The Beatles Abbey Road 2012 remaster

I want to start of by explaining something before I begin this review.The vinyl LP dominated the market from the early 1950's til it's demise in 1990.NOW the format has made a gigantic comeback,this is partially due to the abysmal sound of the I-Pod ,and plummeting sales of the Compact disc,but mostly from kids discovering their parents old record collection and realizing the reality that it not only offers more bonuses like large posters you couldn't possibly fit in a CD jewel case,but lyric sheets and larger photos,BUT also produces better sound,a debate that's turned into an online war on the Internet.

What this means is most of the LP pressing plants of the past are long gone,and this includes the techs that  worked them who knew when to change the ''mother'' plate,as this does wear out after several pressings,plus you had to spot check that spindle holes were center or just knew how to process records.Today it's become a new science with greenhorns new to the trade

My copy of Abbey Road back cover

My copy of the album

 that have to be re trained,what does this mean?,poor quality control,several defective albums,and being 120 or 180 gram vinyl does not compensate for this.

NOW the review.

I've owned over 12 copies of this album from Japanese import to the half speed master by Mobile Fidelity released in 1980,plus the 2006 re release from Capital that is the top seller of all the LP's out there.

Most of the 2012 Beatle albums have had several quality control problems ranging from skips,drop outs and surface noise in some tracks,why is this?,because as I said an entire new generation of record manufacturers are just learning the trade at your expense,and why I would NOT buy the boxset.

Abbey Road is pressed on 180 gram vinyl,my copy of the album is pictured,this was the groups most cohesive recording as a group and would be their last,side 2 is pure magic the songs are played with no pause. Here comes the sun is the albums highlight,John protested many of Georges songs appearing on Beatle albums yet allowed his aberration of a mistress ruin Let It Be and tracks on the White Album with her mindless babbling.Wrtten in Eric Clapton's garden,HCTS is an absolute masterpiece.I always loved the swamp background sound they used in the opening of Sun King complete with chirping cricket,this was paying homage to Buddy Holley and the Crickets where John Lennon copped The Beatles name.

Abbey Road is my altime favorite album,but NOT the 2012 remaster,folks,save your money,the 2006 release taken from the 1987 remastering sounds much better,trust me

Shocking Blue,At Home,180 gram vinyl imported from Holland



Back cover of my copy



My copy of the album reviewd

 Coined the Dutch version of tThe Jefferson Airplane,though I see no similarities between their musical style nor does lead singer Mariska Verres sound even remotely like Grace Slick.Listening to these Dutch Masters,one wouldn't even think they were from The Netherlands as their English is superb and may be noted as one hit wonders,but there's much more magic then just their #1 hit Venus,their only chart topper that was #1 on the American charts in 1969. This was the first Dutch band to hit it big in the U.S. before Focus and Golden Earing,and I love rock music from the Netherlands!

This is Mariska's first album with the group,a gorgeous woman who although looked slutty was just the opposite,and she made it clear before joining the band,absolutely no sex or sexual overture,or I leave,she never drank,was never married,nor used drugs.Her voice is one of the most unique in rock music,no Ann Wilson,but just as equal in her own way.

The sitar was introduced to rock music by George Harrison in 1966's Revolver,but lost it's appeal in early 1968,but Shocking Blue uses it quite errently through several track long after it's use waned quite remarkably I might add.Flavored with countryand western as in the gorgeous song Boll Weevil  that is inundated with witty lyrics,and psychedelia

I ordered this directly from Holland at a whopping $30.00 and can tell you was worth every penny as this is one of my most treasured LP's including bonus tracks.Love machine,a tenacious rocker,and The Butterfly and I ,a  very eerie song are the albums highlites. This band is now recieving the notoriety they deserve,I just ordered thier third album Scorpio's Dance I'm waiting from Europe to arrive

SO,my opinion,I give this a perfect 10!

The lovely Mariska Verres