Tag Archives: Beatles Collecting

Beatles Anthology – All The Details

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It’s now been announced. Here is the official press release with all the details on the Anthology Collection audio releases, the Beatles Anthology documentary series on Disney+, and the re-press of The Beatles Anthology book:

THE BEATLES ANTHOLOGY

Award-winning Documentary Series, Music Releases and Iconic Book

All Together Now for Release this Autumn. The Beatles Story… by The Beatles. On screen, on record, and in print.

London – August 21, 2025 – First released three decades ago, The Beatles’ eight-part Anthology series reinvented the music documentary. Instead of a standard treatment centred on an outside narrator and talking heads, The Anthology featured John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr candidly telling their own story, with all its complexities and contradictions. It introduced The Beatles to new generations of viewers and listeners and marked the start of a creative and commercial afterlife that continues to this day.

Now, The Beatles Anthology returns in its ultimate form for a comprehensive global release campaign—on screen, on record, and in print.

The Beatles Anthology Documentary Series

Now a Nine-Part Series Featuring a Brand-new Episode Nine
Streaming Exclusively on Disney+ Beginning November 26

The Beatles’ landmark Anthology documentary series has been restored and remastered.

The series’ original eight episodes trace the legendary journey that began in Liverpool and Hamburg and soon captivated the world. They bring to life the timeless stories — of Beatlemania, the band’s groundbreaking arrival in the USA, their role at the forefront of the 1960s counterculture, their spiritual exploration in India, and their eventual breakup. And through it all, the constant thread: the music, always the music.

There is now a completely new Episode Nine, including unseen behind-the-scenes footage of Paul, George and Ringo coming together between 1994 and 1995 to work on The Anthology and reflecting on their shared life as The Beatles.

The restoration has been overseen by Apple Corps’ production team, working with Peter Jackson’s Wingnut Films & Park Road Post teams along with Giles Martin, who has created new audio mixes for the majority of the featured music.

 The Beatles Anthology Music Collections

Restored & Expanded to Four Volumes: 12LP Vinyl, 8CD & Digital Collections
Out November 21

The musical side of The Anthology Collection, originally curated by George Martin, now remastered by Giles Martin, in the form of three double albums of rare material, a shadow story to the one told in the documentaries. They are an enthralling insight into the early development of songs that became the recorded masterpieces that resonate just as loudly today as they did when they were first recorded. 

It also has an important new element. Anthology 4, newly curated by Giles, includes 13 previously unreleased demos and session recordings and other rare recordings. It also includes new mixes of The Beatles’ Anthology-associated hit singles: the GRAMMY-winning “Free As A Bird” and “Real Love,” given new life by their original producer, Jeff Lynne, using de-mixed John Lennon vocals.

The original “Free As A Bird” music video has also been beautifully restored:

Both new mixes are placed alongside the band’s most recent UK No. 1 hit single, 2023’s GRAMMY-winning “Now And Then,” the last Beatles song. All three singles were created from rudimentary home demos John recorded in the 1970s, later completed with vocal and instrumental parts recorded by Paul, George and Ringo.

Across all the Anthology albums, there are 191 tracks which will be released on November 21 by Apple Corps Ltd./Capitol/UMG for digital purchase and streaming, and in deluxe 12LP 180-gram vinyl and 8CD box sets. Both box sets include the original sleeve notes for Anthology 1, 2 and 3; the new Anthology 4 includes track notes written by Kevin Howlett and an introduction compiled from 1996 interviews recorded with The Beatles’ close friend and adviser Derek Taylor. The Beatles Store’s exclusive editions for both box sets add four 12-inch band photo art cards in a numbered envelope. 

The Beatles Anthology Book

The 25th Anniversary Edition
Out October 14

Finally, the 25th Anniversary Edition of The Beatles Anthology book will be released on October 14th by Apple Corps Ltd. and Chronicle Books. Throughout its pages, John, Paul, George and Ringo share their honest, intimate and revelatory recollections of the band’s journey. Their memories are accompanied by impressions from their closest colleagues, including Neil Aspinall, George Martin, Derek Taylor and others. The bestselling 368-page book is beautifully illustrated with more than 1,300 photos, documents, artwork, and other memorabilia from the band’s archives.  

Everything The Beatles did involved change. Listening to their songs and watching their story unfold brings us closer to the shifts in culture, ideas and music that they helped shape—and which continue to resonate today. The Anthology was always about their past, but this new edition confirms its enduring place in the present and future. (ends)

The packaging of the 12LP and 8CD has come in for criticism as being a “low rent” looking for a proper Beatle release. It turns out that they are indeed using Klaus Voormann’s amazing original montage for the box on all editions. The image with that black and white photo is called a “belly band” or “O” card which slides over the outer case and wraps around the whole box. (This “belly band” is also on the Anthology book – if you look closely at the image above you can see it).

Here are some high res images of the Anthology box set configurations:

The four art photos shown in the pack-shot above come in a numbered envelope and are exclusive to the Beatles Store (or if you order through Universal Music). The photo pack:

The 12LP exclusive is limited to 8,500 in the UK and 8,500 in the U.S.

Other editions come without that photo pack:

And here it is with the “belly band” in place:

Below is the 8CD set with art photos only available from the official stores. This is limited to 8000 copies in the UK and 8,000 in the U.S.

And the standard issue, minus the art photo pack. (Click here for the full track listing):

This is an un-cropped version of the image that’s used on the “belly band” or “O” card. It was taken by photographer Bruce McBroom/© Apple Corps Ltd.:

Again, if you like to watch your updates instead of read about them, check out Andrew Dixon’s informative and very reasonable video just uploaded:

UPDATE (17 SEPTEMBER):

Apple has just announced that the Anthology 4 double CD and triple LP sets will be available to purchase separately. See our report here.

Beatles Anthology Disney Connection and Cover Art

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It looks like The Beatles Anthology TV series is destined for a Disney+ streaming release as expected:

When it first aired in 1995 Anthology was a six-part series, so it looks to have been expanded somewhat given the advertising banner says it is now a nine-parter. And that it is due to go to air on November 26 with a three-part premier.

It also looks like those images we got for the accompanying audio box sets are coming true. But what will the final artwork look like? There are currently two different gifs doing the rounds showing variations to the outer box images for the CD set:

More announcements are imminent. Stay tuned!

Beatles ‘Anthology 4’ On The Way?

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Let the speculation begin.

The rumoured Beatles Anthology extension is starting to be publicised on official Beatle socials pages:

And on the official website:

And these images here:

But what will the box contain? This image (reportedly from Amazon) shows an 8 CD set called Anthology Collection:

Is it real, or an elaborate fan mock-up?

If you like to watch your speculation instead of reading about it, check out Mazzy’s video just uploaded:

Stay tuned for more…….

“I’m Better Than The Beatles”

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Got to admire his courage though!

This was released in 1965, the year The Beatles produced the albums Help! and Rubber Soul. Plus the singles ‘Ticket To Ride’/’Yes It Is’, ‘Yesterday’/’Act Naturally’ and ‘We Can Work It Out’/’Day Tripper’…

Meanwhile, again in 1965, Brad put out this tune, ‘God, Country and My Baby’, which also sank without trace.

Thanks to our mate and regular reader Andrey for sending this one in. Should we do a series on tunes that failed to oust the Fab Four from the charts?

New Boss of The Beatles’ Apple Corps Announced

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The Beatles have announced this week that the new CEO of their company, Apple Corps Ltd., will be Tom Greene. He replaces Jeff Jones, who ran the company for almost 18 years and decided to step away from the job last year.

In a group statement, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Olivia Harrison and Sean Ono Lennon joined together to say: “We are thrilled to welcome Tom Greene as CEO. We have a lot of exciting plans and Tom’s experience and vision make him the perfect person to join us in making it all happen.”

Variety reports that while Greene (pictured above) has no music business experience, he comes to the role with a strong entertainment background having been Chief Operating Officer of BLAST “a competitive entertainment company working with the biggest video game developers and publishers in the world on the production, commercialization and audience growth of their e-sports programs”.

Prior to that Greene was at Wizarding World Digital and Pottermore, the official hubs and parent companies of the Harry Potter franchise – with “over 50 million members, supported by immersive digital experiences, daily content publishing and an innovative e-commerce offering.” Greene was Group Commercial Director for Pottermore from 2015 through 2018, then moved to Wizarding World Digital, where he acted as COO, then General Manager.

In taking on his new role, Greene will still maintain his position on the board of directors for both BLAST and Pottermore.

Greene, who won’t start until September, said “It is a huge honor to lead Apple Corps into this new phase of its history. Like so many people around the world, I grew up in a household obsessed with the Beatles and their music. At a time when the world might need more of the Beatles’ spirit, there are so many new and innovative ways to bring their unique magic to all generations of fans. I cannot wait to get started.”

It’s going to be very interesting to see where the company goes in the future. With his e-commerce background will this mean that physical product from The Beatles is set to take a back seat? Hope not.

It’s Back! The Beatles In Mono LPs to be Reissued

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Yes it’s back, but unless you were very quick you might have missed out because The Beatles In Mono 14 LP box set (out of print since 2014) is already showing as SOLD OUT on both the UK and US official stores. However, there is some confusion as to whether this is just the exclusive pre-order allocation made to subscribers to the The Beatles mailing list. There may be more copies available from Friday, 30 May.

Regarded as something a grail item for collectors now, the original box set is super expensive on the second-hand market. This new release will replicate that original exactly with 180-gram LPs in a boxed edition, along with a very nice hardbound book. 

To quote the website: “In an audiophile-minded undertaking, The Beatles’ acclaimed mono albums were mastered in 2014 for vinyl from quarter-inch master tapes at Abbey Road Studios by engineer Sean Magee and mastering supervisor Steve Berkowitz.

While The Beatles In Mono CD boxed set released in 2009 was created from digital remasters, for this vinyl project, Magee and Berkowitz cut the records without using any digital technology. Instead, they employed the same procedures used in the 1960s, guided by the original albums and by detailed transfer notes made by the original cutting engineers.

Working in the same room at Abbey Road where most of The Beatles’ albums were initially cut, the pair [used] a rigorously tested Studer A80 machine to play back the precious tapes, the new vinyl was cut on a 1980s-era VMS80 lathe. Manufactured for the world at Optimal Media in Germany, The Beatles’ albums are presented in their original glory, both sonically and in their packaging. The boxed collection’s exclusive 12-inch by 12-inch hardbound book features new essays and a detailed history of the mastering process by award-winning radio producer and author Kevin Howlett. The book is illustrated with many rare studio photos of The Beatles, fascinating archive documents, and articles and advertisements sourced from 1960s publications.”

Check out this (very long) YouTube for more details about the release, and info on if there’ll be more copies for sale soon:

Huge Number of Dark Horse Titles on the Way

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We knew that Record Store Day this year will have three Dark Horse titles available for collectors of this Beatle-related sub-brand, but did you know that Dark Horse Records is planning a further big push in late April and early May?

RSD will have:

George Harrison and Beck with ‘Be Here Now’:

This is Record Store Day’s “Song of the Year” and it will be on a 12″ single with George’s original version on one side, and Beck’s cover version on the other.

There’ll also be the next installment of George Harrison back-catalogue titles appearing as Zoetrope picture discs. This time its the turn of All Things Must Pass, so it is a 3 LP set in an individually numbered sleeve. It’s catalogue number is DH0037Z:

And for RSD in the UK comes another Cat Stevens back-catalogue item, Back To Earth (DH0027). Like the Cat Stevens releases the label put out for RSD last year, this one will also come in a special lenticular album sleeve:

Then, once we get RSD 2025 out of the way, on April 25 comes a brand new Billy Idol title, Dream Into It. This is his first new, full-length album of original material in over a decade. It will be available on black vinyl, as a limited edition purple vinyl, and on CD:

There’s also limited edition signed copies to be had:

The Idol release will be followed on May 9 with no less than 9 re-issues from Dark Horse that officially bring even more of the George Harrison back-catalogue under the Dark Horse/BMG umbrella. These include All Things Must Pass – 50th Anniversary mix as a 2CD set with Dark Horse and BMG on the label for the first time (instead of Capitol and Universal Music). It will be given the Dark Horse catalogue number DH0037:

All Things Must Pass will be joined by George’s 1974 title, Dark Horse on black vinyl and on CD, with the catalogue number DH0038:

There’s also Extra Texture (with the catalogue number DH0039) on black vinyl and on CD:

And Thirty Three & 1/3 (catalogue number DH0040) – but only on black vinyl at the moment for some reason:

Also on May 9 to bring Harrison more firmly under the BMG banner will be a CD re-issue of his Wonderwall Music (with the catalogue number DH0033). This joins the Zoetrope vinyl with the same catalogue number from Record Store Day last year:

Likewise, Electronic Sound gets the same CD treatment – joining its Zoetrope vinyl partner in carrying the catalogue number DH0034:

And lastly, one further May 9 release. It is Harrison’s Early Takes Volume 1 on CD (catalogue number DH0047). It joins the black vinyl that was issued last year also under the Dark Horse/BMG label:

As if that isn’t enough, on May 16 comes two long-rumoured but also long delayed Jon Lord Dark Horse titles, re-issues of his albums Gemini Suite and Windows. Gemini Suite will be on a spectacular splatter vinyl (with the catalogue number DH0023):

While Windows comes on a cool orange vinyl:

So, collectors who like to keep up with everything Dark Horse is doing alongside their Beatle collecting are going to need deep pockets over the next two months.

                 

Artist’s Poster the Unsung Star of the McCartney Bowery Gigs

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Last week, as part of his warm-up for the Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Show, Paul McCartney played three small gigs (across three nights) at the relatively humble Bowery Ballroom in New York. It has a capacity of just 575 people, and tickets (at US$50.00 each) sold out immediately they went on sale – only if you showed up in person at the Bowery Ballroom’s box office.

The online announcements for each show were simple. Here’s the first:

🗽 PAUL McCARTNEY ROCKS THE BOWERY 🗽
Tuesday, February 11th. Bowery Ballroom, New York.

5:00pm Doors
6:30pm Showtime

Tickets on sale now only at Bowery Ballroom box office. No tickets sold online.
First come, first served. One ticket per person.

These intimate shows quickly became an event in themselves, taking even a place like New York City by storm:

After the concerts, reviewers swooned too. Variety was effusive:

Paul McCartney Electrifies New York’s 575-Capacity Bowery Ballroom With Career-Spanning Surprise Set

Even the tragically hip and usually cynical, hard-to-please Pitchfork Magazine was besotted:

Paul McCartney’s Magical Mystery Bowery Ballroom Show

Understandable really because who wouldn’t want to be at an intimate venue to see and hear Paul McCartney and his band play, up close and personal?

Anyways, apart from all the above, one thing that really resonated with fans on social media and in the forums was the amazing poster that was produced to help promote the event.

Lots of comments began to appear, praising the artwork and asking if it was for sale. Also, who was the artist who’d created it?

This poster was resonating with people because it encapsulates so well a journey in three distinct phases – starting with a young Paul McCartney in the middle and blossoming out to a recognisable profile image of the legend and man we see before us today.

But then again, it also radiates inwards as well: from the clouds and the universe on the outside profile, into the New York skyline and the Big Apple at the centre. How brilliant.

Well, it turns out the artist is an Argentinian named Santi Pozzi.

Pozzi is a graphic designer, art director, illustrator and screen printer from Buenos Aires. He graduated in Graphic Design at the University of Buenos Aires, and learned screen printing technique at The Firehouse Kustom Rockart Co. in Oakland, California. He later introduced gig poster art to Argentina and South America by putting together his own screen printing studio, Imprenta Chimango. He’s designed and printed official posters for Pearl Jam, Tame Impala, Jack White, Queens of the Stoneage, Primus and many others.

Check out Pozzi’s Instagram feed for more examples of his work.

From this fan photo of the merch stand at the Bowery Ballroom last week, it looks like the poster and a tote bag bearing Pozzi’s design were briefly available for sale:

But, will the poster be more widely available?

Yes it will.

While it’s not presently for sale via the official McCartney store websites, you can get Pozzi’s poster in artist proof quality from a company called Collectionzz, which specialises in official concert posters.

And just to cap it off, here’s a cool animated version of the poster that Collectionzz has produced for Instagram.

New (Old) Ringo Starr Live Album to be Re-Issued

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The folks at Friday Music have just announced two coloured, limited edition vinyl editions of a 2007 Ringo Starr title, Live At Soundstage.

One is on burgundy swirl vinyl:

The other is on gold metalic:

It’s the first time this live performance has been on vinyl. It was originally a CD-only release which came out in 2007.

Recorded in 2005 for a televised Live At Soundstage concert held at the beautiful old Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, Illinois, it features Ringo with his band The Roundheads – Greg Bissonette, Matt Bissonette, Gary Burr, Steve Dudas, Mark Hart & Mark Hudson.

The band work their way through some great tracks including ‘It Don’t Come Easy’, ‘Photograph’, ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’, ‘I Wanna Be Your Man’, ‘Don’t Pass Me By’, ‘Back Off Boogaloo’ and this one, ‘Octopus’s Garden’:

The venue looks amazing, Ringo is clearly in fine voice, and the band is tight:

The records come in a gatefold sleeve and both are available for pre-order now. They’ll ship in Spring. The burgundy swirl LP is here, and the gold metalic is here.

Just a word of warning though. There’s not a lot of love for Friday Music pressings (or engineer Joe Reagoso’s mastering – which these are) on Discogs. See the Comments section of Discogs on the label page.

Benmont Tench – ‘The Melancholy Season’ LP Finally To Be Released

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Those interested in the Beatle-related label Dark Horse Records will know that the Benmont Tench LP, The Melancholy Season has been something of a mystery in the catalogue. People seemed to know about its existence for a couple of years now, but exactly when it would see the light of day has remained a complete unknown. Until now.

The long-awaited album has finally been officially announced and assigned a release date of March 7 – on LP, CD and digital download.

Nearly fifty years ago keyboardist Tench was one of the three founding members (along with Tom Petty and Mike Campbell) of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and he stayed with that legendary band right the way through.

The Melancholy Season is only his second solo album and Tench “couldn’t be happier” about finding a home for the record at Dark Horse, describing it as “an emotionally resonant label for me” through Petty’s close friendship with George Harrison. “I met George maybe three times. But I have that connection through Dhani to his dad, through Tom to George. And they have George’s music, Cat Stevens, Joe Strummer – these are writers. To be in that company, it’s perfect.”

The Melancholy Season is available in physical form for pre-order on Limited Edition blue vinyl (through Tench’s official store):

On standard black vinyl:

And on CD:

Benmont Tench has just released an official video of the first single from the new record. It’s the title track, “The Melancholy Season”.

The LP, CD and digital download are out on March 7.

Also, as an aside in case you’re wondering about the striking artwork used on the cover, it’s a painting from around 1907 called Fisherman’s Cottage by Norwegian neo romantic artist, Harald Oskar Sohlberg (1869 – 1935). It suits the album title perfectly!