Originally Posted by
Philles/Motown Gary
Hi, Gary! Can you articulate what differences in instrumentation youhear between these two mixes? I have not noticed any. In general, I can tell you that many times the reason you don't hear things in the stereo mix that appear on the mono mix is because of the way something was recorded. Take "I've Passed This Way Before" by Jimmy Ruffin [[RIP): the stereo mix is missing the choir and orchestra. My guess is that the basic tracks were mixed down to mono another track to free up other tracks for recording those extra parts, then all mixed to mono for the single. I don't know when the track was recorded, but it could have been before the studio went to eight-track. Or, there could have been some other reason the stereo mix doesn't have those extra elements.
There are numerous examples of differences between stereo and mono. "Ball Of Confusion [[That's What The World Is Today)" by The Temptations is another good example. "You Can't Hurry Love" by The Supremes is yet another. Sometimes the differences aren't about the vocals or instrumentation, but about the sonics, like reverb or tape generation.
I have always preferred the mono mixes, and I consider them the standard by which the stereo mixes should have been based. For me to like or prefer a stereo mix, it has to contain the same elements as the mono mix, right down to the fade. There are stereo mixes I can't even listen to because they weren't done well, or do not resemble the hit version. This not only goes for Motown, but Stax, Atlantic, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Simon & Garfunkel, you name it. In fact, it has been my goal, as a collector, to acquire every hit single I ever liked in it's original mono form, if it differs from the stereo mix.
Bookmarks