The digitally remastered
Beatles catalog will be released on 09/09/09 in conjunction with the Beatles
Rock Band game.
For Beatles fans this is pretty exciting since there hasn't been a technically up to date release of their work ever (at least after the original releases). And it's the entire catalog too - all 12 albums including the complete British release of
Magical Mystery Tour as well as
Past Masters Volumes I and II. Each CD will also have a short documentary about how it was made, as well as additional rare photos, expanded booklets and liner notes. The albums will be available individually or in a box set.
Perhaps what's most exciting about the remastering is that there's also an additional CD box set, The Beatles In Mono, containing all of the Beatles singles originally mixed in mono. For those who've heard the difference between the stereo and mono mixes, the mono mixes were always considered to be superior. Certainly the band's inner circle always thought so.
I'm always a little leery when I hear about new mixes or mastering of classic music since I've heard plenty of them that destroyed the original feel of the records we loved. Certainly the classic Who's Next remix was a total disappointment. I listened to the remixed/remastered version once and could never listen again. All the power of Glyn John's original mix was gone.
But there's some comfort in the fact that Apple Corp. has been working on this for 4 years, since they're known for their careful oversight and protection of the Beatles legacy. The fact that it was done at Abbey Road also gives you a warm feeling inside.
So let's all go buy the product yet once again. I'm pretty sure it will be worth it.
I've always been a huge Who fan and just as big a fan of producer Glyn Johns work. This video is from an interview at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, November 19, 2012, and focuses on the recording of the seminal Who's Next.
