Quote: “I need to argue my case on four fronts against yours.”
You must.
Forgive me the fact.
That I prefer not to argue.
With anyone, on any front at all, if possible.
Most especially when it is the case that I retain a degree of respect, for the singular personality involved.
However, you now have presented four entirely new thoughts for consideration, and these, are worthy of a properly coherent response, by way of contrast.
Quote: “George Martin who IS still alive (and mentally well, to my knowledge) was not contracted in the making of the re-issues”
Sadly.
He has suffered from hearing loss, for some time.
And although he was seriously involved in post work for The Beatles Anthology.
There are currently, many sensitivities of Business Politics, as well as Economic Considerations necessary to bear in mind.
Ultimately, at some definite point, you have to hand the reigns over to someone else, and he has achieved this necessary exercise, with very great dignity.
In any case, Sir George Martin, always elected to compliment his own highly individual skill set, by surrounding himself with a highly disciplined team of specialist expertise. Personally, I have normally adopted the same approach whenever possible. In fact, I can distinctly remember an Artist commenting to me, “I know the secret of your success. You surround yourself with talent, and everybody else makes you look good!”
To really believe this very great gentleman, for whom I have the utmost respect, could today, possibly recall with accuracy, the plethora of technical detail, of what and how, this and that was done, and by whom, after all this time; and following a sweepingly comprehensive revolution in technology with which he would need to coalesce, is for my imagination at least, one considerable gymnastic leap too far, for the synapses.
Sir George Martin has long since handed over the sonic responsibilities of mixing, to individuals he respects, who have rather more sensitive hearing, than he does at his age.
Rupert Coulson and Chris Sheldon mixed the last Album He Produced. I see that as an extremely mature approach, entirely becoming of the Man of Statue he is. Worthy of admiration.
Things and People move on....
Quote: "John Lennon was of course dead, and did not get his wish you expressed in your poem (at least it's not known to the surviving world, whether he would or would not have approved of the box set's creative licenses and sonic alterations undertaken by people unrelated, and most likely largely unknown, to him)
It’s a fact.
That John Lennon expressed the desire to completely Re-Record and overhaul his entire output.
He himself, in retrospective mood, was not happy with some of the ‘tricks' as he called them, of their Producer.
Furthermore, it’s another fact that Sir Paul McCartney has himself undertaken to do the same on a number of different tracks.
In effect, almost entirely recreating completely different Recordings altogether, than the well loved Versions, the public at large are familiar with.
I am not of the opinion that John Lennon himself believed, that what he wanted, would ever be possible to accomplish. But he was not precious about the Recordings.
And neither was Sir Paul McCartney. That, I believe, is the simple, clear and salient point to absorb.
Quote: "Even if John Lennon were still alive, he would have needed to consult with other former Beatles in the creative alterations that were made during the remastering of the original tapes, and get their approval"
It is.
An entirely academic point, you make.
And such was the fierce competitive relationships, that this may not have been easy.
Indeed, other parties would have needed to be involved as well. However, the fact that Sir Paul McCartney himself was dissatisfied, is an inviolably pertinacious certitude.
So undoubtedly, if the Lyricists and Composers, the motivational creative engine of The Beatles themselves wanted this, then the agreement and resources needed, would have been made available to meet their wishes, at the right time, commercially.
Quote: "Even if George Martin, all four Beatles, Geoff Emmerick, and all of his engineering colleagues would have been present during the remastering process, the original works of art would still need to be fully respected and adhered to, and any sonic alterations would have needed to clearly be marketed as re-interpretations"
I understand your point.
Personally, I do not at all believe.
That the central figures originally involved.
Were as preciously guarded about these aesthetics.
Indeed, I believe it to be the case, that such details were what.
Lennon and McCartney themselves disliked, and what they wanted to alter.
There is considerable evidence, that this is the case, and it is what shapes my view.
But I can appreciate how inconvenient it must be, to directly argue with someone, that has chosen to base their personal viewpoint, entirely on unassailable facts.
And genuinely sympathise..
Quote: "I think the current box set would have been a perfectly fine and non-controversial re-issue if the participants mentioned above had all been a. present, and b. in agreement that the remasters presented in front of them were fully compatible with the timbre, creative intentions and sonic imprint of their original works. Only then one could legitimately label the effort "restoration".
One.
Always does.
The best job one can.
With the best Technologies.
Currently available at ones disposal.
It ever was, and always will be, the case.
And.
There is.
Considerable.
Historic precedent.
With Great Motion Pictures.
For Restoration being undertaken.
By skilled individuals, completely distinct.
From the original Director and Production Crews.
My favourite is Andre' Previn's.
"My Fair Lady."
It's sheer.
Poetry!
P
Name: Peter Poyser.
Location: Oxford England.