THE HOLLIES/HOLLIES SING DYLAN UK MONO PMC 7078 VS. STEREO PCS 7078 (-69)

Last Hollies album released as both stereo and mono in UK. Had the mono for a very long time and always enjoyed the fine balanced audio (se earlier post), so to my ears it was either a different mix or a fold made from a perfect compatible. But as I've lately seen sellers flaunting it as a separate mix thought I'd compare once and for all just to be sure. And it certainly sounds like a fold to me. All fade-outs coincide and when connecting the channels on the stereo I get almost the same balance on all cuts. The mono may be percieved as a tiny bit clearer at parts with a sometimes slightly louder bass, but the differences are so small it would surprise me a lot if it they came from separate mixes. More probably from a moderately diverging use of limiting or compression. So why buy a mono when you can get the same result if just connecting the channels? Die-hard Hollies fans who don't have a mono button may get a kick out of it and it's also a must for label collectors wanting it all. The stereo itself is very good, centered and balanced giving a natural impression. In fact if you don't sit directly in front of the speakers or use headphones the formats sounds exactly the same. All that said I still prefer the mono. Not because it's rarer, but in my world a well sounding mono always beats a corresponding stereo if similar enough. First US as "Words And Music By Bob Dylan" (Epic BN 26447). Premiere UK had labels as shown here and fully laminated cover. (HÖLY*) (PÖX*) (MÅW*) (CPYC*)