, at least – something of a holy grail. Originally, the Abbey Road sound engineers were going to use the Mono CD digital remasters in the production of the Vinyl box set (a similar approach was taken to the 2012 stereo vinyl set, but using the stereo digital remasters). But someone came up with the intriguing idea of using the original 1960s analogue mono masters as their source and utilising the same LP production processes as in the 'sixties. In other words, these LPs are not sourced from digital remasters; they are made directly from the original analogue mono masters.
It’s that decision that gives the Vinyl set a validity and musical integrity to a band that, in the early sixties, “would kill to be on a piece of plastic”.
How do they sound? I have a middling Cyrus hi-fi system with a 30-year-old AR deck and KEF monitors. While certainly not ‘crushing’ the 2009 Mono CDs as one reviewer claimed, the records sound (and look) rather wonderful. The pressings are silent and flat. Without a doubt, this vinyl set brings you closer to the spirit and drive of The Beatles' music, engaging the listener with a much more rewarding experience.
While obviously being much larger in size, this monumental set follows a similar template to the Mono CD set, down to the sturdy and imposing white outer box. Each LP cover and record label is beautifully reproduced, being faithful as possible to their 1960s UK forebears. We are talking of excellence here, and the bar has been set very high indeed. This will be as close as most people will get to owning the original albums, but in a pristine condition previously undreamt of. Pure magic.
A very worthwhile extra is the handsome 108-page hardback book, exclusive to this box set with plenty of previously rare or unseen photographs. Also present is Mono Masters – a very impressive triple-album containing all the mono singles, EPs, B-sides and original Yellow Submarine tracks spread over six sides of gorgeous heavyweight vinyl. Remember - Abbey Road and Let It Be are not included because they were originally released in stereo.
Finally - if you have decided to buy this wonderful set, take a couple of days off to properly experience opening and listening to it. The outer packaging is (rightly) designed to protect the contents against all but the most brutal handling, but take care opening it. Once you’re in, switch off your telly, mobile phone and computer, and just breathe in the smell of the 180-gram virgin vinyl before carefully placing it onto your record deck and playing it. Play it loud and enjoy it like it was the 'sixties. It’s unlikely there will be a bigger vinyl release for a long time, so savour it. By the way, you’ll need space to store it – the biggest band in the world comes in a very big box.

I grade the vinyl and box using the following grading system.
I grade this vinyl & box: NEAR MINT


DISC (VINYL) GRADES SS
(STILL SEALED) Sealed at factory and never opened. Disc is assumed to be undamaged and mint, but this cannot be proven until the album is actually opened and the disc examined. M
(MINT) Perfection, no flaws, defects, marks or otherwise indications of being handled or played. Any scuffs, hairline scratches or other marks disqualify discs from this category. I do not use this grade, as even the act of inserting the disc or removing it from the paper sleeve may cause scuff marks on the vinyl. NM or M- 
(NEAR MINT or MINT MINUS) This is highest grade that I will assign to opened, handled records. The vinyl is virtually flawless, bright and shiny. A very minor, barely visible scuff or two may be permitted, but no scratches. The disc should play with no audible noise. The label is bright, clean and unmarked. E or VG++
(EXCELLENT or VERY GOOD ++) Disc plays near perfectly, but may have minor paper scuffs that do not interfere with the sound quality. There can possibly be a hairline scratch or two but nothing that is obvious or affects play. Vinyl is bright and shiny; label is clean and unmarked. VG+
(VERY GOOD PLUS) Some visible surface wear, very minor scratches and scuffs, but minimal impact on the sound quality. Vinyl will still have good luster; labels may have minor imperfections (small labels or initials, etc.) but otherwise clean. VG
(VERY GOOD) Vinyl will have noticeable scratches or scuffs that cause minor surface noise, but do not overpower the music. There will be no skips. Vinyl may appear somewhat dull and grayish. Labels may have small tears, tape marks, larger writing, etc. but still easily legible. There may be wear or deformation of the spindle hole. G
(GOOD) Well-played, dull, grayish vinyl with deeper scratches and wear causing distracting surface noise (hisses, pops, cracks and other nasties). The record will still play through without any skips. Labels may be significantly defaced or damaged. F
(FAIR)
P
(POOR) Unless the record is particularly rare, I would not try to sell a record in this condition. There will be major noise, surface damage, deep scratches, and skips. Attempting to listen to these discs will be painful. These discs are basically trash unless a collector desires one to fill a space in a collection until a better one comes along.

- Delivery of this item will take between 1 to 3 weeks -

- Due to this, I have tried to keep the price as low as possible and do not charge for P+P* -

- Thank-you -

*There will be a minimal charge for outside the U.K.