News

ABKCO today announced the long expected Rolling Stones16 LP MONO box set, due September 30th.

The set will be available on vinyl, CD, Standard Digital, Mastered for iTunes, and TruHD (96/24, 192/24 and DSD) and totals 186 tracks, 56 of which have never before been heard in mono by "the digital people".

As with The Beatles, between 1963 and 1969 when these albums were originally released, the mono mixes were considered more important since that's how most kids listened both on the radio and at home.

And like the mono Beatles albums, the mono Rolling Stones albums have a directness and impactful sound quality arguably lacking in the more disjointed stereo mixes. In fact, the earliest records were never released in genuine stereo but album buyers in large numbers did buy the "electronically reprocessed for stereo" versions, which is one reason original monos in good condition have become so collectible—especially the rare UK pressed "London FFRR" records packaged in the American jackets.

Here is the album line-up—a mix of UK and U.S. releases plus a collection of singles and E.P. tracks:

1) The Rolling Stones (UK, 1964)
2) 12 X 5 (1964)
3) The Rolling Stones No. 2 (UK, 1965)
4) The Rolling Stones Now! (1965)
5) Out of Our Heads (US, 1965)
6) Out of Our Heads (UK, 1965)
7) December’s Children (And Everybody’s) (1965)
8) Aftermath (UK, 1966)
9) Aftermath (US, 1966)
10) Between the Buttons (UK, 1967)
11) Flowers (1967)
12) Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967) 13) Beggar’s Banquet (1968)
14) Let it Bleed (1969)
15) Stray Cats (a new collection of single A & B sides plus E.P. tracks)

Rolling Stone senior editor David Fricke penned the 5000 word annotation included in a four color deluxe 48 page "lie flat" book that features many rare Terry O'Neil photos. The LPs are housed in the original full color (where appropriate) album jackets that are presented along with the book in a one piece, specially crafted box.

Now for the details you really want to know: Bob Ludwig mastered at Gateway. I emailed Bob this afternoon. He told me he produced both 192/24 bit PCM and DSD masters (2,822,400) for project supervisor Teri Landi, who did an excellent job with the Decca era Stones LP box set cut from DSD masters.

Lacquer cutting was at Abbey Road Studios, with both Alex Wharton and Sean Magee doing the honors, all cut using DSD files. In an email Magee told me he cut "as flat as possible", adding "I love this job". Bob Ludwig added in his email "What a great way to spend a spring, a real tribute to Glyn Johns!"

LPs will be pressed at GZ Media in the Czech Republic—a pressing facility that did an excellent job with the previous Rolling Stones box sets. Yes, many of you are disappointed that the cutting source was not analog tape, but let's reserve judgement until we actually listen. The Decca stereo Stones box set sounds great.

I have original mono pressings (U.S. and UK) of everything in the box other than Satanic Majesties Request and Let It Bleed so let the comparisons begin!...well when the records arrive...

Speaking of which, the press release included an Amazon link. The price now is $391.95, with Amazon assuring buyers that if the price goes lower by the end of the release date, buyers will get the lowest available price.

BREAKING NEWS: Music Direct is now authorized to sell for the same price the the imported pressing of the box set.