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Thanks for the detailed info. Read every word of it and liked it as you can see. I guess my one questions is how you like mono verses stereo mixes on our fancy headphone rigs? How do you feel toward the mono mixes just out of curiosity?
Thanks!
As with all things...it depends. Some albums are only available in mono mixes and those are superb if you manage to get a good pressing.
Then there are the albums with TWO different mixes.
The best example I can think of is "Come Fly With Me".
The stereo version has very evident distortion on three songs. This distortion is actually on the stereo master tapes and the three track work parts. Despite this, the stereo version, when properly mastered, sounds fantastic.
The mono version has no distortion. Moreover, because it was multi-mic'd, on the mono version you can hear more instruments. The string plucks of the harp are very evident on the first song. The marimba, which is almost non-existent on the stereo version of Brazil, is clearly heard on the mono version. Well mastered, the mono version also sounds fantastic.
So...back to your original questions:
1. "How do you like mono verses stereo mixes on our fancy headphone rigs?"
I'll answer this on the following question...
2. "How do you feel toward the mono mixes just out of curiosity? "
The mono mixes as well as the stereo mixes are all worth tracking down. You can learn a lot about recording and mixing just by listening to the different versions of this album. On some, I clearly prefer the stereo, on others, I prefer the mono and on some, I don't really have a preference. Here is what my Frank Sinatra album list looks like as well as the sources. Keep in mind that it has taken me years to find mint pressings and good chunk of change as well:
1. Frank Sinatra - Songs For Young Lovers (Original Mono Version)
2. Frank Sinatra - Songs For Young Lovers (12 Inch Mono Version - UK Vinyl)
3. Frank Sinatra - Swing Easy! (Original Mono version)
4. Frank Sinatra - Swing Easy! (12 Inch Mono version - UK vinyl)
5. Frank Sinatra - In The Wee Small Hours (Mono Gray Label D pressing)
6. Frank Sinatra - Songs For Swingin' Lovers! (Mono Gray Label early D Pressing w Original Artwork)
7. Frank Sinatra - This Is Sinatra! (Mono Gray Label)
8. Frank Sinatra - Close To You (Mono Gray Label D Pressing)
9. Frank Sinatra - A Swingin' Affair! (Mono Gray Label D Pressing)
10. Frank Sinatra - Where Are You? (Mono Gray Label D Pressing)
11. Frank Sinatra - Where Are You? (Stereo Capitol 9 o'clock Rainbow Pressing)
12. Frank Sinatra - A Jolly Christmas (Mono MFSL pressing)
13. Frank Sinatra - Come Fly With Me (Mono 2010 Capitol From The Vaults Pressing)
14. Frank Sinatra - Come Fly With Me (Stereo Capitol Rainbow Pressing)
15. Frank Sinatra - This Is Sinatra! Vol. 2 (Mono Gray Label pressing)
16. Frank Sinatra - This Is Sinatra! Vol. 2 (Stereo version compiled from various sources)
17. Frank Sinatra - Only The Lonely (Mono MFSL CD version)
18. Frank Sinatra - Only The Lonely (Stereo Capitol 9 o'clock Rainbow Pressing)
19. Frank Sinatra - Come Dance With Me (Stereo UK Vinyl)
20. Frank Sinatra - Look To Your Heart (Mono Capitol 9 o'clock Rainbow Pressing)
21. Frank Sinatra - No One Cares (Stereo Capitol 9 o'clock Rainbow Pressing)
22. Frank Sinatra - Nice 'N' Easy (Stereo MFSL CD version)
23. Frank Sinatra - All The Way (Stereo Capitol 9 o'clock Rainbow Pressing)
24. Frank Sinatra - Sinatra's Swingin' Session!!! (Mono Capitol 9 o'clock Rainbow Pressing)
25. Frank Sinatra - Sinatra's Swingin' Session!!! (Stereo Capitol 9 o'clock Rainbow Pressing)
26. Frank Sinatra - Come Swing With Me! (Stereo Capitol 9 o'clock Rainbow Pressing))
27. Frank Sinatra - Point Of No Return (Stereo Capitol 9 o'clock Rainbow Pressing - German pressing)
28. Frank Sinatra - Sings of Love Things (Mono & Stereo - Capitol 12 o'clock Rainbow Pressing)
29. Frank Sinatra - Duets (Stereo DCC Gold CD)
30. Frank Sinatra - Duets II (Stereo DCC Gold CD)
31. Frank Sinatra - The Classic Duets (DVD Audio)
32. Frank Sinatra - Rare Stuff (compiled from Rare Sinatra UK CD & vinyl single pressings)
That's the main album list. Aside from that, I have digitally remixed the stereo albums to my liking. If you can ever make it to a CanJam event or local Southern California meet, I always bring along my entire Sinatra collection so that people can listen to my work. The reactions seem positive for the most part.