The Beatles (DBM-010A/B)
Disc 1: Back In The U.S.S.R., Dear Prudence, Glass Onion, Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da, Wild Honey Pie, The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Happiness Is A Warm Gun, Martha My Dear, I’m So Tired, Blackbird, Piggies, Rocky Raccoon, Don’t Pass Me By, Why Don’t We Do It In The Road, I Will, Julia
Disc 2: Birthday, Yer Blues, Mother Nature’s Son, Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except For Me And My Monkey, Sexy Sadie, Helter Skelter, Long Long Long, Revolution 1, Honey Pie, Savoy Truffle, Cry Baby Cry, Revolution 9, Good Night
After the official release of the stereo edition of The Beatles by EMI / Parlophone in August 1987, there have been several needle drop transfers of the mono and stereo editions. Among the first was on Beat (Beat CD 012-2). The Millennium Remasters people have issued copies of the stereo release three times. The first is the 2002 edition from the U.K. Collection (MFSL-2-027) which many collectors singled out for particular praise claiming it to be vastly superior to the official version. Two years later they released two separate versions.
The Millennium Red Collection (EAS-11007) is a copy of the Japanese black vinyl stereo LP which was originally issued on June 5, 1976. The U.K. Collection U.K. Collection BM-1/BC-13 (PMC 7067, PMC7068) which contains both the rare mono BM1 black box version issued in 1982 and the stereo blue box edition. Another needle drop of note is the version by Mirror Spock (1C 172-04 173 / 1C 172-04 174). This version is taken from the German metal master edition which, although praised for having excellent sound quality, is also equalized a bit too much.
There are two “fake” MFSL releases: MFSL 2-072 in 2000 and DLH-2-072 in 2003, both with excellent sound quality. Dr Ebbett issued several versions of this LP including an edition of the original UK stereo release on Apple (PCS 7067) which some collectors praised for its superb transfer and warm, cozy sound. At the same time Dr Ebbett issued a stereo version of the Mobil Fidelity Stereo Lab edition. Collectors comment that this version has a fatter bass, warmer vocal quality, and a nice analogue feeling. In 2006 the label issued a version of the blue box (PCS 7067) printed on silver cdrs.
The current DBM release is the same but pressed on silver discs. The transfer as with most of these is flawless and a true representation of what the blue box sounds like. There is no hint of the vinyl source for this release and is as perfect as the other releases. Some collectors claim the Mirror Spock is more detailed, but Dr. Ebbett is preferable since it sounds less equalized and much more natural sounding. Unless the actual master tapes are used this stands as the preferred version of the stereo UK edition of the White Album. (GS)
