Help! (Remastered)
I got this cd last year, It is a very good cd! I would recommend this for any Beatles fan or any oldies fan!
Love
I was unaware of this record's Cirque du Soleil roots (I'm not a big fan of Cirque du Soleil), but wasn't disappointed at all with this mix of amazing Beatles songs. George Martin and son did an incredible remastering/mixing job, and I love that even the remaining Beatles were happy with the project's results.I was expecting a simple collection of Beatles classics, but there is a beautifully executed blending and flow between the songs. It was a pleasant surprise.
I would recommend this record simply on the amazing remastering job (it sounds beautiful!), but there's no need just to rely on that. It's an interesting mix that I think any Beatles fan would enjoy.
1967-1970 (The Blue Album)
For my musical entertainment and enjoyment of music with good lyrics and melody, this Beatles album can't be beaten. Good quality, too.
1962-1966 (The Red Album)
I have been listening to the Beatles in the car, in the garden, on walks and any time I need some good music. They're THE BEST!
A Hard Day's Night (Remastered)
I was pleased with the ease of my purchase and the condition of the item when it was received.
Please Please Me (Remastered)
Great service! I bought this album as a kid who loved the Beatles and was glad to find it as a cd. Still one of my favorites!
With The Beatles (Remastered)
This wasn't the best time period for The Beatles, as songwriters, but it did give them the exposure that they needed, as well as, the beginning of what was later to become, they're signature sound, as a band. After that, the rest was history.
Beatles For Sale (Remastered)
Sounds great, but they could have went further. These remasters are very inconsistent. I feel like they held back. Overall this wasn't worth the wait, but they are still better then the 1987 versions.
Past Masters (Remastered)
I now have all the remasters and they all sound exceptional. This is no different. You will definitely notice the difference between this and the earlier CD release.
Abbey Road [Vinyl]
Wow....finally the whole Beatles catalog has been reissued and remastered. I have to say the sound is great! This one is probably my favorite of the Beatles catalog.
Anthology 3
This Anthology 3 complete my collection of The Beatles music, so you may imagine my satisfaction. The quality of discs is superior, so everything is great.
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
The shipping was quick, and greatly packaged. Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club is one to buy.
Anthology 2
This group of dvd's is awesome. I enjoyed every minute. The Beatles were amazing songwriters, musicians and singers and I am very happy that there is so much documentation on what they did. I thought that I purchased Anthology 1, but it is indicated that I got Anthology 2. Not sure which is correct. Anthology 2
Rubber Soul (1990)
The remastered Rubber Soul is amazing! You hear the voices and instruments so much better! The mini-documentary is also a great feature, because it includes clips of videos and the Beatles themselves talking about the album. The music is amazing, from "Nowhere man" to "Wait." Must have for any Beatles fan! The one setback, if you can call it that, is the packaging. Without the plastic case, it seems that the case will be worn in a few years. Hopefully not, but we'll see what happens.
Anthology 1
Released in conjunction with the ABC-TV documentary, these previously unissued recordings capture the Beatles on a voyage and working diligently on a formula to change the world of modern music forever. By the time they appear on Ed Sullivan's show, game over. They conquered the youth and some adults. Existing rules were laid to rest.The chronology makes sense. All of the live recordings are a valuable addition to their legacy, especially the 1963 recordings in Sweden. When John sings a fervid "Money" with pared-down backing, he(they) prefigure punk by at least three years. They're still starving artists. The sardonic wit that introduces a few of the numbers is priceless, especially John's intro to a great "Twist and Shout". And their hilarious skit that segues into a mash-like "Moonlight Bay" is a hidden classic. Beyond the live material, you get a great Pete Best-era instrumental, "Cry For A Shadow". There's a rollicking take of "Can't Buy Me Love" that I may even prefer to the original. But most welcome of all is that killer version of the long-bootlegged "Leave My Kitten Alone", which should have nudged off "Mr. Moonlight" in contention for a slot on "Beatles '65" or "Beatles For Sale" in the first place.
There's peripheral stuff included here to be sure. The Decca audition is lackluster. The primitive home demos, like that of "In Spite Of All Danger" and the false starts to say "No Reply" work strictly as historical artifacts, but they don't hold up to repeated scrutiny. Taken as a whole, this can be an audio delight in low doses. Recommended unequivocally to completists but for the casual listener get their core catalogue first. ***1/2 stars
P.S. Get the must own Beatles Anthology DVD. *****
Let It Be (1990)
A must have. The songs still sound amazing. The new mastering is very good. The packaging is a lot of fun to have and read.
Abbey Road (1990)
Wow....finally the whole Beatles catalog has been reissued and remastered. I have to say the sound is great! This one is probably my favorite of the Beatles catalog.
The Beatles (The White Album)
If you love the Beatles you can't miss with this CD. It is as current now as when it was recorded. This was a gift for a 14 year old and she loves it!
Help! [UK]
I got this cd last year, It is a very good cd! I would recommend this for any Beatles fan or any oldies fan!
Live at the BBC
I purchased this expecting what I got, more of the foundations of the Beatles' evolving and historic music making style. The silly, sometime annoying banter, before and between some tracks is nice the first time around; then become increasing in need of being edited out. I think it is worth every penny to hear these tunes in the "raw" state of the live setting. Great for the fan and "to be" fan, a definite CD to have!
Yellow Submarine (Remastered)
I blind 'ear tested' the cuts between the 1999 Remaster of Yellow Submarine and the 2009 version. The 1999 version is better, more powerful, more presence.
With the Beatles (1990)
This wasn't the best time period for The Beatles, as songwriters, but it did give them the exposure that they needed, as well as, the beginning of what was later to become, they're signature sound, as a band. After that, the rest was history.
Love (CD + Audio DVD)
I was elated to find that George and Giles Martin had released this work.The sound quality is excellent and I play it all the time.
Would recommend it to any Beatles fan.
Beatles for Sale (1990)
Sounds great, but they could have went further. These remasters are very inconsistent. I feel like they held back. Overall this wasn't worth the wait, but they are still better then the 1987 versions.
The Beatles [USB]
OK, I'm an audiophile. If I am going to listen to music on a quality system, then I expect to hear quality sound. I am also retired, so I am a first time Beatles fan. So how wonderful it was for Love to be released on DVD-Audio in 24bit/96kHz high-resolution. And when the Beatles remasters were released on CDs, I thought I could sit them out - surely a high-resolution audio release would follow in the near future. But no, I couldn't sit them out, sucker that I am - one look at the packaging of the CD box sets and I was sold - I had to have both the mono and stereo releases. And they are so nice. Being a little older than 21, I have the original 1987 limited release CD box sets of all but three of the Beatles albums (of course, I have the other original CD releases, just not in a boxed set).And do the new CDs sound better than the originals? Oh yes they do - a smoother sound, no clipping, the bass stands out more. Yes, I was chuffed with these new releases!
And then, by pure chance, I discover that there is (another) limited edition version of the stereo albums - 44.1kHz 24-bit FLAC release on a USB stick (along with some MP3s - ugh!). Only 30,000 world-wide, I'm told. Bloody Hell - can I still get one? A quick check with Amazon tells me yes. Quick, quick order it. Got it! Phew!
Will I regret this, I wonder? The MP3s are DRM free - but what about the FLACs? And is the improvement in quality over the CDs worth another few hundred dollars - after all, it's only 44.1kHz, not 192kHz, or even 96kHz, OR EVEN 48kHz! Nervous wait for transport of USB apple from US to Australia. Is it worth it?
It finally arrives. I unpack it, and the first thing I find is the metal apple's stalk is broken off (a common complaint, I have since read). Panic sets in - I can't get the USB out!!! Eventually, I sort of push the stalk back in, it holds, and I extract the USB (I fix it later with superglue). OK, off to the computer, can I read the files and copy them to my hard drive, or is some clever copyright protection present that nobody has thought to mention? I need not have worried - I can backup all the files and decompress the FLACs to WAVs. EMI ARE TO BE HEARTILY CONGRATULATED ON THEIR ENLIGHTENED APPROACH TO COPYRIGHT! THANK YOU EMI!
Right, onto the music quality. I have many DVD-Audio and SACD discs (as well as vinyl of course - again, all the original Beatles LPs). My system is capable of producing audiophile sound. If you play the Beatles FLACs (or WAVs) from your computer, make sure you have an audiophile sound card that plugs into your Home Theatre/Audio system. DON'T be content with playing the FLACs through your computer speakers (unless you have very, very good ones, or a good headset - but see my comments below on this).
I listen to a Hard Day's Night first (first folder in the Music directory). Then Help. I'm stunned! Completely blown away! I have DVD-Audio discs at 24bit/96kHz that do not sound as good as this! It just goes to show how good a properly digitally transferred master tape can sound. EMI, you are to be congratulated again. In terms of audio quality, these sound files are a world beyond the CDs: there is real depth and clarity in the voices, the harmonics, the instruments; listen to the solid beat of the drums, the thump of the bass, the twang of the lead guitars; all is just so much more real. Even with computer speakers, you will notice the difference. And you won't want to listen to the CDs (and certainly not the MP3s) ever again (good job the packaging of the CDs is nice!!!)
If you are prevaricating, don't: get in quick before these sticks are not available anymore.
Will EMI release higher-resolution versions? I hope that there will be a 24bit/192kHz blu-ray edition soon (or maybe a higher capacity USB, which is perhaps the way to go!). On the release of the remastered CDs, Paul McCartney said in Rolling Stone that there is plenty of time for high-resolution releases. Well, as I said, I'm retired and therefore aging; so please don't wait too long - think of your original fans! Do me a favour though - go straight to 24bit/192kHz (and include the mono releases) and don't screw me with a 24bit/96kHz version first!
A Hard Day's Night
I was pleased with the ease of my purchase and the condition of the item when it was received.
Let It Be... Naked
Is it a remix? Yes. Is it unecessary? I suppose so. Is it McCartney rewriting history? Duh. Does it completely alter several of the songs beyond the point of recognition? Of course.But the big question is: Is it... BAD?
HECK NO!!!!!!
I can understand that fans find that it is not a true "naked" version of the GET BACK/LET IT BE sessions, with either bootlegs, the ANTHOLOGY 3, or even the original album providing insight into what may be the "real" version. I've listened to all of these, and see other people's points, but don't slam the album just because you think it's a stupid idea!!!
I find this a nice listen, especially since I got it after the originals, including the bootleg. I never found any of the original versions of the songs interesting (except the single "Get Back" and the Wildlife version of "Across the Universe"), and while the dialog bits were enjoyable, they were silly and extraneous (okay the audition joke was riotous). But, I found the exorcism of the spector [sic] haunting the original version a good thing.
"Across the Universe" was quite good in the 1969 mix, but the choir and orchestra topped off with the slower pace to be nausiating. "The Long and Winding Road" was boring to me when I first got 1 a few years ago, and "Let it Be" was okay, but the "Paul is dead" whisper ruined the single for me, and the weird cymbal chimes and brash guitar way too over the top in the album version. I also found the quality of the original album to he a bit shoddy, even in the 2009 remaster, but that could be since the songs were recorded differently and (semi-)live. Also, I just didn't really like the overall Spector or Johns albums when I heard them.
Then I heard about this, and listened to samples of it online.
WOW!!!
What a difference! The quality was better, and none if those cheesy overdubs were kept (as per the original concept) making the songs simpler and in my opinion, better. "The Long and Winding Road," featured in McCartney's favorite version is beautiful and poignant, "I've Got a Feeling" simpler and less cheesy, "One After 909" sounding clearer and cleaner, "Don't Let Me Down" sexed up, "I Me Mine" sounding, well, different, but neither better nor worse in my opinion, though the simpler arangement is nice, "Let it Be" with cleaner vocals and no annoying guitar solos (I HATED them), and the shining gem, "Across the Universe" in its simple, poignant, relaxing, beautiful, cosmic, utopian, (I'm running out of words), ORIGINAL SPEED, glory!
Keep in mind none of the Beatles actually worked on the remixes, but they all (Paul, Ringo, Yoko, and Olivia that is) approved them, with Ringo loving the new versions of "The Long and Winding Road" and "Let it Be" agreeing that this was the original intention of the project. The album was supposed to coincide with a DVD release of the film, but that was cancelled (take a guess why, I've seen it).
While I know this won't replace the original album, which I'll admit holds together well, I feel this to be a nice listen, and a view to what should have been if the group had been putting more of an effort into the music.
I also feel the reviewer who listed the "real" naked version track listing has a good point, and the suggestions are good, so if you are really interested in that do it. It's not bad.
Revolver [UK]
Already 900 reviews and I do not expect mine to offer anything new. But I wanted to get the album all the credit it deserves after a few recent negative criticisms.REVOLVER was released 44 years ago. Hmm...44 years before 1966 was 1922 and music changed in quantum leaps in that period much more than it has done since. Yes, we have rap, grunge and punk and it is true that lyrically, no topic is off limits but basically the formula is still the same.
More than anyone, The Beatles broke down so many barriers with an attitude that nothing is impossible when recording. Slowing down tracks, multi-vocals, use of strings and brass in rock, Indian instruments, taped effects, backward vocals and instrumentation, they pushed their produccer, George Martin and the engineers to do it all and Wow, did they deliver!
REVOLVER did show all The Beatles in a unique way.
John- forever experimenting and allowing drugs to influence his music
Paul- very melodic and a wonderful storyteller
George- insecure, biting and seemingly not too happy
Ringo- the fun, easy-going member.
Every song is under three minutes, yet The Beatles had an amazing sense of economy. ELEANOR RIGBY seems longer than 2:04 minutes. Same with TAXMAN, SHE SAID SHE SAID, GOT TO GET YOU...., I'M ONLY SLEEPING and many others.
In fact most of the songs, especially the first four were very revolutionary. Not a love song among them. Instead there is a savage diatribe about the taxman, a sad story about a lonely spinster, a dreamy psychedelic acid trip and an Indian sounding song about Life and Jaded Love.
Throw in the brassy soul feel of GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE, another psychedlic excursion in SHE SAID SHE SAID, the hopelessness of FOR NO ONE, the sheer beauty of HERE THERE AND EVERYWHERE and the very weird but very magnificent TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS and you have a recipe for what is considered the greatest pop-rock album of all time
I would have preferred if The Beatles rejected GOOD DAY SUNSHINE and AND YOUR BIRD CAN SING. In their place: PAPERBACK WRITER and RAIN would have made the album truly perfect.
For me, REVOLVER has aged much better then SGT PEPPER. Overall, the songs are of a much higher quality. Even though SGT PEPPER has always been considered their greatest album, it is mainly Paul and it is not as nicely balanced as REVOLVER.
Interesting that REVOLVER was released in early August 1966 and The Beatles stopped touring in late August 1966. Now they had time to pursue other interests outside of The Beatles after four years together.
I always feel that this period was the beginning of the break-up; when all individual members started going their seperate ways, realizing that there was Life outside of The Beatles, although acting as musicians and backing vocalists for each other on future albums.
REVOLVER was the culmination of what The Beatles had to offer as a group. Paul was very willing to help John on TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS and provides the essential monotone C note in the bass to make the song so memorable. John and George add beautiful low-key harmonies to Paul's HERE THERE AND EVERYWHERE. Ringo's persistent and truly memorable drumming on TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS; also on DR. ROBERT, TAXMAN and SHE SAID SHE SAID. John and Paul seem to relish taking part in Ringo's performance of YELLOW SUBMARINE. And on George's TAXMAN. Paul even provides the lead guitar solo.
As pop/rock classics go, REVOLVER is practically unbeatable. Fourteen songs at a little over thirty minutes, it encapsulates the 2-3 minute song perfectly showing what could be achieved in a very short time given the perfect blend of songwriters, singers, musicians, producers and engineers.
Oh...the title to this review? Lyrically, they are the first and last phrases sung on the album
Please Please Me (1990)
Great service! I bought this album as a kid who loved the Beatles and was glad to find it as a cd. Still one of my favorites!
