1. Home
  2. music
  3. 126605-83717

Rolling Stones Mono Box Set (lp or cd)

I wanted to get the ball rolling. I thought that including both formats here would be beneficial to the entire discussion. I personally have little experience with the Rolling Stones. However, I think I can add an opinion in the form of having heard lots of music from this era and how this box relates to the Beatles Mono Box. I'm currently using my stereo cart. I've listened to the first 5 lps in chronological order.

One thing that has stood out to me is how consistent these 5 lps are in sound quality. ( "Out Of Our Heads", US has more pronounced bass, haven't listened to the UK yet.) This is kind of unusual in my listening experience. Compared to the Beatles Mono box which wasn't as consistent, album to album. I find the detail, the ambient retrieval, and the bass overall to be very good. What bothers me is I feel it is recorded too hot as well as I feel the overall sound seems somewhat very slightly artificial. ( I never felt this way listening to the Beatles Mono box). These last two issues may have to do with the re-mastering chain. It may be the quality of the mics, the recording venue, etc...I don't know. I don't have the originals to compare. There is the dimensional character of the soundstage that is very nice as was the Beatles. The vinyl itself is super quiet but I see that a few of these will need to be flattened. So far, there isn't an pressed "off-center" issue.
astro58go
jafant's avatar
jafant
10,525 posts
 
You scored a very nice deal on your set- astro58go-

now, onto your assessment;
History tells us that The Rolling Stones turned into a "party" band, entertainers, drug use excesses earlier than The Beatles and The Who,
IMO.  Knowing this intel, their albums were not as consistent a their competition.  No doubt, those 1st 3-4 RS albums are great, even excellent.

(2) dynamics changed- The Beatles stopped touring and became studio wizards, The RS kept touring and partied for the rest of the 60's.
As a result- The Beatles gave us Sgt Pepper and The RS would finish the 60's with 'Let it Bleed'.  The force that is Jagger/Richards were no questionably influenced by Sgt Pepper!

The RS also gave us 'Get your Ya-yas' if only for the scorching live version of "Midnight Rambler". As a music lover, I would be very sad knowing that this song would never have reached the public w/o this pivotal live album!
jafant's avatar
jafant
10,525 posts
 
The Rolling Stones also gave us "The Rock N Roll Circus" although self-indulgent, no doubt, it had a real historical presence as well.

Keep me posted as you work your way and listen to this boxed set-
astro58go.  I am already looking for a domestic RS Mono CD set for listening purposes.
jafant's avatar
jafant
10,525 posts
 
Happy Listening!
tostadosunidos's avatar
tostadosunidos
1,096 posts
 
Geoffkait, I no longer own a vinyl copy of Sticky Fingers (I think mine was stolen in '75) so I compared standard issue CD's --I felt it wouldn't be fair to used the remastered Abbey Road or to compare CD to LP. 
astro58go OP
542 posts
 
In order to hopefully draw out more interest from any who have heard it, I moved to "Let It Bleed".

This one sounds very, very good! It has the punch, the weight, the complete package. The intro to "Monkey Man" is somewhat confusing. The piano keys, while clear and present, don't integrate pefectly with the midbass-bass region which sounds pretty convincing. (I may be splitting hairs here but something isn't quite natural). However, it is enjoyable if you aren't into evaluation mode. The midrange through bass is the most natural and complete sounding thus far.

"You Can't Always Get What You Want", has real energy. Similar to "MM", it does draw you in. The whole lp is very nice in spite of a few inconsistencies.

Overall, I would pick this version for listening pleasure to my DSD stereo lp. Still haven't listened with my mono cart.
More to discover