THE BEATLES/MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR SHZE 327 (-71) GERMANY

The US Capitol mono LP will always be my main entrance to MMT and some of The Beatles most classic single cuts   https://monolover.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-beatlesmagical-mystery-tour-mal.html   , but when it comes to stereo this German HörZu is it. There's a lot written about it on the net, some contradictory. I'm just trying to sort out a few things about the earliest issues, hoping the outcome wont be too tangled. The rainbow rim Capitol stereo wasn't all fun since three of the tracks didn't exist in true stereo at the time and was re-channeled for the release. The premiere German (A1/B1 matrixes) used the US tapes right on, only difference they had the full "I'm The Walrus" intro instead of the US shortened. Second version (A1/B3 matrixes) used same A-side as the first, but a remade B-side having the three former fakes in true stereo and a re-mix of "Strawberry Fields Forever". ("All You Need Is Love" uses a stereo made for the"Yellow Submarine" LP while "Penny Lane", "Baby You're A Rich Man" and "Strawberry Fields" came from mixes made 1971 at George Martin's AIR studios, London). Normally I don't like later remakes of canonized issues, but this was needed. The result is marvellous with impeccable audio and since the new parts were made not long after with some of the same crew involved I'd call it an alternative original rather than a remake (for more details check Josef Brennan's "Usenet Guide To Beatles Recording Variations" or the MMT threads at Steve Hoffman's). If you're looking for a first issue A1/B3, be aware the label and cover designs of the premiere release and first issue of second version are the same - dark label with plain HörZu logo and sleeve with red/white logo, some fully laminated and some with laminated front only. Best way to distinguish is by listening or checking the run-off. Second issue is easier to pick, having same record number but circle/box logo on label and yellow/red/black on sleeve (transition copies may exist with y/r/b logo on sleve and plain on label). All those are A1/B3. Later on same matrixes were used with changing designs and record numbers in Germany and also became new standards for release in other countries - on vinyl and CD. Haven't heard all the later German vinyl presses, but as I understand many of them have the same high quality audio. So this first A1/B3 may not be the only place for MMT LP stereo pleasures, but it's good if you wanna be where it all started. (BÄ*)(PÖP*) (GÖXÄ*) (ÄPLÄ*) (LGÅ*)