People - "I Love You"

I'm sure this has been looked at before, but THE sharpest-eared audio expert I have EVER known becomes violently ill whenever I play any (4:31) stereo CD version of this song. Because of the soft intro, the wide stereo, etc., my eagle-eared colleague says that although it's likely the same take and the same note-for-note recording, the stereo version "seems to have no electricity to it at all." He says the compressed (4:31) mono mix does away with ALL the soft parts, and gives the song a noticably different feel. I was skeptical, but after listening, to my surprise I now agree with his analysis wholeheartedly! To me, the song's beginning is boosted way up; every note sounds MUCH hotter on the 45, and the song's classic last note is MUCH louder on the 45. IMHO, this song is the poster child for HOW much the same recording can have it's ENTIRE feel and personality substantially altered when a quality mixing engineer skillfully "strengthened" a song in preparation for 1968 AM radio airplay and 45 release.

It's the same recording, but the poor stereo mix has way too much reverb added. It sounds terrible, and I refuse to ever play it. I prefer either the mono single or the edited mono radio promo.

davidclark wrote: so is the mono version available on CD? There is an "e" version...

Not to my knowledge. There is a rechanneled version on a budget Capital SM CD, but it's not right.

The promo edit cannot be created from the commercial version. The sustained piano note at the end is different, and fades faster than the one on the promo edit. I'm guessing that note was from another take of the song.

I have the promo single if you're interested.

Hykker was very kind to send me a copy of his promo to listen to. Thank you!