It's one of those things.... I love the album - it's probably my favourite of all The Beatles stuff (although next week it might by Rubber Soul... ) so as it was affordable I thought I'd get it and see what it was like. My Dad had the original stereo version from 1966 (which he gave to me years ago) and I've since bought the original mono one. The stereo was always a bit weird, with instruments in one channel and vocals in the other - but I'm used to it. It was just how it was in the mid 60s, with limited recording tracks available, and lots of the sounds having to be bounced onto the same track. The mono is, well, just mono. The idea that the original recordings can be 'taken apart' to separate instruments, and put them in more conventional stereo positions is incredible. Is it interesting to hear it as it would undoubtedly have sounded had the technology be available at the time? Yes Do I love it more than my originals? No. To be honest, it sounds more like the mono version!
Interesting that you're not too impressed. I think we love what we know and change/new versions mostly fail. Bands make demos, exciting, rough, then when they record properly they often loose that "whatever" that made the demo great. The tools to take these things apart have become really cheap too, a few hundred quid! I think those limitations of that time were a primary reason for those great albums and the generally lively music back then - you had to commit to things and had to be able to play really well and bands actually played together in the studio and recorded it. It's become too easy (many would say) overdubbing, multiple takes, chopping out the crud, auto tune, a lot of people would say technology has made music more stale.
I agree - bands played stuff 'live' in the studio, and then added a few bits on to fill out the sound; rather than recording every single track individually and just listening to the parts your fellow musicians had already recorded on headphones etc whilst laying down your part. Auto tune ??! If you can't sing, you shouldn't be singing in a band!
Everybody gets tuned these days, even the mega stars. The tools are there and it's better to get an emotional take and not worry about the odd bum note or dodgy timing. Again, the tools are stock as part of every DAW. And, it lead to a very interesting style when used excessively. Mostly though you'd never know.
That is, definitely, a fortune. I'm a big fan, and collector, but I think I'll be passing on that version!
Revolver's one of my faves No point in stereo-ing it imho. It's meant to be played on an old valve Dansette in your bedroom.