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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=maroon face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:maroon'>I look
forward to hearing Ted expound the virtues of the new Beatles Rock Band, but
somehow don’t see him jamming away on an Xbox . . .</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=maroon face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:maroon'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=maroon face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:maroon'>DC</span></font></p>
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style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:maroon'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original Message-----<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b>
vision2020-bounces@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Ted Moffett<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> </span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>Monday, October
05, 2009</span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma'> </span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>9:33 PM</span></font><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> Moscow Vision 2020<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [Vision2020] Happy News:
Beatles Entire Studio Catalog NewlyRemastered On CD A Worthy Effort</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>I have listened carefully to a number of these new
remasterings of the Beatles' albums, and find the new versions on CD worthy for
the improved sound quality; and in making this evaluation, I should add
that I found the sound quality of the first 1987 CD releases of the Beatles'
albums disappointing. Forget about lower resolution formats... MP3 is the
work of the dark side... If only the entire Bealtes' catalog would be released
on SACD.</span></font></p>
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style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>I could expound at length, but I'll let Stereophile's
Robart Baird save me the effort (my impression of the musical experience of
listening to these new remasters was very similar to Baird's commentary, before
I read his comments). I agree with Baird that the high quality vinyl
versions of some of the Beatles' albums are still compelling, though I think
some of these new remasterings on CD approach the musicality of the best vinyl
versions. "Sgt. Peppers" on the Parlophone UK vinyl
pressing is amazing, clearly better than the first 1987 CD release; the new CD
remastering of this album is clearly superior to the earlier CD version,
enough to compare it to the Parlophone UK vinyl:</span></font></p>
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style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><a
href="http://blog.stereophile.com/musicroom/robertbaird/the_new_beatles/">http://blog.stereophile.com/musicroom/robertbaird/the_new_beatles/</a>#</span></font></p>
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<p style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Using my Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 3D CD player—which
by the way is a great machine that I have always adored—at the exact same
volume, the first thing you notice when you A-B new against old is that
sonically the new transfers make the originals sound flat and one–dimensional.
There is a newfound fullness, multi-dimensionality and also a sense of space
that the originals lack. On first listen, this new sonic heft can easily be
mistaken for loudness, for compression, but it’s really just a wider dynamic
range and the presence of <i><span style='font-style:italic'>more music</span></i>
that you’re hearing. In the stereo CD of <i><span style='font-style:italic'>Rubber
Soul</span></i>, I A–B’d “Drive My Car” repeatedly against the 1987 originals
and the audible differences for me came down to several things: increased
separation and clarity between instruments, a more expressive, luxuriant
emotional tenor, and an exquisite and exacting sense of bringing out and
enhancing details like the roundness of the bass line or the edge on the vocals,
which were always there but which are now so much more alive and present in the
mix. </span></font></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>After listening for the past few days, several sonic
constants have appeared. The contributions of Paul and Ringo, alone and as a
rhythm section are now more prominent. Paul’s bass is now something you can
regularly hear and be impressed by. Ringo’s tambourine on “Got To Get You Into
My Life” (from <i><span style='font-style:italic'>Revolver</span></i>) now
sounds like a glorious idea come to fruition. Another “Gee, I never heard that
before,” moment comes from the layering, particularly of the vocals, which is
now so much more defined. On “Doctor Robert,” again from <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>Revolver</span></i> (a lesser tune that I, of course,
have a cheesy affinity for), the harmonies have a new energy. </span></font></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Energy, in fact, may be the word that best describes
the positive sonic alterations inherent in the new remasters. What you really
hear is an audible new jolt of energy. Words like cogency, potency and sparkle
also apply. This music, on the medium of CD, is suddenly more alive than ever
before. Best of all the CD format’s worst quality, that cold digital brightness
that’s made so many CD transfers damned near unlistenable, has actually been
used, very judiciously, to great effect. I would venture to say that the </span></font>Abbey
Road team has finally harnessed this demon and made it serve rather than harm
the music making. </p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>On Lennon’s “Rain” (from <i><span style='font-style:
italic'>Past Masters</span></i>) one of the band’s most elaborate sonic
creations, one that used a series of overdubs at different tape speeds to
achieve an odd tonal effect and near the song’s end, backward vocals, the new
remaster when compared to the original CD transfer, focuses and revitalizes the
panache of this underrated curiosity. The guitars have more bite, Ringo’s snare
pops with new vigor and the background vocals are separated more than ever
before. </span></font></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Finally, after listening to the <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>The Beatles</span></i> (aka <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>The White Album</span></i>), which despite much love
for <i><span style='font-style:italic'>Abbey Road</span></i> has always been my
favorite Beatles album, the proof as they say, is in the air. The sound is
appreciatively better, richer, more intense. The overdubs on this record have
always sounded clumsy to me but on the new remaster, that problem has been
minimized. A–B’ing “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” is yet another example of
how clarity has been strengthened while the music that was always there, the
Harrison/McCartney harmonies float above the mix with a new urgency and
Clapton’s guitar has a thrilling new sting. Anyone who cannot hear he
differences here needs to upgrade their gear or perhaps retune their ears. It’s
easy to fall back upon metaphors when describing the exciting new sound that
rises from these remasters but I’ll use only one. In listening to these new
reissues, it makes me think that the music was like a half-opened flower that
has now been brought into full and beautiful bloom. </span></font></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>------------------------------------------</span></font></p>
<p style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett</span></font></p>
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