19 thoughts on “The Beatles Now and Then & Red And Blue Albums Details Announced”
I don’t see the point of new expanded versions of the Red / Blue albums. I do think Now And Then should be put into the Anthology as originally intended.
Things We Said Today I'll Follow The Sun Rain Love You To For No One She's Leaving Home Blue Jay Way Baby I'm A Rich Man The Inner Light Happiness Is A Warm Gun I Will Helter Skelter Cry Baby Cary Because You Never Give Me Your Money Golden Slumbers Carry That Weight The End Free As A Bird Real Love The above listed songs would make a greater album than almost any other band's greatest hits compilation and yet none of these songs are included on the new and expanded albums. My point isn't just that it's unfortunate that none of these songs are included, but rather that The Beatles were so great and prolific that even a 75 song compilation isn't enough.
For the most part this is awesome. I LOVE that the older material uses the de mixing technology and we get newer mixes (well needed). I also love that the 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 & 2022 mixes are being used too for the later material. There was NO reason for Giles to remix the newer mixes with exception of the early material remixed in 2015 for the 1 album. Thumbs up Apple for sticking to this otherwise there would be confusion over the newer mixes. The older material on the remixed 1 DID need to be redone with the de mixing technology to center the drums etc. My ONLY gripe is Real Love and Free As A Bird aren’t on this compilation in new glorious stereo 😂. Overall A for apple on this release.
TJR, you know in the end you’re buying it! The 2023 mix of Revolution and I am the walrus is worth the price of admission alone. Also, how can you give an honest genuine review without actually owning the sets. You will definitely cave in…
If you’re willing to buy Rubber Soul why would you not buy this? It has over 20 songs with the 2023 new mixes. I guess the outtakes but.. You’ll cave.. lol
Even if you buy all the albums for future remixes it won’t have Revolution and other singles exclusive to this set.
I am not looking forward to "Now and Then". Why? Did you know that Sir Macca didn't think that George Harrison should have played slide guitar on "Free As A Bird" because it wouldn't have properly "recaptured" The Beatles modus operandi of over fifty years back? (George Harrison only got heavy into slide after The Beatles) Luckily, Mr. H went ahead and did it anyway… which to my ears is what makes the track shine, even in its original dirge-like tempo.
So big deal there's still G.H. playing some guitar on the recording, along with Mr. Lennon's AI'ed voice. It's still was Mr. McCartney calling the final shots, to which end is basically putting out something Beatlesgue enough to make us plebes willing to spend hundreds of dollars for upcoming "Beatle" products.
I think that we diehard Beatles fans are very much on the backburner with this one.
Although these updated albums are getting a physical release, I think the real emphasis here is on streaming and making the most popular Beatles songs available to stream in high quality mixes that sound contemporary.
They are uninterested in giving the established fans what they want, like Free As Bird, Real Love and Rubber Soul, because they don't feature in what is their current focus, which is broadening the appeal of The Beatles.
Lots of young people like The Beatles, but there also exists a huge demographic of young people who won't listen to music that sounds 'old'.
Young people are used to music in which the bass and drums are at the forefront, so Beatles music, particularly their early work, will sound quaint and occasionally 'wimpy' to their ears.
Queen have enjoyed success with appealing to younger people, because their music wasn't subjected to the limitations of early sixties technology, and things had advanced enormously by the 70s and 80s, so their music sounds closer to modern music when heard by the ears of younger people.
As crazy as it seems, as it stands right now, I suspect that a few Wings songs, like Jet and Band On The Run would appeal more to that demographic of younger people than early Beatles stuff, simply because you can hear the bass and drums pumping on those Wings numbers.
It's no accident that the most streamed Beatles song is Here Comes The Sun, from the last album they recorded, featuring the most advanced recording equipment they were ever to use, and which features the most modern sounding drums and bass of any of their recordings.
That song would not sound out of place alongside modern songs, whereas several of their early songs in their original mixes would.
If an average vinyl LP can go anywhere nowadays for 20 to 30 dollars…i think the what 75 dollar price is reasonable, considering you are getting added tracks and added mixes. Oh well I'm a Beatles collector 1st generation fanatic will get it. I'm actually still pissed about the cost of the McCartney Singles Collection, that too me was a total robbery do to that they set such a limited amount, thus getting the much higher cost.
I agree, and I know a lot of Beatles fans all over the world also agree on that; that they are disappointed that «Free as a Bird» and «Real Love» wasn’t remastered an re-released, and think that they should have been. And many fans (not me, though) has mentioned that they wanted a CD single of «Now and Then». But, I guess Glies Martin will hear that from a lot of people, and hopefully, he would do a single EP for «Now and Then», including «Free as a Bird», «Real Love» and even «Carnival of Light» as well. That would have been a GREAT EP release! What do you think?
Using AI to achieve the greater separation of tracks for Revolver and presumably Rubber Soul, makes me wonder if they will go back to Sgt Pepper at some point for another remix.
I've pre ordered the four cd box set and the 7" single and I can't wait to hear this final song from what to my mind is the greatest, most innovative and influential band of all time. I still have my copies of The Red and Blue albums that I got as birthday and Christmas gifts off my parents way back in '76 when I first became a Beatles fan and these two albums were my gateway into all of this fantastic music. Looking forward to hearing the new mixes of all the early stuff like she loves you and this boy. The pricing is a bone of contention to some degree with my fellow fans here in the UK, and over here there is quite a stir about the single on cassette rather than CD. (in fact here the CD is having a bit of a revival as sales of this physical format have gone up for the first time in nearly six years) I do think that all the various coloured vinyl editions of the single are a bit much and is there purely to wring out every last pound/dollar from the fans. But all this aside we have so much to look forward to, and what's most important of all is the music, I just know it's going to sound fantastic.
I don’t see the point of new expanded versions of the Red / Blue albums. I do think Now And Then should be put into the Anthology as originally intended.
Things We Said Today
I'll Follow The Sun
Rain
Love You To
For No One
She's Leaving Home
Blue Jay Way
Baby I'm A Rich Man
The Inner Light
Happiness Is A Warm Gun
I Will
Helter Skelter
Cry Baby Cary
Because
You Never Give Me Your Money
Golden Slumbers
Carry That Weight
The End
Free As A Bird
Real Love
The above listed songs would make a greater album than almost any other band's greatest hits compilation and yet none of these songs are included on the new and expanded albums.
My point isn't just that it's unfortunate that none of these songs are included, but rather that The Beatles were so great and prolific that even a 75 song compilation isn't enough.
For the most part this is awesome. I LOVE that the older material uses the de mixing technology and we get newer mixes (well needed). I also love that the 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 & 2022 mixes are being used too for the later material. There was NO reason for Giles to remix the newer mixes with exception of the early material remixed in 2015 for the 1 album. Thumbs up Apple for sticking to this otherwise there would be confusion over the newer mixes. The older material on the remixed 1 DID need to be redone with the de mixing technology to center the drums etc. My ONLY gripe is Real Love and Free As A Bird aren’t on this compilation in new glorious stereo 😂. Overall A for apple on this release.
TJR, you know in the end you’re buying it! The 2023 mix of Revolution and I am the walrus is worth the price of admission alone. Also, how can you give an honest genuine review without actually owning the sets. You will definitely cave in…
Doby Atmos is always streaming only nowadays.
If you’re willing to buy Rubber Soul why would you not buy this? It has over 20 songs with the 2023 new mixes. I guess the outtakes but.. You’ll cave.. lol
Even if you buy all the albums for future remixes it won’t have Revolution and other singles exclusive to this set.
I am not looking forward to "Now and Then". Why? Did you know that Sir Macca didn't think that George Harrison should have played slide guitar on "Free As A Bird" because it wouldn't have properly "recaptured" The Beatles modus operandi of over fifty years back? (George Harrison only got heavy into slide after The Beatles) Luckily, Mr. H went ahead and did it anyway… which to my ears is what makes the track shine, even in its original dirge-like tempo.
So big deal there's still G.H. playing some guitar on the recording, along with Mr. Lennon's AI'ed voice. It's still was Mr. McCartney calling the final shots, to which end is basically putting out something Beatlesgue enough to make us plebes willing to spend hundreds of dollars for upcoming "Beatle" products.
I am personally looking forward to a magical mystery tour remix and rerelease. Think of some of those songs.
Tomorrow Never Knows…and Hey Bulldog!!!!…is the best!!!
The Beatles are Forever!!!….it is The Greatest Band of all Time!!!……they are like a new band all the time!!!
I think that we diehard Beatles fans are very much on the backburner with this one.
Although these updated albums are getting a physical release, I think the real emphasis here is on streaming and making the most popular Beatles songs available to stream in high quality mixes that sound contemporary.
They are uninterested in giving the established fans what they want, like Free As Bird, Real Love and Rubber Soul, because they don't feature in what is their current focus, which is broadening the appeal of The Beatles.
Lots of young people like The Beatles, but there also exists a huge demographic of young people who won't listen to music that sounds 'old'.
Young people are used to music in which the bass and drums are at the forefront, so Beatles music, particularly their early work, will sound quaint and occasionally 'wimpy' to their ears.
Queen have enjoyed success with appealing to younger people, because their music wasn't subjected to the limitations of early sixties technology, and things had advanced enormously by the 70s and 80s, so their music sounds closer to modern music when heard by the ears of younger people.
As crazy as it seems, as it stands right now, I suspect that a few Wings songs, like Jet and Band On The Run would appeal more to that demographic of younger people than early Beatles stuff, simply because you can hear the bass and drums pumping on those Wings numbers.
It's no accident that the most streamed Beatles song is Here Comes The Sun, from the last album they recorded, featuring the most advanced recording equipment they were ever to use, and which features the most modern sounding drums and bass of any of their recordings.
That song would not sound out of place alongside modern songs, whereas several of their early songs in their original mixes would.
Robert Kinsler!!!
If an average vinyl LP can go anywhere nowadays for 20 to 30 dollars…i think the what 75 dollar price is reasonable, considering you are getting added tracks and added mixes. Oh well I'm a Beatles collector 1st generation fanatic will get it. I'm actually still pissed about the cost of the McCartney Singles Collection, that too me was a total robbery do to that they set such a limited amount, thus getting the much higher cost.
Ugliest cover of a single ever and for the very last new Beatles’ track?!?!? Red & Blue were only excuse to add the new song – Rubber Soul next pls.
I agree, and I know a lot of Beatles fans all over the world also agree on that; that they are disappointed that «Free as a Bird» and «Real Love» wasn’t remastered an re-released, and think that they should have been. And many fans (not me, though) has mentioned that they wanted a CD single of «Now and Then». But, I guess Glies Martin will hear that from a lot of people, and hopefully, he would do a single EP for «Now and Then», including «Free as a Bird», «Real Love» and even «Carnival of Light» as well. That would have been a GREAT EP release! What do you think?
I would have gone for a CD single if they did it like the Anthology singles and put on a handful of exclusive rare tracks but they didn't so pass.
Using AI to achieve the greater separation of tracks for Revolver and presumably Rubber Soul, makes me wonder if they will go back to Sgt Pepper at some point for another remix.
Target has the Red/Blue CDs for $27.99 each. Not bad at all. I really hope you buy the physical media as I enjoy those reviews by you.
I've pre ordered the four cd box set and the 7" single and I can't wait to hear this final song from what to my mind is the greatest, most innovative and influential band of all time. I still have my copies of The Red and Blue albums that I got as birthday and Christmas gifts off my parents way back in '76 when I first became a Beatles fan and these two albums were my gateway into all of this fantastic music. Looking forward to hearing the new mixes of all the early stuff like she loves you and this boy. The pricing is a bone of contention to some degree with my fellow fans here in the UK, and over here there is quite a stir about the single on cassette rather than CD. (in fact here the CD is having a bit of a revival as sales of this physical format have gone up for the first time in nearly six years) I do think that all the various coloured vinyl editions of the single are a bit much and is there purely to wring out every last pound/dollar from the fans. But all this aside we have so much to look forward to, and what's most important of all is the music, I just know it's going to sound fantastic.