1. Guitars, generally speaking, sound awesome in mono. Nowhere Man's hard-pluck guitar is soo shiny (the harmonies sound more balanced in this one too). The stabs in the opening riff of Sgt. Pepper's LHCB punch harder. The opening riff of Drive My Car comes chiming in like something thick and leathery and wonderful. In stereo, the sound is thin and weak in comparison.
2. Part of the sound is the drums--they really thump in mono. But because everything is crunched together, and the result is sometimes a little fuzzy, this combined with the sound of the drums makes the music warm and thick and alive, while stereo sounds clear but cold and sterile in comparison.
3. Revolver in mono is the best album of all time. The stereo is great, but there's something about having all the elements together, playing with less space that just takes it to another level. The guitars sound so crunchy, especially on Taxman, And Your Bird Can Sing, Dr. Robert, and I Want To Tell You. The harmonies sound better, especially on As Your Bird Can Sing--Paul's high part comes through clearer during the chorus, and makes it just sound really pure. There's extra backwards guitar on I'm Only Sleeping, and the horns on Got To Get You Into My Life sound super punchy and in your face. Even Tomorrow Never Knows is better in mono, because the bird sounds have to take their turn during the backwards guitar, which somehow works better than when they were always yapping away in the left channel the whole time. And that guitar, there's something about it--it's louder, more prominent, almost like it's double-tracked (it kind of is, since its coming through both speakers), and this somehow makes it much scarier.
4. Songs that used to suck or be meh, ok, are now awesome. These include:
Ticket to Ride. The drums come barreling in and BAM. Everything is balanced and it just fucking ROCKS.
Nowhere Man. See above. The harmonies are better, the guitar is louder, and I can finally see why it was a #1 hit in 1965.
Paperback Writer. I never liked this song. It always sounded cheesy and slight to me. But in mono, when the drum smacks after the intro and the guitar comes in, it just sounds so fuzzy and fat, and the groove is so tight, that this is now one of my favorite Beatles songs. The flange effect at the end of the "wriiiteeeeeerrrr---rrrr---rrrr--rrrr" makes it into the most rocking psychedelic song they ever made.
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. Possibly the most improved song in the whole mono set; the vocals really soar, and the drum smacks seem more precise somehow. Yet another song that always seemed overrated to me; now, I finally get it.
Penny Lane. The mono version works so much better. It may have something to do with the fact that the little orchestral fills and sound effects don't trill annoyingly off to the side as though they're afterthoughts, but take their turn in the center along with everything else. It feels much tighter, more thoughtfully constructed.
Dear Prudence. Another song that always felt kind of "meh" to me. But again, it's a case of the shining, thick guitar line so prominent in the mono Rubber Soul--you can really hear "the sun is out, the sky is blue, it's beautiful, and so are you"--it's brought to life by the guitar lick.
Happiness is a Warm Gun. Oh my God, this song fucking rocks in mono. "Mother superior jumped the gun!" just gains speed and intensity until it kicks back into 4/4 and the "bang bang shoot shoot" harmonies blast away. It was always an awesome song, but the mono version kicks it up a notch.
I Will. The mono version has a small, but vital difference: the "dum, dum" sung bass part doesn't start until after the first verse, and when they do it completes the groove.
In conclusion, here's my take on which albums sound best in which format:
Please Please Me: Mono
With the Beatles: Mono
A Hard Day's Night: Stereo, except for If I Fell and And I Love Her (double tracking is weird on those)
Beatles for Sale: Stereo
Help! First 6 Songs: Stereo (mono sounds kinda muddy, but clears up in time for Ticket to Ride). Ticket to Ride through the end is better in mono, except for I've Just Seen a Face--the stereo separation works better for that one. And Yesterday is better--the cellos are quieter and smoother in mono.
Rubber Soul: Mono, except for In My Life and maaaaybe Michelle (I like the tight fuzzy mono, but the harmonies are clear as a bell in the stereo version. Either is great.
Revolver: Mono. See above.
Sgt. Pepper: Mono, even for Mr. Kite (the swirlies are different, crazier, better) and A Day In the Life (orchestra is more crammed together, fewer instruments hanging off the end, scarier).
Magical Mystery Tour: Stereo, except for Penny Lane and maybe All You Need Is Love (not sure about that one yet but if I hear that stupid fucking commercial again I'm going to be very angry)
White Album: It's a mix.
USSR: Stereo
Dear Prudence: Mono, see above
Glass Onion: Mono, as is generally the case with the rockers
Obla Di: Stereo (has handclaps)--Stereo is better for the next several until
Happiness is a Warm Gun: Mono, see above.
Martha My Dear: Stereo
I'm So Tired: Mono
Rest of first album except for I Will: Stereo
Birthday: Stereo
Yer Blues: Stereo (weirdly muddy and far away in mono)
Mother Nature's Son: Stereo
me and my Monkey: Mono
Sexy Sadie: Stereo
Helter Skelter: Mono see above.
Longx3: it's louder, and the guitar is more prominent in mono.
Rest of the album: Stereo. Good Night: the orchestra is wide and beautiful in stereo, but Ringo's vocal meshes better in mono. Tough call.
