Japanese EAS pressing (1976)
EAS-80561
Matrix:
Side A: YEX-773 9S2
Side B: YEX-774 9S4
This Japanese pressing came out on Japanese Apple label in the so-called “Country Flag” series in late 70s. Interestingly, the Japanese versions of this album use the US-type gatefold packaging, as opposed to European versions.
Now for Side A. “Two of Us”. Hmm. Very interesting. The bass is slightly stronger. The trebles are quite pronounced. The vocals are less prominent, but less buried than on the German one. The acoustic guitars are fine-defined. Overall, a bit fuller than the more-trebly UK version. “Dig a Pony”. The bass is again stronger, though the trebles are a tad reduced (cymbalos); the sibilance on “celebrate” is not there. The voice has less presence, it’s more embedded. “Across the Universe”: the processed part at the beginning sounds a bit fuller than the UK. On the other hand, once the orchestra starts, the vocals lose some of the presence. “I Me Mine” – trebles and vocals sound somewhat muted, though the guitars on the stereo panorama are good, and so is the bass. “Dig It” is okay. “Let it Be”, while having nice strong basses, it sounds a bit muted in the trebles and vocals. “Maggie Mae” is muffled altogether, lacking definition, trebles and details.
Side B: “I’ve Got a Feeling”: Basses and trebles are pronounced, but the midrange is somewhat lacking, the electric piano and vocals being buried. “One After 909” sounds a bit murky, the trebles being muted, the whole thing lacking definition. “The Long and Winding Road”: the orchestra is full and detailed, but the vocals again feel less present. “For You Blue” – very nice, intricate, dynamic – though the vocals lack a bit of presence once again. “Get Back”, on the other hand, has some nice pronounced vocals, but the trebles (cymbalos) are slightly reduced.
Overall: more of a mixed bag, actually. While bass is stronger (not as much as in the German version), and the trebles are (mostly) fine, the midrange is somehow lacking, both in definition and in presence.