Earlier this week (November 13) Beatles fans in New York and Los Angeles were treated to mobile Beatle “pop-up shops.” The “shops” were customized double decker buses, which made several stops in each city. The buses served to promote the release of the Beatles’ catalog on 180-gram vinyl LPs.  The stores sold the LPs collectively as a box set, as well as individually; Beatles CDs and other merchandise was also on sale. In each city, a unique commemorative shirt from the event was sold (and sold quickly to eager Beatles collectors).

In New York City, WCBS-FM‘s Broadway Bill Lee went to the bus’ SoHo stop and spent some time chatting with fans who braved rain and cold weather. Watch the video below, where Bill speaks to fans of all ages about the Fab Four.

PHOTOS: “Broadway” Bill Lee @ The Beatles Pop Up Shop

(The Beatles pop-up store outside of the Capitol Records building in Los Angeles/photo credit Britt Bickel, K-EARTH)

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, K-EARTH was on the scene as that city’s Beatles bus rolled through town. K-EARTH’s Britt Bickel spoke with some of the fans lining up to pick up their favorite Beatles albums on vinyl.

53 year old Peter Palmiery traveled from Rancho Las Palmas to L.A. to check out the mobile pop-up shop because he has always been an advocate of vinyl over downloads.

“I love the warmth and sound of vinyl,” said Peter. “It just has a clarity of sound superior to [digital] downloads…people like downloads because it’s convenient, but it’s definitely inferior to the sound fidelity of vinyl – or maybe I’m just prejudiced because I grew up with vinyl.”

The sound quality is just one of the major pros of vinyl, but it’s also the unique album cover art that seems to set records apart from digital music.

“People don’t realize how great album art is,” added Peter. “Downloads are just like faceless music.”

(photo credit: Britt Bickel, K-EARTH)

Similarly, a young vinyl collector in his twenties, Andy Solinan, has been building up his catalogue of records for about five years, and stopped by the bus to add a few more to his Beatles’ collection.

“I love the feel of putting records on and the experience of listening to vinyl,” said Andy. “The sound fidelity is just better than mp3′s.”

(photo credit: Britt Bickel, K-EARTH)

Just as there are fans who prefer vinyl to MP3s (and CDs), there are purists who prefer that music that was originally recorded in mono be heard in mono.  So it’s worth noting that all of the Beatles vinyl that is currently available is the stereo mixes. According to a press release, mono mixes on vinyl will be available next year.

Britt Bickel, K-EARTH 101, E.J. Judge WCBS-FM and Brian Ives, CBS Local