UK 6th Pressing (1978)
PCS 3071
Discogs | TheBeatles-Collection
Matrix:
Side A: YEX 168-4 HTM
Side B: YEX 169-3 HTM
This copy was in my BC13 box from 1978. Though TBC doesn’t list this combination of matrices for this particular version, the label design identifies it as 6th pressing. Both sides are cut by Harry T. Moss.
The -4 cut of Side A is really a pleasant listening experience. Already the title track shows the strengths of this version: very nice balance between basses, voices and trebles. The stereo separation is also well-done, the vocals have great presence in the center, the instruments are distributed in the stereo panorama. Bass is not overblown, but well-defined and has notable substance. Trebles, like the tambourines on “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away” or the maracas on “The Night Before”, are nice and clear. “Another Girl” shines as far as instrumentation is concerned – just a pleasant, smooth experience. And the trebles are really great on “Ticket to Ride”. Generally, just a really nice, harmonic cut where nothing is too in your face or, on the other hand, buried in the mix.
Side B has the -3 matrix. If there is one word to describe this side, it would be “exciting”. Very nice detailed basses (once again, without being overblown), good trebles, good harmonic embedding of the vocals. For example, “Act Naturally” has some good, punchy bass and trebles, although there is quite some sibilance on the vocals (“Well, I hope you come and thee me in the movie”). This tendency to sibilance is also very present on “It’s Only Love” (“when you thigh my mind inside just flies”). The stereo separation on “You Like Me Too Much” is really good. What really shines on this side are the acoustic guitars: “I’ve Just Seen A Face” and especially “Yesterday” – the acoustic guitar really breathes here! “Dizzy Miss Lizzy”, for a rock n’ roll tune, is rather noisy with cymbals and sounds compressed, but the details are still there, good and audible.
Overall: Apart from some sibilance on Side B, I really enjoyed both sides of this version. It sounds just exciting, with good bass, trebles and good vocal presence.