Anthology II

Posted on 27 August 2025 by pws

Just to follow up from a previous post, there have been so many people continuing to grumble about Apple’s tactics on the release of all the Anthology stuff.

So, a few comments:

  • the extra episode of the tv series: as we mentioned, there is no stated running time for this, and it could be ten minutes. It consists of the remaining three Beatles rehearsing and recording the new songs and talking about their careers with the band. A lot of this is on the extra DVD in the box set, maybe all of it is? There will be no physical release of the series, so you cannot ‘own’ it. If you don’t have Disney+ and you do have the box set, it may well not be worth your money subscribing only to find you already have the material. But who knows?
  • Apple are trying to appeal to a new and young audience: the Anthology music series consists of rehearsals, outtakes, bloopers and so on. New Beatles’ fans will want the main albums and genuine compilations like 1+. Anthology appeals to die hard fans, completists, and Apple know it. These are the people who are being rinsed by Apple.
  • Apple are not being fair for long time and existing fans: they don’t have to be. They can do what they like. If no-one buys this stuff, or at least not enough to turn a profit, that’s their problem. If you are a fan and you already have it all, you really don’t need to buy it.
  • They should release the new songs separately: there are no new songs at all. On the CD set 4 there are 13 ‘new’ tracks which are just cobbled together different versions or part versions of things we have already have. There are some new remixes (well, two apparently) selling for £300+ on vinyl.
Posted in Music, Rant, The Beatles | 1 Comment

Anthology

Posted on 22 August 2025 by pws

It was thirty years ago that Apple brought us The Beatles’ Anthology.

This consisted of a coffee table book, a multi-part tv series and some music.

The music was in the form of three double CDs or three triple LPs.

The music was mostly alternate takes or rehearsals of known songs over the band’s career, some archive stuff and a number of live recordings.

It’s an interesting listen, but not something you would want to listen to often, and there was some complaints about the way in which it had been cobbled together and that it is somehow a bit dishonest.

No matter.

The band’s big albums, Revolver, Sgt Pepper, The Beatles and Abbey Road got big box sets, with various versions and remixes of the original album, multi-discs of extras and outtakes and a fancy book and stuff. Again, the extras are interesting but you’d maybe listen once or twice.

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Posted in Music, The Beatles | 1 Comment

Xmas is here

Posted on 20 August 2025 by pws

It’s the middle of August and, here in the UK, Xmas preparations have been on the go for some time.

Many bars and restaurants have published their Xmas menus, the same as every year of course. TV channels have been showing 24 hour Xmas films since late May.

Harrod’s bear is available.

There are no cards in the shops yet, as far as I can see, but the selection boxes are out and the toffee tins.

Hope you are well-prepared.

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