Mono mix of "Apeman"

[Phil Elliott]

I found the 7" of this today - seen as the tape of the mono mix appears to be missing, I was curious enough to grab it.

For those that haven't heard it:

http://website.lineone.net/~philelio/ki ... n_MONO.mp3

The b-side "Rats" is great aswell:

http://website.lineone.net/~philelio/kinks/rats.mp3

The vinyl itself is pretty beat up, so I've had to clean it up - the grooves are gouged here and there, so there are a couple of chips just before the vocals in Apeman.

[Phil Elliott]

My thoughts:

Vocals start off much louder. Why was it usually the case that the vocals would be pulled down in the stereo of a forthcoming A-side ? Days and Wonderboy spring to mind.

Sound effects are louder in the spoken section - they start sooner aswell, with stuff not on the stereo.

The piano is buried deep in the mix, especially the runs into the choruses, giving a very different feel to the stereo version.

Ray has often protested he is singing "fogging up my eyes". After hearing this, I don't think so ...

Not being an owner of the "Lola vs ..." album, I can't do a comparison on Rats... any differences ??

[Mike R]

Phil.

Is the single Reprise U.S. or Pye U.K. ? The "Apeman" mono sure sounds different from the stereo and probably not a fold-down mix. Ray is definitely not singing "fogging". Going to try and find a copy for myself.

[Phil Elliott]

It's Pye UK.

Looks like this:

http://www.vintagegroove.co.uk/graphics/covers/203.jpg

[Mike R]

It's Pye UK.

Looks like this:

http://www.vintagegroove.co.uk/graphics/covers/203.jpg

Thanks Phil. The blue label looks similar to the label on the U.K. LP I have of Lola Vs....

Not being an owner of the "Lola vs ..." album, I can't do a comparison on Rats... any differences ??

Phil, I just ran a/b comparison w/ your 45 mono mix of "Rats" and "Rats" from the Lola Vs... CD in the recent 10 CD box set.

I ripped the stereo "Rats" and then converted it to mono in Cool Edit Pro. The fold-down mono sounds different than the 45 mix. Enough to lead me to think the mono mix on your 45 is dedicated.

In folding down the stereo mix to mono, the vocals are more out front in the mix and a bit drier. The guitars are mixed differently on the mono 45. You can hear it clearly in the last portion of the song from about 2.20 to the end.

[Phil Elliott]

Thanks for that Mike. So it's a dedicated mono on both sides by the look of it...

Just the two of us giving a Rats about Apeman then?

[dudelsack]

Nice job, guys. I'm going to download later...