The Beatles’ three remastered “Anthology” music collections will make their worldwide digital debut on June 14, exclusively on Apple’s iTunes Store.
Starting today, the acclaimed “Anthology, Vols. 1-3” are available for pre-order in most countries as individual iTunes LPs (US$29.99), as are an iTunes-exclusive “Anthology Box Set” with all 155 tracks from the three volumes ($79.99) and an exclusive 23-track “Anthology Highlights” collection of standout tracks from each ($12.99). “Anthology” songs will also be available for individual download on June 14 for $1.29 each. A special “Anthology” video introduction and a 50-minute “Meet The Beatles” radio show are available for free streaming at iTunes.com/TheBeatles starting today.
“Anthology, Vols. 1-3” have been digitally remastered by the same dedicated team of engineers at EMI Music’s Abbey Road Studios responsible for remastering The Beatles’ original UK studio albums, carefully maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the original analogue recordings. The result is the highest fidelity the catalogue has seen since its original release. The collections feature original collage artwork created by Klaus Voormann from classic Beatles imagery.
Originally released in 2-CD volumes in 1995 and 1996, “Anthology”‘s three chronological collections of rare and previously unreleased Beatles recordings include studio outtakes and alternate versions. The “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love” singles, from “Anthology, Vol. 1” and “Anthology, Vol. 2,” respectively, were completed in 1995 by George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr from 1977 demos recorded by John Lennon.
Upon their original release, “Anthology, Vols. 1-3” topped charts and went multi-platinum in several countries around the world. “Free as a Bird” became The Beatles’ 34th Top 10 hit in the U.S., winning the 1996 GRAMMY Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. “Anthology, Vol. 3” includes “A Beginning,” an instrumental orchestral arrangement originally recorded for “The Beatles” (The White Album).
Last November, The Beatles’ 13 legendary remastered studio albums, a special digital “Beatles Box Set,” the two-volume “Past Masters” compilation, and the classic “1962-1966” (“Red”) and “1967-1970” (“Blue”) collections were released on iTunes worldwide as albums and individual songs. In February, The Beatles’ “LOVE” album and “All Together Now,” the feature-length documentary about the making of The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil, made their worldwide digital debuts exclusively on iTunes.
The Beatles have now sold more than eight million songs and over 1.3 million albums on iTunes worldwide.
More info and pre-order link via Apple’s iTunes Store The Beatleshere.
Source: The Beatles
Beatles’ entry into the iTunes store singlehandedly arrested the decline in sales of music turned the music industry revenues up again, after almost twenty years. Every time Beatles were mentioned on this forum (during past years), the response here has mostly been “who cares!”, until they finally went online. When they did, their sales volumes were unprecedented.
There is a very valid reason for that. Regardless of personal tastes of MDN readers, the music of Beatles stands head and shoulders above the rest of contemporary music (of second half of 20th century, up until today). Many musicologists scrutinised and analysed it to arrive to that conclusion, and the sales volumes of their music, 30 years after having recorded last track, seem to confirm those conclusions.
The Beatles are the true royalty of the pop music industry. People who put them down are just advertising their stupidity.
Some people did say, “Who cares?” I suspect that most of them were far too young to have experienced the music scene in the 1960s and early 1970s, and the incredible impact that the Beatles had during that time.
Regardless, the results support the fact that the Beatles continue to be quite popular decades later. How many bands in existence today will be able to make that claim in 40 years?
Kingmel, those who say “who cares” are at this very moment listening to “My Humps” for the 300th time, with their ‘buds crammed into their ears like corks in wine bottles. This work of musical accomplishment will no doubt be as popular in 2050 as the Beatles’ songs are today…Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.
Who cares?
My thoughts exactly.
Michael Jackson saw that potential. Too bad that Paul MacCartney refused to answer the bidding price of Beatles catalogue, even though he was the first who was offered to buy it in 1985. It looked not very graceful when after showcase of his own greediness, MacCartney wined for years about having to pay to Michael Jackson for his music.
Actually, McCartney (who is notoriously cheap) got tricked by Yoko on that one. He went to Yoko suggesting that they buy the catalogue together. Yoko said, “Great! but I think we can get the price down. Let me negotiate.” She never did. It turns out that there is a clause in the copyright law that because of Lennon’s untimely death, after a certain number of years (if forgot exactly when) Sean will get unlimited free use of the Lennon McCartney library regardless of who owns the rights.
But had Sir Paul known that, he might have bought them, even at the high price. (I say might). But it’s too late now. The catalogue is all over the place.
Still waiting for the iTunes release of other Beatle oddities such as the full version of Her Majesty or the Rarities album.
In due time. They need to milk this for all its worth first.
Some bands make great music and some go beyond and make the culture of the music. Beatles is the second type, that’s why their music is still being listened to.
There is a third type…
Those that already have the music digitized and on their iDevice and would rather split the hairs of more relevant minutiae.
“it IS relevant”, you say.
Please. Are you a coked-up record exec plotting your next genetically engineered pop-throb quasi-queer (not that there’s anything wrong with that) sensation to prop up your “all filler” industry?? No. Then what do you care about the industry and why is it relevant to the consumer? It’s not.
There will always be music with or with out the mofo
Stop wanking ado about nothing.
Ooooooh! I’m the walrus!!
The relevance of Beatles (on iTunes) to the consumer is evident from the massive sales volume that happened when they went online.
Apparently, there’s this whole generation of kids that was born and grew up after the band had already recorded their last album and performed last live gig together. These seem to prefer digital over analog, virtual over physical. And they are getting Beatles for the first time. Apparently, there are lots of them.
A 50-ish friend tells the story of a nephew who asked a few years ago, “Was Paul McCartney in any band before Wings?”
What’s the big deal about the Beatles? Who listens to them any more? I don’t know of anyone who even has a single one of their songs much less listen to that tripe.
Go to the next “Fab Four Reunion Concert” and see for yourself how well they make sweet music when they’re all on stage together. They’ll all be happy to autograph your digital copies of their songs.
How can there be a “Fab Four Reunion Concert” when half of them are dead?
Sounds like a “Four Phonies Concert” to me.
Perhaps you’re attempting satire.
I just typed “Beatles” into the search on my iTunes and found I have 225 Beatles songs. But I grew up listening to them.
Someone please explain the value in pre-ordering digital content? I mean, it’s not like there is a limited supply of electrons or that you can get it any sooner than the rest of the population.
Strange.
I liked The Beatles before they went to India and got all weird and stuff.
Instant karma didn’t get you.
He forgot to add the water…
They are my sonic gurus!
Great point!