Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Dr. Ebbett DBM-031A/B)
Disc One, US mono: 1. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Lennon/McCartney) 2:02, 2. With A Little Help From My Friends (Lennon/McCartney) 2:45, 3. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (Lennon/McCartney) 3:27, 4. Getting Better (Lennon/McCartney) 2:47, 5. Fixing A Hole (Lennon/McCartney) 2:37, 6. She’s Leaving Home (Lennon/McCartney) 3:25 7. Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite! (Lennon/McCartney) 2:35, 8. Within You Without You (Harrison) 5:08, 9. When I’m Sixty-Four (Lennon/McCartney) 2:40, 10. Lovely Rita (Lennon/McCartney) 2:45, 11. Good Morning Good Morning (Lennon/McCartney) 2:34, 12. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) (Lennon/ McCartney) 1:19, 13. A Day In The Life (Lennon/McCartney) 5:04
Disc Two US stereo: 1. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Lennon/McCartney) 2:04, 2. With A Little Help From My Friends (Lennon/McCartney) 2:43, 3. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (Lennon/McCartney) 3:28, 4. Getting Better (Lennon/McCartney) 2:48, 5. Fixing A Hole (Lennon/McCartney) 2:37, 6. She’s Leaving Home (Lennon/McCartney) 3:36 7. Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite! (Lennon/McCartney) 2:38, 8. Within You Without You (Harrison) 5:04, 9. When I’m Sixty-Four (Lennon/McCartney) 2:38, 10. Lovely Rita (Lennon/McCartney) 2:42, 11. Good Morning Good Morning (Lennon/McCartney) 2:42, 12. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) (Lennon/ McCartney) 1:19, 13. A Day IOn The Life (Lennon/McCartney) 5:04
McCartney’s rich textured bass lines are enhanced in the above US Mono “With A Little Help From My Friends”. There is further pronounced low end definition with “Getting Better” and a nice smooth fade out on “Fixing A Hole”. The overall gain on DBM-031A is a bit below average. The hodge podge of instrument fill-ins thrown in on “Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!” are heard in much more clarity. The initial crowd applause is uneven and sounds momentarily forced and abrupt in the beginning of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” (Reprise). One also hears McCartney’s voice belting out some chants that are hard to decipher at the tail end of the track that are not discernible on DBM-031B.
The US Stereo DBM-031B has obvious increased gain and distinct separation. “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” offers improved sounding instrumentation but is a tad bright. It is interesting to hear a slight bass fade-out at 3:19 of the track. There is cymbal continuity and stark clarity with the clapping on “Getting Better” but some minute high-end distortion at 1:07 and 1:28 of the track. Harrison’s guitar and McCartney’s vocals blare out slightly on “Fixing A Hole” but there is nice separation throughout. The richness and warmth of the harmonization is enhanced and heard with more clarity here as well. The various animal sounds on “Good Morning Good Morning” come out of the woodwork a bit more as this track comes to a close.
Overall, I find DBM-031A to sound warmer and a bit smoother but with less gain as its stereo counterpart. DBM-031B has slight distortion evident at a few intervals but offers more punch with increased gain and wonderful separation. These both offer unique listening experiences for this unparalleled epic mesmerizing classic.
