(Note from Professor Mikey: As you may have noticed, the first Beatles digital remasters will be released on 09.09.09…number 9, number 9, number 9…Anyway, I’ve been asking friends and other Beatle fanatics what versions they are looking forward to…mono or stereo? Here’s my friend Fran’s solid argument for mono.  Feel free to log your expectations:)

On 9/9/09, Apple is releasing the mono masters of the Beatles studio albums. A good friend asked me why I intended to buy them instead of the stereo remasters which most people will want. Mono vs. stereo, why indeed?

Most popular albums through roughly the end of 1967, especially in the U.K., were mono mixes. The stereo mixes were an afterthought because stereo systems were still a luxury and not commonplace in most homes. And, of course, there was the AM radio factor. Many UK stereo mixes of that era were horrible things with voices on one side and instruments on the other, very disconcerting to say the least.

U.S. stereo mixes were generally better even when they took a mono mix and tarted it up. The early Beatles albums in the U.S. come most notably to mind. However, beware of any record that says it is “electronically reprocessed for stereo.”

So for every Beatles record up through and including Pepper and other classics like the first Buffalo Springfield album, the mono mix is the one the band was associated with and signed off on. The stereo version was thrown together in an afternoon. Check Mark Lewisohn’s “The Beatles Recording Sessions,” and you’ll see that was the case. I also highly recommend Geoff Emerick’s book, “Here, There and Everywhere,” to get the chief recording engineer’s perspective on the Beatles’ sessions: It’s the first new Beatles book in years that is worth reading – from the only person other than the lads themselves and George Martin who was actually in the room. Not counting Neil and Mal, of course, who weren’t part of the recording process.

Those mono mixes are much richer and feature much more sophisticated instrument placement than many people realize. That said, there were some excellent stereo recordings coming out in the period, especially from the majors like Columbia and RCA. The Byrds and Airplane LPs sound great in stereo to this listener. But the first Spencer Davis album sounds much better in mono. Same goes for the early Animals and Hollies records. The Beach Boys albums through the end of the ’60s should only be listened to in mono, although they’ve done good work on them in recent years. Even a record like the Buckinghams’ first for Columbia with Don’t You Care and Mercy Mercy Mercy is a joyful surprise in mono.

Anyway, yes, there are some major differences between the Beatles stereo and mono mixes. Ringo doesn’t bark, “I got blisters on my fingers” on the mono mix, for example. The mono Pepper sounds noticeably different on several songs in terms of background vocals, extended laughter on Within You Without You, extra drum pattern in the Reprise, stuff a Beatles nut would notice because he/she knows the songs so well. But, that said, the stereo mixes IN THE U.S. were quite well done and are the ones most of us have known for 40 or more years.

So are the mono mixes worth buying? I have most of the early Beatles albums in mono already because I just had a cheap little non-stereo player at that early age, but, of course, I’ve picked up the stereo versions since then, both US and UK. But for me the mono mixes represent the records that the Beatles worked on themselves for release: That’s the way they heard them in final fashion when they walked out of the studio. They’re the first editions, if you will, as released to the British public. So I want them for that reason, if no other. I’m sure the forthcoming stereo remasters a la the Love CD will be spectacular, and I’m sure I’ll ultimately buy them. But for now, closet Luddite that I am, I want to hear the Beatles in glorious EMI / Abbey Road mono.

Hey Party People!

School is officially in at CU! I try and just hibernate at the radio station and avoid campus at all costs. There’s always a few songs I like playing when the fall semester starts and I’ll air them this Wedensday during my usual shift 4-6pm.

Can you believe summer is pretty much being declared over? I didn’t get to take a summer vacation, however this Friday I get to go on a belated one of sorts. I’ll be in NYC for 10 days. I’m staying at a friends house right over by Magnolia Bakery in the West Village. If you have any places/attractions/eateries/touristy spots to recommend, I’ll for sure consider it and would love to hear from you!

Well here go-goes the weekly high five, my friend!

1)Flaming Lips at Red Rocks! While Explosions in the Sky were playing their set, I started counting the times I have seen the Lips in concert. I can count six. Last night’s show was good, not great, f’n awesome, or mind-blowing… just good, at times charming and Uncle Wayne is always a gem. Maybe it was me being in the way back of the amphitheater smelling too much pot, but I gotta say I felt like Wayne was focusing more on getting the crowd to cheer and sing along since they were recording the show. Its not to say I didn’t love the experience, it just ranks as maybe #5 or #6 in order of my favorite shows I’ve seen from them. But a well earned high five goes out to me crushing on their new material! They were debuting a handful of new songs and phrases like “phychedelic voodoo-a-go-go” were swirling through my head while they were playing. They are for sure one of my favorite live acts and they made their new songs look and sound like the most cosmic scopitone you could ever see.

2)Youth in Revolt trailer. Okay, what Radio 1190 girl fan (and some guys) doesn’t crush on Michael Cera? Especially Michael Cera with a lip-stache? I haven’t read this book, but I am looking forward to seeing the film at some point.

PS: I don’t care if Michael Cera plays Michael Cera… he had me at George Michael!

3)Dexter: Season 4….. someone leaked the first episode of the new season which debuts next month and I may or may not have watched it.

4)I just think about this and laugh:

5)Datarock’s new album “Red” is rad, I love this song… it has so many nods to songs and genres I dig-

…sheesh, its getting late and I’m being too talkative. Thanks for reading the Radio 1190 blog! When my personal life slows down a little, I’d like to post more and chat with ya. But until then, you can find me on the radio Wednesdays 4-6pm!

Heart,
djAlisha.

5 things I’m loving this week:

1)Eric Mania!

…2)Coming Soon. Straight-to-DVD after hearing about this for years!

3)Looking forward to this. Jemaine Clement’s character (voice and looks) reminds me of Garth Marenghi.

4)My other Eric. Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Season 3 on DVD! Already watched, now trying to get through all the extras.

5)Finally seeing Peter Bjorn and John when they come through town with Depeche Mode at Red Rocks on the 27th.

Honorable mentions: I saw the trailer for Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant and I want to see it because I love John C. Reilly. Oh and I’ll probably see this at some point-

Oh and speaking of guitars, RIP Les Paul!

How are you? What’s new?
djAlisha.

Even if you were around for Woodstock in 1969, you’ve probably never heard this much of the concert at one time. Starting Monday morning at 10 am, Radio 1190 presents VIRTUAL WOODSTOCK: 8 Hours of Peace and Music.

And the emphasis is really on the music. It’s the underground of the time, bursting through to attract a half a million people to a cow pasture in upstate New York. One generation had just gone to the moon when three weeks later another got down to earth.

Virtual Woodstock will present at least one song from every act that played in the order they played.

Here’s a rough schedule, we are still assembling the 30+ back to back live shows!

10:00 am Richie Havens-Swami Satchidananda -
Sweetwater-Bert Sommer-Tim Hardin-Ravi Shankar,-Melanie
11:00 am Arlo Guthrie-Joan Baez-Quill-Joe McDonald-Santana-John Sebastian
12:00 pm Keef Hartley Band-The Incredible String Band-Canned Heat-Mountain
Grateful Dead-Creedence Clearwater Revival
1:00 pm Janis Joplin with The Kozmic Blues Band -Sly & the Family Stone
2:00 pm The Who -Jefferson Airplane
3:00 pm Joe Cocker -Country Joe and the Fish -Ten Years After-The Band
4:00 pm Johnny Winter -Blood, Sweat & Tears -Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Paul Butterfield Blues Band
5:00 pm Sha-Na-Na-Jimi Hendrix

Five things I love, do you?

1)Rush. Rush is music for a certain species of guys but sometimes this girl wants a piece of the action, not the full-blown discography, but a little Tom Sawyer doesn’t hurt:

2)Heck while we’re rocking out, how about some Priest?! For the younger generation who haven’t heard them, here’s one of Judas Priest’s greatest hits:

And here’s one of my favorite non-hits of theirs, actually I don’t know if it was a hit, but I’d never heard it until I delved into their catalog many, many years ago:

3)Go Ask Ogre: Letters from a Deathrock Cutter a book of letters written to the front man of Skinny Puppy in the late-80s from a 17 year-old. Ogre had told her that he’d save all her letters and return them one day, and he did nine years later. She said having Ogre as a penpal helped save her life. The book is full of her letters, artwork and photos that she sent to him. The only bum thing, we don’t get to see the letters he wrote back to her.

4)Great show at Rhinoceropolis last week. Anavan and my friends Neil and Adam’s band from L.A. called Dazzler. Great, great lineup. So so great. Thank you Rhino! Here’s a clip of Dazzler playing in LA:

5)True Blood. I’m loving on season two so much, these past few episodes have been off the chart!

Hey so I’m djing today, I hope you can tune in from 4-6pm.

Love,
djAlisha.

Filmmaker John Hughes died yesterday of a heart attack. He was 59.

I saw every movie he wrote and directed, I bet you did too. Even the films he wrote but didn’t direct, I’ve seen almost every one of them too, at least through 1993. Its hard for me to choose my favorite film of his because many of his teen films were important… My friend Michelle said it best: “Thanks for making heroes out of misfits. Definitely made me feel better about my place in the world as a geeky teen.” I couldn’t agree more.

And the music in his films is so memorable too. Like I can’t help but think of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off when I hear Yello’s “Oh Yeah.” And when our high school chose its “senior song” we chose Simple Minds’ “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” as an homage to our love for The Breakfast Club.

Peep his mighty roster of films at IMDB.

To the man that helped shape Generation X, we will never (forget about you)!

<3,
djAlisha.

Hi,

I’m djing tomorrow night at FANCY TIGER & I’d love to have you come and enjoy some hot summer hits while shopping at the Best Boutique on Broadway!

Here’s the deets-

…I stopped by Fancy Tiger tonight to do a little “browsing” of what I want to buy tomorrow, cuz everything’s on sale and so I’m stocking up for cheap on some new duds, cuz I need some!

Please make me part of your First Friday! I’ll be the girl with the giant headphones.

Located @ 14 South Broadway, Denver

<3,
djAlisha.

PS: As a part of FT’s “DJ Sessions” they’ll be recording my three-hour set and offering it online for free for you to enjoy.