Hi happened to notice German single uniquely, for official 7"releases, states Stereo.

All others are mono. Is this a mistake on the label or correct and Germany went Stereo for this record and not the others? (maybe this is source of Stereo bootleg)

Just as the Netherlands copy of Space oddity is the only Phillips stereo copy (?) is this true for the German Memory?

Yes, the German 45 is stereo.

Not in a position to say if the other releases are stereo or mono - leave that to others.

Cheers I know myself that UK and US(edit) are mono and just wanted to check German 7" really is stereo, as it states on label. Thanks for your confirmation.

Hi,

stereo was already the standard for German singles by the late 1960s. "Memory" was the first Mercury/Philips single to state "stereo" on the label, but it wasn't the first stereo single. The Philips issue of "Space Oddity" states "mono" on the label, but it is definitely the stereo version. And if my ears are okay, then "The Prettiest Star" and "Holy Holy" are also in stereo (although the labels of these two singles also say "mono").

i'd suggest your ears are not ok! holy holy german is definitely mono... stereo mix of prettiest star exists, but i don't have the german single to check. get those headphones on and report back?

I apologize, Shooky, you're certainly right. I must have been misled by memory (not always a good guide...).

I've just checked all the four German Philips/Mercury singles again, and this is the result:

- Space Oddity: both sides stereo (really!) / labels say "mono"
- The Prettiest Star: both sides mono / labels say "mono"
- Memory of a Free Festival: both sides stereo / labels say "stereo"
- Holy Holy: both sides mono / labels say "mono"

Sorry!

thanks for the confirmation. i'd have been happy if you'd been right about the mono singles being in stereo... we need more things to hunt down after all