Let the speculation begin.
The rumoured Beatles Anthology extension is starting to be publicised on official Beatle socials pages:
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…….
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?
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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.
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!
The 2025 GRAMMYs, officially known as the 67th GRAMMY Awards, is airing live and already The Beatles and the Lennon Estate have won big:
Best Rock Performance
WINNER: The Beatles – Now and Then
The Black Keys – Beautiful People (Stay High)
Green Day – The American Dream Is Killing Me
Idles – Gift Horse
Pearl Jam – Dark Matter
St. Vincent – Broken Man
The award was accepted on stage by Sean Ono Lennon.
By the way, ‘Now and Then’ has also been nominated for Song of the Year in the prestigious Brit Awards in the UK.
Also tonight Sean Ono Lennon and art director Simon Hilton have accepted the Grammy Award for…….
Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package
Alpha Wolf – Half Living Things
WINNER: John Lennon – Mind Games
Kate Bush – Hounds of Love (The Boxes of Lost at Sea)
Nirvana – In Utero
Unsuk Chin & Berliner Philharmoniker – Unsuk Chin
90 Day Men – We Blame Chicago
The Beatles were also GRAMMY nominated, indirectly, in the category below:
Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording
Barbra Streisand – My Name Is Barbra
Dolly Parton – Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones
George Clinton – …And Your Ass Will Follow
WINNER: Jimmy Carter – Last Sundays in Plains: A Centennial Celebration
Various Artists – All You Need Is Love: The Beatles in Their Own Words
All You Need is Love is an oral history of The Beatles (available digitally as an audiobook) from never-before-heard interviews. The material is comprised of interviews with Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, their families, friends and business associates that were conducted by Beatles intimate Peter Brown and author Steven Gaines in 1980-1981 – during the preparation of their international bestselling book, The Love You Make.
The Beatles ‘Now and Then’ also competed in the category Record of the Year – a GRAMMY category they have never won before. They were up against some stiff competition:
Record of the Year
The Beatles – Now and Then
Beyoncé – Texas Hold ’Em
Billie Eilish – Birds of a Feather
Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe!
Charli XCX – 360
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso
Taylor Swift Featuring Post Malone – Fortnight
The GRAMMY’s are using this year’s ceremony to raise much-needed funds for those impacted by the terrible greater Los Angeles wildfires. You can donate by visiting MusiCares Fire Relief.
Much as was expected the Paul McCartney camp has announced there will be a commemorative 50th anniversary edition released this year of Wings’ fourth studio album, Venus and Mars. Also as expected it will take the form of a Half Speed Master, out on March 21, 2025.
The special 50th-anniversary vinyl edition will be cut at half speed using a high-resolution transfer of the original master tapes from 1975 by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios. The album will be presented as a meticulous reproduction of the original UK pressing, with recreations of the original “Venus and Mars are alright tonight” circular sticker and “comparative sizes of sun and planets” bookmark sticker. Just like the original it will come with two posters with photography by Aubrey Powell and Sylvia de Swaan. The iconic album artwork by Hipgnosis has been meticulously recreated and presented in a gatefold sleeve.
Venus and Mars will also be available in Dolby Atmos for the first time, newly mixed by Giles Martin and Steve Orchard.
Intriguingly, the official press release says “The first Wings release for 2025, Venus and Mars follows 2024’s theatrical release of the rare Wings live-in-studio performance film One Hand Clapping……”
And, “More exciting celebratory Wings’ activities and announcements are soon set to follow”, clearly implying that there are other Wings goodies in the pipeline for 2025.
Could this mean the LONG awaited London Town and Back to the Egg archive box sets are not far off?
The other 50th anniversary Half Speed Masters released in this series are Wings Wild Life; McCartney’s RAM; the classic Band On The Run; McCartney; and Red Rose Speedway.
For more information on just what Half Speed Masters are, watch Miles Showell himself explain the process:
Also this article All You Need To Know About Half Speed Masters is good too.
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