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Music Discussion => General Music Discussion => Topic started by: Boiled Beans on 2008-10-09 17:07:46

Title: Best sounding Pet Sounds
Post by: Boiled Beans on 2008-10-09 17:07:46
Which is the best sounding version of Pet Sounds on CD?

From what I've researched, there have been many versions released.

1) 1990 mono CD
2) 1993 DCC CD (rare, difficult to get)
3) 1997 Pet Sounds Sessions Box (mono and stereo mixes)
4) 2001 mono & stereo CD (same as 1997 mix)
5) 2006 40th Anniversary (mono and new stereo mix)

So which is the best sounding version?
Title: Best sounding Pet Sounds
Post by: 2Bdecided on 2008-10-09 19:06:17
Not the first one. It's the only one I have, but the over use of noise reduction is quite horrible.

Cheers,
David.
Title: Best sounding Pet Sounds
Post by: drbeachboy on 2008-10-09 20:12:35
Being a huge fan of The Beach Boys my whole life, I find for just CD only listening, the 2001 version to be the best. You mention it as being the same as the 1997 mix, and that is partially correct. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" is a new stereo mix on 2001 with Mike Love (not Brian Wilson, as on the 1997 stereo mix) singing the bridge as in the original mono hit version. As for the 2006 edition, that has some Hi Res 2002 and 2005 mixes on the DVD. The CD portion is exactly the same as the 2001 release.

If you don't mind spending the few extra bucks, get the 2006 CD+DVD 40th Anniversary Edition and then you are fully covered for all the latest mixes.
Title: Best sounding Pet Sounds
Post by: Boiled Beans on 2008-10-11 13:27:08
The CD portion is exactly the same as the 2001 release.

If you don't mind spending the few extra bucks, get the 2006 CD+DVD 40th Anniversary Edition and then you are fully covered for all the latest mixes.


Yeah, the first 3 versions would be difficult to get (either very expensive or out of print). So it only leaves me with the 2001 and 2006 versions.

I'm not so sure that the 2001 and 2006 versions are the same though. See wikipedia (near bottom of page, Re-issues) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pet_sounds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pet_sounds)

Also see the review at Amazon (scroll down to the 2nd review, by Mark Lineitt
http://www.amazon.com/Sounds-Anniversary-L...7709&sr=8-8 (http://www.amazon.com/Sounds-Anniversary-Limited-Fuzzy-Package/dp/B000G03Q2S/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1223727709&sr=8-8)
He says it's been remastered so has compression/clipping been introduced?
Title: Best sounding Pet Sounds
Post by: drbeachboy on 2008-10-11 15:07:27
Wow, I was not aware of the 2006 Mono remaster. I checked the booklet and Linett is correct; there is no mention of this anywhere, except for page 17 that says "CD tracks 1-13 2006 Capitol Records, Inc.". I will say this, upon re-listening to the 2001 and 2006 mono versions, the 2006 version does sound better, but not drastically. As for clipping/compression, Mark Linett has done a very fine job of remastering the whole Beach Boys catalog. He put a lot of care and attention into remastering the catalog and you will not be disappointed in the sound quality.
Title: Best sounding Pet Sounds
Post by: Cyaneyes on 2008-11-25 00:46:39
FYI, yet another CD version of Pet Sounds is being released in January on the Audio Fidelity label to be mastered by Steve Hoffman. It's unknown as of now if he'll use the same mastering as the DCC CD or create a new master using a newer ADC. Mono only.
Title: Best sounding Pet Sounds
Post by: AudiophileFan on 2010-10-28 05:16:43
I own all of the PET SOUNDS albums on CD including the new 2009 Audio Fidelity release. In my opinion, the Stereo mix in the 2001 release sounds fantastic. In 1993, Steve Hoffman remastered the album for release in the 24 KT. Gold DCC Compact Classics label. Despite the 1993 DCC Compact Classics release exposing sound quality imperfections such as distortion, Steve Hoffman would correct the problem when he remastered the album in 2009 for release in the 24 KT. Gold CD, HDCD encoded series by Audio Fidelity. In my opinion, the 2009 Audio Fidelity release contains the greatest overall sound quality in Mono. I just wished that Steve Hoffman would have included a new Stereo mix for the 2009 release. Take care.
Title: Best sounding Pet Sounds
Post by: drbeachboy on 2010-10-28 15:55:18
I own all of the PET SOUNDS albums on CD including the new 2009 Audio Fidelity release. In my opinion, the Stereo mix in the 2001 release sounds fantastic. In 1993, Steve Hoffman remastered the album for release in the 24 KT. Gold DCC Compact Classics label. Despite the 1993 DCC Compact Classics release exposing sound quality imperfections such as distortion, Steve Hoffman would correct the problem when he remastered the album in 2009 for release in the 24 KT. Gold CD, HDCD encoded series by Audio Fidelity. In my opinion, the 2009 Audio Fidelity release contains the greatest overall sound quality in Mono. I just wished that Steve Hoffman would have included a new Stereo mix for the 2009 release. Take care.
Except for "Wouldn't It Be Nice", the 2001 release of the stereo mix is the same original 1996 stereo mix, only louder. The 2006 Capitol 40th Anniversary release brings that loudness down near that 1996 stereo mix, along with the less loud 2001 "Wouldn't It Be Nice".
Title: Best sounding Pet Sounds
Post by: AudiophileFan on 2010-10-28 19:33:50
I own all of the PET SOUNDS albums on CD including the new 2009 Audio Fidelity release. In my opinion, the Stereo mix in the 2001 release sounds fantastic. In 1993, Steve Hoffman remastered the album for release in the 24 KT. Gold DCC Compact Classics label. Despite the 1993 DCC Compact Classics release exposing sound quality imperfections such as distortion, Steve Hoffman would correct the problem when he remastered the album in 2009 for release in the 24 KT. Gold CD, HDCD encoded series by Audio Fidelity. In my opinion, the 2009 Audio Fidelity release contains the greatest overall sound quality in Mono. I just wished that Steve Hoffman would have included a new Stereo mix for the 2009 release. Take care.
Except for "Wouldn't It Be Nice", the 2001 release of the stereo mix is the same original 1996 stereo mix, only louder. The 2006 Capitol 40th Anniversary release brings that loudness down near that 1996 stereo mix, along with the less loud 2001 "Wouldn't It Be Nice".


How's it going drbeachboy? I hope all is well with you. You are absolutely correct, it is the same 1996 stereo mix. If Brian Wilson had not been partially deaf in one ear resulting in him recording in Mono, no telling what he could have done with Stereo. I take it that you are a BEACH BOYS fan? I am a big BEACH BOYS fan as well. I hope to talk with you about THE BEACH BOYS sometime. Take care.
Title: Best sounding Pet Sounds
Post by: drbeachboy on 2010-10-28 21:23:38
There is more to the story than Brian being deaf in one ear. Remember that all their albums from 1963 and 1964 had stereo mixes by Chuck Britz. So, had Brian really wanted to hand in stereo mixes to Capitol for the Today through Wild Honey albums, that could have been easily accomplished. Though, some singles would have had issues with direct mono overdub mixing. Feel free to send me a PM as I'll talk Beach Boys anytime.
Title: Best sounding Pet Sounds
Post by: AudiophileFan on 2010-10-29 00:36:36
There is more to the story than Brian being deaf in one ear. Remember that all their albums from 1963 and 1964 had stereo mixes by Chuck Britz. So, had Brian really wanted to hand in stereo mixes to Capitol for the Today through Wild Honey albums, that could have been easily accomplished. Though, some singles would have had issues with direct mono overdub mixing. Feel free to send me a PM as I'll talk Beach Boys anytime.


How's it going drbeachboy? During the 1965-1967 period, Brian was writing, producing and engineering THE BEACH BOYS' songs onto tape in the studio. Being partially deaf in one ear, Brian was unable to do the mixes himself in Stereo, so he would do the mixes in Mono. As we both know, PET SOUNDS was recorded in Mono. With Brian's Father Murray gone, Brian was really taking advantage of his freedom and independence by experimenting more in the studio. As we both well know, PET SOUNDS, the incredible 45 RPM single GOOD VIBRATIONS and the unreleased SMiLE album would mark as the most creative moments in Brian's music career. I'll send you a PM soon, its great conversing with someone such as yourself, that knows their BEACH BOYS. Take care.
Title: Best sounding Pet Sounds
Post by: edwardar on 2010-10-29 06:36:43
I own all of the PET SOUNDS albums on CD including the new 2009 Audio Fidelity release. In my opinion, the Stereo mix in the 2001 release sounds fantastic. In 1993, Steve Hoffman remastered the album for release in the 24 KT. Gold DCC Compact Classics label. Despite the 1993 DCC Compact Classics release exposing sound quality imperfections such as distortion, Steve Hoffman would correct the problem when he remastered the album in 2009 for release in the 24 KT. Gold CD, HDCD encoded series by Audio Fidelity. In my opinion, the 2009 Audio Fidelity release contains the greatest overall sound quality in Mono. I just wished that Steve Hoffman would have included a new Stereo mix for the 2009 release. Take care.


I think this is slightly inaccurate - from Steve Hoffman himself (http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showpost.php?p=4109673&postcount=101) he says that in 1992 when he had the master and safety tapes he transferred them to digital and analogue tape at the same time. The digital transfer was used to make the DCC CD, and the tape transfer to make the Audio Fidelity CD. He doesn't say that anything was "corrected", they are just from different sources.
Title: Best sounding Pet Sounds
Post by: SamDeRe81 on 2011-02-14 20:54:43
Does Jingle Cats fall into this topic
Title: Best sounding Pet Sounds
Post by: _komodo_ on 2011-07-10 22:57:34
I didn't know there were that many versions of Pet Sounds. I'm a fairly big fan of the Boys Pet Sounds and onward, with or without Brian. I have the Smiley Smile/Wild Honey and Friends/20/20 remastered 2 for 1 CDs, and I plan to buy the Sunflower/Surf's Up remaster as well.

I have a question. I downloaded a copy of what I thought was SMiLE (2004) that has a version of "Surf's Up" that I love, but it doesn't seem to be from an official release that I can find, since it clocks in at 5:15 minutes. Does anyone know where this came from?
Title: Best sounding Pet Sounds
Post by: BeachBoysFanatic on 2011-12-31 14:31:49
How do the 1996 stereo + mono versions sound?

It is nice for a change not seeing the DCC/AF release being considered best while everything else is considered crap. Less biased group here!
Title: Best sounding Pet Sounds
Post by: slks on 2012-01-01 13:26:39
I have a question. I downloaded a copy of what I thought was SMiLE (2004) that has a version of "Surf's Up" that I love, but it doesn't seem to be from an official release that I can find, since it clocks in at 5:15 minutes. Does anyone know where this came from?


For what its worth: I have three version of SMiLE:

-A 1992 bootleg on the Vigotone label,
-The 2004 version of SMiLE with re-recorded parts, which is credited to Brian Wilson and not The Beach Boys,
-The official 2011 2- or 5-disc "SMiLE Sessions" release, which consists entirely of original 60s Beach Boys recordings.

The versions of Surf's Up on the official 2004 and 2011 releases are both a little over 4 minutes. The version that appears on the 1992 Vigotone bootleg runs 5:15. So what you have is probably a bootlegged version. (Either the Vigotone bootleg, or another bootleg - I understand there were many.)

Interestingly, that bootleg has a 3:33 version of Good Vibrations that I prefer over any of the versions found on the 2011 box set - even though an entire disc of that set is devoted to different takes of the song!