August 2010

EMI has announced that the classic Beatles collections, 1962-1966 and 1967-1970, will be remastered and released this fall.

The two double-disc sets, better known as the “Red” (1962-1966) and “Blue” (1967-1970) albums, will include an expanded booklet with original liner notes, rare pictures of the Fab Four and written essays by Bill Flanagan, the editorial director and senior vice president at VH1.

When they were released in 1973, the “Red” and “Blue” albums were the first compilations of the band’s music since their break-up three years before. The collections were assembled by manager Allen Klein and were approved by the band themselves. The collection of early material rose to #3 on both the U.S. and U.K. charts, while the latter-era collection hit #2 in England and #1 in the States.

The familiar covers were adorned by similar photographs of the band, each framed in a primary color.1962-1966 used a photograph of the band taken for the Please Please Me LP, with the young group on the precipice of stardom looking over the stairwell inside EMI’s London headquarters.

For 1967-1970, the cover features a photograph taken for the aborted Get Back album in 1969 (by the same photographer, Angus McBean), with the band appearing in the same staircase, but showing six more years of wear, tear and wisdom.

Both collections were remastered at Abbey Road Studios by the same engineers who recently remastered all of the band’s albums.

The remastered “Red” and “Blue” albums will be released on October 15.

http://www.gibson.com/en-.../?Index=11

My first and best introduction to The Beatles...

it never stops! Someday they will be releasing the Beatles Greatest Hits From Remastered Compilations: Remastered!

NDRU said:

it never stops! Someday they will be releasing the Beatles Greatest Hits From Remastered Compilations: Remastered!

the thing that needs to come out is footage/recordings from the Abbey Road sessions, one thing that pissed me off with the "ANthology" documentary was that this "most important" album was zoomed over in about 10 minutes, random photos taken but almost nothing, i cant believe that NO ONE in that studio didnt have a camera going, or something, i think they are waiting on a 50year anniversary for it

lastdecember said:

NDRU said:

it never stops! Someday they will be releasing the Beatles Greatest Hits From Remastered Compilations: Remastered!

the thing that needs to come out is footage/recordings from the Abbey Road sessions, one thing that pissed me off with the "ANthology" documentary was that this "most important" album was zoomed over in about 10 minutes, random photos taken but almost nothing, i cant believe that NO ONE in that studio didnt have a camera going, or something, i think they are waiting on a 50year anniversary for it

I get the feeling that the recording of that album was all business. Especially after the nightmare of Let It Be, they probably didn't want any cameras in their faces making them more tense than they already were.

There were formal photo sessions from that time (actually the cover of the Blue album was from around then), and there were a few studio pics that I have seen in the book The Complete Recording Sessions (I think taken by Linda McCartney), but I'm guessing not much film, if any.

[Edited 8/13/10 17:38pm]

The most expensive compilations ever. I'm not gonna buy this

Hmm, I guess that this is nice for folks that discovered the Beatles through those albums but it seems a little pointless.

I'm not sure exactly how long those albums are but they must be in the 90 minute range which makes them just a little too long to fit on a single cd. If they are going to reissue them it might be a good idea to include some bonus tracks to give consumers better value. Either that or price them a bit cheaper.

Is getting these really necessary for anyone that has bought the box sets?

sextonseven said:

Is getting these really necessary for anyone that has bought the box sets?

No, you should have all the songs. They'll be the same remastering job as the releases last year.

This release is for people that want to skim over the Beatles catalogue without delving into the albums, which I wouldn't recommend...

dannyd5050 said:

My first and best introduction to The Beatles...

Mine too. Played disc 2 of the 'Blue' album in my car for weeks. I think there's also a 4 disc edition, 1962-1970 being released.

sextonseven said:

Is getting these really necessary for anyone that has bought the box sets?

I bought the box set after I bought those two.

It was because of the blue album I had to go back and buy the whole box set and their video anthology.

God, EMI is so fucked up. What's the point when everyone has number ones album at this point and those who want more, buys the remastered albums? These 2 aren't even actual "hits" collections...

[Edited 8/24/10 8:26am]

LiveToTell86 said:

God, EMI is so fucked up. What's the point when everyone has number ones album at this point and those who want more, buys the remastered albums? These 2 aren't even actual "hits" collections...

[Edited 8/24/10 8:26am]

My advice is to get the box set and call it a day! What a sublime collection of songs created in 8 short years....

(my pref is the mono set but then you need to seperately buy Abbey Road, Yellow Submarine & Let It Be which are only included with the stereo box set as they were never released in mono)

nd33 said:

sextonseven said:

Is getting these really necessary for anyone that has bought the box sets?

No, you should have all the songs. They'll be the same remastering job as the releases last year.

This release is for people that want to skim over the Beatles catalogue without delving into the albums, which I wouldn't recommend...

I bought all their later albums ("Rubber Soul" on) so I would be more interested in skimming through the earlier years. But I do think that remastered hits sets is a bit absurd!

I bpught the box set, and now, dammit, I've misplaced "Magical Mystery Tour"!

Where is it?

Casual fans will like these - those who want more than just the single-disc "1" collection, but aren't prepared to delve through the whole catalogue yet. And this will also appeal to some who grew up with these compilations and enjoy them for nostalgic purposes, and like the flow of songs, etc.

I believe there are some minor variations on a couple of the tracks. Wikipedia has a good rundown on which versions are used for these compilations, and I seem to recall this is the only place to get "A Day in the Life" without the crowd-noise fade out at the beginning.

I will probably not end up getting them, but who knows...

There are a LOT of kids in the 70's that grew up on these two albums, and they would be smart to capitalize on that target's notalgia to encourage purchasing these.

Since all this material was on the boxed set, wouldn't this literally just be grabbing those same files and putting them in this order?

I mean Day in the Life has the audience and everything at the beginning.

Seems like a weird thng to say that the same team is remastering these these... like a white lie.

I'm glad they're doing this. There are a few tracks on there that you can get isolated from their segued album versions.

I just hope they do something about all that empty space. Aside from the playing time of the Red album not justifying a double-disc CD, Revolver is woefully under-represented, especially when you consider that 1 of the 2 tracks from it is the dreadful (though incredibly popular) "Yellow Submarine."

I won't hold my breath though.

I think the entire idea would be better served with a brand new 2 or 3 disc "best of" collection. Although that prospect in itself is a daunting task. "1" serves as a nice compilation of the biggest hits, but doesn't paint a thorough picture by itself.

I'd scrap the whole Red/Blue concept, add a few extra "Red-era" tracks (from Revolver) and cut some of the "Blue-era" chaff (Octopus's Garden, Old Brown Shoe, etc.)

[Edited 8/24/10 16:33pm]

NoVideo said:

I seem to recall this is the only place to get "A Day in the Life" without the crowd-noise fade out at the beginning.

It's also available on the "Imagine: Motion Picture Soundtrack" along with the first officially released version of Lennon's "Real Love" and a studio rehearsal of "Imagine".

pacey68 said:

NoVideo said:

I seem to recall this is the only place to get "A Day in the Life" without the crowd-noise fade out at the beginning.

It's also available on the "Imagine: Motion Picture Soundtrack" along with the first officially released version of Lennon's "Real Love" and a studio rehearsal of "Imagine".

The blue compilation album has the audience noise at the beginning according to my memory... I had the vinyls for a long time.

I have the red album!!!

ufoclub said:

pacey68 said:

It's also available on the "Imagine: Motion Picture Soundtrack" along with the first officially released version of Lennon's "Real Love" and a studio rehearsal of "Imagine".

The blue compilation album has the audience noise at the beginning according to my memory... I had the vinyls for a long time.

I just checked it, you're right it doesn't have the audience noise, which means at least that track will be a seperate remaster...

cool!

I have the (stereo) box set,so no need to get these two CDs.but for some reason,I want them anyway just for completion purposes.

NDRU said:

it never stops! Someday they will be releasing the Beatles Greatest Hits From Remastered Compilations: Remastered!

I know right? Kinda sick of that...may as well just re-release the vinyls instead

NoVideo said:

Casual fans will like these - those who want more than just the single-disc "1" collection, but aren't prepared to delve through the whole catalogue yet.

They are way too long and overreaching for the casual fans. Also, several Beatles albums have the "classic" reputation so casuals are more likely to check out Revolver or The White Album in full instead.

What's also bad is that they are keeping the same setup, even though the music of both compilations altogether is just above what a double CD could hold.

Then again EMI has been long rumored for being in a slump and by now they are the poster label for greediness and ripping off artists and buyers alike so this release is just delaying one of the nails in their coffin...

alphastreet said:

I have the red album!!!

get the blue one too

The student fees of great-grandchildren of Paul, Ringo, John and George are now paid .

NDRU said:

lastdecember said:

the thing that needs to come out is footage/recordings from the Abbey Road sessions, one thing that pissed me off with the "ANthology" documentary was that this "most important" album was zoomed over in about 10 minutes, random photos taken but almost nothing, i cant believe that NO ONE in that studio didnt have a camera going, or something, i think they are waiting on a 50year anniversary for it

I get the feeling that the recording of that album was all business. Especially after the nightmare of Let It Be, they probably didn't want any cameras in their faces making them more tense than they already were.

There were formal photo sessions from that time (actually the cover of the Blue album was from around then), and there were a few studio pics that I have seen in the book The Complete Recording Sessions (I think taken by Linda McCartney), but I'm guessing not much film, if any.

[Edited 8/13/10 17:38pm]

Well yeah i agree, even though Ringo is quoted as saying "no one said last song, last take" i think they knew at this point the gig was up, they all at one point in previous years quit the band to be coaxed back, and here you had Paul get invovled and say lets do one album like we used to do, however, George Martin said "even John wants this"? as was said, there are huge ?'s that the Beatles even played together on this album.

SoulAlive said:

I have the (stereo) box set,so no need to get these two CDs.but for some reason,I want them anyway just for completion purposes.

Me too!

emilio319 said:

SoulAlive said:

I have the (stereo) box set,so no need to get these two CDs.but for some reason,I want them anyway just for completion purposes.

Me too!

we'll be forever spending our money on the Beatles,lol