Japanese Pressing (1974)
AP-8163
Matrix: YES-637 4S 109 / YEX – 638 2S3 47
Banded
This is a 70s reissue under the Apple label.
Acoustically, the Japanese seems to have a very slightly reduced bass. On the other hand, the trebles are raised quite noticeably. Details are very good, at least as good as the UK -2 or -3.
That the tambourine on “With a Little Help from My Friends” is much more pronounced than on the UK -1/-1. The raised trebles also lead to sibilance at “Picture yourself in a boat on a river” in “Lucy In the Sky with Diamonds”. “Getting Better” sounds a bit thin altogether. “Fixing a Hole” less so, the lack in bass is less noticing here. “She’s Leaving Home” sounds nice, the voice sounds slightly clearer than on the UK. The hi-hats on “Mr. Kite” are probably the most detailed of the lot, but sound a little distracting at times.
Side B is no different. The reduced bass on “Within You, Without You” is not really noticeable, but the vocals and the trebles are quite pronounced. On “When I’m Sixty-Four”, the drums are more detailed. “Lovely Rita” has more pronounced hit-hats. At the beginning of “Good Morning, Good Morning”, there are more sibilants than on UK -1/-1, and the voice sounds thinner. The “Reprise” brings out more the vocals and the trebles, and I liked it – it has some rocking power here!
Well, “A Day in the Life” … Very nice, fine-detailed, great vocal clarity for John in Part 1. Great vocal clarity for Paul in Part 2. Pleasant bass, if it’s reduced, you don’t really notice. If the trebles are somewhat heightened, you don’t really notice. The vocalizing between Parts 2 and 3 is as eerie and chilling as it should be. All emotional responses are in place.
Note: the gibberish actually happens once on the runoff, not in the locked groove.
Overall: This is a fine, fine record. The details are at least as good as on the -3/-3 version, though the trebles are sometimes a bit too strong, and the bass is one tiny bit reduced, but it’s still a fine record.