The Beatles – Revolver: 2022 Reissue (Parlophone)

The Beatles’ seventh studio album, 1966’s Revolver gets a facelift featuring a new stereo remix by Giles Martin.

The first question I have…does Revolver need a facelift?

Comparing this new stereo remix with an original mono pressing, there is little to make the case for anything new to be done to it. By this time the Fabs, George Martin and the crew at Abbey Road, including 20-year-old engineer Geoff Emerick, were at the top of their game.

But times change and technology marches on, which is the reason why and how a “remix” was even possible.

We have our friends in Wellington thank. Peter Jackson’s team on the Get Back docu developed a new way of singling out individual musical “stems” from tracks that were originally mixed with other instrument, enabling Giles to “remix” Revolver, which was originally recorded on just four tracks.

Listening back to the new version on vinyl, yes it sounds good…especially the lack of ticks and pops that exist on my 56 year old version, but overall, sonically, there’s not much difference.

So if you’ve got a version of Revolver you’re happy with, this vinyl update is not essential.

HOWEVER!!

There is a new expanded edition as well which includes “a five-CD or four-LP/one 7-inch-EP super deluxe set, containing the half-speed remastered original album in both stereo and mono, demos and sessions, the EP, and a 100-page book; a deluxe edition, featuring an abridged 40-page book, the new stereo mix, session highlights, and stereo mixes of the singles; and standard digital, CD, and vinyl releases.”

I’m exhausted just reading that and I felt, after viewing the 8 hour Peter Jackson doco, I had my fill of Beatle outtakes.

That is until I heard this:

John ‘s mournful first take of what would become Yellow Submarine is another revelation. And so my interest is piqued (but my wallet is groaning)

It looks like I “need” to shell out for the expanded edition.

Why?

Because listening to The Beatles create in (almost) real time is fascinating. Their music is so ingrained in my brain that I feel I need to know as much about how it was made as possible. And every time I learn something new, ie: How Get Back was created before our eyes in the doco, or hearing this new, previously unheard and un-discussed version of Yellow Submarine, it only enhances the listening experience and re-enforces the notion that The Beatles: John, Paul, George and Ringo, were, indeed, the  most talented band to ever make music.

Looks like I’ll be immersing myself once more ‘in the land of submarines’.

Oh, and my review of Revolver as an album…Incredible!

Marty Duda