Classic shot from 1st Capitol single, "I Want to Hold Your Hand."
Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, John Lennon
Look out world, here come the Beatles again! It’s been forty years since Abbey Road, the last album they recorded was released, but with the release of their entire catalog as part of a comprehensive remastering program and the introduction of The Beatles: Rock Band, a video game capitalizing on the Guitar Hero craze, the Beatles frenzy will almost certainly hit its highest degree of intensity since the word of the band’s demise shocked the world as Paul McCartney released his first solo album and their final album compiled from the massive Get Back project, Let it Be, hit the stores.
Yes, there have been Beatle blitzes before. Before the digital age, Capitol records attempted to create some excitement through a series of compilations of the Fab Four’s work, then in the spring of 1987, the Beatles catalog was released, a couple albums at a time on compact disc. For first generation CD’s, EMI records did a respectable job. Surely, they should be applauded for releasing the original British albums for the entire world. Each album was the same song selection and titles as they were introduced with Past Masters, on two volumes, the catch all for singles and other songs never on an official album. Many found it puzzling that their first four albums were released in mono even though Hard Day’s Night and Beatles for Sale were recorded in full stereo not the format with instruments on one side and vocals on the other as their first two albums and Rubber Soul were originally presented.
1995 brought us another Beatles revival with the Anthology project consisting of three two CD sets of outtakes and alternate versions which realistically are for only the most dedicated fans. ABC also broadcast a marvelous series of Anthology television specials which then would be released as a boxed VHS and DVD set with far more material. A hug table top book was also part of this blitz.
As such, each decade provides its own reintroduction of the Beatles to another generation, and regardless of how one looks back at their material, they never fail to please.
We have our own insights on the Beatles, their music, their contributions to pop music, and to Cultural Revolution of the 1960’s. We’ll have several commentaries on the Beatles in the days ahead both examining their albums and adding some context about their release.
Yes, we will ruffle the feathers of some Beatles’ fans on some issues, but this writer was ten years old in fifth grade when the Beatlemania went wild in early 1964. He also became an instant fan of the Rolling Stones and Beach Boys, other British acts, Motown, soul, Bob Dylan, and the whole folk rock scene within the next year or so leading to a life long love of music and an insane gigantic music collection. We lived the Beatles from 1964 forward. No musical talent or other entertainers short of one’s home town sports team winning a championship could ever equal the excitement of what the Beatles created at their prime with the release of each hit single and album.
Let’s revisit their wonderful music and enjoy. For those never captured by the Fab Four, the trap is set!!! For the joy and happiness the Beatles put in our heart during the darkest hours of Vietnam, maybe a little bit of that tonic would be perfect for a world that's feeling rather down and out these days.
Yes, there have been Beatle blitzes before. Before the digital age, Capitol records attempted to create some excitement through a series of compilations of the Fab Four’s work, then in the spring of 1987, the Beatles catalog was released, a couple albums at a time on compact disc. For first generation CD’s, EMI records did a respectable job. Surely, they should be applauded for releasing the original British albums for the entire world. Each album was the same song selection and titles as they were introduced with Past Masters, on two volumes, the catch all for singles and other songs never on an official album. Many found it puzzling that their first four albums were released in mono even though Hard Day’s Night and Beatles for Sale were recorded in full stereo not the format with instruments on one side and vocals on the other as their first two albums and Rubber Soul were originally presented.
1995 brought us another Beatles revival with the Anthology project consisting of three two CD sets of outtakes and alternate versions which realistically are for only the most dedicated fans. ABC also broadcast a marvelous series of Anthology television specials which then would be released as a boxed VHS and DVD set with far more material. A hug table top book was also part of this blitz.
As such, each decade provides its own reintroduction of the Beatles to another generation, and regardless of how one looks back at their material, they never fail to please.
We have our own insights on the Beatles, their music, their contributions to pop music, and to Cultural Revolution of the 1960’s. We’ll have several commentaries on the Beatles in the days ahead both examining their albums and adding some context about their release.
Yes, we will ruffle the feathers of some Beatles’ fans on some issues, but this writer was ten years old in fifth grade when the Beatlemania went wild in early 1964. He also became an instant fan of the Rolling Stones and Beach Boys, other British acts, Motown, soul, Bob Dylan, and the whole folk rock scene within the next year or so leading to a life long love of music and an insane gigantic music collection. We lived the Beatles from 1964 forward. No musical talent or other entertainers short of one’s home town sports team winning a championship could ever equal the excitement of what the Beatles created at their prime with the release of each hit single and album.
Let’s revisit their wonderful music and enjoy. For those never captured by the Fab Four, the trap is set!!! For the joy and happiness the Beatles put in our heart during the darkest hours of Vietnam, maybe a little bit of that tonic would be perfect for a world that's feeling rather down and out these days.
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