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The Beatles
The Capitol Albums
Volume One
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What can be said about the four titles gathered on this collection other than 'What took so long?'. Even though the Beatles catalogue has been on CD since the late 1980s, Meet The Beatles! (1964), The Beatles' Second Album (1964), Something New (1964) and Beatles '65 (1964) are just being made available for the first time in the history of the medium. In North America these were roughly equivalent to the British releases With The Beatles (1963), A Hard Days Night (1964) and about half of Beatles For Sale (1965).
The biggest disparity between the US and UK editions is that Stateside the albums were offered in stereophonic (or a pseudo stereo that Capitol Records called "duophonic") as well as monaural. While the average listener might consider such attention to detail unusual, Beatle-maniacs are nothing short of connoisseurs and The Beatles were certainly not your run-of-the-mill boy band. Each disc duplicates the running order mixed for in stereo and then mono, replicating the sound that enthusiasts were born and bred on. Those intimately familiar with the material will be happy to note the consideration paid to the little sonic anomalies omitted on all other editions. For instance, John Lennon's harmonica accompaniment on The Beatles Second Album entry "Thank You Girl"-- which is different only on the US pressings -- is restored.
Similarly, the mono Something New retains the 'long' version of "I'll Cry Instead" with a repeat of the first verse. Other easy to spot examples include "She's A Woman"and "I Feel Fine" from Beatles '65, which are once again baptized in pre-psychedelic echo, radically altering the vibe of both. Equal attentiveness is given to recreating the vintage artwork, right down to Capitol Records' signature "File Under: The Beatles" tab in the upper right-hand corner. The typeface and graphics on the CDs themselves reflect many of the classic elements -- including the silver lettering, multi-coloured 'rainbow' outer label, not to mention the quaint parenthetical "Recorded in England" subscript. In addition to the four miniaturized LP jackets, there is a 48-page booklet with lots of rarely reproduced photos and Capitol Records-related ephemera, all housed in a larger cardboard sleeve.
As this is Vol. 1, presumably The Early Beatles (1965), Beatles VI (1965), Help! (1965), Rubber Soul (1965), Yesterday And Today (1965), Revolver (1966) and -- if were lucky -- the odds and ends compile Hey Jude (1970) will follow in future instalments, hopefully sooner than later.
Release Date: November 16, 2004
Tracks: 45 - 4CD
Produced by: Various
Format: CD Box
Website: www.thebeatles.com
Track Listing:
Disc One: Meet the Beatles! -
I Want to Hold Your Hand / I Saw Her Standing There / This Boy / It Won't Be Long / All I've Got to Do / All My Loving / Don't Bother Me / Little Child/ Til There Was You / Hold Me Tight / I Wanna Be Your Man / Not a Second Time.
Disc Two: The Beatles' Second Album -
Roll Over Beethoven / Thank You Girl / You Really Got a Hold On Me / Devin in Her Heart / Money (Alternate Version to UK Release) / You Can't Do That / Long Tall Sally / I Call Your Name / Please Mr Postman / I'll Get You / She Loves You.
Disc Three: Something New -
I'll Cry Instead / Things We Said Today / Any Time At All / When We Get Home / Slow Down / Matchbox / Tell Me Why / And I Love Her / I'm Happy Just to Dance With You / If I Fell / Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand ( I Want to Hold Your Hand).
Disc Four: Beatles '65 -
No Reply / I'm a Loser / Baby's in Black / Rock and Roll Music / I'll Follow the Sun / Mr Moonlight / Honey Don't / I'll Be Back / She's a Woman / I Feel Fine / Everybody's Trying to be My Baby.
The Beatles:
John Lennon - Vocals / Guitar
George Harrison - Vocals / Guitar
Ringo Starr - Vocals / Drums
Paul McCartney - Vocals / Bass.
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