Beatles/Let it be UK Mono Reel to Reel

Even if you’re not a lover of Beatles music, you probably know that there is no official mono version of The Beatles’ final album, “LET IT BE.” This was a reflection of the fact that the era of audio had already shifted to stereo. Therefore, there are no mono mixes of this album or “ABBEY ROAD.” However, surprisingly, there is a mono version of “LET IT BE” in the UK. When this album was released in 1970, cassette album releases were not widespread, and instead, reel-to-reel tapes were used to release tape formats. Not only “LET IT BE,” but each of The Beatles’ albums were released on reel tape in real time, but interestingly, for this album, a mono reel tape title was released. Monoization, in other words, is not a mono mix like the previous Beatles albums, but rather a stereo sound reduced to mono. Therefore, it cannot be called an official mono mix, but it is interesting to think of it as the opposite of the “pseudo-stereo” that is also familiar in The Beatles’ albums. Furthermore, it is interesting that the track list was changed without permission when recording on tape, which was also a phenomenon seen in the reel tape version of the White Album. In particular, the order of the songs on “LET IT BE” changes from the second song onwards. Starting with “I Me Mine” coming after “Two Of Us”, the order of the songs on the B-side of the album is so messed up (the most sensible track order is around “Let It Be”) that it is hard to contain your laughter. It is no exaggeration to say that this is almost a different album. Especially “I’ve Got A Feeling” coming after “The Long And Winding Road”! And the sound quality is so attractive, just like analog tape. The texture is completely different from the current remastered CD, and although it cannot be compared to it in terms of simple superiority or inferiority, you can enjoy the analog sound quality full of typical vintage feeling. The mono reel tape can be said to be another side of the Beatles’ official releases. And yet it is also valuable as a forgotten mono version of “LET IT BE”. Reel-To-Reel, 3 3/4 ips (Apple Records, TA-PMC 7096) (35:20) 1. Two Of Us 2. I Me Mine 3. One After 909 4. Across The Universe 5. Dig It 6. Let It Be 7. Maggie Mae 8. Dig A Pony 9. The Long And Winding Road 10. I’ve Got A Feeling 11. For You Blue 12. Get Back