5 comments about The Beatles Stereo Box Set.

1. The Beatles:
   
   Everything that can be said has already been said at one time or another about the Beatles and their influence on the world of popular music. The scope and depth of that influence simply can't be overstated. In short, there has never been a more earth-shaking confluence of raw musical talent, creative ingenuity, cultural upheaval and advancements in recording technology than what the world experienced along with four boys from Liverpool, England over the period from 1960 to 1970 ... and there most likely never will be again.
   
   This box set is amazing, not only for the digital remastering (which is phenomenal by the way), but because the set gives a new generation of popular music lovers an opportunity to experience the entire creative "life cycle" of what can only be described as the world's best known and most beloved rock band of all time. The big difference is that this generation doesn't have to experience the Beatles' music from tiny, paper speakers on their auto dashboards, portable tape players, suitcase phonographs or cheesy cabinet "hi-fi" systems. For some of us dinosaurs, that's the way we first heard the Beatles. No, this generation gets to hear the Beatles on modern stereo equipment, from CDs that have been remastered for that kind of listening. More on that subject below.
   
   
   Packaging Pros and Cons:
   
   The packaging for this box set is pretty awkward. It's basically designed as a two-compartment tray, in which all the individual CDs are stacked face up, in the order of their original release dates. The open tray is covered by a folding panel that's attached to the bottom left of the box/tray, and wraps around the box from left to right, with the last panel being secured to the right side of the box/tray by flat magnets placed under the outer coating. The outer coating is nicely laminated to resist wear and damage from contact with hands and fingers, and the set includes a matching slip cover, also made of laminated posterboard, that slides over the closed box, to keep the storage box from being inadvertently opened, and further protecting its outer surfaces. In order to get the CDs out of the box, first, you have to know which of the two stacks inside contains the CD you want, pull up the entire stack with a ribbon that runs underneath the stack, and pick out the disc you want. The thing that sucks about this storage system is that, unless the disc you want to hear is the one on top of the stack, you literally have to pull up half the disc collection in order to leaf through the stack and pull out the one you want to hear.
   
   While the outer packaging of this box set definitely leaves a lot to be desired, it did allow the makers to do something that's probably far more important to fans: to put all the CDs in individually-sealed packages that replicate the fronts and backs of the original albums. The individual packages are really remarkable in themselves. They have a lighter laminate coating to protect them from damage in handling, and fold out to reveal time-sensitive photos of the band, many of which are rare and/or unique to this box set. Each CD package includes a booklet tucked into its own pocket, with more photos, liner notes on what was happening with the band at the time of the album's recording and release, and even recording notes showing the source material for the digital remastering. The labeling on the discs themselves replicates the labeling placed on the center of the albums when they were originally released as vinyl LPs. The White Album (a 2-disc set) includes a smaller version of the poster that was originally enclosed with the LP release, with collaged photos on one side, and the lyrics to all the songs on the other.
   
   If you're like me, and always avoid putting your fingers on the playing surface of your CDs, you will find that getting the discs out of their individual packages can be a little challenging. They're slipped into pockets that open on the right. I found that the easiest way to remove the disc without having to grab the edge and pull it out is to hold the open edge of the enclosure above your knee or free hand, and gently squeeze the pocket at the top and bottom, let the disc fall out half way, then use the hole in the middle to pull it out the rest of the way. Getting the discs out is particularly awkward with the White Album and Past Masters packages, that contain two discs. For example, because the packages fold out flat, with two discs tucked into pockets that lay side by side, it's hard to get the "middle" disc out without worrying that the second disc is going to fall out of the other pocket as you're fiddling with the middle one.
   
   
   Extra Features:
   
   Each of the music CDs includes an album-specific "mini-documentary," accessible only from the disc drive of a personal computer, with photos, video and audio commentary by the individual Beatles and George Martin. For those who don't listen to their CDs on their computer, the box set also includes a separate DVD with all the same mini-documentaries on it, so no one who buys the box set will miss out on the mini-documentaries. I've watched them all, and they're very well done ... like little video/audio scrapbooks for each album.
   
   The set also includes a 2-disc "Past Masters" collection, also digitally remastered, that provides a bunch of mono and stereo singles and EP cuts that were not included on any of the 13 studio albums. These days, it's pretty much unheard of for record companies to release songs as singles, but in the Beatles' heyday it was a common practice, because many consumers bought their music in the form of 45's, which typically had some big "hit" on the "A" side, and a lesser-known cut the company wanted to promote on the "B" side. Consider the 45 as the ancient equivalent of a 99-cent iTunes download, and you can start to appreciate how big and important the 45 market was to companies like Parlophone (the label George Martin worked for) and Capitol.
   
   
   Digital Remastering:
   
   For those of you who may not be familiar with this term or what it means (and don't laugh, fellow geeks ... there are PLENTY of music lovers out there who don't know, and don't care), all the Beatles' music was originally recorded on magnetic tape, their first album on a two-track system, most of them on a four-track system, and then finally an 8-track system, beginning in 1968. This type of recording, sometimes referred to as "analog," was once the way all professional music recordings were made, and it actually continued to be the norm for many years after compact disc (CD) technology first appeared. CD technology was developed for playback, that is, making a digital or computerized version of an analog recording, and then burning that into a CD that is then used only for listening to the music. CD technology was a true breakthrough, in that it eliminated the age-old problem of music playback being impaired by the "hiss" associated with contact media (e.g., magnetic tape running over a head, or a needle running through a groove in a vinyl record). It wasn't until very recently, however, that computers evolved to the point where they were cheap enough, fast enough, and had enough memory capacity to do "real-time" digital recording of any quality comparable to even the most rudimentary multi-track analog recording systems. Some sound engineers STILL prefer analog tape masters for some kinds of recording ... but I digress. In order for any analog recording to be placed on a computer or compact disc, it has to be "remastered," a process by which the analog audio signal is run through a series of computer algorithms, and converted into digital information that a computer can store, read and play back. The higher the quality of the original analog recording, the higher quality you get in the digital remaster, and that brings me back to this box set.
   
   The digital remastering of this box set release is nothing short of amazing. It apparently took the sound engineers at Apple/Capitol/EMI over four years to do the whole set. Most of the albums in the set were remastered from the original analog studio master tapes, but a few were remastered from prior digital remasters that George Martin did in 1986. I've heard Beatles music my whole life, from just about every kind of sound source imaginable (phonograph, reel-to-reel tape, radio (both car and home), cassette, vinyl LP AND compact disc, through both headphones and speakers, and I have NEVER heard so much of the Beatles' music sound so darn good, all at once, and all in the same retail package. The audio system at my computer workstation is equipped with 24-bit Soundblaster audio, fed into a 100-watt amp, 15-band stereo graphic equalizer, Infinity desktop speakers and an Infinity powered subwoofer. I tinkered with playback that was EQ-enhanced, and straight up with no added EQ, and found that all of the tracks sound as bright as I've ever heard them, with clear and distinct instruments and vocals, running throughout the audible frequencies. They respond brilliantly to a little well-placed EQ, with Paul's bass, in particular, being more clearly discernible than I ever remember hearing in any previous recordings, digital or otherwise. This box set incorporates all the best of modern digital remastering technology and mixing techniques, while simultaneously doing the least possible violence to the integrity and ambience of the original recordings. These guys really pulled out the stops and did a truly remarkable job of remastering this collection, and now it's ours ... forever. BRAV-O, guys ... bravo ... simply outstanding work.
   
   
   Stereo vs. Mono:
   
   Some audiophile purists have complained that the vocal panning (that's the engineering process of shifting vocals, usually split evenly between left and right channels, to one side or the other of a stereo sound system) and other effects applied in the process of converting the original analog studio tapes into a digital format don't accurately reproduce the mono mix that George and the Boys "intended" when most of these albums were first released. With all due respect for the purists, however, I don't think the Beatles and George Martin mixed their stereo studio masters down to mono because it was the way they "intended" the Beatles' music to be heard, or because they thought mono was somehow better than stereo. They mixed down to mono because they knew 99% of their target market would be listening to the music from mono playback sources (e.g., portable phonographs and AM radios), and they wanted the music to sound as good as it possibly could coming from that kind of source. Now, the exact opposite is true. With the widespread availability of high quality, relatively inexpensive stereo devices, practically no one listens to music through mono sound sources any more. Consequently, most of the discs in this box set (with the exception of a few tracks on the "Past Masters" set) have been digitally remastered from the original analog stereo master studio recordings, for stereo playback, on modern stereo components. That means that what you're hearing in this stereo box set is as close as you're ever going to get to hearing what George and the Boys actually heard in the studio BEFORE the masters were mixed down to mono. I've seen a few reviews suggesting that some individual songs/albums have characteristics that sound better in mono, and they probably have good reason to believe that, but the most balanced reviews seem to agree that overall, the stereo set is far superior in terms of clarity of individual vocals and instruments within the mix.
   
   Let's face it ... most people don't want to buy multiple versions of the same music, or spend thousands on specialized audio equipment, just so they can geek out over tiny differences between the sound of one recording/remastering format compared to another. Most people just want to enjoy the music, and be happy with the way it sounds on their existing audio equipment. This stereo box set fills that bill, in spades. For audiophile purists and hardcore fans who DO enjoy geeking out over differences in remastering/recording formats, more power to ya. Most of the contents of this box set (with the exception of Yellow Submarine, Abbey Road and Let It Be, which were all originally recorded and released in stereo) are included in the mono box set, which faithfully reproduces the mono mixes that George and the Boys created, and which Apple/Capitol/EMI originally used for production of the untold millions of vinyl 45's, LP's and magnetic tapes originally distributed to radio stations and the music-buying public when these gems were first released. It seems there are quite a few of these purists out there, because the mono box set has sold far more copies than Apple/Capitol/EMI ever dreamed, and most of the people who've gotten the mono box set are also giving it rave reviews, swearing up and down that the mono versions are far better than their "stereo" counterparts. I haven't compared them myself, so I offer no opinion on that subject. I only know that the "stereo" remasters all sound fantastic to me, and my guess is that they will sound fantastic to most of you, too.
   
   Conclusion:
   
   Believe it or not, it's now been 40 YEARS since the Beatles called it quits. John is dead. George is dead. Paul is 67, Ringo's turning 70 this year, and George Martin is in his 80's. We love our Beatles, and as many reviewers have already said, it's about time that the people at Apple/Capitol/EMI finally got it right ... for US ... the music lovers who, after all, created this vast marketing behemoth with our hard-earned simoleans. Buy this item with confidence, but make sure you buy from a reputable retailer who will guarantee authenticity. Ebay, and even third-party sellers on Amazon, are swamped with cheap, mass-produced Asian counterfeits. Anyone purporting to sell you a "brand new, factory-sealed" version of this box set for around $100 is most likely peddling these illegal knockoffs, which I've heard the Asian scammers are wholesaling for around $60. US buyers should insist on US manufacture and sealed packaging, complete with the FBI seal and anti-piracy warnings on the rear panel of the outer sleeve, and all the individual disc packages inside the box. The tech wizards at Apple/Capitol/EMI finally did the right thing by the Beatles and their fans with years of diligent remastering work and "9-9-09" release of this truly remarkable work product. In turn, let's all do the right thing by them, and do all we can to make sure that Asian counterfeiters don't reap an ill-gotten profit at their expense.



2. I heard a bunch about this band so I picked this up. I guess this is supposed to be the soundtrack for a generation that sat around, played records, took lsd and smoked dope all under the guise of being socially aware. Now I guess the same fools are playing these CD's while they get old and hog all of the social security. I don't get the appeal at all. This music can't disappear into the anals of history fast enough for my liking.



3. Arrived on time and in mint condition. Just does not get any better than this for true Beatles fans.



4. I was waiting for something like this for years. I only regret that they broke up the Beatles 6 album.



5. This Beatles box set is the best they ever produced and when looking allways look for master recordings ,these went one step further using the Superb Prism electronics and taking 2 years to put modern technology to work not to change anything but preserve the original recordings by just removing any pops or clicks and background noise ,excellent work.!!The Beatles Stereo Box Set

5 comments about The White Album (Remastered).

1. The music is wonderful BUT the sound quality is crap - it is thin and harsh. I have other CDs recorded in analog and remastered to CD that are vastly superior to this. I do not have the original record so I cannot guess as to whether the original recording was this bad. This was a great disappointment to me - I was so looking forward to hearing these songs in sonic splendour.



2. I've read many of the reviews of this album, cd, whatever, and I can't help but feel intensly disappointed by the 2010 perspective of this incredible work. You have no idea what the hell you're talking about unless you were there, in 1968, living this whole maelstrom. The draft, Viet Nam, civil rights, assassination, a very real and imminent nuclear threat, Cold War, Red Chinas' Cultural Revolution. It was a mess something of the order we're experiencing in the scope of this economic depression and all this context seems lost through time. The Beatles were the home base. They represented a sense of comfort and even clarity in a time when there wasn't much around. As confused as this album may sound to you, there was something there for everybody and everybody I know has a different favorite from this release. In that sense, it's a masterpiece. I mean, who loves everything Mozart wrote? Mozart operas are pompous, complex, emotional roller coasters, much like the White Album. It reverberated with uncertain direction and accurately reflected it's time in history extremely well.



3. If you were only going to have one album of the Beatles this is the one to have. Wish I still had my vinyl. Not a big fan of remastering I'm still pickled pink when I listen to it. Oh the memories



4. 
   
   The Beatles albums "Sgt Pepper's" and "Magical Mystery Tour" were recorded c. 1967, a period of optimism and good humour in the band. After this material was taped, the Beatles went off to India to experience the inspiration of the Maharishi. Unfortunately, the disappointment and disillusionment they experienced in India, and the simultaneous commencement of tensions within the band, ended the "optimistic/psychedelic" feel of 1967.
   
   This has two major effects on the White Album. First, many interesting tunes that were more in the Pepper style were suppressed and not put into the White Album. Thus, Lennon (who was the most disillusioned member of the Beatles) suppressed two masterpieces that were in a mystical/psychedelic vein, "Child of Nature" and "Across the Universe". The latter was eventually released as part of an album; the former was never released by the Beatles. Other snippets from India, like "Mean Mr Mustard/Polythene Pam" and "Because" were temporarily suppressed and passed on into later albums.
   
   The second effect is that the Beatles began to record tunes that were in a quite different tone from their previous two albums. A lot of these tunes were sarcastic, cynical or satirical in tone. I don't particularly like this direction the Beatles were taking. They always sounded so unique; why did they have to write such a huge amount of material basically sending people up? The "sarcastic" tunes include: "Back in the USSR" (parody of the Beach Boys), "Glass Onion" (parody of the Beatles!), "Piggies" (a really crass satire of rich people), "Rocky Racoon" (parody of Dylan), "Sexy Sadie" (disguised attack on the Maharishi), "Yer Blues" (parody of British blues), and "Good Night" (parody of Broadway).
   
   Now I happen to like Glass Onion/Sexy Sadie and most of these tunes are very good pieces of music. And I know the Beatles did a great deal of parody in other albums. However, I find something nasty and not-very-upfront about this album, so different from the earnestness of the usual Beatles fare.
   
   Another problem I have is the effect of Paul's insistence that the Beatles should become a touring band again and should therefore restore their style to a more plain rock sound. That means that "White Album" has a minimum of in-your-face tape manipulation, studio trickery or weird electronic stuff. Another effect is that the Beatles sound is now more clashy and rock-y. Tunes affected by this (as it turns out truncated) change in direction include "Back in the USSR", "Yer Blues" and "Helter Skelter". Some rock fans applaud the more rocklike sound of this album (and "Let It Be"); I again miss the more weirdo sounds of 1967.
   
   Having said all that, I do in fact like this album, mostly. My favourite Beatles track of all is "Happiness is a Warm Gun", a truly trippy song that consists of a medley of four apparently unrelated melodies that nevertheless seem absolutely inseperable and of one piece. (And I know it parodies doo-wop, ha ha).
   I also love the misterioso bassline in "Dear Prudence", George Harrison's ode to disillusioned love in "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", the charming "I Will", and the nicely done "Savoy Truffle". I'm even not entirely opposed to "Revolution 9", it has atmosphere.
   
   I just wish the White Album could have avoided the cynical edge they had adopted since returning from India. Luckily they pretty much worked off this tendency by the next albums, though by that time the Beatles were a doomed "marriage".



5. This CD is amazing, it has all of the songs just like before, and its even remastered. For those of you who don't know what remastered is its just enhanced, the old quality is no more now it sounds like there really in front of you singing. I highly recommend this product and the price was amazing too. If you don't believe me try it out your self.

5 comments about The Beatles Mono Box Set.

1. Love it! It's even better than I thought. Went beyond my expectations. Brings back many wonderful memories of my youth.



2. So if it is simply amazing why only four stars? I guess that is because of the conundrum surrounding the Beatles re-releases.
   The the music is amazingly, almost insidiously brilliant is beyond doubt. The sheer amount of songs on all of these albums that are recognizable is beyond doubt. The Beatles influence on modern music cannot, in my estimation, be underrated.
   All of the albums have remarkable musical strengths. In this mono re-release my standout three would be Rubber Soul, Revolver and Sgt Peppers.
   So the downside.
   Nothing to do with the actual music, but rather, the apparent greed of the label. For the vast majority of the Beatles albums sound better on the mono release.
   The latter albums sound better in stereo, and, the mono version does not contain the later releases that were stereo only.
   So you have three choices:
   1) Buy the mono, and if you want the latter albums, buy them separately. Considering the mono version is more expensive to start with this is a frustrating option.
   2) Buy the stereo version. You get all the albums with this method, but not all, or even the majority are in their optimal format.
   3) Buy both. Maybe the only way to make sure you get your preferred version of each album.
   
   My review is not as good as many of the others here, that is obvious, but as a mainly metal fan I still have to admit to these guys genius and believe most collections are replete without at least one of these re-releases. It's just a shame about the purchasing options.. as my final recommendation is, like many others, if you can only afford one, get the stereo one, at least it is complete.



3. There's no need to rehash the specifics of each album's sound, as so many reviewers below have done such an excellent, thorough job of that.
   
   I just want to address the ridiculous assertion that the "Editorial Review" makes about the first five albums' stereo mixes.
   
   The review implies that the original stereo mixes were just carelessly slapped together. "Stereo mixes, particularly for the first five albums, did not include as much critical listening from George Martin, and almost none from the Fab Four." It goes on to assert that "stereo in early 60's England was not broadcast over the air, and the format was largely the preserve of the hi-fi snob."
   
   I got news for ya. *HI-FI* was also the preserve of the hi-fi snob. Hi-fi can be mono just as well as it can be stereo, and hi-fi *mono* wasn't being broadcast over the air, either. To say that the Beatles paid little attention to stereo because their fans were mainly listening on cheap, low-fi record players and tiny AM radio speakers is to say the band cared little for sound quality. "Ah, mono's good enough for the little f***ers, George. Do what you want with the stereo."
   
   Besides, stereo had already taken root in the U.S., a much larger market. Why would the group not care about the quality of sound for American consumers?
   
   "Ironically - this box set is the best The Beatles have ever sounded." There's nothing ironic about it at all. A great deal of loving care was put into making the mono discs sound clear and spacious, without the dullness of the original CD issues. The remasters sound far superior to the original vinyl, too, especially because they're free of pops, clicks, surface noise and inner-groove distortion.
   
   Whatever the Beatles and George Martin did or did not intend at the time is irrelevant now. No one, but no one, except maybe the people in the studio during the actual recording (and probably not even them) have ever had the opportunity to hear these albums with such startling clarity. The band and their producer could not have envisioned the state of recording arts 45 years into the future. This is sound for today, not 1965. The mono box sounds amazing. Enjoy it until we finally get all of the albums released in 5.1.



4. I just have bought the Beatles white mono box set after a few month because I didn't pay so much attention into it.
   On september 9th 2009 I had bought the black stereo box set and forgot about it until recently. Although I didn't like the Cd's design itself I was satisfied with the clear sound. I discovered the mono box set has the album replica of the original vinil pressings and found it really interesting to collect. After having reading a few reviews here I decided to spend my money again and now I must admit I did the right thing. The hole design is gorgeous. The little cd's are pretty housed into the box and they are truly exact as they were.
   I really enjoy the mono sound. I began the listening with the white album, one of my favourite Beatle albums.
   I had chose this one first because I paid so much attention into the newly remastered stereo double album so I was able to compare them easily. From the very first listening I felt a diferent atmosphere a kind of old vintage sound but I like it. "Dear prudence" with new guitar passeges, the warble sound of the Clapton solo in "While my guitar gently weeps", the new loops appeared into "Blackbird" and "Piggies". "I will" don't have the tempo voice until the second verse, also the vocal is much clear in some lines.
   But the most diferences are on the second disc. "Yer blues" has the eco of the room on Lennon voice, I just love it.
   The background vocals on "Helter skelther" are much clear and the song ends one minute before the original master tape. "long long long" has a double tracking beautiful voice that absolutely love...great Beatle moment!
   Some albums are better on stereo, some songs are better in mono...but if you are a deep Beatle fan I recomend you to buy them both. I know they're quite expensive but I think it's not a waste of money.
   I do believe they became the music bible of this century again



5. When John Lennon proclaimed, 'Back to Mono' on the LP 'Sometime in New York City', it wasn't some kind of Luddite expression. Only listening to the Beatles albums as they were originally meant to be heard, do you gain any true comprehension of the genius in music arrangement both the Beatles and George Martin possessed. 'Genius' is not a word I use lightly. The instruments come to the fore the way they were intended and each spoke a particular line. It is more reminiscent of a well written and structured theatre performance. In stereo, all of this is lost and becomes a rabble of noise. You take your pick of just who you are meant to be listening to. Technology and special effects are no substitute for craftsmanship. It is akin to the travesty of motion picture colourisation. It wasn't meant to be that way and only reduces it to caricature.
   This is probably the best thing that has happened to Beatles music since they stopped recording. I can only imagine having them actually play in my living room to be better than this. George Harrison once said something like, 'I don't believe it to be real music unless I can hear the scratches on the record'. This mono box set has all the warmth but without the scratches.

5 comments about The Beatles 1.

1. There is not too much new to say about this recording that has not all ready been said by someone. Nearly every song on this album is a 5 star hit (and, nothing is below 4 stars)! I will say that the sound is, very, premium in its quality. The sound level has been elevated quite a bit from the earlier Beatles CDs that were released in the early 1990s. And, because of this, the music transfers very well to a Zune or an iPod MP3 player (I find I don't have to keep turning the volume up when I listen to the Beatles "1" on my Zune, even if I am jarring around in a noisy environment like my car). John, Paul, George, and Ringo never sounded so good! STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!



2. This is a trip down memory lane to a slower and fun time,and it takes me to places I wish never would have ended. So I play this when I need a lift in spirit and just to get away from all that is going on now.



3. I'll start off with a confession: I was NOT a Beatles fan before I heard this CD. I had heard "She Loves You" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand" ad nauseum and I was disgusted with the idea that they were considered a brilliant rock band. As a further disclaimer, I am too young to have been around during the Beatles' heyday.
   
   I can still remember popping in this disc and rolling my eyes through the inevitable reprise of those two songs. But, I had made up my mind to give it a fair listen all the way through. Later on, "Can't Buy Me Love," "Help!," "Penny Lane" and "Eleanor Rigby" had worked their magic to a grudging reversal of my initial opinion of the band. (I had grown up with a strong prejudice against The Beatles, and though it was irrational, it was very difficult to let go). Then, near the end of the CD, some of the masterpieces such as "Come Together," "Let It Be," "Hey Jude" and "The Ballad of John and Yoko" completely converted me into a fan. Having listened to the entire CD, I even had newfound respect for "She Loves You" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand" as necessary creative steps in the band's overall evolution.
   
   I realized an odd thing had happened. I had known of The Beatles, and I had known their songs, but their material had so become part of culture that I hadn't known so many songs that I had already admired had been Beatles' originals. This CD really is just scratching the surface of the extent of the band's talent and influence. For a fuller immersion into their granite legacy, pick up "Abbey Road," "Rubber Soul," "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," "With the Beatles," "Please Please Me," "A Hard Day's Night" and, well you get the point. I found "The Beatles 1" to be a solid primer on what makes the band great, and I think you will, too. HIghly, highly recommended.



4. When it has came down to Pop Music, there have been artists that have been honestly never forgotten, as the cornerstones of the pop music landscape. While we've lost some of those acts, like the tragic death of Michael Jackson back in June, what we should and truthfully remember is how great and influential their songs have been over the years. That also has been strongly reminded back in Sptember with The Beatles. With all of their classic records being remastered for the first time ever, and with their music being the focus behind their own Rock Band video game, there honestly has been no denying the constant they've still maintained since they cam on the Ed Sullivan Show 45 years ago. But while there are so many who own all of their classic records, there hasn't been many a definitive reflection of what has made The Beatles such a constant, and here it is.
   
   1 By The Beatles, their 2000 Greatest Hits album, is truthfully the strongest and most detailed greatest hits package that definitely reflects on almost all of The Beatles classic pop catalog from all the years they've made the best in pop music, in one comprehensive hits package. The songs have all been strongly remastered, and include a lot of their biggest and most influential songs including Love Me Do, Hey Jude, the somber Let It Be, Get Back and the soulful The Long & Winding Road. There also are some lesser-known songs here that are surprising like The Ballad of John & Yoko, Day Tripper and Eight Days A Week, that actually sound better than all the years they've been out on their original albums for so long. Yet with all the songs on the album, I honestly though wish there could've been a few of their more widely showcased songs like Sgt. Peppers' Lonely Hearts Club Band, and I Am The Walrus on the collection as well.
   
   Overall, despite a few overshadowed songs, The Beatles 1 is definitely the strongest reflection of what made John, Paul, George & Ringo so strong with melodicmemories after all these years. If you have not even yet owned a Beatles album in your music library, than I would honestly recommend that you start right here with 1, as the simplest way of hearing why The Fab Four have never gone away, even though they ended years ago. It is honestly one of the few must have greatest hits records that I really have recommended that sounds so surprisingly strong today.
   
   Album Cover: A
   
   Songs: B+
   
   Price: A-
   
   Remastering: A-
   
   Overall: B+



5. Watch out! This compilation might whet your appetite for more and more Beatles music. Each of the tracks is a winner (with the arguable exception of Phil Spector's crazily over-the-top production on the last track, "The Long and Winding Road"), and they're presented chronologically so you hear how the group's sound evolved. Unfortunately for your wallet, chances are you'll find yourself thinking of other Beatles tunes that didn't hit No. 1 in the U.S. or U.K. and feel compelled to seek them out on CD as well.

5 comments about Essential Leonard Cohen.

1. This is the essential Leonard Cohen works. It showcases the man's genius at song writing.



2. For a long time I kept hearing a song on the radio but never heard the title or artist. Then I heard it on Dancing with the Stars and it turned out to be Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen. I checked Amazon.com and found this cd with the song on it. I bought the cd for one song but got a treasure of songs that blew me away.



3. An excellent compendium of Leonard Cohen's work, despite its complete omission of the DEATH of a LADIES' MAN album and arguable underrepresentation of several others. Unless you're a hardcore fan, The ESSENTIAL LEONARD COHEN will do; if you're not a fan at all, it qualifies as an essential purchase.



4. I had never heard Leonard Cohen's music before but stumbled upon it while trying to find something else. Ordered the CDs and I am a fan. Great music at a great price.



5. I am extremely pleased with this purchase. It was delivered in a timely manner and the cost was lower than I anticipated. I am a new customer to Amazon.com but am sure that I'll be making many more purchases in the future! The item I bought this first time was a Leonard Cohen C.D.
   
   

5 comments about Get Lucky.

1. Get Lucky is yet another in a long line of superb albums by Mark Knopfler. It's not his best album, but still an excellent one.



2. I have been a Dire Straits fan from the beginning in 1979, and it continued into Mark Knopfler's solo work. I used to make comparisons with Mark's solo efforts versus the Dire Straits efforts. But I stopped doing that when "Kill To Get Crimson" came out. I now make comparisons from Mark's early efforts to his work now. I can understand his comments that "as I get older , I get more grouchy". But he still makes sweet music. And that includes "Get Lucky". He continues to put out solid material, and "You Can't Beat the House" and "Cleaning My Gun" are clear examples of songs the average listener will pass by. Keep up the great work, Mark. You created another wonderful product I will listen to many times over.



3. Just another great album by Mark knofler. If you like his other work you will like this one too!



4. Well as a MK and Dire Straits fan, I guess I'll just accept the fact that just because I liked the old stuff, doesn't mean I should continue to fork over money for the new boring stuff from MK. I've got just about everything Mark has done. So I guess I'll go dig it out and enjoy the great history of a legend. He obviously is producing the stuff he likes, and there is nothing wrong with that, but it is not for me. He is my favorite guitarist, well he really doesn't play guitar anymore. What a shame.
   Don



5. I almost made the mistake of writing this album off after the first listen, especially after hearing Knopfler pretty much copying exactly yet another piece of tune from a previous album. The track Monteleone has a short melodic bit in it that can also be heard on the track Heart Full Of Holes off the "Kill To Get Crimson" album.
   
   Since there's so little good music coming out these days I was forced to play this album again a few times. By the third listen, it was well and truly growing on me. By the next listen, I was completely hooked. The one thing this album has in its favor over previous Knopfler solo efforts is consistency. There are no "joke" songs here (Secondary Waltz), no ugly fillers (Don't Crash The Ambulance) or boring, shapeless tunes that go nowhere (Place Where We Used to Live). You can listen to the whole album without developing a serious frown (except for the recycled bit in Monteleone).
   
   Yes, it's low key, but as many have mentioned Knopfler's stadium rock days are long since behind him, so live with it and stop expecting it.
   
   Standout tracks include the upbeat opener "Border Reiver", the beautiful "Hard Shoulder" and "Piper To The End", the moody "Before Gas And TV" and "So Far From The Clyde", as well as the satisfying rhythm of "Cleaning My Gun".
   
   "The Car Was The One" and "Monteleone" are a bit dull, but they manage to remain listenable enough not to warrant brief pressure on the skip button. Overall this is probably Knopfler's second best solo album, with the terrific highlights on the somewhat up and down "Sailing To Philadelphia" still giving that album the top spot in my books.
   
   Had less than stellar tracks like the two mentioned above been replaced by a few smackers like "What It Is" or "Boom Like That", you would have had a yourself a true 5 star album here.

5 comments about Grace.

1. This CD is boring & bland. The CD may be suited to someone elses taste, but it will be in our next garage sale.



2. i was so very very late to the game...growing up it was metal or nothing...until i was about 22 then i found out there was only two types of music...good music and bad music. about 3 years ago, for some unknown reason jeff buckley kept coming up in my travels... so i checked out mojo pin and i was hooked... within that week i had the standard ed of grace and the rest of the discography... jeff has the voice of an angel.... everything anyone has ever said is totally accurate...don't make the same mistake that i did by being ignorant and getting into buckley later in life... i kick myself in the ass thinking about all the years i could have been listening to his music....
   one of the only benefits of my ignorance is the fact that now you can get the legacy edition's of grace and live at sin e... with even more material... both need to be in your collection right now!!!



3. and it is jeff buckley - this is, by far, my favorite album of all time - there's nothing more passionate and beautiful...while we're talking favorites, just bought the book Live Like a Fruit Fly on amazon and if you like non cheezy spiritual books, this is the Grace of books!



4. What a beautiful collection of songs Jeff left for us. His voice is beautiful and surreal, and every one of these songs is laden with depth and emotion. His rendition of Hallelujah brings tears to my eyes. Thank you, Jeff, and RIP.



5. Amazing. Just amazing. How could I have missed Jeff Buckley for so many years? Sorry, Joan Armatrading, you've been bumped from my top ten CD's on the island. Too bad I can't have eleven.

5 comments about Greatest Hits.

1. Thanks for the quick delivery. This CD really brings back so many great memories! Thanks again>



2. One of the best compilations ever of a legend's songbook. Wanting to replace vinyl with CDs I started to purchase all of Young's great recordings and then found this collection, which captures the best of his music over the years. Dig the cover photo, too.



3. I never understodd the nastalga behind this guy he can't even sing. The only song by this dude I can handle is "Rockin' in the free world" and even that song is nothing special, the rest on this album are just annoying. Another under talented overrated hack.



4. There's colors on the street
   Red, white and blue
   People shufflin' their feet
   People sleepin' in their shoes
   But there's a warnin' sign
   on the road ahead
   There's a lot of people sayin'
   we'd be better off dead
   Don't feel like Satan,
   but I am to them
   So I try to forget it,
   any way I can.
   
   Keep on Joaquin Phoenix in the free world!
   Keep on Joaquin Phoenix in the free world!
   Keep on Joaquin Phoenix in the free world!
   Keep on Joaquin Phoenix in the free world!
   
   I see a woman in the night
   With a baby in her hand
   Under an old street light
   Near a garbage can
   Now she puts the kid away,
   and she's gone to get a hit
   She hates her life,
   and what she's done to it
   There's one more kid
   that will never go to school
   Never get to fall in love,
   never get to be cool.
   
   Keep on Joaquin Phoenix in the free world!
   Keep on Joaquin Phoenix in the free world!
   Keep on Joaquin Phoenix in the free world!
   Keep on Joaquin Phoenix in the free world!
   
   We got a thousand points of light
   For the homeless man
   We got a kinder, gentler,
   Machine gun hand
   We got department stores
   and toilet paper
   Got styrofoam boxes
   for the ozone layer
   Got a man of the people,
   says keep hope alive
   Got fuel to burn,
   got roads to drive.
   
   Keep on Joaquin Phoenix in the free world!
   Keep on Joaquin Phoenix in the free world!
   Keep on Joaquin Phoenix in the free world!
   Keep on Joaquin Phoenix in the free world!



5. Greatest Hits being Young's 3rd compilation and is an album "based on original record sales, airplay and download history". The album was met with great reviews by the critics and was given a full score by Allmusic. It also did well with the public peaking at #27 on the Billboard 200. We get a list of whom plays what for each track. We also get a nice mini poster of Neil Young looking pensive with his guitar. 4/5.

5 comments about Help! (Remastered).

1. I should have bought this album thirty years ago! The giutar playing on Dizzy Miss Lizzy will energise anyone with a pulse and of course the vocals and song writing by Lennon and McCartney are excellent.



2. The Beatles didn't really need all that much Help at this point in their career, the record HELP contains some Beatles hits and some misses, showing their sensitive side as songwriters. For the band though, musically, their best work, was yet to be seen. The film "HELP", a zany, spoof of chase films or spy films, was light hearted and entertaining.



3. Stereo over Mono for Help. The mono version is terrible. The song help sounds muddy with the vocals and song structure. But, mono is where its at for the first four albums, sgt. pepper, and magical mystery tour. Hopefully mono will not be limited edition because that is how the beatles mixed and recorded the material. The first two albums in stereo are unlistenable in stereo because of the left right vocal issue.



4. Their Music never sounded more beatiful, you can hear every little
   action of George on his guitar. Acoustics & harmonies awesome!! I've
   been a Beatles freak for over 45 years, I recomend all remastered
   cd's! Prue heaven



5. Amazon offers the best price around for this item. Shipping was a little slow, but I did order during the Christmas season.

5 comments about Gordon Lightfoot - Complete Greatest Hits.

1. All those who are interested listeners of famous folk artists as i am will like this album very much! gordon lightfoot had some excellent hits in the 70's, but there are some great lightfoot hits that are almost "unknown" to most. The only downside to this album are the last two to three songs on the album which lightfoot must have tried to bring to life in the early eighties!
   but other than that the other ffiteen songs are some great acoustic folk art ranging from the early sixties to the late 70's. Enjoy!



2. Gordon Lightfoot is one of those musicians whose songwriting touches the human spirit with its poignant lyrics in songs like Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald and If You Could Read My Mind. Not only is it great music, but these classics stay with you long after listening to them because they have much depth. The Seventies were a great decade for immensely talented singer/songwriters and Gordon's music is timeless for a reason. He has a unique voice and music that is truly enjoyable. This is an excellent collection of his finest that had much crossover appeal as soft rock, folk rock, and country. Music of the Seventies is some of the richest ever recorded and personally my favorite.



3. As I began listening to this cd, I heard so many wonderful songs that had I never purchased this, I would have missed out on, besides all the great treasures of classic Gordon Lightfoot magic! I highly recommend this cd, as it is one of my favorites!



4. This is the "Ultimate Greatest Hits" CD from Gordon Lightfoot. You get all his classic hits, and more, all on one CD, plus you get a track by track history of every song included. This informaion includes the details of the "Wreak of the Edmund Fitzgerald" that happened in Lake Superior, on October 10, 1975. Gordon gives a very good tribute to this ship and 29 crew members who died, in his hit song "The Wreak of the Edmund Fitzgerald", which is included in this CD.
   
   Other top 10 Smash hits include:
   Sundown
   If You Could Read my Mind
   Carefree Highway
   
   Gordon Lightfoot is from Ontario, Canada. I consider him to be the "King of Great Lakes Folk Rock".
   
   This is "Ultimate" CD to have by Gordon Lightfoot. It's all very good smooth music, full of great stories. Gordon tells excellent stories through his songs. Thanks!!!



5. While there will always be some people that think there should be other songs on this CD, we love it! Sure, there might be someone's favorite song missing, but this CD has pretty much ALL his greatest hits. They are nicely arranged in a pleasing-to-listen to order and very nicely remastered with excellent sound. If you only want to buy one CD or start with a "first one" from Gordon Lightfoot---this would be it! Great from start to finish!