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From Joseph Lynch, Apache Junction, Ariz.:

The first album I ever bought with my own money was "Sgt. Pepper" in 1967 when I was only 10 years old. After dutifully listening to the boys through the wonderful static haze on my transistor radio, I thought I had hit the big time when I inherited my sister's small, portable phonograph record player. (The sound wasn't a whole lot better, but by 10 the boys had already obtained a pro wrestler's hold on my soul and I thought it was great!) I pored over the album art and listened to Side A and when it was completely finished -- Side B. Kids don't do that today with their iPods. Too flippin' bad.

Fast forward to the 1980s, when I replaced my vinyl, cassette and, yes, eight-track copies of every Beatle recording with the first round of Beatle CDs, and I was conflicted. I read an argument where Neil Young had voted in favor of vinyl over digital -- giving a typically exacting Neil Young-type argument about how the binary codes of digital music seemed to strip the analog forerunner recordings of their intended warmth. But I could hear things clearer than ever now -- maybe even things that I shouldn't be hearing, or at least not as they were intended to be heard.

Just as I did when I was 10, I listened enraptured to my Beatle CDs through headphones in my Brooklyn apartment at every opportunity. One late night after a gig, I came home and poured myself a nightcap and put the headphones on. It was about 3:30 a.m. "Rubber Soul" -- I listened to the whole thing -- WOW! I elevated off the floor when the song "Girl" played at the part where John inhales (probably imitating a toke on a Beatle Fatty) through one speaker. I literally turned to my left because it sounded as though he were right next to me. My heart was pounding and it really freaked me out. And I loved it.

I then read an article where George Harrison trashed the first round of CDs with his much more critical ear. He was there -- I wasn't. He thought "Pepper" in particular was a bit dodgy because the mix was screwed up -- there were tambourines and cymbals and voices that were, in his Beatle opinion, not well balanced. I seem to recall his complaint had mainly to do with the mixing, which he stated was originally done just as painstakingly as the performances, and to disturb that was like putting a mustache on the Mona Lisa.

As a drummer and singer, I always listened to the drums and beautiful harmonies first to learn my parts, but over the years when I wasn't hell-bent on learning my part or trying to unlock the Beatle formula magic of composition, I just simply listened. And 40 years later I still hear things occasionally for the first time and am blown away.

Yes, I will purchase the entire Beatle remastered collection, pour myself a nice cold Harp or two and, as if I were 10 years old once again, really listen to the most famous band the world will ever know. Beatles forever!

From Kathy:

They were plastered all over my bedroom in the early '60s. However, now I am a certified "Claymaniac" and love Clay Aiken just as much or more than Paul McCartney. I always wanted to marry Paul, and now in retrospect it looks like he should have married me.

From John Mazza:

Bands come and go. Music comes and goes. But the Beatles are timeless. As classic as Shakespeare or Beethoven. I can't explain it but I never grow tired of listening to them. Their music brings tears to my eyes and sends chills up and down my spine. It makes me glad that I've lived in the later 20th century and can say that I was a part of it even if I was a bit young when it all took place. I only wish that I had the opportunity to tell those four guys how much better they made my life. The Beatles set standards for music that will never be surpassed again. That is both sad and wonderful at the same time. Long live the Beatles.

From Anthony:

At Capitol, did you hear the remastered versions of the songs or the new versions being released on CD? I've read that the songs were remastered and digitally sampled and encoded at WAV 192kbps/96khz (so-called "high definition audio"). The songs being rereleased on CD are encoded at CDA 96kbps/48khz. BIG DIFFERENCE!

Why not just wait for Capitol to release the remastered versions on Blu-Ray or DVD at WAV 192kbps/96khz? Or should we buy them a fourth, fifth, and sixth time (45 single, vinyl LP, eight-track, cassette, CD, MP3, CD again, vinyl LP again, Blu-ray finally)?

And the studios complain about piracy!

From Arti Lilien:

I'm praying that they've "decompressed" the early albums, which were all made to sound great on AM radio through tiny handheld radios. I certainly won't be buying it for Yoko.

From Toni:

I am of the oldest of the baby boomers who is now on a retired income but I WILL buy each album, one month at a time. I just hope they didn't go too far. I would hate to hear something more than what was originally meant to be heard. You wrote that "You Never Give Me Your Money" has "never sounded so threatening, nearly angry." Was it meant to be that way originally? You said, "It turns the classic into a different song, adding new emotions that seemingly were never there." Was the remastering making something more than what it was meant to be? If it has gone too far then I may not buy all of the CDs. I want to hear what it was meant to be -- "Let It Be."

From Baby Muzio:

No, no, no, no, no. The Beatles weren't good on vinyl nor eight-track, cassette or CDs. They were campy in the '60s when the Stones outplayed and outwrote anything they ever did. Their silly bubblegum music only proves it. That's why your kids and grandkids like it. They also liked "Blue's Clues," "Dora the Explorer" and, yes, Barney. The Beatles' songs are in the same genre.

From 3MPro:

A big hi, and sincere Merry Beatle (early) Christmas to everyone. Is it not the most merriest of all times right now? Look, we have the remastered CDs coming out, the Beatles "Rock Band" -- what else could anybody ask for, except for a new MP3 player so you can listen to them no matter where you are? Yes, most definitely, I will be buying the box set of Beatles remasters.

Ever since 1964 I have tried to keep up with having all the Beatle albums in my music library. Why stop now? I first started with the mono recordings with the old Capitol label. You know, the label with the pretty rainbow of colors that wrap around the outside of the label. Then they started issuing them in stereo on that label. So, I had to get all of them again for the stereo effect. And again when the Beatles decided to have their own record label, better known as Apple Records. Except this time I was about halfway to completing my catalog with the Apple label when a local radio station I used to listen to decided to give away an entire set of a complete Beatles catalog of LPs with the Apple label to the first caller (which in this case just happened to be me) who had the correct answer to a Beatles-related question. Sadly enough, I couldn't tell you what the question was.

Then when I thought it was all completed, out comes the eight-track tapes. I may have bought a couple but I wasn't about to get them all in that form. And then again on CD, which at that point I hesitated but I could see that the turntable was becoming a little obsolete, so I persevered and got them all on CD. The saga continues with the release of the remastered series. Beatlemania lives on.

From Bob McLeod:

Not spending the money on the Beatles remasters would be similar to not taking a drink of water in a desert. OK, the water might be life-saving ... but we're talking about the BEATLES!!!! And that's where quenching becomes significant. I am so anxious. I did preorder two so far: "Abbey Road" and "Rubber Soul." Figured I'd go with two of my faves and see if I (somewhat of an audiophile) will hear the difference. But now, because of what you wrote, I know I'll have to get 'em all.

Thanks!

From Dell Shaffer, Portland, Tenn.:

I have been a fan before that first time they came to America. You asked if I am going to shell out $250 for the CDs? Lord knows I wish I could. But I have been laid off for near a year now, times are hard for me. But I do have all the CDs of the Beatles prior to this new one. That will have to do me for a while. At least I would love to hear one to experience the difference.

From Brendel Geddes:

I have already preordered the mono box set and intend on buying the stereo box as well. I want to point out that, played on good equipment, the vinyl (if in good condition) sounds great; it was the original poor mastering of the CDs that needed to be redone to fit the format.

From Eileen Marseglia:

I'll start with "Revolver." It'll probably make me cry -- the Beatles do these days. "61 and counting ..."

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