Beatles catalog to be digitally remastered
By ROBERT BARR, Associated Press Writer Robert Barr, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 23 mins ago
LONDON – Beatles fans will have a chance to add substantially to their collections when a digitally remastered version of the band's catalog becomes available in September.
Apple Corps Ltd. and EMI Music announced Tuesday that they will be releasing the new discs worldwide on Sept. 9, the same day as the release of a video game, "The Beatles: Rock Band."
The release continues a recent trend of repackaging and tweaking The Beatles' output, which fans may have thought ended in 1970 with "Let It Be."
Each of the dozen CDs will include the original U.K. album art and new, expanded liner notes, according to an announcement on The Beatles Web site. For a limited time, each CD will also be embedded with a brief documentary film about the album.
The collections "Past Masters Vol. I and II," including singles, out-takes, live versions and B-sides which weren't on the albums, will be reissued in one package.
In addition, Apple Corps and EMI will be releasing a boxed set named "The Beatles in Mono," with the original monaural versions of 10 albums plus two further discs of mono masters of early material. The mono versions of "Help!" and "Rubber Soul" also include the 1965 stereo mixes.
There has been no breakthrough yet on negotiations to get the Beatles' extensive catalog available for legal downloading.
"Discussions regarding the digital distribution of the catalog will continue," Apple Corps and EMI said.
The repackaging began in 1973 with "The Beatles/1962-1966" and "The Beatles/1967-1970."
Then came "Live at the BBC" in 1994, "Past Masters" in 1988, "Anthology 1" and 2 and 3 in 1996, "Yellow Submarine Songtrack" in 1999, "1" in 2000, "Let It Be ... Naked" in 2003 and "Love" in 2007.
Apple said the new package is the fruit of four years of work by engineers at the Abbey Road Studios.
The surviving Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, played together at a charity benefit in New York several days ago.
Beatles remasters
Beatles remasters
This morning you've got time for a hot, home-cooked breakfast! Delicious and piping hot in only 3 microwave minutes.
Re: Beatles remasters
Great news as the CDs I have are crap in comparison to some stuff from the era that's been reissued. However, I wish these were SACD a la Dylan's back catalog.
Re: Beatles remasters
I fear that SACD is a dead format. Even the SACDs they had put out for Dylan are out of print, having been replaced with regular remastered CDs.pophead2k wrote:Great news as the CDs I have are crap in comparison to some stuff from the era that's been reissued. However, I wish these were SACD a la Dylan's back catalog.
This morning you've got time for a hot, home-cooked breakfast! Delicious and piping hot in only 3 microwave minutes.
- LessThanZero
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- LessThanZero
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Re: Beatles remasters
So HOW much better are they??
Does the reissue of "Let It Be" sound better than "Let It Be...Naked?"
Is there a big difference in sound quality between these and "1" and "The Yellow Submarine Songtrack"?
Should I really ask for one of the Box Sets for Christmas, since I already own every song? And if so, mono or stereo??
Thanks in advance Blue!
Does the reissue of "Let It Be" sound better than "Let It Be...Naked?"
Is there a big difference in sound quality between these and "1" and "The Yellow Submarine Songtrack"?
Should I really ask for one of the Box Sets for Christmas, since I already own every song? And if so, mono or stereo??
Thanks in advance Blue!
Loving this board since before When I Was Cruel.
Re: Beatles remasters
I don't have Let It Be or Yellow Submarine yet so I can't comment on either of those.
However, I'm definitely noticing a difference on the albums I have picked up so far (everything except for Let It Be, Yellow Submarine, Magical Mystery Tour and Past Masters at this point). Purists say go for the mono, but for my money the stereo mixes sound way better. Call me blasphemous, but the mono sounds kind of flat to my ears.
However, I'm definitely noticing a difference on the albums I have picked up so far (everything except for Let It Be, Yellow Submarine, Magical Mystery Tour and Past Masters at this point). Purists say go for the mono, but for my money the stereo mixes sound way better. Call me blasphemous, but the mono sounds kind of flat to my ears.
This morning you've got time for a hot, home-cooked breakfast! Delicious and piping hot in only 3 microwave minutes.
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Re: Beatles remasters
So you've compared both on the same equipment? I've yet to see a comparison of this sort There are probably whole websites dedicated to just that, but ain't searched.
There's more to life than books, you know, but not much more
Re: Beatles remasters
Listening to the first 8 albums ( Please... to 'Pepper) on random on my multi disc cd player on shuffle last night ( I know, I know, soooo old school) Ifound most of the songs just leaping out at me. Mr Moonlight was a especial highlight - simply thrilling harmony vocals. The sheer rawness of the early recordings is so evident and refreshes the songs. At the end of Act Naturally you can actually hear someone knocking a guitar against something.
Did I buy 'em? Well, as this photo shows , I've spent a fortune over the years on the earlier formats ; I will , I'm sure, buy legit copies when the ridiculous, inflated prices that Irish shops are charging are , inevitably, reduced.
Did I buy 'em? Well, as this photo shows , I've spent a fortune over the years on the earlier formats ; I will , I'm sure, buy legit copies when the ridiculous, inflated prices that Irish shops are charging are , inevitably, reduced.