I am a very big Stones fan, and the UK (i.e., REAL) version of Between The Buttons is my personal favorite Stones album, despite the fact that you never hear any of those songs anywhere besides Little Steven's Underground Garage on SiriusXM satellite radio! The UK Aftermath is my second-favorite Stones album. I consider Let It Bleed their "signature" album, though (it ranks highly for me, as well). I also prefer the elegant white Beggars Banquet cover because of how it contrasts with the music. But obviously the toilet is what they originally intended.
I guess the reason why Sympathy For The Devil was the only Beggars track to get a proper mono mix, as opposed to a fold-down, was that folding down the stereo mix would have made the piano disappear. That's because it was intentionally mixed out of phase as a stereo effect.
A wonderful set of records, Andrew. Abkco seems to have pulled out all the stops here in repressing the Stones' mono albums from the 60s. Beware of Abkco? Not in this instance! The colours of the different vinyl are very striking and a joy to look at. Thank you for this pre-release video, Andrew!
Thanks for the excellent review, Andrew. It convinced me to pull the trigger when the set came back into stock in a few stores earlier this month (after I hesitated and missed it earlier at the start of the year). Absolutely tremendous set - and I was lucky to dodge any seam splits! Happy to report that my set also has plastic lined sleeves - a welcome minor improvement on your review copy.
I love this channel very much. One of the reasons is it reminds me how with cds you don't have storage issues or buying 1,000 dollar cartridges to play vinyl with. And besides, the sound is way better with cds
The Stones only recorded at Decca Studios in the very beginning of their career. Most of their 60s recordings were done at Regent Sound, Chess Studios in Chicago (which were recorded in true stereo and folded down for mono), RCA in Hollywood (which gave NOBODY who recorded there a good sound) and Olympic (which had the best facilities) from 1966 onwards.
@@BigSky1 the tracks recorded there do sound good on AM radio and on mono record players but they do not yield great sound now. The material recorded at Chess and Olympic still sounds amazing now.
Here in the states, a typical discount price for an album in 1976 was $5.99. Equivalent to about $30 today. Fifteen albums at $30 each comes to $450. The same as the list price for the Stones in Mono in Color LP set. So the 16th disc can be thought of as a freebie.
Missed out on the first run of these (as well as the Beatles mono box..), I’m not gonna miss this one! Especially here in the USA, I reeeally need to get a set of the UK albums.
Thanks Andrew. I've had this set in my cart for over a month and your review finally made me get off the fence and order it. As you mentioned, my original LPs are in a very worn well-played condition and it was time to do a refresh. I should have this mono set in my hands in about a week. Best regards!
Thank you for this wonderful unboxing and review. I would be curious to hear your thoughts on the 2010 Abkco Rolling Stones 1964-1969 Box set. This box has a mixture of mono and stereo, but also has the first two EPs in the set.
Those thick card inners are actually nice IMO because you can use a round bottom poly inner inside them, and the thick card stock helps make the covers extra stiff.
Thank you for taking this set on, Andrew. As in the original release, I find it interesting ABKCO decided to include the US albums, as well. No way the Beatles would have done this. Thank you, again!
The reason to include US albums is quite simple: Both UK and UK albums were authorised by Andrew Oldham / Stones. It’s been confirmed many times and is also stated in the Mono box booklet. It was a very different approach to what The Beatles did.
In addition to the other response it also clearly pads out the boxset. If the beatles had included us albums that'd be a 25 album boxset. Never going to have a boxset that size. Ridiculous comparison to make and just another pointless beatles /stones jab.
It is always a great pleasure to see your very interesting and well-grounded reviews. You are definitely the best in the field. I've seen all the Beatles posts and I'm always amazed. Thank you very much and please keep it up.
Happy to have the set back in print, can’t say I’m to happy about the color vinyl. I’ve always heard negative things about color vinyl, the sound quality that is.🤔
I noticed that several records have defects at the spindle hole. I have had records where there was extra vinyl and label remnants when the record was pressed, but here you can see especially the first 3 records on side 1 where there are cracks in the label that look as if the vinyl started cracking when removed from the original spindle from the press.
Great Video Andrew I have the mono box set in CD it sounds great. I loved your unboxing video great review of the this mono set. So I have the stones single collection so I am happy with that. Plus I have a mixture of vintage Stones vinyl and the DSD reissue.
It's incredible that Keith is still with us despite treating his body like a laboratory. And a new album that will feature the drumming of the late Charlie Watts is supposedly to be released this year. Of the big bands/acts, I think U2 might have the next best chance of doing it as long as these cats.
This is a great unboxing and review! I noticed that Satanic Majasties front cover is more accurate in the reissue. The 2016 had a more severe crop and blue swirls were too light. Possibly they found the original negative since the 2016 box was released. Cool!
Thank you Andrew for another great video! I'm not as big of a Stones vinyl collector as I am with the Beatles. I originally bought all the crappy ABKCO CDs of the mid 80s when they first came out. What a disaster those CDs were! I replaced those with some of the stereo Japanese CDs of the mid 80s to early 90s which are very good. Ultimately, these were replaced with the SACDs when they became available in 2002 and those have been my go-to discs whenever I play the Stones. That said, it's nice to see such a nice vinyl box collection. I originally passed on the 2016 vinyl box and instead bought the CD box set. What a mistake! That 2016 box set can set you back quite a bit of dollars, euros, or sterling pounds depending where you're at. I didn't make that mistake this time and pulled the trigger on the 2023 box set. Extremely happy with it!
The original 2016 set is really good and I’m happy to see this repressed for more people to enjoy. I assume they are cut from the same stampers from 2016? My guess this equals the 2016 but I can’t imagine that they sound better than the black LPs from 2016✌🏻. One thing though, the Beatles mono cover reproduction kicks ass over this set.
@@BigSky1 I haven’t heard these colored version but most of the 2016 set is very good. Better than all the US but not as good are UK originals. Which are now pricey if in good shape. The box is a good deal to get clean good sounding versions
@@BigSky1 well then you are not the customer for this set then. In 2023 it’s not easy or cheap to get a full set of originals. Yes the Beatles set was better but their records were recorded better. Studio and producer was superior to the stones. But in the end it’s about the music ✌🏼
I compared the matrices which are shown here (Rolling Stones No. 2, side one) to my 2016 black vinyl box and they are completely different. So this seems to be a recut, at least for that disk. I believe it’s the same engineer(s) who did both sets, however
Andrew, December's Children is not the US version of Out of Our Heads. It is a compilation album of previously unreleased tracks thrown together to give London Records something to compete with Rubber Soul at Christmas of '65.
I’ve had this box in and out of my Amazon cart a couple of times before deciding to skip it. I’m not a huge fan of the Stones 60s album up until Beggars Banquet (though I do like the UK Aftermath). I’ve always viewed the Stones as a great singles band for the majority of the 60s. The albums were never terrible, but the strong material was mostly on the singles. That of course changed by the late 60s and early 70s. Still, your review has me second-guessing my choice to skip this set. Maybe I need to watch this video a few more times to decide. 🙂
Thank you for this review, Andrew. I fortunately have the 2016 box already, but I was interested to see the differences in the two sets. I agree with you that the overall quality is excellent, and a testament to how good mono mixes can sound. Under My Thumb from Aftermath is one of my favourite Stones songs, and it sounds terrific in this mono box. Also, it was interesting to note that the matrix numbers from No.2 are completely different to the 2016 version so presumably some (all?) records are re-cuts rather than re-presses.
I have the both of them, as I'm a sucker for colored vinyl, but they sound more or less the same. The only caveat is that the colored ones come in card sleeves vs the poly lined sleeves with the 2016 set. As such the first colored one I pulled out was a little noisy, probably from bits from the paper sleeve, but sounded much better after a clean, not much in it.
I broke down and ordered this box set from ABKCO a couple of days ago. I’ll have to compare them with the LPs, I think I have all the US releases, I already have. Also I have a Grado mono phono cartridge. So it gives me a good reason to use it.
Check the back cover of The Rolling Stones, Now! When I bought a new copy in Canada in about 1970 I remember there was a blue and gold London Records foil sticker on the shrink on the back towards the top right corner. I didn't think much of it then but I wish I had kept the shrink with the sticker on it. In Andrew Loog Oldham's bizarre write up on the back cover the sticker was meant to cover up his paragraph instructing you if you hadn't the money to buy the album then hit a blind man over the head and steal his wallet, and it was a good idea to give him the boot also! I've got the CD box set and that paragraph was omitted but I can see in your video that the paragraph is restored on the vinyl cover. Good luck trying to find the foil sticker to make it look authentic!
Hi Andrew, thank you so much for your excellent review, I'm going to pick up my box set from my local record shop tomorrow. warm regards from the Netherlands !!!
Interestingly I bought this set recently on your recommendation from Hmv and my number is 11,705 out of 12,300 and the sleeves are now plastic lined. Please feel free to reach out if you need any more info or photos.
Another great video, Andrew; thanks. The only way to listen to the Stones , is the UK versions in mono. Wonder why High Tide and Green Grass was not included in the set ? I do hope they come out individually at some point as well; I have a few UK originals, but not all.
Just curious, how does the volume of the discs in this box compare to the originals? I'm only asking because I just picked up the mono 2019 teal-colored Record Store Day reissue of "Big Hits: High Tide and Green Grass" with the UK running order and the UK fisheye cover art. It's insanely quiet. I need to turn the volume way up on the receiver. I'd say it's about half as loud as my original US (re-channeled) stereo (fake stereo I call it) pressing, which doesn't sound so bad now in comparison. I have a mono switch on my receiver, which helps a little bit. I'm just stunned at how much quieter the reissue is.
They look amazing, but since I struck a great deal getting a reduced priced mono box back in 2016 (one of my best deals), I'll skip this one, even though the colours look tempting.
I find the Box has been terribly designed. You have to "lift" the entire front panel of the box upward then fold it over backwards to get to the lp's. Wonder how long the seems in the cover will last with repeated openings? I ordered my box from ABKCO directly a few days after the release but prior to their shipping date. My box was numbered 4895. I was expecting a low number, not that it matters. Wonder how they distribute these numbered box sets? Do their dealers get the low numbers? Do you have a chance of getting number 10,000? My Stones No.2 LP had bubbles on Brian Jones face. Overall great Box Set. Wish the physical Box had a better, longer lasting design. Great video as always Andrew!
My heart goes out to you for that seam split but overall the set looks stellar! I hope they do release them individually. Good on Abcko for repressing these classics.
@@DetroitRockCitizen No serious vinyl collector wants split seams on their brand new covers!! I hate split seams, exactly why (whenever possible) I always request sellers ship vinyl outside the covers.
@@DetroitRockCitizen So a reputable RUclipsr got a free copy, so what? Feel free to start your own channel that is worthy of receiving free vinyl to review lol
Great review, you may have given me the nudge I needed to get it. I would be interested to hear a review and your thoughts on the 60's stereo box released in 2010.
Amazing box set, though there are some small differences in the back cover art compared to the original artwork. I do agree on not keeping those protectors since they do get stuck to the covers if not careful.
Based on your input, I decided to get the box set. Will they compare to the original mono's? I'm surprised you didn't arbitrary pick some to compare the dynamics.
Hi Andrew, would you consider looking at the High Tide Green Grass & Darkly Through The Past Rolling Stones compilations? These two were my gateway albums into the Rolling Stones.
Wow!! That’s pretty impressive! Just beautiful! And I agree. The Stones in mono covered the playing field! I love the early masters as well as the ABKCO later mixes. The “lyric videos” of the Sones on RUclips have particularly wonderful stereo mixes, tho I digress…I will say the Stones mono recordings are beautiful. I’d love to have this set for sure! Great show!👍🎶💚 PS don’t forget to look for the Beatles pics on TSMRequest. They are clearer on this cover than on the 3d cover.
@@Parlogram Your channel is fantastic. I really apreciate that you talk about the quality of the vinyl which can be quite problematic with new pressings.
I first got an American reissue of Their Satanic Majesties Request in 1982; only years later did I realize it was the mono mix, which had been mistakenly substituted at some point in the London repressings.
Thank you Andrew for such a nice review. As always, you did a wonderful job. I preordered my set months ago and after watching your video, I am very happy I did it!
I have nothing against vinyl records with digital sources, because if done right, it sounds as good as any high quality all analogue records. Even the Beatles issues 2012 to me though not the best ones sounds pretty decent compared to the issues in our country. Andrew, I have a question: If I remember correctly, THe UK Rolling Stones 1 and US's England's Newest Hitmakers have slightly different tracklistings, I wonder why ENH was not included? I mean we have 12x5, Out Of Our Heads and Aftermath with US versions....
Great video Andrew, thank you. I can also recommend the 2003 DSD pressings that were in Stereo. They were done by most of the same team, including Bob Ludwig, and a friend of mine, Steve Rosenthal, who did the tape restoration. These sound fantastic as well.
I own Beggars from the DSD series, it sounds fantastic and miles better than the original US pressing I had that was in NM shape. Not sure how a UK original will stand up as the UK 1st of Let it Bleed is absolutely fantastic
Hi Andrew! Your video convinced me to pick up the set, and yes, these sound great. I actually sold many of my originals now that I have this box. I compared Beggars Banquet to the original Mono LP and was absolutely shocked as to how bad the original was. It was a trash can on vinyl, I guess I forgot how it sounded. Only criticisms I can give is that it doesn’t include the MP3 downloads the 2016 box had, the inner sleeves, and some of the color choices are quite random. Maroon red for Beggars? Blue for the S/T? Baby Blue for the US Out of Our Heads? Silver for the US Aftermath? I am very happy with this box. It’s just like the CD box I have. I’m glad to have this and the Beatles in Mono box. They sit side by side, proudly on my shelf
Not everyone prefers colored vinyl (I do not like it), but I am glad this is back in print both for people that didn't get the first set and/or like the colored vinyl, and that is also well done.
Interesting to see the original sleeve notes intact on Rolling Stones No. 2., some of which was removed on later editions as it was deemed offensive (the bit about the blind man). I discovered recently that one of my copies is actually one of the original sleeves with an amended sheet pasted over the top. This was used to save cost and use up original sleves that had been printed.
Mine comes in almost perfect with no seam split but on the Stray Cat album, there is a slight colored line about 1cm long across the last two tracks on Record 1 side 1 though I have to say, it does not affect the play or sound quality al all.
Just purchased this amazing box set. Everything's fine but I changed immediately the inner sleeves and the protective covers with the appropriate ones. I always use wash my just purchased vinyl (brand new sealed or used) with my spin clean record washer and for this set proved to be necessary. A lot of vinyl residue from the cutting machines was removed. So have this in mind. I hope EMI to do the same for a reissue of the Beatles 2014 boxset in mono.
That would have driven us nuts in the early seventies , drunk and on acid and just trying to get to the turntable. Btw I have my original Between the Buttons and yeah it’s a mess but I do have a newer one too. I do however prefer the mono recordings. I’ve been listening to the since I was 6 (1967) and until I heard the monos or listened to them I had no idea how much better they were. Little Red Rooster sounds like a Chess Studio recording from Muddy or the Wolfs era. I think it was recorded there on Michigan Ave ? Cheers from Montreal
Missed out on buying the original mono box set. When I read they were reissuing the set with multi-colored vinyl, I put in my order on Amazon right away (not taking any chance of missing out the 2nd time). I don't plan to open it. 1st, I put away my record player. 2nd don't want to ruin it. I did buy the original CD mono boxed set for more than original cost. I bought 2 copies on EBAY. I'm glad ABKCO did something right for a change. Now you have all of their output from the 60's. Still don't like ABKCO for forcing the Stones to relinquish their 60's song catalog. I guess the Stones may never get back the rights to their own songs.
Informative & interesting as always Andrew,but i have a gripe that probably all vinyl collector's will agree with me on...WHY have they not used poly lined inner sleeve's...? Anyway,rant over,great video...
After many opportunities to buy the Beatles Mono set and not doing so I’ve ordered this set. Not because I’m a huge stones fan, although I do prefer their earlier catalog than their more recent stuff. But also maybe it’s because I regret waiting too long to get the Beatles set. 😂 Hopefully we’ll see a reissue of that set next year as a 10 year anniversary promotion. 😊
I preordered the set direct from ABKCO shortly after the November announcement (despite being in Canada), so hopefully I see a relatively low number. Looking forward to this edition since I wasn’t really interested in the original, amazing as it was.
Great video. Totally agree on all accounts, very happy with my set. Still, odd seeing people on here criticizing this as yet another moneygrabbing exercize since, as you clearly point out, it is near impossible to get the original pressings of these records in pristine conditions (not to mention the sleeves). I got some reissues from 1973-4 in pretty good shape, but the originals? Forget about it!
My Mono Box arrived last week (#579), and though sealed, I’m inclined to open it and include a title that fits the timeline but is not part of the set - the 2019 RSD release of the 1966 mono greatest hits package High Tide & Green Grass (UK version), in translucent green.
The extra care and attention to keep the sleeves, designs and labels as near to the originals as possible is to be commended. The one with the hole to indicate stereo or mono in particular is a very good reproduction and certainly looks the part too. (Keeping the 'intrusive' barcodes off the sleeves and the other later text additions to a minimum too is to be commended). I'm not so sure about the design of the booklet, however, with some of the photos going right into the middle of the pages; this could have been avoided by making these into fold-outs instead perhaps; thus keeping the full images? Just saying! (And no unseemly white borders where there shouldn't be any too; unlike with certain other cover reproductions, is nice to see too).
What a brilliant review Andrew as always of this wonderful set that just looks awesome but I honestly can't ever see The Beatles & Apple releasing the Mono box set like this no matter of how much a money spinner it would obviously be! I think the Lennon estate & definitely Paul McCartney would release their albums in a box set like this but not The Beatles but I'd love to be proved wrong!!
Excellent video very informative as usual. I really appreciate it when you do comparisons and provide extra related information. Can hardly wait for my boxset next week!!!! All the best Andrew !!!!!!
Hi Andrew, thanks for the preview. As you say this was a no brainer and I jumped on the chance as soon as possible when this was announced. I only have 1 stones album from the ‘60’s - let it bleed in stereo - so I have no preconceptions as to how these should sound, mono or stereo - I am really looking forward to familiarising myself with these classic albums! cheers Matt
I agree with you Andrew. I hope that they become available outside of the box set, because I would love to have Beggars Banquet and Let it Bleed more than the rest.
I prefer black but since I missed the first set. I have no choice. So I've ordered this set because the 60s and early 70s is where the best Rolling Stones music resides.
Hey Andrew thanks for doing this great video. Great to know they sound good. I have pre-ordered a set. A couple of thoughts. The same resealable sleeves were supplied with The Beatles In Mono box and I turned them around so that the opening flap was at the side cover opening with the flap on the back cover. This way you can remove the record without a problem (except for "Beatles For Sale" with that strange interior opening and the White album top opening). Also the Australian Stones LP catalogue was a curious mix of the UK & US versions which was a tad confusing. I have mostly original stereo pressings. I might buy either poly inners to put inside the card ones or use my existing audiophile sleeves. Cheers mate 👍
I love the Beatles in Mono set so much more than the stereo versions, The Stones however… i don't know which mix exactly that is but the SACD versions from many years ago sound fantastic! Fresh, crisp and clear. If you didn't knew the songs, you'd think that's a new band with their debut album. But this box looks like great fun.
Love your videos on non-Beatles groups, would love to see more. I know (or at least think) American isn’t your specialty but a Beach Boys-related video would really interest me.
What a fantastic box set Andrew they do all seem to be available on cd at the moment and I did buy her majesty’s which sounds great but I can just tell that box set will sound even better. Fingers crossed Apple do the same, Thanks again as always for sharing Andrew, Superb stuff 👍👍
Bravo! Made even better knowing that a Beatle Freak has taken the time to provide such a nice review and once over to a Stones release. Superbly done and so informative. Thanks Andrew!
I must admit, for someone who doesn’t purchase these types of reissues, this one is quite tempting. The colors of the vinyl look absolutely delicious. ABKCO and Jody Kline are really good stewards of The Rolling Stones catalog, and, the catalogs of their other artists. Whenever I purchased any of the label’s reissues, (the CD’s I Can speak for from experience) the quality of them for sound and packaging has always been top notch. Nothing is ever going to be perfect when it comes to the small nuances, but the company more than delivers when they put out releases with their name and reputation behind it. Hopefully one day ABKCO and The Rolling Stones can reach a truce and possibly get some unreleased songs that are worthy of being presented to the public. Whatever happened between the group and Allen Klein is water under the bridge. Jody Klein seems like a reasonable person to work with.
That's one unique box set. You don't see many records pressed by Bob Ludwig these days. His Led Zeppelin II cut is the most sought-after, so I believe you can't go wrong with it.
Funny you mentioned his cut of Led Zeppelin II. It sounds amazing, much better than any other pressing. They’re getting very hard to find in good shape, let alone an affordable price
@@TheTigersfan20 Same goes to George Peckham's (Porky/Pecko Duck) cut of Untitled, but it's not that rare and you can still find it for a reasonable price.
@@TheTigersfan20 I saw a couple of Ludwig pressings on E-bay, but they were in pretty banged-up shape. Uh, no thanks. I picked up a 2014 reissue of Led Zeppelin II and it's just fine.
I have the original set on black vinyl and thought it was very well done. One of my fave boxes next to the Beatles in Mono. Worth every penny when I bought it from my local shop and to be honest, it is worth the crazy prices it is going for now. Now I wished I had purchased two copies lol. I thought about getting a second on this new coloured vinyl, but I just don't have the space anymore lol. I also agree with your comment re: mono. A great mono recording can have such imaging that you THINK it is in stereo. Great work as always, Andrew!
I just bought Bose S1 Pro I plan to buy Audio Technica direct drive turn table with VM610 mono cartridge, play both outputs of turntable into one speaker.
I am a very big Stones fan, and the UK (i.e., REAL) version of Between The Buttons is my personal favorite Stones album, despite the fact that you never hear any of those songs anywhere besides Little Steven's Underground Garage on SiriusXM satellite radio! The UK Aftermath is my second-favorite Stones album. I consider Let It Bleed their "signature" album, though (it ranks highly for me, as well). I also prefer the elegant white Beggars Banquet cover because of how it contrasts with the music. But obviously the toilet is what they originally intended.
I guess the reason why Sympathy For The Devil was the only Beggars track to get a proper mono mix, as opposed to a fold-down, was that folding down the stereo mix would have made the piano disappear. That's because it was intentionally mixed out of phase as a stereo effect.
Stones in the mid 60s to mid 70s were brilliant
The Brian Jones years....................the good stuff
A wonderful set of records, Andrew. Abkco seems to have pulled out all the stops here in repressing the Stones' mono albums from the 60s. Beware of Abkco? Not in this instance! The colours of the different vinyl are very striking and a joy to look at. Thank you for this pre-release video, Andrew!
This is a great opportunity for fans and collectors alike. I appreciate your thoughts and commentary on this. Definitely placed an order for myself!
Thanks for the excellent review, Andrew. It convinced me to pull the trigger when the set came back into stock in a few stores earlier this month (after I hesitated and missed it earlier at the start of the year). Absolutely tremendous set - and I was lucky to dodge any seam splits! Happy to report that my set also has plastic lined sleeves - a welcome minor improvement on your review copy.
Congratulations! Interesting to hear about the lined inners.
I love this channel very much. One of the reasons is it reminds me how with cds you don't have storage issues or buying 1,000 dollar cartridges to play vinyl with. And besides, the sound is way better with cds
The Stones only recorded at Decca Studios in the very beginning of their career. Most of their 60s recordings were done at Regent Sound, Chess Studios in Chicago (which were recorded in true stereo and folded down for mono), RCA in Hollywood (which gave NOBODY who recorded there a good sound) and Olympic (which had the best facilities) from 1966 onwards.
@@BigSky1 the tracks recorded there do sound good on AM radio and on mono record players but they do not yield great sound now. The material recorded at Chess and Olympic still sounds amazing now.
@@childrenofminervaofficial4316 any idea why the sound coming from RCA Hollywood doesn’t hold up? Were they doing something different there?
Here in the states, a typical discount price for an album in 1976 was $5.99. Equivalent to about $30 today. Fifteen albums at $30 each comes to $450. The same as the list price for the Stones in Mono in Color LP set. So the 16th disc can be thought of as a freebie.
I got mine for 310 so I’m a happy camper 😀
440 canadian amazon. 30% less in America would be about 310
I got mine for $360 , great set to listen to over the summer and upcoming holidays
Just finished watching two of your Stones box set reviews. So glad I found your channel. Outstanding reviews!!
Glad you like them!
And now, finally some of us need this as a CD reissue box out now.
Missed out on the first run of these (as well as the Beatles mono box..), I’m not gonna miss this one! Especially here in the USA, I reeeally need to get a set of the UK albums.
Thanks Andrew. I've had this set in my cart for over a month and your review finally made me get off the fence and order it. As you mentioned, my original LPs are in a very worn well-played condition and it was time to do a refresh. I should have this mono set in my hands in about a week. Best regards!
Hope you enjoy it!
Thank you for this wonderful unboxing and review. I would be curious to hear your thoughts on the 2010 Abkco Rolling Stones 1964-1969 Box set. This box has a mixture of mono and stereo, but also has the first two EPs in the set.
Those thick card inners are actually nice IMO because you can use a round bottom poly inner inside them, and the thick card stock helps make the covers extra stiff.
Thank you for taking this set on, Andrew. As in the original release, I find it interesting ABKCO decided to include the US albums, as well. No way the Beatles would have done this. Thank you, again!
Thanks for listening, Roger.
The reason to include US albums is quite simple: Both UK and UK albums were authorised by Andrew Oldham / Stones. It’s been confirmed many times and is also stated in the Mono box booklet. It was a very different approach to what The Beatles did.
In addition to the other response it also clearly pads out the boxset. If the beatles had included us albums that'd be a 25 album boxset. Never going to have a boxset that size. Ridiculous comparison to make and just another pointless beatles /stones jab.
It is always a great pleasure to see your very interesting and well-grounded reviews. You are definitely the best in the field. I've seen all the Beatles posts and I'm always amazed. Thank you very much and please keep it up.
I ordered mine but I would prefer it in black vinyl.
Happy to have the set back in print, can’t say I’m to happy about the color vinyl. I’ve always heard negative things about color vinyl, the sound quality that is.🤔
I noticed that several records have defects at the spindle hole. I have had records where there was extra vinyl and label remnants when the record was pressed, but here you can see especially the first 3 records on side 1 where there are cracks in the label that look as if the vinyl started cracking when removed from the original spindle from the press.
You forgot to mention the absence of poster that came with original Let It Bleed.
Great Video Andrew I have the mono box set in CD it sounds great. I loved your unboxing video great review of the this mono set. So I have the stones single collection so I am happy with that. Plus I have a mixture of vintage Stones vinyl and the DSD reissue.
Great unboxing. It’s mind blowing that a band from a different age is still touring. Astonishing.
Indeed it is, considering precisely this year marks the 60th anniversary of their recording career.
It's incredible that Keith is still with us despite treating his body like a laboratory. And a new album that will feature the drumming of the late Charlie Watts is supposedly to be released this year.
Of the big bands/acts, I think U2 might have the next best chance of doing it as long as these cats.
The printed covers have an orange cast which I really started noticing when you compared Between The Buttons, original vs. 2023.
This is a great unboxing and review! I noticed that Satanic Majasties front cover is more accurate in the reissue. The 2016 had a more severe crop and blue swirls were too light. Possibly they found the original negative since the 2016 box was released. Cool!
Thank you Andrew for another great video! I'm not as big of a Stones vinyl collector as I am with the Beatles. I originally bought all the crappy ABKCO CDs of the mid 80s when they first came out. What a disaster those CDs were! I replaced those with some of the stereo Japanese CDs of the mid 80s to early 90s which are very good. Ultimately, these were replaced with the SACDs when they became available in 2002 and those have been my go-to discs whenever I play the Stones.
That said, it's nice to see such a nice vinyl box collection. I originally passed on the 2016 vinyl box and instead bought the CD box set. What a mistake! That 2016 box set can set you back quite a bit of dollars, euros, or sterling pounds depending where you're at. I didn't make that mistake this time and pulled the trigger on the 2023 box set. Extremely happy with it!
"I wish they would have reproduced the original inner sleeve"
"You can't always get what you want..."
I bought the CD box set a long while ago, the mono recordings are very good.
The original 2016 set is really good and I’m happy to see this repressed for more people to enjoy. I assume they are cut from the same stampers from 2016? My guess this equals the 2016 but I can’t imagine that they sound better than the black LPs from 2016✌🏻. One thing though, the Beatles mono cover reproduction kicks ass over this set.
@@BigSky1 I haven’t heard these colored version but most of the 2016 set is very good. Better than all the US but not as good are UK originals. Which are now pricey if in good shape. The box is a good deal to get clean good sounding versions
@@BigSky1 well then you are not the customer for this set then. In 2023 it’s not easy or cheap to get a full set of originals.
Yes the Beatles set was better but their records were recorded better. Studio and producer was superior to the stones. But in the end it’s about the music ✌🏼
How to mug record collectors, part 33. Use coloured vinyl
I compared the matrices which are shown here (Rolling Stones No. 2, side one) to my 2016 black vinyl box and they are completely different. So this seems to be a recut, at least for that disk. I believe it’s the same engineer(s) who did both sets, however
@@KBTime since they are all from the Robert Ludwig digital cuts, I bet they sound exactly the same unless someone screwed up the new pressing
Andrew, December's Children is not the US version of Out of Our Heads. It is a compilation album of previously unreleased tracks thrown together to give London Records something to compete with Rubber Soul at Christmas of '65.
I’ve had this box in and out of my Amazon cart a couple of times before deciding to skip it. I’m not a huge fan of the Stones 60s album up until Beggars Banquet (though I do like the UK Aftermath). I’ve always viewed the Stones as a great singles band for the majority of the 60s. The albums were never terrible, but the strong material was mostly on the singles. That of course changed by the late 60s and early 70s. Still, your review has me second-guessing my choice to skip this set. Maybe I need to watch this video a few more times to decide. 🙂
Thank you for this review, Andrew. I fortunately have the 2016 box already, but I was interested to see the differences in the two sets. I agree with you that the overall quality is excellent, and a testament to how good mono mixes can sound. Under My Thumb from Aftermath is one of my favourite Stones songs, and it sounds terrific in this mono box. Also, it was interesting to note that the matrix numbers from No.2 are completely different to the 2016 version so presumably some (all?) records are re-cuts rather than re-presses.
I have the both of them, as I'm a sucker for colored vinyl, but they sound more or less the same. The only caveat is that the colored ones come in card sleeves vs the poly lined sleeves with the 2016 set. As such the first colored one I pulled out was a little noisy, probably from bits from the paper sleeve, but sounded much better after a clean, not much in it.
I broke down and ordered this box set from ABKCO a couple of days ago. I’ll have to compare them with the LPs, I think I have all the US releases, I already have.
Also I have a Grado mono phono cartridge. So it gives me a good reason to use it.
Nice unboxing. It would be great to see/hear your opinions on the music audio quality of each (or at least some) compared to originals.
Check the back cover of The Rolling Stones, Now! When I bought a new copy in Canada in about 1970 I remember there was a blue and gold London Records foil sticker on the shrink on the back towards the top right corner. I didn't think much of it then but I wish I had kept the shrink with the sticker on it. In Andrew Loog Oldham's bizarre write up on the back cover the sticker was meant to cover up his paragraph instructing you if you hadn't the money to buy the album then hit a blind man over the head and steal his wallet, and it was a good idea to give him the boot also! I've got the CD box set and that paragraph was omitted but I can see in your video that the paragraph is restored on the vinyl cover. Good luck trying to find the foil sticker to make it look authentic!
Hi Andrew, thank you so much for your excellent review, I'm going to pick up my box set from my local record shop tomorrow. warm regards from the Netherlands !!!
You're welcome. Hope you enjoy it!
Interestingly I bought this set recently on your recommendation from Hmv and my number is 11,705 out of 12,300 and the sleeves are now plastic lined. Please feel free to reach out if you need any more info or photos.
Another great video, Andrew; thanks. The only way to listen to the Stones , is the UK versions in mono. Wonder why High Tide and Green Grass was not included in the set ? I do hope they come out individually at some point as well; I have a few UK originals, but not all.
Just curious, how does the volume of the discs in this box compare to the originals? I'm only asking because I just picked up the mono 2019 teal-colored Record Store Day reissue of "Big Hits: High Tide and Green Grass" with the UK running order and the UK fisheye cover art. It's insanely quiet. I need to turn the volume way up on the receiver. I'd say it's about half as loud as my original US (re-channeled) stereo (fake stereo I call it) pressing, which doesn't sound so bad now in comparison. I have a mono switch on my receiver, which helps a little bit. I'm just stunned at how much quieter the reissue is.
They look amazing, but since I struck a great deal getting a reduced priced mono box back in 2016 (one of my best deals), I'll skip this one, even though the colours look tempting.
I find the Box has been terribly designed. You have to "lift" the entire front panel of the box upward then fold it over backwards to get to the lp's. Wonder how long the seems in the cover will last with repeated openings?
I ordered my box from ABKCO directly a few days after the release but prior to their shipping date. My box was numbered 4895. I was expecting a low number, not that it matters. Wonder how they distribute these numbered box sets? Do their dealers get the low numbers? Do you have a chance of getting number 10,000?
My Stones No.2 LP had bubbles on Brian Jones face.
Overall great Box Set. Wish the physical Box had a better, longer lasting design.
Great video as always Andrew!
My heart goes out to you for that seam split but overall the set looks stellar! I hope they do release them individually. Good on Abcko for repressing these classics.
That seam split is worse than the end of the world.
@@DetroitRockCitizen Are you sure about that? If so it should be declared.
@@DetroitRockCitizen No serious vinyl collector wants split seams on their brand new covers!! I hate split seams, exactly why (whenever possible) I always request sellers ship vinyl outside the covers.
@@DetroitRockCitizen So a reputable RUclipsr got a free copy, so what? Feel free to start your own channel that is worthy of receiving free vinyl to review lol
Great review, you may have given me the nudge I needed to get it. I would be interested to hear a review and your thoughts on the 60's stereo box released in 2010.
Noticed in your link they are all sold out, wow.
Glad I pre ordered off Amazon ❤
Amazing box set, though there are some small differences in the back cover art compared to the original artwork. I do agree on not keeping those protectors since they do get stuck to the covers if not careful.
Just looked to pre-order in the US.
Music Direct $449.99
Amazon $428.20
Abkco $374.99
Based on your input, I decided to get the box set. Will they compare to the original mono's?
I'm surprised you didn't arbitrary pick some to compare the dynamics.
Hi Andrew, would you consider looking at the High Tide Green Grass & Darkly Through The Past Rolling Stones compilations? These two were my gateway albums into the Rolling Stones.
Yes, they are high on my list and a video about them will be comng soon.
They were made for mono!
Superb review and hope they are released separately.
Wow!! That’s pretty impressive! Just beautiful!
And I agree. The Stones in mono covered the playing field! I love the early masters as well as the ABKCO later mixes.
The “lyric videos” of the Sones on RUclips have particularly wonderful stereo mixes, tho I digress…I will say the Stones mono recordings are beautiful. I’d love to have this set for sure!
Great show!👍🎶💚
PS don’t forget to look for the Beatles pics on TSMRequest. They are clearer on this cover than on the 3d cover.
Cheers Brian.
@@Parlogram Your channel is fantastic. I really apreciate that you talk about the quality of the vinyl which can be quite problematic with new pressings.
@@Parlogram Many thanks for doing this set. For me, it is a strong part of the Beatles legacy.
I first got an American reissue of Their Satanic Majesties Request in 1982; only years later did I realize it was the mono mix, which had been mistakenly substituted at some point in the London repressings.
Thank you Andrew for such a nice review. As always, you did a wonderful job. I preordered my set months ago and after watching your video, I am very happy I did it!
I have nothing against vinyl records with digital sources, because if done right, it sounds as good as any high quality all analogue records. Even the Beatles issues 2012 to me though not the best ones sounds pretty decent compared to the issues in our country. Andrew, I have a question: If I remember correctly, THe UK Rolling Stones 1 and US's England's Newest Hitmakers have slightly different tracklistings, I wonder why ENH was not included? I mean we have 12x5, Out Of Our Heads and Aftermath with US versions....
Great video Andrew, thank you. I can also recommend the 2003 DSD pressings that were in Stereo. They were done by most of the same team, including Bob Ludwig, and a friend of mine, Steve Rosenthal, who did the tape restoration. These sound fantastic as well.
I concur...the 2003 DSD releases all sound excellent
I own Beggars from the DSD series, it sounds fantastic and miles better than the original US pressing I had that was in NM shape. Not sure how a UK original will stand up as the UK 1st of Let it Bleed is absolutely fantastic
Hi Andrew! Your video convinced me to pick up the set, and yes, these sound great. I actually sold many of my originals now that I have this box. I compared Beggars Banquet to the original Mono LP and was absolutely shocked as to how bad the original was. It was a trash can on vinyl, I guess I forgot how it sounded. Only criticisms I can give is that it doesn’t include the MP3 downloads the 2016 box had, the inner sleeves, and some of the color choices are quite random. Maroon red for Beggars? Blue for the S/T? Baby Blue for the US Out of Our Heads? Silver for the US Aftermath?
I am very happy with this box. It’s just like the CD box I have. I’m glad to have this and the Beatles in Mono box. They sit side by side, proudly on my shelf
Nice one, Alex. Enjoy!
Not everyone prefers colored vinyl (I do not like it), but I am glad this is back in print both for people that didn't get the first set and/or like the colored vinyl, and that is also well done.
Great video as usual! It would be cool if you did one on the Stones compilations, especially the iconic "Hot Rocks" double LP.
Good stuff, I am listening to these mono mixes on Spotify and will decide if I want the record version at a later date.
Interesting to see the original sleeve notes intact on Rolling Stones No. 2., some of which was removed on later editions as it was deemed offensive (the bit about the blind man). I discovered recently that one of my copies is actually one of the original sleeves with an amended sheet pasted over the top. This was used to save cost and use up original sleves that had been printed.
Mine comes in almost perfect with no seam split but on the Stray Cat album, there is a slight colored line about 1cm long across the last two tracks on Record 1 side 1 though I have to say, it does not affect the play or sound quality al all.
Just purchased this amazing box set. Everything's fine but I changed immediately the inner sleeves and the protective covers with the appropriate ones. I always use wash my just purchased vinyl (brand new sealed or used) with my spin clean record washer and for this set proved to be necessary. A lot of vinyl residue from the cutting machines was removed. So have this in mind. I hope EMI to do the same for a reissue of the Beatles 2014 boxset in mono.
That would have driven us nuts in the early seventies , drunk and on acid and just trying to get to the turntable. Btw I have my original Between the Buttons and yeah it’s a mess but I do have a newer one too. I do however prefer the mono recordings. I’ve been listening to the since I was 6 (1967) and until I heard the monos or listened to them I had no idea how much better they were. Little Red Rooster sounds like a Chess Studio recording from Muddy or the Wolfs era. I think it was recorded there on Michigan Ave ? Cheers from Montreal
Missed out on buying the original mono box set. When I read they were reissuing the set with multi-colored vinyl, I put in my order on Amazon right away (not taking any chance of missing out the 2nd time). I don't plan to open it. 1st, I put away my record player. 2nd don't want to ruin it. I did buy the original CD mono boxed set for more than original cost. I bought 2 copies on EBAY. I'm glad ABKCO did something right for a change. Now you have all of their output from the 60's. Still don't like ABKCO for forcing the Stones to relinquish their 60's song catalog. I guess the Stones may never get back the rights to their own songs.
Informative & interesting as always Andrew,but i have a gripe that probably all vinyl collector's will agree with me on...WHY have they not used poly lined inner sleeve's...? Anyway,rant over,great video...
I know. The 2016 Mono box had poly sleeves. First thing I did with this new box is put the discs in poly sleeves.
Thanks for the review Andrew! I missed out on the vinyl set in 2016 so I was happy to preorder this one. Looking forward to get the it. Take care!
Cheers Bill. Hope you enjoy your set.
After many opportunities to buy the Beatles Mono set and not doing so I’ve ordered this set. Not because I’m a huge stones fan, although I do prefer their earlier catalog than their more recent stuff. But also maybe it’s because I regret waiting too long to get the Beatles set. 😂 Hopefully we’ll see a reissue of that set next year as a 10 year anniversary promotion. 😊
I preordered the set direct from ABKCO shortly after the November announcement (despite being in Canada), so hopefully I see a relatively low number. Looking forward to this edition since I wasn’t really interested in the original, amazing as it was.
Great video. Totally agree on all accounts, very happy with my set. Still, odd seeing people on here criticizing this as yet another moneygrabbing exercize since, as you clearly point out, it is near impossible to get the original pressings of these records in pristine conditions (not to mention the sleeves). I got some reissues from 1973-4 in pretty good shape, but the originals? Forget about it!
This looks like a real winner. Thanks for the valuable, as always info on this!! Next purchase!
My Mono Box arrived last week (#579), and though sealed, I’m inclined to open it and include a title that fits the timeline but is not part of the set - the 2019 RSD release of the 1966 mono greatest hits package High Tide & Green Grass (UK version), in translucent green.
The extra care and attention to keep the sleeves, designs and labels as near to the originals as possible is to be commended. The one with the hole to indicate stereo or mono in particular is a very good reproduction and certainly looks the part too. (Keeping the 'intrusive' barcodes off the sleeves and the other later text additions to a minimum too is to be commended).
I'm not so sure about the design of the booklet, however, with some of the photos going right into the middle of the pages; this could have been avoided by making these into fold-outs instead perhaps; thus keeping the full images? Just saying! (And no unseemly white borders where there shouldn't be any too; unlike with certain other cover reproductions, is nice to see too).
Is amazed at how well the records sound!
What a brilliant review Andrew as always of this wonderful set that just looks awesome but I honestly can't ever see The Beatles & Apple releasing the Mono box set like this no matter of how much a money spinner it would obviously be! I think the Lennon estate & definitely Paul McCartney would release their albums in a box set like this but not The Beatles but I'd love to be proved wrong!!
Excellent video very informative as usual. I really appreciate it when you do comparisons and provide extra related information. Can hardly wait for my boxset next week!!!! All the best Andrew !!!!!!
Hi Andrew, thanks for the preview. As you say this was a no brainer and I jumped on the chance as soon as possible when this was announced. I only have 1 stones album from the ‘60’s - let it bleed in stereo - so I have no preconceptions as to how these should sound, mono or stereo - I am really looking forward to familiarising myself with these classic albums! cheers Matt
Cheers Matt. I hope you enjoy it!
Update:. Received box 4020. All nicely packed. No issues. Will listen over time.
I agree with you Andrew. I hope that they become available outside of the box set, because I would love to have Beggars Banquet and Let it Bleed more than the rest.
I prefer black but since I missed the first set. I have no choice. So I've ordered this set because the 60s and early 70s is where the best Rolling Stones music resides.
I suppose they went with the US cover for Beggar's Banquet because they replicated the UK cover motif in their design for Stray Cats.
Great video and dive into these. Do you have any information on the Let It Bleed that’s been pressed at Third Man?
Hey Andrew thanks for doing this great video. Great to know they sound good. I have pre-ordered a set. A couple of thoughts. The same resealable sleeves were supplied with The Beatles In Mono box and I turned them around so that the opening flap was at the side cover opening with the flap on the back cover. This way you can remove the record without a problem (except for "Beatles For Sale" with that strange interior opening and the White album top opening). Also the Australian Stones LP catalogue was a curious mix of the UK & US versions which was a tad confusing. I have mostly original stereo pressings.
I might buy either poly inners to put inside the card ones or use my existing audiophile sleeves.
Cheers mate 👍
I love the Beatles in Mono set so much more than the stereo versions, The Stones however… i don't know which mix exactly that is but the SACD versions from many years ago sound fantastic! Fresh, crisp and clear. If you didn't knew the songs, you'd think that's a new band with their debut album. But this box looks like great fun.
Love your videos on non-Beatles groups, would love to see more. I know (or at least think) American isn’t your specialty but a Beach Boys-related video would really interest me.
I agree, my favorite band in the USA coupled with Andrew's superb presentation would be a product that I would absolutely love. Nice thought Charlie!
What a fantastic box set Andrew they do all seem to be available on cd at the moment and I did buy her majesty’s which sounds great but I can just tell that box set will sound even better. Fingers crossed Apple do the same, Thanks again as always for sharing Andrew, Superb stuff 👍👍
I don't have the boxset, but instead I bought your same Rolling Stones t-shirt, yesterday... LOL
This is a very nice vinyl box set, I love it. I would even moe love the box set with 70`s albums included Tattoo You album from 1981.
except that there's no mono mix of that album... so...
What are the dimensions of the box? Need to figure out if/where I can even store this bad boy IF I pull the trigger.
Bravo! Made even better knowing that a Beatle Freak has taken the time to provide such a nice review and once over to a Stones release. Superbly done and so informative. Thanks Andrew!
Thanks Bill!
@@Parlogram Thanks Andrew that should have read has not hasn’t. I have corrected it.
Hi Andrew. Nice video. It seems like these have the new cuts, because matrix numbers are different than 2016 edition.
I was on the fence over this one. I already own the mofi box and it’s ok, but mono is the hook for me on this set. I Just ordered it from Amazon.
Got mine silly cheap. It was returned with a small break on the bottom of the box.
I must admit, for someone who doesn’t purchase these types of reissues, this one is quite tempting. The colors of the vinyl look absolutely delicious.
ABKCO and Jody Kline are really good stewards of The Rolling Stones catalog, and, the catalogs of their other artists. Whenever I purchased any of the label’s reissues, (the CD’s I Can speak for from experience) the quality of them for sound and packaging has always been top notch.
Nothing is ever going to be perfect when it comes to the small nuances, but the company more than delivers when they put out releases with their name and reputation behind it.
Hopefully one day ABKCO and The Rolling Stones can reach a truce and possibly get some unreleased songs that are worthy of being presented to the public. Whatever happened between the group and Allen Klein is water under the bridge. Jody Klein seems like a reasonable person to work with.
🤣🤣🤣
Hi Andrew, did you listen to these using your y-cables?
No, I didn't.
Huh, I was going to excuse the Satanic inner sleeve until I saw the Let it Bleed one. What made that easier?
The covers look much better printed than with the prior black vinyl box!
That's one unique box set. You don't see many records pressed by Bob Ludwig these days. His Led Zeppelin II cut is the most sought-after, so I believe you can't go wrong with it.
Funny you mentioned his cut of Led Zeppelin II. It sounds amazing, much better than any other pressing. They’re getting very hard to find in good shape, let alone an affordable price
@@TheTigersfan20 Same goes to George Peckham's (Porky/Pecko Duck) cut of Untitled, but it's not that rare and you can still find it for a reasonable price.
@@TheTigersfan20 I saw a couple of Ludwig pressings on E-bay, but they were in pretty banged-up shape. Uh, no thanks. I picked up a 2014 reissue of Led Zeppelin II and it's just fine.
I have the original set on black vinyl and thought it was very well done. One of my fave boxes next to the Beatles in Mono. Worth every penny when I bought it from my local shop and to be honest, it is worth the crazy prices it is going for now. Now I wished I had purchased two copies lol. I thought about getting a second on this new coloured vinyl, but I just don't have the space anymore lol. I also agree with your comment re: mono. A great mono recording can have such imaging that you THINK it is in stereo. Great work as always, Andrew!
Thanks Christopher!
I just bought Bose S1 Pro I plan to buy Audio Technica direct drive turn table with VM610 mono cartridge, play both outputs of turntable into one speaker.
The colours look amazing!
Hi Andrew, by any chance did they correct the speed issue of Underassistant West Coast Promo Man?
(it runs too slow on the 2016 set)