Anthology 3 OOPSed
I have tried OOPS on tracks on Anthology 2, here are the results!
Many songs sound just like a simple combination of stereo channels, while
others are completely remixed. The greatest surprise was the mono tracks:
there is always some remaining sound after OOPS in all of them.
Everything was done digitally. I played the CDs on my CD-ROM drive, recorded
samples of selected parts of each song at 22 KHz, 16-bit using Cool Editor 1.53,
then applied the Cool's filter "Channel Mixer" ("Vocal Cut" preset).
Glossary
- Reduced or Background: a sound similar to the original, trebly and at low volume.
This is the result of OOPSing a sound that is heard close to the center
in stereo, but not exactly centered.
- Mono Mix: result of the simple combination of both stereo
channels into one.
- Remix: after OOPS, all sounds (or most of them) can be heard,
but at different levels, compared to a Mono Mix.
Notes on Mono Tracks
No mono track on A2 gives a blank signal after OOPS. Some of them seem
to be unbalanced, others are mono tapes played on stereo machines, and
some of them seem to have reverb added, as mock stereo!
- If the mono sound is not perfectly centered (unbalanced), there will
be some difference between the channels and the result will be a reduced
original sound.
- If the mono tape was played on a stereo machine, the signal is splitted
incorrectly between the stereo tracks, and may also "move" slightly around the
center. After OOPS, the result is similar to the unbalanced, but if the
sound "moves", the volume of OOPS sound changes.
- Finally, on some tracks a reverbed sound is heard after OOPS. This means:
the mono recording had reverb added in stereo during the preparation of
Anthology 2 masters. This happens on many studio outtakes.
The Tracks
A Beginning
Remix, with some instruments heard "distant" (for instance the flute).
Happiness Is A Warm Gun [MONO]
Original sound reduced and reverbed (sounds as you were outside the room!).
Helter Skelter [MONO]
Reduced original sound.
Mean Mr.Mustard
Polythene Pam
Glass Onion
John's Esher demos have the stereo channels completely separated (there's
nothing in the center) so OOPS gives mono mixes.
Junk
Sounds like a low volume mono mix with little reverb.
Piggies [MONO]
Reduced original sound, distorted and oscillating.
Honey Pie
Similar to John's demos.
Don't Pass Me By
Organ, bass, sleigh bells and some of the drums. Vocal and the rest
of the drums reduced.
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Percussion and saxes are emphasized, and all the rest sounds reverbed,
as they were playing inside a large room (and you're hearing from outside).
Good Night
Most of the track is mono so OOPS gives the original sound reduced
and reverbed, and isolates the orchestra (that appears in stereo).
Cry Baby Cry
Drums, bass and slide guitar. John's vocal and guitar appear at low volume
and distorted.
Blackbird
Almost a mono mix, but Paul's voice appear "distant".
Sexy Sadie
"Karaoke-mix", with John's voice distant.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Reverb and echoes, initially at low volume and louder to the end.
Hey Jude
Drums and guitars. Paul's vocal and piano reduced and reverbed.
Not Guilty
Harpsichord, guitar and bass drum. All the rest is reduced.
Mother Nature's Son
Mono Mix
Glass Onion [MONO]
Reduced, distorted original sound.
Rocky Raccoon
Drums and bass. The rest is reduced.
What's The New Mary Jane
"Karaoke-mix"
Step Inside Love/Los Paranoias
Low volume rhythm track and reverb of Paul's voice.
I'm So Tired
Rhythm track without bass and reverb of vocal.
Penny Lane
OOPS ommits vocals (only reverb remains), bass and drums. The other sounds
are heard remixed.
A Day In The Life
Part 1 (main) [MONO]: Reduced original sounds, oscillating.
Part 2 (orchestral crescendo): Remix very similar to Mono Mix.
Good Morning Good Morning
Vocals and guitars, plus reduced drums. The bass is missing.
Only a Northern Song
Drums and organ. No sign of vocals and bass.
Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!
Remix. Only bass is missing.
Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
Rhythm track with vocals in background, reverbed.
Within You Without You
Remix ommiting the tabla (percussion), which is barely heard in background.
The other instruments are "distant" and tamboura (drone-strings)
has a bit of phasing.
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) [MONO]
Reduced original sound, plus vocal and snare drum echos.
You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)
Part 1: Vocals and claps
Part 2: Vocals reverbed
Part 3: Vocals and crowd noises
Part 4: Second vocal (John?) is always heard. First vocal (Paul?) begins in
background, reverbed, then comes up suddenly on "You know my name, look up
the number" (4:02), after then it oscillates between low volume reverbed
and full volume. In stereo, it begins centered and comes to the left
suddenly at that point - a mixing mistake?
Part 5: Paul (?) humming "Hoooya-Hooya'know" and "Oh you know my name..." towards the end.
All parts (except part 4) have rhythm track in background.
I Am The Walrus
Remix with vocal and drums in background.
The Fool On The Hill (Demo) [MONO]
Reduced original sound.
Your Mother Should Know
Piano is emphasized, harmonium is at lower volume, vocals and drums
are in background reverbed.
The Fool On The Hill
Flutes at full volume; piano, tambourine and cymbals at low volume,
vocal (reverbed) and drums in background.
Hello Goodbye
Guitar and choir at full volume, piano and drums at low volume, vocal
in background reverbed.
Lady Madonna
Remix. Vocals are at low volume and right channel overdubs are emphasized.
Across the Universe
Remix, almost the same as a Mono Mix.
OOPS page
Anthology 2