New Shadows Release due September

[iefje]

The balance was probably narrowed to a more modern sounding mix. It has also been done in the 1990's for some of Cliff Richard's 1960's stereo recordings. I have always wondered why that was done. After all, these tracks are a product from the 1960's, so why (apart from the clarity) altering the stereo balance?

[JimN]

The balance was probably narrowed to a more modern sounding mix. It has also been done in the 1990's for some of Cliff Richard's 1960's stereo recordings. I have always wondered why that was done. After all, these tracks are a product from the 1960's, so why (apart from the clarity) altering the stereo balance?

Interesting question, and perhaps one I'll address under a different thread title.

But the brief answer is that some of the original 1960s (or, as it may be, early 1970s) stereo mixes are inferior to what can now be coaxed out of the same master tape using newer technology.

I'll let Rob tell you about my experimental digital re-jigs of Guitar Tango and The Breeze And I...

[Arpeggio]

To Ulrich: (Not that I know the precise answer). I know that Pye had Searchers' recordings mixed to stereo specifically for Kapp Records in the USA. Those masters were not issued in the UK for many years & I believe that a few are missing presumed 'lost'. Come the USA issue of "Surfing With The Shadows" in 1964..."FBI" had not been mixed into stereo in the UK. It's not impossible (as our American cousins were beginning to demand stereo albums) that the multi -track masters were sent to the USA & mixed to stereo there. When the multi - masters were returned to EMI they somehow became lost - until found by Tony Hoffman 44 years later. Or maybe a special stereo master was prepared for the USA only & sent ther - but not kept for the UK market. Or maybe two stereo versions were mixed & one sent to the USA..who knows...only those EMI employees who were there at the time I imagine! Maybe Tony could tell us more if he wanted to. All that I have said is pure hypothesis.

Bests....Rob

[Fenderman]

What i believe with most 60's stereo recordings is that the separation isn't great, you usually end up with all the instruments in one speaker and the vocals in the other, this sounds weird if listening through headphones (The Hollies 60's recordings are almost always done that way) but i wouldn't like the mix to be tampered with.
It wasn't till the end of the 60's (and with better mixing desks) that stereo started to sound better. Sometimes mono is better as that was considered the main medium back then and more time and care was spent mixing it.

[robert kollar]

I too had the "Dakota" Italian cd with the stereo "FBI" and it did not sound right to me. I have found that the cassette copy that I made from my stereo "Surfing" album was mentioned in the September 1991, number 28 "Circle of Friends " newsletter. I was the "American fan", un-named. My friend, who was a member and who had the newsletters, looked it up for me. So when I mentioned in my earlier post that it was YEARS ago, I was not kidding. When I said the Italian copy did not sound right it was because the version on "Surfing" was better, with wider separation. I was surprised to learn from my friend that "Atlantis" in stereo on my "Surfing" album was not in stereo in Europe at the time. I always thought it was always in stereo everywhere.
If, indeed, the stereo copy of "FBI" on the forthcoming set is from the actual master tape then it must sound even better than the copy off my lp (I hope). I am looking forward to hearing it.

[Arpeggio]

Everything is on schedule. The booklet notes have been 'refreshed' / updated (+ brief new update by yours truly) and proof read several times. Everything has been remastered using the very latest technology (as well as being scrupulously checked for quality control several times). Thus....I reckon that all of the artwork / notes etc will be at the printers early next week and all six 'CD Masters' have now been approved...so..onto the next stage there next week too. Things are well on course to meet the official September 9th release date. I don't want to tempt providence / fate....but it looks as though everything is actually slightly ahead of schedule!

Rob

[JimN]

I have found that the cassette copy that I made from my stereo "Surfing" album was mentioned in the September 1991, number 28 "Circle of Friends " newsletter. I was the "American fan", un-named.

Must check SCOFA Mag 28.

I have most of them.

There's a thought... if I could get permission from Ian Kershaw, would anyone like to see scans of those newsletter placed on the internet, probably on http://www.flickr.com?

[JimN]

The tracks which remain to be issued on CD in their mono mix are:

[snip]

- I Met A Girl (previously only on the 1988 Australian CD "The Shadows Favourites")

The oddest thing about the mono mix (as compared to the stereo) is that the stereo mix - as issued on CD twice in the UK - has a misplayed (fluffed) penultimate note on lead guitar. The mono mix, as released on the original single and on an Australian CD, has that note corrected.

[snip]

- Voyage To The Bottom Of The Bath
- Poem
- The Average Life Of A Daily Man
- Banana Man
- The Magical Mrs. Clamps
- Here I Go Again Loving You
- Maggie's Samba

Has "Established 1958" ever been pressed in mono?

JN

[Arpeggio]

I believe "Est 198" was issued in mono...but the mono version is equally as rare as Hank Marvin's 1969 solo album.

Rob

[gardinga]

Regarding why The Sound of the Shadows digipack only featured the stereo version.... This was released in 1997 as part of a batch of forgotten classics as part of the EMI 100th anniversary.. Nothing to do with any other shadows reissues.. The mono/stereo digipacks all arrived the following year so presumably it made no sense to reissue it again at the time.