Actually, all three anthologies reached the top of the charts in the United States, and the sales were massive. Record stores could not keep up with the demand. I don’t know what was going on in the UK but in the United States, it was massive.
As I recall initial sales of Anthology 1 were pretty good, possibly even more than for Live At The BBC, but it couldn't compete with the phenomenal success of Robson & Jerome. Don't worry, it didn't make any more sense to British people at the time either.
@@Extreme_Rice my theory has always been the British take their heroes like the Beatles for granted. I think the Rolling Stones also had far more success in the United States when it came to number one.
True, but The Beatles’ posthumous singles have generally fared better in the UK. “Free As a Bird” reached No. 2 on the UK Charts in 1994, and, in 2023, “Now and Then” is still in the Top 10 in the UK Charts and spent two weeks at No. 1, although The Beatles’ “final” single only peaked at #7 in the U.S. only to plummet down somewhere to the seventies just the next week.
Anthology Volume 3 came out in 1996, so it was actually 26 years after the Beatles last recorded. So your whole point falls apart and now we've got global warming and Israel acting like fascists.
The Anthology Project was to me like reading an encyclopedia. Every single track of the albums and every single video was relevant to me. I was already married when they came out and my poor wife couldn't understand my fixation...
Before 2017, Anthology 3 (and half of 2 so far), were the treasure trove for unreleased outtakes. We didn't realize that they would become a sneak preview of the deluxe box sets to come.
Before Anthology 1, 2 & 3 were released in 1995-1996 there were some obscure bootleg recordings that you might find in some small local record stores. The Swingin' Pig Records was a notorious bootleg label that mostly released LPs and singles in the 1980s and 1990s. They had live albums like The Beatles - Ultra Rare Trax Vol. 1-6. I think one of reason to release those Anthology albums was to react and end the market for bootleg recordings. I didn't buy bootleg albums but I bought those Anthology 1-3 albums (3 x 3 LPs) when they were originally released in 1995-1996.
Back in 1987 there was a 2 hour+ Sgt Pepper documentary - 'It was 20 years ago today' - plus a Derek Taylor accompanying book. It had all surviving Beatles, many other 1967 contemporaries, a side-trip into album's context (summer of love etc) - all in all a very well produced package. As far as I know it has never had an official release in any format. That should also be rectified. If not discussed on this YT channel....
Totally LOVED the Anthology films and cds . I own all three and the BBC BEEB stuff and the DVD Anthology . Just brilliant stuff . It is 30 years old and it is very much due for an overhaul. Should contain extended interviews. Come on guys , you are missing out on some big business out here . PS I have The Anthology hard back book , which I picked up for Australian $10 . A brilliant bargain .
The Anthology CDs are a great addition to the bootleg CDs I already have. I'm fascinated by how arrangements can make or break a song. "One After 909" is a perfect example: lifeless in the 1963 version but a standout in the 1970 version. The demos and alternate versions are mere curiosities to me (but being a completist, absolutely vital to have). I prefer the final product. The real gems are "Leave My Kitten Alone" and "Real Love," the latter being much better than the draggy "Free As A Bird". At the very least, the Anthology CDs show how much work it took to produce the great-sounding Beatles songs we know and love. The effort they put into the recording process still pays off, decades later. The Beatles were so lucky to have found George Martin (and vice-versa). I feel that he kept them in line but also encouraged experimentation. He was 16 years older than Paul McCartney, and only a year younger than my mother, putting him completely out of the rock 'n' roll generation. Yet he helped capture and create the heartbeat of 1960s music. He's absolutely the Fifth Beatle to me.
I can tell you, being a young man and a musician at school in mid/late 90's, the release of the Anthology series in Australia was absolutely massive. A calendar event. Watching the series as a 3 night event on TV and purchasing the singles and main releases was so grand. To be alive and growing up during this historical music event, it rocked!!!
The anthology project is extra important to me, as that was my first exposure to the Beatles as an impressionable 11 year old . It was a huge deal when the CDs and documentary was released. Suddenly they were on my radar for the first time and I remember walking into Best Buy and seeing a huge display for the CDs My dad bought a copy of #2 and that was actually the first time hearing any Beatles (not a very typical place to start). I was instantly captivated by songs like I am the Walrus and Good Morning Good Morning. Next I grabbed the Blue Album (while visiting the Rock and Roll hall of fame) and that absolutely blew me away. Every freaking song hit so hard and it was a revelation. I think its the perfect place to start. But I always went back to the anthologies and as a musician they were an enlightening glimpse to the.songwriting process. Some of the anthology versions I still like better to this day. The Good Morning absolutely slams, its so raw and John sounds great. There's also a superior version of Cry Baby Cry with some amazing drums and bass in the second verse. Funky. Also You Know My Name Look up the Number is such a fun listen and was all but forgotten at that time.
Wow. What a fascinating story of a new generation appreciating and really listening to The Beatles. I’m sure that by now you must have listened to all of their material! You are blessed with today’s easy access to all music and video on the internet. Good for you man! What new music from then has blown your mind so far?
@@BassicVIC I absolutely very quickly immersed myself in their entire catalog of music, and it was probably the most rewarding musical discovery of my life. Every album I bought was full of new revelations. I wish I could say music of today reaches me like them. But I do appreciate me some Radiohead and I feel they also have an entire careers worth of just amazingly inspired music. And like the Beatles, you can hear them mature and grow with each album. Even their B sides are amazing.
Anthology 3 at last! I thought you had forgotten about it. Now finally we have the complete set. You know us collectors. I can sleep soundly tonight. Thank you Andrew!
This Canadian listener's reaction in 2023 is the same as it would have been if I'd heard the names in 1995: Who are Robson and Jerome? They're unknown here.
@@orbyfan Robson & Jerome are (were) a pair of British tv actors who somehow hit it big doing bland banal covers of old songs. Truly awful background department store music, showing that the British record buying public holds no bounds when it comes to buying the mundane. Not to mention all the UK radio stations were playing their drivel as well. I am a Brit by the way and they sucked big time, but every granny in the land, plus their kids (who bought it as a present for their granny) bought it. The Banana Splits theme is much more musically relevant than anything they did
Gosh. Those were the days, when tĥe Anthology came out. 🤗 Years before, the Ultra Rare Trax series and Yellow Dog releases paved the way - and the rumours didn't stop, that those were "test balloons"... I spent a fortune and half a lifetime on those. And then came BBC and Anthology. And Apple, again, fiddled with the tracks... the purists' heart will never come to rest... Thanks for your great reviews
I'd be happy for an expanded _Anthology_ on Blu-Ray. I was a media supervisor at Best Buy in the mid 90's and was proud to host a midnight sale for the _Anthology_ CDs back in the day. Also got some nice promo material, some of which was sadly destroyed many years later when my roof leaked.
The Anthology 1 release was the only time I went to buy a CD at midnight when it was first released. I was so excited I rushed home to play it and discovered my sealed set contained two copies of disc 1 and no copy of disc 2. I waited until the next day to exchange my set.
I attended a midnight sale for Anthology 2 at the Best Buy in Arlington Heights, I'll. It was exciting as the doors opened and we heard 'Real Love' playing over the store's speakers. So now, I can tell my grandchildren, "I stood in line for The Beatles!"
As a second-generation Beatles fan, the release of the Anthology series back in the 90s when I was a teenager was a first for me, when not just one, but two new Beatles songs were released in Free As A Bird and Real Love. Prior to that, I already had in my collection, several Beatles vinyl records, the cassette box set, the Red and Blue albums also in cassette, but when the Live at the BBC album came out, the inner-Beatlemaniac in me had to get it too and I did!
The Anthology 3 version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps you mentioned is outstanding. My favourite version of the song, you really get to hear the stunning chord change into the chorus. Thanks for highlighting it.
An extraordinary album! John's Esher demo of Happiness is a Warm Gun, George's acoustic studio demo of While My Guitar Gently Weeps is awesome and the Long and Winding Road without the orchestra. Ringo's great drumming too. What a treat!!! Got it on cd and record 😊
I may be way wrong in this, but IMO I think the 1993 release of The Beach Boys' 5-disc Good Vibrations set, with all the unreleased stuff, alternate takes, live tracks, etc was perhaps one of the factors that motivated the surviving Beatles & EMI to finally put out what became the Anthology series.
Actually it was a set of Beatles bootleg CD boxes called Artifacts I, II, and III, in 1993 and 1994 that prompted the Beatles Anthology releases. These boxes were wildly popular and in fact, EMI/Capitol used the exact same format, mixing live records, outtakes, overdub sessions, demos, and radio broadcasts.
I totally appreciate what the Beach boys did or more like Brian Wilson arranged the massive production with Petsounds and Smile.. But the Strength of the Beatles ..surpasses anything .I include all the post Beatles with that ..Noone will ever come near that ..and the way the Music Scene is today .remaking of all music is like all we have to look forward to ..in my own personal Opinion..I'm sure there's some that agree with me..
Oh I love The Beatles anthology I watched it ever since I was little. My dad recorded it on VCR. Then few years later we got the DVDS. And watching them taking about their early life, their music, their tour. And more important their friendship really inspired me and it touched my heart. 🇬🇧🎸🎸🎸🥁🎵🎶❤️💙🎥
At my age (60) the Anthology releases seem like an event that happened only a few months ago! It's strange to think it's actually 28 years ago and, that same time span before that, The Beatles released Sgt Pepper! Thanks Andrew for another interesting and informative video.
Bought the 3 anthology cds in the 90s dug them out recently and they sound fab now as when i first bought them as there was only talking and outtakes on them, but after watching the get back film made me appreciate them even more
I can remember the goosebumps I got listening to those four releases (BBC and the Anthology series). I had been a Beatlemaniac for eight years by then, and I had never listened to any bootlegs. It was a huge impact to me.
Remember getting this for Christmas 96 along with my Panasonic portable cd player and excitedly playing it to hear what the new single would be to open the album …and then being confused haha. I’ve still got the CD, fond memories.
I'm not sure about the rest of the world, but initially, Anthology was shown as a 3 part special in Australia. Then the 8 episode version was released on home media as an extended version. There was a later, rerun version which was 5 episodes too.
I'm really hoping for a version of both "Real Love" and "Free as a Bird" with the new demix technology used to improve on John's contributions to those tracks. Of the three post 1990 Beatles songs, "Real Love" is far and away my favorite. It's surprising to me that "Free as a Bird" did better, I was around at the time and bought all three Anthology volumes, but I didn't follow the charts that closely I guess.
In 1995 Oasis were THE band of the year (if not decade) in the UK (although just one of many bands to the rest of the world - as Britpop thing didn't really travel) - and Free as a Bird - back in 1995 - sounds like the Beatles sounding like Oasis....sounding like the Beatles. And on that basis was the obvious single to lead the Anthology campaign with - although I agree that the catchier Real Love is probably the better song. It's also worth pointing out in defence of FAAB that of the three tracks, it's the one with whole band involvement in its development (thanks to Paul's middle section),- whereas both the other two are closer to John Lennon solo pieces (which, after all, is what they started out as) with Beatle backing. And add my vote for a remix of both of them utilising the new AI demixing tech that was applied to John's vocals for Now and Then.
There is a superb fan mixed Free as a Bird using AI to extract John's vocal on YT. Worth seeking out. It sounds more natural than the released version.
Here in Mexico both Free as a Bird and Real Love had great success thanks to an hour radio show dedicated to The Beatles from Monday to Friday on a radio station called Universal Stereo
After having an only causal interest in The Beatles as a kid, Anthology 1 (and the then newly released on CD Red and Blue albums) served as my reintroduction to The Beatles and the beginning of my real interest in their music.
The Anthology albums may be redundant because of the archive box sets we’ve been getting over the past several years. However, if we get expanded editions of the three anthology albums, I’ll definitely buy them. Why? Because it’s The Beatles.
As a 3rd generation fan (I was 15 when it was first released), the Anthology project struck me like a lightning bolt. The albums, the “new” songs, the marvelous book and especially the TV series sent me into some kind of dream that I thankfully never woke up from. The Beatles are the reason why I’m a musician. The Anthology albums are like an audio time machine. Stuff like the backing vocals in Can’t Buy Me Love (which never made it into the final cut) and the ‘somehow or someway’ extension in the chorus of Got to Get You Into My Life are simply always present in the original songs when I hear them. The extremely spontaneous if not poignant version of And Your Bird Can Sing is unforgettable. You can feel their happiness and also an eerie feeling as well as John always instilled in everything he did. Everything about those albums is pure magic and I’m so thankful they existed at that point in time. This Beatles revival is once again a glimpse into the past with the beautiful Now and Then and making me nostalgic about when I first got into them. It’s crazy that it’s been more time between now and then (1995) than it’s been between then and the end of the Beatles in 1970. It kinda scares me that time is passing so fast. I hope there’s Beatles music in heaven when I’m finally gone.
Mine too - the alternate takes and demos from The White Album, the unadorned Long And Winding Road, an early take for Maxwell’s Silver Hammer and Paul’s superb demo for Come And Get It are highlights for me.
My favourite Anthology volume too, and 2 in 2nd and my least favorite is 1, only for Free as a Bird and the early tapes, to much live recordings and little takes from Please Please Me to For Sale, actually no one take from With The Beatles
Many happy memories of listening to this album on Christmas Day 1996 after my mum bought me a copy. I remember listening to every track chained to the CD player and played 'Come and Get It' repeatedly. My only disappointment was the lack of reunion opening track which should've been on this album,. Maybe if they do an expanded deluxe edition that might correct it . I still agree with you that the proposed ending for the Video Series should've been used instead of Pauls wink to the camera and I am amazed that despite the super deluxe box sets we get, the Anthology CDs have takes and mixes that are exclusive. To this day they're essential to any Beatles collection. Your channel is vital to our churning of nostalgia. Really enjoy catching this vids on a Sun nite 👍
This is my favorite part of The Beatles Anthology. I was able to find a European first pressing 10 years ago. When this album plays at home it is always a very special occasion as it brings me back to the 90s when I was getting into the group's music deeply.
I only bought the CDs when they came out because, like many people at that time, I was buying mainly CDs at that point and very little vinyl. I did recently get all three Anthology DeAgostini vinyls for just £50 which I think is pretty good value for 9 discs. I'm glad I still kept all my vinyl that I had bought prior to my CD period as a lot of my friends got rid of all theirs and have had to start again from scratch.
Thanks for the video. I really enjoyed Anth 3 at its original release and still today. I rewatch the TV episodes every few years. In the US the Anthology TV and album releases were quite heavily marketed and, given the near non-existence of the internet, generated quite a buzz. Funny that, even with the success of Dylan's Biograph and Bootleg 1-3, that Apple took so long to believe there was a market for these rare tracks. Also...I will be addiing "Granny pleasing" to as many conversations that I can! 😂
Nice one as always, Andrew.I think a revamped and expanded Anthology Highlights album would warrant a release with a few additions such as seriously mixed versions of Lady Madonna, Leave My Kitten Alone, And Your Bird Can Sing and Penny Lane. Some of the earlier tracks could be cleaned up with stereo versions of the Polydor tracks and an extra CD of Live material sourced from US stereo FM broadcasts mixed as a single concert would demonstrate that they were a brilliant live act.
Anthology 3 was released on 28 October 1996 which was my last day of a 6 week UK holiday. I bought it at Tesco’s at Doncaster that morning, then in the afternoon got a bus to Heathrow and flew back to Australia via Hong Kong that night.
I have all three of the Anthology albums. I also have my own homemade version of The Beatles complete set of songs and extras, from Love Me Do to Now and Then, which I bought for a dollar and a half on Amazon. I'm happy with what I have!
The 2023 red and blue albums of which I own on cd are by far to me the best collection of Beatles songs on any other best of release. I think the new track listing is superb for anyone not wanting to buy the entire collection of albums and wanting the Beatles experience. I absolutely love it and didn't expect to when I heard rumor of the planned release. I think it was genius of Apple to do this.
I was pretty young when the Anthologies came out and cemented me as a Beatles Fan. Neither of my parents were really fans so it was something I came into all my own. The TV series and the first album were crucial to me. Anthology 2 less so but still enjoyed. Funny enough I passed on Anthology 3 for a long time and never gave it a listen until around 2008-9. Not Guilty and Junk were the standouts for me actually. Much of the rest I found myself wanting the album versions. Great video as usual, Andrew!
Would love to see a revamped box set of the Anthology, there must be opportunity to improve especially some of the earlier recordings with the MAL software.
I am proudly of the anthology generation, I was 13 years old when the first volume came out and although I heard The Beatles for the first time on a cassette of 20 greatest hits, The Beatles anthology was my first real encounter with Beatlemania until today , thanks Andrew.
Another fab video. So true that Now and Then should have been on this. I suppose sales will be higher with a greatest hits repackaging than re-releasing the anthology albums. I still hope we see the anthology re-released someday! And the video series should certainly be updated and cleaned up!
Nice - it was a good time to be a Beatles fan during the Anthology series of releases. It’s a shame they didn’t think to make an Vol.4 release with the Now and Then single, unused footage, new footage and compile a brand new compilation covering the Beatles from start to finish and saved red and blue for another re-release.
Thanks for this great post on anthology three. My brother had this album growing up, but the twin cassette tape version. It was our introduction to the Beatles along with our Mum’s copy of the white album from ‘68. The LP still plays, the cassettes got chewed up years ago sadly. Long live vinyl records!
I'm a 2nd generation fan, too, and the Anthology project was quite a treat to me back then, I remember. Thanks for your utterly interesting video, Andrew. Ciao.
You're spot on about it being a gateway. I was 11 in 1995, and the Anthology TV series was my first real exposure to The Beatles. I taped the episodes off TV and watched them over and over. I also started getting their albums out of the local library (which still just about had a vinyl section). My uncle gave me some original LPs and 45s, and I started finding stuff in charity shops... Never looked back.
Truth be told, Anthology 3 is my absolute favorite of the three releases as it chronicles my favorite era of the group. Your show is absolutely excellent, my friend!!!
Excellent Andrew. I remember the Saturday in November. (23rd I looked it up) It felt like forever for the 3rd to be released. It was and still is my favourite. Even without Now and then. The January 69 material is still my favourite parts.
Still remember receiving all my Anthology I/II/III UK-pressed vinyl copies from the now-defunct Music Machine Record Store in Maryland - I think it finally folded around 2001. Really miss that store...
There’s been nothing as in depth and informative as this channel EVER! The research and analysis into every aspect of each feature is second to none. Well done Andrew and co.
Great video Andrew. I remember in High School hearing that the record companies planned to release new material with a tease about the song "Leave My Kitten Alone" and a Ringo song ("If You've Got Troubles.") By the time I graduated in 1983, I figured what remained was really substandard or embarrassing. I figured they made a wise decision not to release a song about a 'threatened kitten' to preserve the legacy - the band went out on top with Abbey Road. The Anthology Series hit at just the right time. I had discovered other music after burnout from the original canon and even what was available on uhhh ehmm... unofficial releases. Even the solo work seemed to be winding down. I only recall McCartney actually creating new content that did not interest me. I quit purchasing his solo material after Tug of War. Following release, I felt that (or was told that) Anthology was the 'best of the best' remaining in the Apple Corps vaults, including both the audio and video. I trusted the editing process and enjoyed hearing some official releases of unofficial material I had collected over the years. What I believe now, especially after the release of Peter Jackson's "Get Back" and 50th anniversary material is that the vaults are still overflowing with captivating content. The dream scenario would be for a weekly reality television series called "The Beatles." I think they have enough content to be that fly on the wall and create hundreds of hours of material to keep us entertained for years.
As a fan, the release of the Anthology CDs was a blessing, but I wonder how it managed to sell so well to a wider audience. I'm not sure all buyers knew they were buying mostly unfinished recordings and alternative takes. Were they disappointed ? Number 3 was my favorite. Number 2 had a lot of bass parts missing unfortunately, because Paul used to overdub them later during the Pepper era. I wish the mastering was as good on subsequent Beatles releases.
Andrew , Thank you again for another Great Video - yes it always seemed Strange to me that this one had no NEW song on it like the other 2 - and i am glad that Now and Then was not just added to it and then and re released - i would have liked it to be on an album of all the BRITISH A Sides
Man, I remember when the Anthology came out. I was in middle school and it was a huge event in our family. My parents are musicians and big fans of the Beatles in particular and I grew up on Beatles music. I was already a super fan even though I was considered 'young' to be a Beatles fan. But I even remember people in my class talking about it and feeling like my moment had finally come, haha. We had the CD set (and the video tapes) and I fell in LOVE with Anthology 3. So many amazing songs I was introduced to - Junk, Teddy Boy, All Things Must Pass, Come and Get It, some of the alternate versions of things like Sexy Sadie, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Something....at the time I thought a lot of the stuff on Anthology 1/2 was fun, but not necessary but Anthology 3 got a LOT of play for me just as a legit album and I still consider the version of All Things Must Pass on there as the best version. (That said, now I'm really starting to appreciate Anthology 1 a lot more as I dig into some of those old demos, especially as I've started to get into other bands' collections of demos and alternate takes.).
I own all tree sets on vinyl and has always regarded no. 3 as the best one. Very interesting things on no. 1 and 2 with work in progress moments and all that, but no. 3 seems to give more of an impression of a cohesive, genuine album. Fun fact as it’s really the most manipulated of the tree parts... I’m a second generation Beatles fan (-born 1959) and was in my mid 30’s when this was released. From my point of view (-Denmark) it was my impression that a lot of younger people didn’t really get the intention behind the release. They thought it was kind of a Greatest Hits release and therefore were kind of lukewarm listening to all those work-in-progress tracks and newly discovered tracks that had never been intended to be a hit in the first place. As if they thought: “Hey, is this really what all the fuss is about with The Beatles...?” Think we more or less missed a generation there, they went back to listening to their Brit Pop and whatever... Nevertheless, the albums sold very good to the Beatles fan generation 1,2 and 3. But it was more for people that were Beatles fans already.
Andrew, as a lifelong Beatles fan, I love your video presentations. Very well researched and in depth. Tonight I watched your video on “She Loves You”. As a 13 year old fan living in the Newcastle area back then, I was hugely disappointed not to be able to get a ticket to see them at The City Hall in Newcastle in the spring of ‘63! No matter. When “She Loves You” was released it was a seminal experience for me. My dad was a music fan and had introduced me to Elvis, Kittle Richard, Fats Domino and Duane Eddy. But nothing prepared me for the astonishing sound of this record. As much as I loved the song, I loved the sound. It practically jumped out of the speakers on my Dansette. Then I watched the video on The Anthology. I have both the original CD’s and thecDVD’s which I still listen to and watch. However, my main reason for commenting is that, by the mid 90’s my wife Susan and I opened the first computerised post production studio in the North East in Newcastle. Incidentally we were 200 yards away from what was The Majestic where The Beatles played their first ever Newcastle gig. We knew both Geoff Wonfor and Andy Matthews, director and editor respectively of the Anthology series. They came to see us in early 1997. They had a new project which was “In the world tonight” the making of Paul’s “Flaming Pie” album. There is too much to tell you here but suffice to say it was an incredible experience for us. I don’t know if you’ve done a video on Flaming Pie. If do, let me know. If not, it would be fun to see one! All the best. 19:02
Thanks for your kind reply! I look forward to the video on “Flaming Pie”. One of my enduring memories of making “In the World Tonight” was listening to “beautiful Night” blasting around our studios while Geoff and Andy crested the video sequence for the end of the show. When it was finished we all gathered in the edit suite, turned it up to 11 and watched it play. It’s a fabulous sequence and a brilliant Macca song. Pure magic!!!
Thanks, Andrew for another fine video. I think Apple should hire you to update the 3 Anthologies, and to work on a #4 as well. They should also hire you to "check out" their archives.
Another very enjoyable video Andrew!! I bought Anthology 2 & 3 when they first came out - & enjoyed both very much. The highlight for me was the "Indian" version of "Across The Universe" - which for me - far exceeds any other version!! I have since remixed it with better balance & centered vocal.
A very enjoyable presentation of the Anthology albums, Andrew! I personally enjoy Anthology 2 the best out of all the three LPs, mainly because of the early, unadorned Sgt Pepper tracks!
With every video I'm learning more and more and more. And I see how many records are still missing in my collection (which I cleaned completly with my Knosti machine yesterday). Thanks Andrew! For your work and the entertaining results. See you --->>> Martin
Great video as always Andrew. Anthology 3 is indeed an essential for any Beatles collection. I was always disappointed with how it concluded, the manipulation of ‘that’ chord always seemed like one tinker too much to me. So fascinating to hear that a more organic ending was once in the works
Excellent! Really enjoyed this episode and actually my favourite of the anthology albums. I’ve also got the deagostini issue (of all 3 anthology sets),very good quality and reasonably priced too. I just hope apple leave this as it was,it’s just perfect,no need for a remix/reissue,also the original cd’s (in their ‘fatbox’ cases) are quite easy to buy second hand if you’ve not already got them.
That was a fascinatig video! Being somewhat of a completist, I'm glad you finally found the time to shed some light on Anthology 3. Haven't played the two discs in ages but will take care of that the next few days.
You waiting to do this episode until now almost makes me believe you knew that NOW AND THEN was coming...LOL. Somehow, waiting to do this episode now worked perfectly! Keep up the great work!
Loved the entire series but Anthology 1 blew me away. It reminded me just how good the early Beatles material is. And the live cuts from Sweden reminded the world that the Beatles could rock with the best of them in their touring prime. I also felt it was a class move to include some Pete Best material. He deserves the recognition and compensation for his contribution to Beatles history.
Yet another informative and interesting video. I always like the grainy and scratchy retro titles at the end. I agree that the Anthology series is essential listening for any Beatles fan, or for anyone simply interested in hearing the development of songs. I particularly like the Revolver box set, the way we can hear many different steps in the development of songs. I hope that Apple Corps will release a similar Rubber Soul set.
Genial ! sigo hace tiempo tu canal, me encanta tu contenido soy un gran fanático de The Beatles desde los 8 años (tengo 34 ahora) y fué con las antologías que comencé mi fanatismo por ellos! a medida de lo posible me puedo comprar algún CD o vinilo de ellos, soy un fan de clase trabajadora, muchos saludos desde Chile! Latinoamérica !
The Anthology series were my first Beatles records and what introduced me to their music. I was just starting college and wanted to experience 1960s music. I loved them so much and instantly made me a fan. I bought the Red and Blue albums a couple of years later and they sounded weird to me because I kept comparing the songs to the Anthology versions.
Another excellent episode! A great mix of entertainment and archival information. The Anthology project, along with the BBC releases, began the Beatleg phase of my lifelong fascination with The Beatles. The out-takes have an informal energy that make me feel like I'm there in the recording studio, and this is what keeps me buying the new releases. I have to admit that "Free as a Bird," "Real Love," and "Now and Then" don't resonate with me as much as recordings that were done when The Beatles were still together. I enjoy these songs in their video format as the visuals elicit an emotional response, but listening to them on their own doesn't do it for me. Peter Jackson's comments are interesting. With the advances made in AI, CGI, and holographic technology I would imagine that it will eventually be possible to use photographs taken in the studio to provide visual interpretations of original recording sessions of Beatles albums. Imagine feeling like a fly on the wall for the one and only take of "Twist & Shout" from the Please, Please Me sessions!
I remember the anthologies as if they were released just yesterday. I can remember the exact moment I purchased the anthology CD’s and watching the TV shows. There was so much excitement in the air. Time went by so fast. The highlight of volume 3 for me was Come Together which had John’s raw raspy voice and a few mock vocals.
I still need a DVD copy of Anthology. In the States, it aired on ABC in a truncated form over three nights (content basically matched the three albums). It aired twice and I taped it the second time. But I would love to revisit it and see what I missed out on.
Anthology 3 might have been my favorite of the trio. And ‘Now and Than’ as the lead track would only have made it better. The Anthology CD’s did very well on first release in the US, they could be hard to find. Great review, I’m inspired to listened to it now.
Did you hear that Apple? Andrew from Parlogram is very happy to lend a hand to any future Beatles related products. He knows his stuff you know.
Actually, all three anthologies reached the top of the charts in the United States, and the sales were massive. Record stores could not keep up with the demand. I don’t know what was going on in the UK but in the United States, it was massive.
I agree it was massive in the states. We been starving for anything from them!
Agree 100 percent. The anthology was huge.
As I recall initial sales of Anthology 1 were pretty good, possibly even more than for Live At The BBC, but it couldn't compete with the phenomenal success of Robson & Jerome.
Don't worry, it didn't make any more sense to British people at the time either.
@@Extreme_Rice my theory has always been the British take their heroes like the Beatles for granted. I think the Rolling Stones also had far more success in the United States when it came to number one.
True, but The Beatles’ posthumous singles have generally fared better in the UK. “Free As a Bird” reached No. 2 on the UK Charts in 1994, and, in 2023, “Now and Then” is still in the Top 10 in the UK Charts and spent two weeks at No. 1, although The Beatles’ “final” single only peaked at #7 in the U.S. only to plummet down somewhere to the seventies just the next week.
Anthology came out around 27 years after the last of these tracks were recorded
And now it's 27 years later.
Suddenly I feel old...
well, you’re in good company
I wishing was 27 again.....😂 lol
Anthology Volume 3 came out in 1996, so it was actually 26 years after the Beatles last recorded.
So your whole point falls apart and now we've got global warming and Israel acting like fascists.
@@SpaceCattttt Way to ruin the mood
@@zekeoso Don't be so moody.
As soon as “Now and Then” dropped I put it in a playlist with the Anthology 3 tracks.
The Anthology Project was to me like reading an encyclopedia. Every single track of the albums and every single video was relevant to me. I was already married when they came out and my poor wife couldn't understand my fixation...
Before 2017, Anthology 3 (and half of 2 so far), were the treasure trove for unreleased outtakes. We didn't realize that they would become a sneak preview of the deluxe box sets to come.
It sure was, if only Giles avoided including so many duplicate takes, though. I didn’t really want the same takes already found, elsewhere.
Before Anthology 1, 2 & 3 were released in 1995-1996 there were some obscure bootleg recordings that you might find in some small local record stores. The Swingin' Pig Records was a notorious bootleg label that mostly released LPs and singles in the 1980s and 1990s. They had live albums like The Beatles - Ultra Rare Trax Vol. 1-6. I think one of reason to release those Anthology albums was to react and end the market for bootleg recordings.
I didn't buy bootleg albums but I bought those Anthology 1-3 albums (3 x 3 LPs) when they were originally released in 1995-1996.
Can't believe anthology is almost 30 years old
I agree Andrew. I believe that The Anthology documentary series should be remixed and remastered into blu ray and 4k. It's long overdue.
Back in 1987 there was a 2 hour+ Sgt Pepper documentary - 'It was 20 years ago today' - plus a Derek Taylor accompanying book. It had all surviving Beatles, many other 1967 contemporaries, a side-trip into album's context (summer of love etc) - all in all a very well produced package. As far as I know it has never had an official release in any format. That should also be rectified. If not discussed on this YT channel....
Totally LOVED the Anthology films and cds . I own all three and the BBC BEEB stuff and the DVD Anthology .
Just brilliant stuff .
It is 30 years old and it is very much due for an overhaul.
Should contain extended interviews.
Come on guys , you are missing out on some big business out here .
PS I have The Anthology hard back book , which I picked up for Australian $10 .
A brilliant bargain .
The Anthology CDs are a great addition to the bootleg CDs I already have. I'm fascinated by how arrangements can make or break a song. "One After 909" is a perfect example: lifeless in the 1963 version but a standout in the 1970 version. The demos and alternate versions are mere curiosities to me (but being a completist, absolutely vital to have). I prefer the final product. The real gems are "Leave My Kitten Alone" and "Real Love," the latter being much better than the draggy "Free As A Bird".
At the very least, the Anthology CDs show how much work it took to produce the great-sounding Beatles songs we know and love. The effort they put into the recording process still pays off, decades later. The Beatles were so lucky to have found George Martin (and vice-versa). I feel that he kept them in line but also encouraged experimentation. He was 16 years older than Paul McCartney, and only a year younger than my mother, putting him completely out of the rock 'n' roll generation. Yet he helped capture and create the heartbeat of 1960s music. He's absolutely the Fifth Beatle to me.
I can tell you, being a young man and a musician at school in mid/late 90's, the release of the Anthology series in Australia was absolutely massive. A calendar event. Watching the series as a 3 night event on TV and purchasing the singles and main releases was so grand. To be alive and growing up during this historical music event, it rocked!!!
The anthology project is extra important to me, as that was my first exposure to the Beatles as an impressionable 11 year old . It was a huge deal when the CDs and documentary was released. Suddenly they were on my radar for the first time and I remember walking into Best Buy and seeing a huge display for the CDs My dad bought a copy of #2 and that was actually the first time hearing any Beatles (not a very typical place to start). I was instantly captivated by songs like I am the Walrus and Good Morning Good Morning. Next I grabbed the Blue Album (while visiting the Rock and Roll hall of fame) and that absolutely blew me away. Every freaking song hit so hard and it was a revelation. I think its the perfect place to start. But I always went back to the anthologies and as a musician they were an enlightening glimpse to the.songwriting process. Some of the anthology versions I still like better to this day. The Good Morning absolutely slams, its so raw and John sounds great. There's also a superior version of Cry Baby Cry with some amazing drums and bass in the second verse. Funky. Also You Know My Name Look up the Number is such a fun listen and was all but forgotten at that time.
Wow. What a fascinating story of a new generation appreciating and really listening to The Beatles. I’m sure that by now you must have listened to all of their material! You are blessed with today’s easy access to all music and video on the internet. Good for you man! What new music from then has blown your mind so far?
@@BassicVIC I absolutely very quickly immersed myself in their entire catalog of music, and it was probably the most rewarding musical discovery of my life. Every album I bought was full of new revelations. I wish I could say music of today reaches me like them. But I do appreciate me some Radiohead and I feel they also have an entire careers worth of just amazingly inspired music. And like the Beatles, you can hear them mature and grow with each album. Even their B sides are amazing.
Anthology 3 at last! I thought you had forgotten about it. Now finally we have the complete set. You know us collectors. I can sleep soundly tonight. Thank you Andrew!
Cheers Steve!
Your continual and barely concealed contempt for Robson & Jerome never fails to make me smile.
This Canadian listener's reaction in 2023 is the same as it would have been if I'd heard the names in 1995: Who are Robson and Jerome? They're unknown here.
TIL Robson Green of Grantchester was a 90s pop singer!? 😂
@@orbyfan Robson & Jerome are (were) a pair of British tv actors who somehow hit it big doing bland banal covers of old songs. Truly awful background department store music, showing that the British record buying public holds no bounds when it comes to buying the mundane. Not to mention all the UK radio stations were playing their drivel as well. I am a Brit by the way and they sucked big time, but every granny in the land, plus their kids (who bought it as a present for their granny) bought it. The Banana Splits theme is much more musically relevant than anything they did
@@moreheff Thanks for the info; I'm not sorry I missed them.
Yes!
Gosh. Those were the days, when tĥe Anthology came out. 🤗 Years before, the Ultra Rare Trax series and Yellow Dog releases paved the way - and the rumours didn't stop, that those were "test balloons"...
I spent a fortune and half a lifetime on those. And then came BBC and Anthology. And Apple, again, fiddled with the tracks... the purists' heart will never come to rest...
Thanks for your great reviews
Thanks for watching!
I'd be happy for an expanded _Anthology_ on Blu-Ray. I was a media supervisor at Best Buy in the mid 90's and was proud to host a midnight sale for the _Anthology_ CDs back in the day. Also got some nice promo material, some of which was sadly destroyed many years later when my roof leaked.
The Anthology 1 release was the only time I went to buy a CD at midnight when it was first released. I was so excited I rushed home to play it and discovered my sealed set contained two copies of disc 1 and no copy of disc 2. I waited until the next day to exchange my set.
I bought both Anthology 3 and Toy Story VHS on the same midnight sale!
I attended a midnight sale for Anthology 2 at the Best Buy in Arlington Heights, I'll. It was exciting as the doors opened and we heard 'Real Love' playing over the store's speakers. So now, I can tell my grandchildren, "I stood in line for The Beatles!"
Omg...that's right...I remember the midnight sales....it was just like a private Beatles fan club....that's when Best Buy was cool..imo...
Same. Went to Borders book store, won a framed poster and waited until midnight.
been bingeing on Parlogram lately
As a second-generation Beatles fan, the release of the Anthology series back in the 90s when I was a teenager was a first for me, when not just one, but two new Beatles songs were released in Free As A Bird and Real Love. Prior to that, I already had in my collection, several Beatles vinyl records, the cassette box set, the Red and Blue albums also in cassette, but when the Live at the BBC album came out, the inner-Beatlemaniac in me had to get it too and I did!
Same. I was 19 and knowing the Beatles were about to release all this material and new songs I couldn't wait.
Wouldn't that make a third generation fan?
*you
I was 13 when anthology debuted on television in November 1995.
It changed everything for me and I’ve never recovered.
The Anthology 3 version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps you mentioned is outstanding. My favourite version of the song, you really get to hear the stunning chord change into the chorus. Thanks for highlighting it.
An extraordinary album! John's Esher demo of Happiness is a Warm Gun, George's
acoustic studio demo of While My Guitar Gently Weeps is awesome and the Long and Winding Road without the orchestra. Ringo's great drumming too. What a treat!!! Got it on cd and record 😊
I may be way wrong in this, but IMO I think the 1993 release of The Beach Boys' 5-disc Good Vibrations set, with all the unreleased stuff, alternate takes, live tracks, etc was perhaps one of the factors that motivated the surviving Beatles & EMI to finally put out what became the Anthology series.
Actually it was a set of Beatles bootleg CD boxes called Artifacts I, II, and III, in 1993 and 1994 that prompted the Beatles Anthology releases. These boxes were wildly popular and in fact, EMI/Capitol used the exact same format, mixing live records, outtakes, overdub sessions, demos, and radio broadcasts.
I totally appreciate what the Beach boys did or more like Brian Wilson arranged the massive production with Petsounds and Smile.. But the Strength of the Beatles ..surpasses anything .I include all the post Beatles with that ..Noone will ever come near that ..and the way the Music Scene is today .remaking of all music is like all we have to look forward to ..in my own personal Opinion..I'm sure there's some that agree with me..
@@jpreza i bought them, in Luxemburg, in a tiny shop.
Oh I love The Beatles anthology I watched it ever since I was little. My dad recorded it on VCR. Then few years later we got the DVDS. And watching them taking about their early life, their music, their tour. And more important their friendship really inspired me and it touched my heart. 🇬🇧🎸🎸🎸🥁🎵🎶❤️💙🎥
At my age (60) the Anthology releases seem like an event that happened only a few months ago! It's strange to think it's actually 28 years ago and, that same time span before that, The Beatles released Sgt Pepper! Thanks Andrew for another interesting and informative video.
Thanks for watching, Glenn!
That track listing with its fully justified word spacing is so 90s.
Bought the 3 anthology cds in the 90s dug them out recently and they sound fab now as when i first bought them as there was only talking and outtakes on them, but after watching the get back film made me appreciate them even more
I can remember the goosebumps I got listening to those four releases (BBC and the Anthology series). I had been a Beatlemaniac for eight years by then, and I had never listened to any bootlegs. It was a huge impact to me.
Remember getting this for Christmas 96 along with my Panasonic portable cd player and excitedly playing it to hear what the new single would be to open the album …and then being confused haha. I’ve still got the CD, fond memories.
Across the Universe on Anth 3 is life affirming. Absolutely gorgeous.
That was on Anthology II, actually, closing it
I'm not sure about the rest of the world, but initially, Anthology was shown as a 3 part special in Australia. Then the 8 episode version was released on home media as an extended version. There was a later, rerun version which was 5 episodes too.
I'm really hoping for a version of both "Real Love" and "Free as a Bird" with the new demix technology used to improve on John's contributions to those tracks.
Of the three post 1990 Beatles songs, "Real Love" is far and away my favorite. It's surprising to me that "Free as a Bird" did better, I was around at the time and bought all three Anthology volumes, but I didn't follow the charts that closely I guess.
I would love to have those redone so they don’t sound like The BeatELOs.
@@videoplusdvd I hear you. It didn’t bug me that much, but it was certainly noticeable.
In 1995 Oasis were THE band of the year (if not decade) in the UK (although just one of many bands to the rest of the world - as Britpop thing didn't really travel) - and Free as a Bird - back in 1995 - sounds like the Beatles sounding like Oasis....sounding like the Beatles. And on that basis was the obvious single to lead the Anthology campaign with - although I agree that the catchier Real Love is probably the better song. It's also worth pointing out in defence of FAAB that of the three tracks, it's the one with whole band involvement in its development (thanks to Paul's middle section),- whereas both the other two are closer to John Lennon solo pieces (which, after all, is what they started out as) with Beatle backing.
And add my vote for a remix of both of them utilising the new AI demixing tech that was applied to John's vocals for Now and Then.
There is a superb fan mixed Free as a Bird using AI to extract John's vocal on YT. Worth seeking out. It sounds more natural than the released version.
Here in Mexico both Free as a Bird and Real Love had great success thanks to an hour radio show dedicated to The Beatles from Monday to Friday on a radio station called Universal Stereo
After having an only causal interest in The Beatles as a kid, Anthology 1 (and the then newly released on CD Red and Blue albums) served as my reintroduction to The Beatles and the beginning of my real interest in their music.
The Anthology albums may be redundant because of the archive box sets we’ve been getting over the past several years. However, if we get expanded editions of the three anthology albums, I’ll definitely buy them. Why? Because it’s The Beatles.
Thought Anthology 1 a bit underwhelming but 2 & 3 are great As always great job Andrew!
As a 3rd generation fan (I was 15 when it was first released), the Anthology project struck me like a lightning bolt. The albums, the “new” songs, the marvelous book and especially the TV series sent me into some kind of dream that I thankfully never woke up from. The Beatles are the reason why I’m a musician. The Anthology albums are like an audio time machine.
Stuff like the backing vocals in Can’t Buy Me Love (which never made it into the final cut) and the ‘somehow or someway’ extension in the chorus of Got to Get You Into My Life are simply always present in the original songs when I hear them.
The extremely spontaneous if not poignant version of And Your Bird Can Sing is unforgettable. You can feel their happiness and also an eerie feeling as well as John always instilled in everything he did.
Everything about those albums is pure magic and I’m so thankful they existed at that point in time.
This Beatles revival is once again a glimpse into the past with the beautiful Now and Then and making me nostalgic about when I first got into them.
It’s crazy that it’s been more time between now and then (1995) than it’s been between then and the end of the Beatles in 1970. It kinda scares me that time is passing so fast. I hope there’s Beatles music in heaven when I’m finally gone.
This was always my favorite of the three Anthology releases.
Mine too - the alternate takes and demos from The White Album, the unadorned Long And Winding Road, an early take for Maxwell’s Silver Hammer and Paul’s superb demo for Come And Get It are highlights for me.
First is my favorite.
Funny that this was my least favourite because I'm bit embarrassed to say this I don't want to sound weird but because 'Now And Then' wasn't on it.
Yeah, same. Seemed like a big deal at the time, I remember it being promoted heavily
My favourite Anthology volume too, and 2 in 2nd and my least favorite is 1, only for Free as a Bird and the early tapes, to much live recordings and little takes from Please Please Me to For Sale, actually no one take from With The Beatles
Many happy memories of listening to this album on Christmas Day 1996 after my mum bought me a copy. I remember listening to every track chained to the CD player and played 'Come and Get It' repeatedly. My only disappointment was the lack of reunion opening track which should've been on this album,. Maybe if they do an expanded deluxe edition that might correct it . I still agree with you that the proposed ending for the Video Series should've been used instead of Pauls wink to the camera and I am amazed that despite the super deluxe box sets we get, the Anthology CDs have takes and mixes that are exclusive. To this day they're essential to any Beatles collection. Your channel is vital to our churning of nostalgia. Really enjoy catching this vids on a Sun nite 👍
Thank you for watching, Sir 👍
Great video as always Andrew. I think it's time for me to dig out my anthology cds and give them a listen again. It's been a good while.
This is my favorite part of The Beatles Anthology. I was able to find a European first pressing 10 years ago. When this album plays at home it is always a very special occasion as it brings me back to the 90s when I was getting into the group's music deeply.
I only bought the CDs when they came out because, like many people at that time, I was buying mainly CDs at that point and very little vinyl. I did recently get all three Anthology DeAgostini vinyls for just £50 which I think is pretty good value for 9 discs. I'm glad I still kept all my vinyl that I had bought prior to my CD period as a lot of my friends got rid of all theirs and have had to start again from scratch.
Thanks for the video. I really enjoyed Anth 3 at its original release and still today. I rewatch the TV episodes every few years. In the US the Anthology TV and album releases were quite heavily marketed and, given the near non-existence of the internet, generated quite a buzz. Funny that, even with the success of Dylan's Biograph and Bootleg 1-3, that Apple took so long to believe there was a market for these rare tracks.
Also...I will be addiing "Granny pleasing" to as many conversations that I can! 😂
3 is a very good anthology. i love the older takes
Nice one as always, Andrew.I think a revamped and expanded Anthology Highlights album would warrant a release with a few additions such as seriously mixed versions of Lady Madonna, Leave My Kitten Alone, And Your Bird Can Sing and Penny Lane. Some of the earlier tracks could be cleaned up with stereo versions of the Polydor tracks and an extra CD of Live material sourced from US stereo FM broadcasts mixed as a single concert would demonstrate that they were a brilliant live act.
Anthology was only a three part mini-series in the US but was an 8 part video series.
Really enjoyed this episode. Keep up the good work.
Thanks! Will do!
Anthology 3 was released on 28 October 1996 which was my last day of a 6 week UK holiday. I bought it at Tesco’s at Doncaster that morning, then in the afternoon got a bus to Heathrow and flew back to Australia via Hong Kong that night.
I have all three of the Anthology albums. I also have my own homemade version of The Beatles complete set of songs and extras, from Love Me Do to Now and Then, which I bought for a dollar and a half on Amazon. I'm happy with what I have!
The 2023 red and blue albums of which I own on cd are by far to me the best collection of Beatles songs on any other best of release. I think the new track listing is superb for anyone not wanting to buy the entire collection of albums and wanting the Beatles experience. I absolutely love it and didn't expect to when I heard rumor of the planned release. I think it was genius of Apple to do this.
I was pretty young when the Anthologies came out and cemented me as a Beatles Fan. Neither of my parents were really fans so it was something I came into all my own.
The TV series and the first album were crucial to me. Anthology 2 less so but still enjoyed.
Funny enough I passed on Anthology 3 for a long time and never gave it a listen until around 2008-9.
Not Guilty and Junk were the standouts for me actually. Much of the rest I found myself wanting the album versions.
Great video as usual, Andrew!
Peter Jackson and Giles Martin will give us so much happiness in the coming years, I'd say.
I actually got this one on CD a while ago
I might get the others soon
It's really good
Would love to see a revamped box set of the Anthology, there must be opportunity to improve especially some of the earlier recordings with the MAL software.
I am proudly of the anthology generation, I was 13 years old when the first volume came out and although I heard The Beatles for the first time on a cassette of 20 greatest hits, The Beatles anthology was my first real encounter with Beatlemania until today , thanks Andrew.
I remember being excited to hear this Anthology Series and was presented with the first volume on vinyl at Christmas 1995.
Great stuff Andrew! Thanks a bunch!
Those 14 hours of 1990's footage MUST be released!
Another fab video. So true that Now and Then should have been on this. I suppose sales will be higher with a greatest hits repackaging than re-releasing the anthology albums. I still hope we see the anthology re-released someday! And the video series should certainly be updated and cleaned up!
Nice - it was a good time to be a Beatles fan during the Anthology series of releases. It’s a shame they didn’t think to make an Vol.4 release with the Now and Then single, unused footage, new footage and compile a brand new compilation covering the Beatles from start to finish and saved red and blue for another re-release.
Thanks for this great post on anthology three. My brother had this album growing up, but the twin cassette tape version. It was our introduction to the Beatles along with our Mum’s copy of the white album from ‘68. The LP still plays, the cassettes got chewed up years ago sadly. Long live vinyl records!
I'm a 2nd generation fan, too, and the Anthology project was quite a treat to me back then, I remember. Thanks for your utterly interesting video, Andrew. Ciao.
Glad you enjoyed it!
You're spot on about it being a gateway. I was 11 in 1995, and the Anthology TV series was my first real exposure to The Beatles. I taped the episodes off TV and watched them over and over. I also started getting their albums out of the local library (which still just about had a vinyl section). My uncle gave me some original LPs and 45s, and I started finding stuff in charity shops... Never looked back.
Truth be told, Anthology 3 is my absolute favorite of the three releases as it chronicles my favorite era of the group.
Your show is absolutely excellent, my friend!!!
Thank you, my friend!
Excellent Andrew. I remember the Saturday in November. (23rd I looked it up) It felt like forever for the 3rd to be released. It was and still is my favourite. Even without Now and then. The January 69 material is still my favourite parts.
Still remember receiving all my Anthology I/II/III UK-pressed vinyl copies from the now-defunct Music Machine Record Store in Maryland - I think it finally folded around 2001. Really miss that store...
The depth of your knowledge and extent of your research is impressive to a life-long Beatles fan like myself. Keep up the good work!
Thank you, Rob. Will do!
There’s been nothing as in depth and informative as this channel EVER! The research and analysis into every aspect of each feature is second to none. Well done Andrew and co.
thank you for this video, yes we are overdue for an Anthology remaster, I'd buy it in a heartbeat
Great video Andrew. I remember in High School hearing that the record companies planned to release new material with a tease about the song "Leave My Kitten Alone" and a Ringo song ("If You've Got Troubles.") By the time I graduated in 1983, I figured what remained was really substandard or embarrassing. I figured they made a wise decision not to release a song about a 'threatened kitten' to preserve the legacy - the band went out on top with Abbey Road.
The Anthology Series hit at just the right time. I had discovered other music after burnout from the original canon and even what was available on uhhh ehmm... unofficial releases. Even the solo work seemed to be winding down. I only recall McCartney actually creating new content that did not interest me. I quit purchasing his solo material after Tug of War.
Following release, I felt that (or was told that) Anthology was the 'best of the best' remaining in the Apple Corps vaults, including both the audio and video. I trusted the editing process and enjoyed hearing some official releases of unofficial material I had collected over the years.
What I believe now, especially after the release of Peter Jackson's "Get Back" and 50th anniversary material is that the vaults are still overflowing with captivating content. The dream scenario would be for a weekly reality television series called "The Beatles." I think they have enough content to be that fly on the wall and create hundreds of hours of material to keep us entertained for years.
Fantastic insights as always. I am a third generation fan and my geekdom really started with this album.
Thanks for watching, Nathan!
As a fan, the release of the Anthology CDs was a blessing, but I wonder how it managed to sell so well to a wider audience. I'm not sure all buyers knew they were buying mostly unfinished recordings and alternative takes. Were they disappointed ?
Number 3 was my favorite. Number 2 had a lot of bass parts missing unfortunately, because Paul used to overdub them later during the Pepper era. I wish the mastering was as good on subsequent Beatles releases.
Andrew , Thank you again for another Great Video - yes it always seemed Strange to me that this one had no NEW song on it like the other 2 - and i am glad that Now and Then was not just added to it and then and re released - i would have liked it to be on an album of all the BRITISH A Sides
Great video, made me want to go and listen to the CD again.
I loved the TV shows and the anthology albums!!!!!!! ☮️💟
Andrew, wonderful video as usual!
Thank you, Richard!
For the Anthology docs Paul and Ringo could record new audio commentary. „Yeah here I am driving a boat“…
Great deep dive into Anthology 3, thanks!
Man, I remember when the Anthology came out. I was in middle school and it was a huge event in our family. My parents are musicians and big fans of the Beatles in particular and I grew up on Beatles music. I was already a super fan even though I was considered 'young' to be a Beatles fan. But I even remember people in my class talking about it and feeling like my moment had finally come, haha. We had the CD set (and the video tapes) and I fell in LOVE with Anthology 3. So many amazing songs I was introduced to - Junk, Teddy Boy, All Things Must Pass, Come and Get It, some of the alternate versions of things like Sexy Sadie, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Something....at the time I thought a lot of the stuff on Anthology 1/2 was fun, but not necessary but Anthology 3 got a LOT of play for me just as a legit album and I still consider the version of All Things Must Pass on there as the best version. (That said, now I'm really starting to appreciate Anthology 1 a lot more as I dig into some of those old demos, especially as I've started to get into other bands' collections of demos and alternate takes.).
Anthology ii , iii were great !
I'm still listening all the time !
I own all tree sets on vinyl and has always regarded no. 3 as the best one. Very interesting things on no. 1 and 2 with work in progress moments and all that, but no. 3 seems to give more of an impression of a cohesive, genuine album. Fun fact as it’s really the most manipulated of the tree parts...
I’m a second generation Beatles fan (-born 1959) and was in my mid 30’s when this was released. From my point of view (-Denmark) it was my impression that a lot of younger people didn’t really get the intention behind the release. They thought it was kind of a Greatest Hits release and therefore were kind of lukewarm listening to all those work-in-progress tracks and newly discovered tracks that had never been intended to be a hit in the first place. As if they thought: “Hey, is this really what all the fuss is about with The Beatles...?” Think we more or less missed a generation there, they went back to listening to their Brit Pop and whatever...
Nevertheless, the albums sold very good to the Beatles fan generation 1,2 and 3. But it was more for people that were Beatles fans already.
Andrew, as a lifelong Beatles fan, I love your video presentations. Very well researched and in depth. Tonight I watched your video on “She Loves You”. As a 13 year old fan living in the Newcastle area back then, I was hugely disappointed not to be able to get a ticket to see them at The City Hall in Newcastle in the spring of ‘63! No matter. When “She Loves You” was released it was a seminal experience for me. My dad was a music fan and had introduced me to Elvis, Kittle Richard, Fats Domino and Duane Eddy. But nothing prepared me for the astonishing sound of this record. As much as I loved the song, I loved the sound. It practically jumped out of the speakers on my Dansette. Then I watched the video on The Anthology. I have both the original CD’s and thecDVD’s which I still listen to and watch. However, my main reason for commenting is that, by the mid 90’s my wife Susan and I opened the first computerised post production studio in the North East in Newcastle. Incidentally we were 200 yards away from what was The Majestic where The Beatles played their first ever Newcastle gig. We knew both Geoff Wonfor and Andy Matthews, director and editor respectively of the Anthology series. They came to see us in early 1997. They had a new project which was “In the world tonight” the making of Paul’s “Flaming Pie” album. There is too much to tell you here but suffice to say it was an incredible experience for us. I don’t know if you’ve done a video on Flaming Pie. If do, let me know. If not, it would be fun to see one! All the best. 19:02
Great memories! Thanks for sharing them. I've not done a Flaming Pie video yet, but it's on my list. All the best!
Thanks for your kind reply! I look forward to the video on “Flaming Pie”. One of my enduring memories of making “In the World Tonight” was listening to “beautiful Night” blasting around our studios while Geoff and Andy crested the video sequence for the end of the show. When it was finished we all gathered in the edit suite, turned it up to 11 and watched it play. It’s a fabulous sequence and a brilliant Macca song. Pure magic!!!
Thanks, Andrew for another fine video. I think Apple should hire you to update the 3 Anthologies, and to work on a #4 as well. They should also hire you to "check out" their archives.
I TOTALLY concur! Andrew is THE MAN!
Totally agree. He's as passionate as a true fan should be and I'm sure he'd do very fine
Another very enjoyable video Andrew!! I bought Anthology 2 & 3 when they first came out - & enjoyed both very much. The highlight for me was the "Indian" version of "Across The Universe" - which for me - far exceeds any other version!! I have since remixed it with better balance & centered vocal.
A very enjoyable presentation of the Anthology albums, Andrew! I personally enjoy Anthology 2 the best out of all the three LPs, mainly because of the early, unadorned Sgt Pepper tracks!
The 2nd disc from Anthology 2 is great but not so much the 1st disc
Thanks Nick. Glad you enjoyed it!
With every video I'm learning more and more and more. And I see how many records are still missing in my collection (which I cleaned completly with my Knosti machine yesterday).
Thanks Andrew! For your work and the entertaining results. See you --->>> Martin
Thanks again, Martin!
Great video as always Andrew. Anthology 3 is indeed an essential for any Beatles collection. I was always disappointed with how it concluded, the manipulation of ‘that’ chord always seemed like one tinker too much to me. So fascinating to hear that a more organic ending was once in the works
Excellent! Really enjoyed this episode and actually my favourite of the anthology albums.
I’ve also got the deagostini issue (of all 3 anthology sets),very good quality and reasonably priced too.
I just hope apple leave this as it was,it’s just perfect,no need for a remix/reissue,also the original cd’s (in their ‘fatbox’ cases) are quite easy to buy second hand if you’ve not already got them.
That was a fascinatig video! Being somewhat of a completist, I'm glad you finally found the time to shed some light on Anthology 3.
Haven't played the two discs in ages but will take care of that the next few days.
Great content, as usual. Thanks!
Great video once again. I would say Anthology 2 is my fave overall.
I would LOVE a cleaned up version of the Star Club recordings.
You waiting to do this episode until now almost makes me believe you knew that NOW AND THEN was coming...LOL. Somehow, waiting to do this episode now worked perfectly! Keep up the great work!
Loved the video. Thank you, once again, Andrew !
Thanks for watching, Scott!
Loved the entire series but Anthology 1 blew me away. It reminded me just how good the early Beatles material is. And the live cuts from Sweden reminded the world that the Beatles could rock with the best of them in their touring prime. I also felt it was a class move to include some Pete Best material. He deserves the recognition and compensation for his contribution to Beatles history.
Those live cuts from Sweden are awesome! That would be a cool stand alone release I think!
Yet another informative and interesting video. I always like the grainy and scratchy retro titles at the end. I agree that the Anthology series is essential listening for any Beatles fan, or for anyone simply interested in hearing the development of songs. I particularly like the Revolver box set, the way we can hear many different steps in the development of songs. I hope that Apple Corps will release a similar Rubber Soul set.
I thought fans like myself were short changed since a 'new' song wasn't included. It made the Anthology project seem incomplete.
Genial ! sigo hace tiempo tu canal, me encanta tu contenido soy un gran fanático de The Beatles desde los 8 años (tengo 34 ahora) y fué con las antologías que comencé mi fanatismo por ellos! a medida de lo posible me puedo comprar algún CD o vinilo de ellos, soy un fan de clase trabajadora, muchos saludos desde Chile! Latinoamérica !
The Anthology series were my first Beatles records and what introduced me to their music. I was just starting college and wanted to experience 1960s music. I loved them so much and instantly made me a fan. I bought the Red and Blue albums a couple of years later and they sounded weird to me because I kept comparing the songs to the Anthology versions.
Another excellent episode! A great mix of entertainment and archival information. The Anthology project, along with the BBC releases, began the Beatleg phase of my lifelong fascination with The Beatles. The out-takes have an informal energy that make me feel like I'm there in the recording studio, and this is what keeps me buying the new releases.
I have to admit that "Free as a Bird," "Real Love," and "Now and Then" don't resonate with me as much as recordings that were done when The Beatles were still together. I enjoy these songs in their video format as the visuals elicit an emotional response, but listening to them on their own doesn't do it for me.
Peter Jackson's comments are interesting. With the advances made in AI, CGI, and holographic technology I would imagine that it will eventually be possible to use photographs taken in the studio to provide visual interpretations of original recording sessions of Beatles albums. Imagine feeling like a fly on the wall for the one and only take of "Twist & Shout" from the Please, Please Me sessions!
Thanks Doug! Glad you enjoyed it!
I remember the anthologies as if they were released just yesterday. I can remember the exact moment I purchased the anthology CD’s and watching the TV shows. There was so much excitement in the air. Time went by so fast. The highlight of volume 3 for me was Come Together which had John’s raw raspy voice and a few mock vocals.
Awesome episode as usual, Andrew! - Roger
Thanks Roger, glad you enjoyed it!
If you get Peter Jackson to let you be his assistant, I volunteer to be your assistant.😅 - Roger
I still need a DVD copy of Anthology. In the States, it aired on ABC in a truncated form over three nights (content basically matched the three albums). It aired twice and I taped it the second time. But I would love to revisit it and see what I missed out on.
Anthology 3 might have been my favorite of the trio. And ‘Now and Than’ as the lead track would only have made it better. The Anthology CD’s did very well on first release in the US, they could be hard to find. Great review, I’m inspired to listened to it now.