Beatles Dr Ebbetts Japan (2/Cd) Revolver (Mono)

Revolver (DBM-020A/B)

Disc 1 (XEX 606-1): Taxman, Eleanor Rigby, I’m Only Sleeping, Love You To, Here There And Everywhere, Yellow Submarine, She Said She Said, Good Day Sunshine, And Your Bird Can Sing, For No One, Doctor Robert, I Want To Tell You, Got To Get You Into My Life, Tomorrow Never Knows

Disc 2 (XEX 606-2): Taxman, Eleanor Rigby, I’m Only Sleeping, Love You To, Here There And Everywhere, Yellow Submarine, She Said She Said, Good Day Sunshine, And Your Bird Can Sing, For No One, Doctor Robert, I Want To Tell You, Got To Get You Into My Life, Tomorrow Never Knows

The needle drop history of the mono Revolver follows a similar trajectory as some of the earlier releases. EMI used the stereo for the compact disc release in 1987, and a transfer of the mono followed two years later called simply Revolver Original Monaural Recording (PMCD 7009). Of the more recent releases, Millennium Remasters issued the mono three times. The Red Collection (EAS 70136/EAS 80556) was issued in 2004 with both stereo and mono from Japanese vinyl sources, and the Millennium Remasters UK Collection (PMC 7009/PCS 7009) has both mono and stereo with the former being sourced from the 1982 box set. Millennium Remasters Collection (PMC 7009) was also released in 2004 and contains only the UK mono. Other copies of the mono can be found on Revolver (UK Mono – Japanese ‘Red Wax’) (EAS-70136) by Mirror Spock on CDR in 2003 which many collectors claim is the best version. In 2007 Purple Chick gave Revolver the deluxe treatment and include the mono along with the stereo transfer and various outtakes.

Dr. Ebbett released the mono on two separate occasions. In 2000 they issued Revolver (UK Mono LP – Parlophone – Matrix XEX 606-1) (PMC 7009) that includes the alternate mix of “Tomorrow Never Knows.” Several years later they issued it again with the statement: “From Doc E: “If you own an Ebbetts Revolver UK mono, you have the original mono matrix XEX 606-1 version. I am now offering (believe it or not, by popular demand) the ‘standard’ UK mono version of the LP with the more common mono mix of ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’ (RM8). I am using the same exact master for the other 13 tracks. Only the last one is ‘new.’ From this point on, ALL CDs will be printed with either the code (XEX606-1) if it contains the original mono matrix mix or (XEX606-2) if it is the new ‘regular’ mono mix.” This new release by Dr. Ebbett contains new transfers of both the first pressing, with the alternate RM11 mix of “Tomorrow Never Knows” and the standard, RM8 mix. Having the full pressings is overkill since they sound identical except for the final song.

Because there are several differences in the mixes between the stereo and mono versions, it is good to have. The mono version of “Taxman” has a cowbell that starts during the second verse, whereas on the stereo release it does not start until halfway through the second chorus. The backwards guitar in “I’m Only Sleeping” is in a different place in the mono than in the stereo. In “Yellow Submarine” the mono has an opening guitar chord that is missing on stereo and Lennon’s echo of Ringo’s lines begin one line sooner. McCartney’s vocals sound different in the fade out of “Got To Get You Into My Life” in the mono, and “Tomorrow Never Knows” has different backwards tape effects than those on the stereo version. Even though the mono is worth having, this isn’t one of Dr. Ebbett’s best productions and care should be taken if one is thinking about picking this one up. The transfer is very bass heavy, and there is a digital click at 2:02 in “I’m Only Sleeping” on the first disc. The Millennium Remasters UK mono is much clearer and more enjoyable and would be a better option than this version.