Revolver (Remastered)
The Beatles
Revolver is one of my all-time favourite albums and I have listened to it very carefully ever since it came out on LP. It is one of the first albums that I learned entirely by ear and the band I was in at the time attempted almost half of the songs on it. I learned all of the guitar parts with my friend Joe, as well as the bass parts which I had to teach our two different bass players, so I have listened "deeply" to the album a great number of times .
My general impressions of the remastered version:Virtually every song has more sonic space, and the voices and instruments sound more "present" or "forward" in the stereo space. But while this is noticeable during a head-on comparison with the older version, I wonder whether the average listener would find that much difference in most of them. I tend to think not.
Taxman shows a little more separation in the instruments but the rather odd stereo mix is kept. In fact, all of the original uses of the stereo space are kept intact, although that space is sometime much larger and clearer. On this track though there is not much timbre (tone quality) change from the original. It is such a powerful song that it was probably hard to improve upon.
Eleanor Rigby is a bit brighter and the harmony is a bit clearer. The strings more to front but this might not have been such a great idea, to my ear at least. A lot of the arrangement is the strings "sawing away" on static chords, and I think that the original mix was right in relegating them to the background and only bringing them up in volume when they have a counter-melody or other interesting figure. It does not ruin the song, but I don't think it helps it either.
I'm Only Sleeping does benefit from better instrument definition throughout. The bass still has its treble rolled off (recorded that way obviously) but this is a clearer and brighter mix.
Love You To is the best remastering yet. The sitar has a wonderful sparkle on the high end that was missing in the original. As the proud owner of a sitar (now defunct) I really missed the high end and I am glad to hear it reproduced so faithfully here. All of the instruments sound clearer, and there is more sonic space in the mix in general. You can even hear the guitar clearly.
Here, There and Everywhere has the harmony vocals much more to the front and clearer. You really get the full effect of the three-part harmony that they recorded three times to give the effect of nine voices. The sound is lush yet tight. To achieve this the remaster had to push the instruments back somewhat, which I am not crazy about. This might be another that the average listen would find better sounding.
Yellow Submarine has much better separation of instruments and sound effects. The sound effects are much clearer. as are the harmony vocals.
She Said She Said has a much wider sonic space, which I was actually hoping for. I have loved this song since I first heard it and it was always one of my favourites for our band to play. The instruments and vocals are placed more clearly in stereo image. There is more top end in the guitar sounds, and I find it more obvious that the Beatles have moved on from their Gretsch and Rickenbacker guitars to Fender Stratocasters, and they obviously found the new guitars inspiring. There is also more clarity in George's bass. Yes, I believe the "rumour" that George Harrison recorded the bass on this one after Paul McCartney left the session. If you listen carefully you will hear that it is very well played, but plays the same notes for each verse and chorus. If you listen to the bass on any other song on the album you will hear how Paul McCartney constantly varies his playing. (And just for the record, that is Paul McCartney playing that blistering guitar solo on Taxman!)
Good Day Sunshine was already a good mix, but here the drums are clearer and more present, and it is all a bit clearer.
And Your Bird Can Sing is just one of the songs that makes this album a guitarists dream come true. The guitar playing is incredible and they were obviously mixed together at the time of recording, so the two lead guitars sit in the same sonic space by design. There is a little more bottom end in general which helps the bass stand out more. The tambourine and hi-hat are much more forward.
For No One is a little clearer with the bass a little more present. I'm not sure most people would notice much difference.
Doctor Robert has more space in general except for the drums that are somewhat oddly right in with the two backing guitars. I can only guess that they were recorded onto the same channel in the original. The bass is crisper and the organ and vocals have a bit more top end.
I Want To Tell You has all instruments and voices much clearer. The whole thing has much more sonic space. This song is one of most notable differences between the original and the remaster.
Got To Get You Into My Life has the percussion much more forward, but unfortunately the guitar is not brought up. This is just my own personal taste though - I have always wanted to hear more clearly what the guitars were playing but that was obviously not what the band wanted. The bass is again more present.
Tomorrow Never Knows is one of my favourite songs, even back when it was considered "weird" (yes, it was way back in the 60's). The whole thing sounds much clearer and more present, The bass and drums are both stronger, and the loops sound a little clearer. You might feel this one to be different because the enhanced bass and drums really motor it along.
The summary: There is no way that I would ever try to dissuade someone from buying Revolver! If you do not own it yet, get the remastered version. If you are wondering whether to replace your current copy, the choice is not so clear cut. The whole album is a bit clearer and the bass and drums are more present in almost every song. A casual listener is unlikely to find most of the songs much different, but a more careful listener will hear quite a difference in Love You To and I Want To Tell You.
If you are a real fan you have already bought the full set, but if you are counting your pennies and trying to decide which album to buy to try out the remasters for yourself, this is not the most improved CD. It is definitely improved though, and if you get a chance listen to it and make up your own mind. Of course drummers and bass players should already have the full set.
You can buy (Revolver Remastered) here in the USA:
and here in Canada (where for some reason they call the remastered version "Enhanced"):
