The Beatles Box Set- Seven years in the making, two hundred and six songs. Thirteen original albums plus two CDs worth of medley. Yes! the complete recorded works of the Beatles.
The Beatles Stereo Box Set
Remastered by Guy Massey, Steve Rooke, Sam Okell with Paul Hicks and Sean Magee. All 13 Studio remasters plus Past Masters (digi packaging with digital mini documentaries)
Who could have ever thought it would have been possible? 09/09/09 has become a red-letter date in the history of Beatle-dom. It could be the repetitive nature of the phrase "Number Nine, Number Nine" featured in the track "Revolution 9" from "The White Album". Or, even the bit of dialogue "dial 9-9-9" from the 1965 motion picture "Help!" However, 09/09/09 has become important for a far better reason
Compare the end of "Within You", the most egregious change - the mono has a braying laugh that George Harrison chose to ridicule anyone who would laugh at his serious message; George Martin inserted instead the light laughter of a handful of people which in effect gently mocks Harrison, exactly the opposite of his intention. It was reported Harrison was shocked when he heard the stereo, long after it was issued.
All in all, this collection is right now the definitive history of the biggest rock band in history, and deserves its place in musical history.If you grew up with The Beatles as I did, you will connect strongly with this anthology. It couldn't be better since we finally have a biography spoken from Paul, John, George, & Ringos perspective. The honesty offered from them in regard to the past, their music, their lives, and travels is surprising and a refreshing standpoint from all of the written material available. The reunion with the remaining three at the time was as touching as it gets and made me realize, this was a retrospective of not only their lives....but mine. They have no idea the positive impact they had on my life and I will eternally be grateful for that. This is a MUST have for all Beatles fans even if you didn't grow up with them. The information it provides will certainly bring you closer than you could ever be, and its worth every minute.
Limited Edition Ultimate Collectors Box: Beatles iPod Set. The ultimate Beatles collectors gift. Includes a numbered 120G video iPod in classic black, etched with the Beatles logo on the front and Abbey Road on the back. Includes 13 original Beatles CDs, plus two masters and the "Love" CD. Also included is an engraved guitar pick. Packaged in a box designed by Psycho Bunny. Only 2500 available. Catalog Item Number: 64934Exclusively at Bloomingdales Limited Edition. 2500 available. Each iPod is etched with a number. Comes with a metal card stating authenticity.Abbey Road Beatles for Sale The Beatles (The White Album); 2 disc setA Hard Days Night (British)Help! (British)Let It Be Magical Mystery TourPlease Please MeRevolver (British)Rubber Soul (British)Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band With the Beatles Yellow Submarine Love Past Masters Volume 1Past Masters Volume 2
CDs packaged in three panel digi-pak with digital mini documentaries
Digitally remastered 17 disc box set (16 CDs + DVD) containing all 14 original Beatles albums released between 1963 and 1970 plus the two CD Past Masters collection of non-album tracks and a bonus DVD containing all the mini documentaries that can be found as enhanced tracks on each of the individual CD releases. The documentaries contain archival footage, rare photographs and never-before-heard studio chat from The Beatles, offering a unique and very personal insight into the studio atmosphere. The albums have been remastered at Abbey Road Studios in London utilizing state of the art recording technology alongside vintage studio equipment, carefully maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the original analogue recordings. Within the CDs new packaging, the booklet includes detailed historical notes along with informative recording notes. Capitol.
The sound quality improvement is barely noticeable in comparison to the old CDs. The Beatles needed a new mix, not a new master. Instead of a new, flawless experience like the one to be found on the Yellow Submarine Songtrack disc, which remixed the tracks into "proper" "modern" stereo, these discs still use the old "ping-pong" extreme stereo separation found on prior releases. I have to shake my head and almost laugh when I compare "Eleanor Rigby" off of Yellow Submarine Songtrack to the remaster of Revolver - a CD released ten years ago does a better job, BY FAR!
From what Ive read elsewhere, even the people who remastered the albums themselves mention the hardest part was not being allowed to go in and properly remix the tracks. If the people who fixed these up themselves admit to this problem, you know something isnt right with Apples marketing strategy. I dont really understand the concept here - the problem with the old CDs, to me, was never the quality of the master, but the cheap, pan-less, different-than-any-other-band stereo separation. If the intention is to release the "coveted" original stereo mixes, followed a few years from now with fully and properly mixed tracks, Ill wait. Im going to give my set away as a gift as its not worth it to me. Giles, George, where are you guys, and why would you do this to us?
If you're looking to hear the Beatles in good sound quality, buy the Yellow Submarine Songtrack. If you can stand a little bit of mashing, pick up the Love cd. Otherwise, wait until they do things right.
