The Beatles Launch Mono Vinyl Box Set In Abbey Road Studios
IT WAS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME opportunity to hear The Beatles as they were intended in the hallowed space where they created their extraordinary music. To mark the launch of The Beatles In Mono vinyl remasters, Apple Records and MOJO hosted a special evening gathering at Abbey Road’s legendary Studio 2 to listen to tracks from the new versions and hear a panel of distinguished guests discuss how the group recorded and mixed their songs. The doors of Studio 2, where The Beatles recorded the majority of their material, swung open at 5.30pm to welcome a specially invited audience of 100 or so Fabs fans, including several dozen MOJO readers selected from our recent online competition. The event started with the master of ceremonies – storied music writer and broadcaster Mark Ellen – introducing the panel, comprising Beatles engineer Ken Scott; BBC radio producer and Beatle boffin Kevin Howlett; Sean Magee, the remastering and cutting engineer who worked on the new vinyls; and Toerag Studios producer and mono enthusiast Liam Watson.
After hearing the first selection from the new platters, You Can’t Do That – sounding punchy and powerful on £300,000 sound system (with NAIM amp, Focal speakers, KJ West One turntable, Ortofon cartridge) – discussion began about the merits of experiencing The Beatles in mono, Kevin Howlett pointing out that it was the primary format on which records were sold until 1968 and that The Beatles showed little interest in the stereo mixes of their albums until that time.
Source: Mojo Magazine
