Your eyes are not deceiving you; that’s the wrong record
cover for the song you’re listening to. But the reason I posted it has nothing
to do with the obvious error. Rather, I have posted this simply because it may
be the best stereo version of this song I have ever heard.
Take it out to the car and listen to it with the sound up
and the windows closed tightly. The hi-hat is right there, the bass is thumping
and the vocals are out front. The whole car; as well as your body; seems to
react to it. I don’t know if this has
been re-mastered but the quality is overwhelming.
Now, think about the first time that you ever heard this
song. Most likely it was on a transistor radio, or in the car on a dashboard
speaker. Both very low quality. But your reaction was the same; you simply couldn’t
help but respond to this song.
Now, try this little experiment. You’re in the car. One of
your favorite songs is playing. Turn the bass down to zero and do the same with
the treble. Now listen. It’s still pretty good.
That’s when I want you to turn off the rear speakers. Then turn the
balance to one side only. This is how you used to listen to most music; on one
speaker with almost no tone controls. And the music was really good!
Over the years this has become kind of a test for me whenever
I listen to new music. I subject it to the single speaker, six transistor, and
dashboard car radio speaker test. You know what? When I did that with this version
of “Chapel of Love” I ended up singing along even louder than when listening to
it in stereo surround sound. Or maybe I could just hear myself better.
