Dutch 1984 Pressing
1A 062-04097
Matrix:
Side A: YEX-605–A–28533-3Y
Side B: YEX-606-B–29354-2-Y
This is a version I got first back in the day, and I didn’t think anything good or bad of it. All the more reason to rank it among its peers that came into the collection after it.
And it starts out damn fine! As a matter of fact, when listening to “Taxman” right after the UK, I had some difficulties finding out the differences at first. When switching back and forth, they are there, of course. The Dutch version has a slightly wider stereo panorama, and the voice is a slightest bit less present. But the bass, the trebles, the details, everything is there, and it sounds just beautifully. Great cowbells, powerful and yet detailed bass. Sweet!
“Eleanor Rigby” basically offers the same picture: a slightly wider panorama, and also a slightly reduced midrange in order for the voice to remain integrated with the instruments. The trebles on “I’m Only Sleeping” and “Love You To” are quite nice, though the sitar seems slightly less present on the NL version.
Now, the last track on Side A, “She Said, She Said”, is a surprise. Compared to the UK’s version, it’s good 2db louder, adding more punch to everything. The UK actually sounds a bit flatter, murkier, the NL has better instrument separation (due to wider stereo panorama) and more punch all around, without making it to a mess like German 3rd.
Side B is a bit different. For once, it’s lower in volume by ~2db. The voice on “Good Day Sunshine” is slightly reduced once again. With the stereo panorama being wider, it doesn’t have the same presence as the UK has. The UK offers a richer vocal experience here, though the basses and the trebles on the Dutch are quite full and detailed.
“And Your Bird Can Sing”, a rockier tune, sounded more interesting on the NL issue, due to better instrument separation, those hi-hats and bass are really nice and distinctive – a pleasure. As is “For No One” – here, for once, the vocal has more presence, the stereo panorama offers greater detailing to the trebles and the clavichord. “Doctor Robert” sounded virtually identical to the UK.
Now “I Want to Tell You” is where it is a bit different. On the UK, the guitar, the drums and the piano are slightly to the left, and the bass and the vocals are to the right. On the NL, the guitar, drums and piano are centered, the bass and vocals are still on the right, but the vocals are slightly reduced in volume. Interesting choice, not necessarily bad, but I wonder why.
On “Got to Get You Into My Life”, the stereo is widened again, but the voice on the NL is slightly more prominent, being in the center. The brass and snares sound excellent, nothing brittle there.
As for “Tomorrow Never Knows” – it is widened again, and that really shines. Nothing brittle or murky there, with great details in the trebles, while sounding EQ-wise very similar to the UK which is rather muddled in details.
Overall: an excellent mastering, very true to the UK, but even occasionally outshines it.