We’ve been having The Beatles’ albums on CD. This time, EMI is bringing you a brilliant audio collection comprising the magical journey of the Fab Four with The Beatles Stereo Boxset distributed by PolyEast Records. This perfect gift is now exclusively available at all Odyssey outlets.

For the first time, their entire recorded output has been re-mastered for the 21st century, complete with unique liner notes and special digital packaging to boot. Plus, the boxset does include a bonus DVD featuring all of these short sequences together so you can enjoy it on your very own DVD player. You can also avail The Beatles Stereo Boxset in a limited edition 16G USB Flash Drive housed in a green aluminum apple which contains full contents of the Beatles Stereo Boxset; 13 mini-documentaries in MPEG 4 video format; and custom-designed Flash Player menu system with full booklet artwork, album cover wallpapers and photo gallery.

What you have here are the original British Beatles albums just like what had been released before; only now, listeners can enjoy the first four albums – “Please Please Me,” “With The Beatles,” “Hard Day’s Night,” “Beatles For Sale” – available in true stereo for the very first time. Combined with the remaining nine albums recorded by the group between 1965 and 1970, this is a masterpiece set, and a special treasure trove of timeless, classic songs that changed the entire structure of popular music as we know it today.

Each title also comes with a special CD booklet containing many unreleased photographs that represent the time each album was originally released, plus well-written liner notes (including the original notes from the first four albums). The “Yellow Submarine” booklet contains both the original UK and US back cover notes together for the very first time. And what a thrill it is to finally be able to have the photo/comic-strip booklet from “Magical Mystery Tour” that was initially issued in the American LP in 1967, in an official CD release for the very first time. The “White Album” packaging includes the original poster, in a CD sized reproduction, that features the photo collage on one side, and the album’s song-lyrics on the other side. This marks the second time that this poster was made available in a “White Album” CD release, following the 30th anniversary reissue from 1998.

“Love Me Do” (both versions), “P. S. I Love You,” “Only A Northern Song,” “She Loves You,” “I’ll Get You” and “You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)” are all represented in their original monaural mixes, whereas the remaining songs are all in true stereo. Even “I Am The Walrus” still has its original mix of half-stereo/half-duo phonic, just like the first time around.

And, the bonus DVD boasts a well-produced mini documentary. Each segment features audio comments from The Beatles themselves along with George Martin. This DVD gives a fascinating insight into why these classic albums have stood the test of time so well, and continues to be so popular, even into the 21st century.

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/237314/beatles-stereo-boxset-a-perfect-gift-all-time

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‘Now And Then’ – which was composed by John Lennon in 1978 and later worked on by Sir Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr when they reunited to work on the Beatles Anthology project in 1995 – never got released, but McCartney has been adding to it and is now keen for fans to hear the track.

A source said: “The Beatles song ‘Now And Then’ is finished. All four Beatles are on the track. The original Beatles reunion version from 1995 was embellished with numerous sessions over the last two years by Paul McCartney.

“He wants the song to come out very badly.”

As well as featuring Lennon – who was shot dead in 1980 – and McCartney on vocals, Harrison, who passed away in 2001, also sings backing vocals and plays guitar.

If the track does get a release, it will be the first new Beatles song to come out since 1996’s ’Real Love’, which was composed by Lennon and later re-recorded by McCartney, Harrison and Starr with Lennon’s original vocal part.

McCartney, 67, had also wanted to release the unheard ‘Carnival of Light’, a 14-minute composition, but Harrison was against the plans.

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A Sgt Pepper souvenir poster bearing the signatures of all four Beatles has sold for $52,500 (£31,720) at a pop memorabilia auction in New York.

Among an array of 300 musical items that went under the hammer were a set of Bob Dylan’s handwritten lyrics, which made $25,000 (£15,090).

A bass guitar owned by late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain was snapped up for $43,750 (£26,415).

In total, the auction fetched more than $650,000 (£392,200), said Christie’s.

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Ringo Starr sang lead on this. He was a fan of Country music, and this became his showcase song.

The Beatles played this on their third live Ed Sullivan Show appearance. It gave Ringo a chance to sing on the show.

Recorded shortly after the filming of Help!, the lyrics are about appearing in movies. Ringo went on to act in many films, fulfilling what he sang about on this.

This was used as the B-side of “Yesterday.”

In 1989, Buck Owens re-recorded this as a duet with Ringo. (thanks, Bertrand – Paris, France)

The thing that really bothers me about people that bring down Ringo’s ability. In Anthology Paul says: “But when we first got Ringo into the band it really gelled. We played GOOD.” This means something, guys. Also Ringo once said about his drumming, which I think is appropriate: “The work is the joy. The results are just something you have to deal with. You resent the catcalls and don’t trust the ones who overpraise.”
- Tiffany, San Diego, CA

This is my fourth favorite Ringo tune. Not many people realize it, but Ringo’s vocals are pretty darn good.
- Steven, West Carrollton, OH

Ernie!! You are totally ripping off McCartney point of views and Ringo’s own interpretation of his drumming! If anybody reads McCartney’s memoir ‘Many Years From Now’, they will see that Ringo mentions that his drumming on ‘Rain’ was indeed in peak form there.
- Brian, Sydney, Canada

Rest In Peace, Buck Owens….
- Ross, St. Leo, MN

Yesterday is not an Beatles album, both of them (Yesterday and Act Naturally) are on HELP! Album
- Ricardo, Mexico, Mexico

Luna, don’t go overboard! Ringo was not as good as Mitch and Keith, but he is still very good adn deserves more credit then he gets.
- Johnny, Los Angeles, CA

There isn’t infinite room for every instrument on a particular song. With all the instrumentation of McCartney, Lennon and Harrison (Not to mention all the harmonies), it doesn’t leave alot of room for Ringo to bang on the drums like Mitchel or Moon. When he has too, he can and will very well, but he never felt the need to stand out. Might I add he is a much better singer than both of those other drummers.
- Robb, Hamburg, NY

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Phil Spector, the legendary record producer, eccentric and recluse with a reputation for building walls around people as much as his signature music, was found guilty of second-degree murder by Los Angeles jurors today in the 2003 shooting death of cult-movie star Lana Clarkson.

Spector, who was taken immediately into custody, showed no emotion at the verdict, reports said; his wife Rachelle sobbed.

The 69-year-old Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member faces up to life in prison when sentenced May 29.

This was Spector’s second judgment day on the Clarkson case. In 2007, a jury deadlocked 10-2 in favor of convicting Spector.

At the second trial as at the first, prosecutors said Clarkson fell victim to a man who had a history of waving guns at, and acting violently toward, women, especially when he’d been drinking. Spector’s defense argued she shot herself.

There was one new twist at the new trial, but it ended up being a nonfactor, unfortunately for Spector.

At this trial, jurors had the option of convicting Spector of a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter. They not only didn’t take the option, they also convicted the former hitmaker of using a gun while committing a crime.

For L.A. prosecutors, the guilty verdicts were a welcome change. They previously failed to win convictions against celebrity murder defendants O.J. Simpson and Robert Blake.

Spector’s fame dates back to 1958, when, at age 19, he wrote and sang his way to No. 1 on the chart with “To Know Him Is to Love Him.”

As a young producer, Spector dominated the pre-Beatles 1960s with hit (“He’s a Rebel”) after hit (“Da Doo Ron Ron”) after hit (“Be My Baby”). The songs were predominantly recorded by girl groups and were exclusively backed by the aural sensation known as the “Wall of Sound.” Spector’s magic touch continued through the 1960s, with “Unchained Melody,” the Beatles Let It Be, John Lennon’s “Imagine” and George Harrison “My Sweet Lord,” among other standouts.

But over the past 30-40 years, Spector’s fame gave way to a kind of infamy—the mad genius who, per lore, pulled gun on Lennon and the Ramones, or who, per Ronnie Spector, of the Spector creation the Ronettes, treated her more as a captive than wife during their troubled marriage.

Spector’s alleged gun-waving ways caught up to him at trial, if not on night of Clarkson’s death at his Alhambra, Calif., castle-style home. At Spector’s first trial, five women testified about being at the other end of a gun drawn by Spector. Their testimony was allowed to be introduced in the new trial.

Spector and Clarkson, the queen of Roger Corman’s Barbarian Queen movies, met Feb. 3, 2003, at L.A’s House of Blues, where the 40-year-old Clarkson worked as a hostess and where Spector visited shortly after midnight.

About five hours later, after the pair was driven to Spector’s home, Spector walked out of his mansion, and, per testimony at the first trial, told his driver: “I think I killed somebody.”

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The Beatles played this on their third live Ed Sullivan Show appearance. It gave Ringo a chance to sing on the show.

This was used as the B-side of “Yesterday.”

Recorded shortly after the filming of Help!, the lyrics are about appearing in movies. Ringo went on to act in many films, fulfilling what he sang about on this. huh!

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This is great stuff!

The last song in the movie soundtrack to be composed, the motion picture was being produced when Ringo made his statement that inspired the song (original movie title: Beatlemania). Walter Shenson, who was the movie producer of A Hard Day’s Night, told PBS that he said to John, “You need to write a song that will incorporate the movie’s title,” and Shenson was amazed when John came in the very next day with the song. He thought John would labor over it for days or weeks.

Phil Collins was one of the school kids brought in as extras for a scene in the movie where The Beatles perform. He didn’t make the cut, but years later, the film’s producer gave Collins the outtake footage with him in it and had Collins add commentary to the DVD release.

Lennon sang lead and Paul McCartney sang the middle sequences. John had Paul sing the middle section because he felt Paul had the more appropriate vocal range for it. Surprisingly, he insisted on singing a higher harmonization in “From Me To You” only a year earlier because he said he could sing the higher stuff better than Paul. (thanks, Adrian – Wilmington, DE)

A journalist friend of Lennon’s, Maureen Cleave, claims that she suggested a slight change to one of the lyrics for this song on the way to Abbey Road studios shortly before it was recorded. (thanks, John – London, England)

The Beatles recorded this in 9 takes on Thursday, April 16, 1964. It was written and recorded in a little more than 24 hours. It had to be done quickly when film name was changed from “Beatlemania!” to “A Hard Day’s Night.” (thanks, Ben – Cheverly, MD)

John Lennon used the phrase “A hard day’s night” in a his book In His Own Write before it was used as a song or movie title. He used it in the short story (more of a vignette) titled “Sad Michael.” An excerpt: “There was no reason for Michael to be sad that morning, (the little wretch): everyone liked him, (the scab). He’d had a hard day’s night that day, for Michael was a Cocky Watchtower.” (thanks, Susan – Toronto, Canada, for above 2)

In 1964, the Beatles won 2 Grammy awards. The first Grammy was Best New Artist. The second Grammy was Best Performance By A Vocal Group, which was awarded to this song. (thanks, Tommy – flower mound, TX)

At the 2002 Super Bowl, where Paul McCartney performed “Freedom,” Terry Bradshaw started singing this with McCartney when Paul joined the Fox announcers on the set.

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This was a 1967 interview with the late great Beatles guitarist, George Harrison, about their latest film project then, The Magical Mystery Tour.

True blue Beatles fanatic will surely want their hands on this one..

Here’s what we read…

A previously-unheard interview with The Beatles’ late guitarist George Harrison has been discovered.

The interview, which took place in 1967, was conducted by Miranda Ward, who worked as a journalist in the ’60s and ’70s, reports BBC 6music.

The tapes, which the station claims “could now be worth over £200,000″, were hidden in Ward’s house.

Film producer/director David Lambert told the station he unearthed the recordings while doing research.

“George, being known as the quiet Beatle, was interviewed about his part in the famous film by The Beatles called ‘Magical Mystery Tour’,” he said. “It was only a brief chat about that, but during the interview he went on and discussed all aspects of life and the way he viewed it at the time.

“It was really the meaning of life according to George Harrison in 1967. He covers all aspects of things, the Eastern mysticism, he was very involved at the time with the Maharishi,” he added.

source

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A 41 piece orchestra played on this. The musicians were told to attend the session dressed formally. When they got there, they were presented with party novelties (false noses, party hats, gorilla-paw glove) to wear, which made it clear this was not going to be a typical session. The orchestra was conducted by Paul McCartney, who told them to start with the lowest note of their instruments and gradually play to the highest. (thanks, Jes – Mason City, IA)

This was recorded in 3 sessions: First the basic track, then the orchestra, then the last note was dubbed in.

The beginning was based on 2 stories John Lennon read in the Daily Mail newspaper: Guinness heir Tara Browne dying when he smashed his lotus into a parked van, and an article in the UK Daily Express in early 1967 which told of how the Blackburn Roads Surveyor had counted 4000 holes in the roads of Blackburn and commented that the volume of material needed to fill them in was enough to fill the Albert Hall. Lennon took some liberties with the Tara Browne story – he changed it so he “Blew his mind out in the car.” (thanks, Ed – Perth, Australia)

McCartney contributed the line “I’d love to turn you on.” This was a drug reference, but the BBC banned it for the line about having a smoke and going into a dream, which they thought was about marijuana

McCartney’s middle section (Woke up, got out of bed…) was intended for another song.

The final chord was produced by all 4 Beatles and George Martin banging on 3 pianos simultaneously. As the sound diminished, the engineer boosted to faders. The resulting note lasts 42 seconds, and the studio air conditioners can be heard toward the end as the faders were pushed to the limit to record it.

The rising orchestra-glissando and the thundering sound are reminiscent of “Entry of the Gods into Valhalla” from Richard Wagner’s opera “Das Rheingold,” where after the rising glissando, Thor beats with his hammer. George Martin said in his 1979 book All You Need is Ears that the glissando was Lennon’s idea. After Lennon’s death, Martin seems to have changed his mind. In his 1995 book Summer of Love: The Making of Sgt. Pepper, he states that the rising orchestra-glissando was McCartney’s idea. (thanks to Johan Cavalli, who is a music historian in Stockholm)

After the final note, Lennon had producer George Martin dub in a high pitched tone, which most humans can’t hear, but drives dogs crazy.

In 2004, McCartney did an interview with the Daily Mirror newspaper where he said he was doing cocaine around this time along with marijuana: “I’d been introduced to it, and at first it seemed OK, like anything that’s new and stimulating. When you start working your way through it, you start thinking, ‘This is not so cool and idea,’ especially when you start getting those terrible comedowns.”

The movie reference is to a film Lennon acted in called How I Won The War.

Keith Richards named his second son Tara after Tara Brown, the Guinness heir who smashes his car in Lennon’s first verse. Richard’s son was premature and died soon after birth.

The Beatles started this with the working title “In The Life of…”

A few seconds after this ends, at the end of the album, there is a loop of incomprehensible Beatles studio chatter that was spliced together. This was put there so vinyl copies would play this continuously in the run-out groove, sounding like something went horribly wrong with the record. Kids, ask your parents about vinyl.

That’s Mal Evans doing the counting during the first transition from John to Paul. He set the alarm clock (heard on the recording) to go off at the end of his 24-bar count. Evans also helped with the composition of a couple of songs on the Sgt. Pepper album. Although he never received composer’s credit, the Beatles did pay his estate a lump sum in the 1990s for his contributions. Evans died January 5, 1976 after a misunderstanding with the police. (thanks, Brad Wind – Miami, FL)

A car dealer and Beatle friend Terry Doran helped come up with the lyric, “Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall.” (thanks, Jes – Mason City, IA)

In the original take, a 41 piece orchestra was not used. Instead, Lennon had roadie Mal Evans count to 21 in a very trippy manner and set off an alarm clock after the 21 counts. This version is on the 2nd Anthology CD, and is a very different version than the one on Sgt. Pepper. (thanks, Emery – San Jose, CA)

David Crosby was at Abbey Road studios when The Beatles were recording this. In an interview with Filter magazine, he said: “I was, as near as I know, the first human being besides them and George Martin and the engineers to hear A Day In The Life. I was high as a kite – so high I was hunting geese with a rake. They sat me down; they had huge speakers like coffins with wheels on that they rolled up on either side of the stool. By the time it got the end of that piano chord, man my brains were on the floor.” (thanks, Brian – Williamsburg, VA)

The orchestral bit was used in the Yellow Submarine movie. Photos of different geographical areas were shown as The Beatles were apparently traveling in the submarine to try and find Pepperland. (thanks, donald – as, KY)

When asked by Rolling Stone magazine what songs of his dad’s constantly surprise him, Sean Lennon said: “I’ve listened so much to that stuff that there are very few surprises. But I do think ‘A Day In The Life’ is always inspiring.”

George Martin (from Q Magazine, July 2007): “John’s voice – which he hated – was the kind of thing that would send shivers down your spine. If you hear those opening chords with the guitar and piano, and then his voice comes in, ‘I heard the news today, oh boy’ It’s just so evocative of that time. He always played his songs to me on the guitar and I would sit on a stool as he strummed. The orchestral section was Paul’s idea. We put two pieces of songs together that weren’t connected in any way. Then we had that 24-bars-of-nothing in between. I had to write a score, but in the climax, I gave each instrument different little waypoints at each bar, so they would know roughly where they should be when they were sliding up. Just so they didn’t reach the climax too quickly. With A Day In The Life, I wondered whether we were losing our audience and I was scared. But I stopped being scared when I played it to the head of Capitol Records in America and he was gob smacked. He said, That’s fantastic. And of course, it was.” (thanks, Edward Pearce – Ashford, Kent, England)

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Anyway, I noticed that the last few of my post are all about selling Beatles memorabilia and Beatles stuff… And now, here’s what I’ve read… Sgt. Pepper’s Drum Skin Sells for more that A million dollar on a july 10 Auction!

Here’s the details:

The drum skin which appears on the famous front cover of The Beatles’ 1967 album ‘Sgt Pepper’ has sold for a massive £541,250 (over $1million) at an auction in London.

The skin was sold at Christie’s Auction House in the capital yesterday (July 10) for almost four times the estimated price. It was part of a large rock memorabilia auction which also featured Jimi Hendrix, The Who and Ella Fitzgerald lots.

The second highest bid of the day was for the lyrics to ‘Give Piece A Chance’ handwritten by John Lennon which sold for £421,250. They were originally given to writer Gail Renard when Lennon and Yoko Ono were staging their ‘bed-in’ in Montreal in 1969.

Also up for sale was a series of never-seen-before Beatles photographs and a pair of sunglasses worn by John Lennon on the sleeve to ‘Mind Games’ which went for £39,000.

Elsewhere, a Gibson guitar once owned by Pete Townshend shifted for £32,450, a rare live recording of Jimi Hendrix in 1968 went for £48,050.

I wonder if any of the event can be viewed on Utube… Beatles lyrics or should I say John Lennon’s “Give peace a chance” lyrics also sold out for $833,654 something.. wow!

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