Thanks! That’s disappointing, to be sure. I began bracing myself when I noticed no mention of the sessions in the three-part review.Here's the back cover of the box set. It's a little confusing, but it looks like only the album (and three additional singles) are remixed in 5.1 surround & Dolby Atmos. The rest of the content appears to be stereo-only:
Considering how great it was to “sit in on the sessions” with those 5.1 raw Imagine mixes it does feel like a loss. Having those sessions in 5.1 was (to me) like getting a stripped down version of the final album with a few knobbly bits of chatter thrown in. A song delicate as “Oh My Love” was (again, for me) revelatory with just an unaccompanied double tracked voice, etc. filling the room. I imagine that the same treatment for a vocal-only track like “Mother, “Isolation,” would be as harrowing as “Love” or “Look at Me” might be more imminent. Having listened to “Isolation” on the new YouTube video I think the stereo will still convey it all with every natural breath not hidden in the original wet mix.
I also think Imagine had more to uncover from even the final performances and that may just not be so here. Okay, I’m rationalizing some. Still, there is so much material here. I think it’ll be awhile before I personally feel the missed opportunity. That being said... an ATMOS career-spanning release and this seminal album (of acquired taste, as understandably stated above) in what, half a year? It is an embarrassment of riches despite the various shortcomings. I just hope we’re half this lucky with All Things Must Pass (and Let It Be).
Now if you don’t mind, I’m got some Kool-Aid to drink. I mean grapefruit. Dammit.
