Spotify album: 1969 Recordings by The Beatles
Spotify screenshot
It was recently discovered that The Beatles had released a streaming album called 1969 Recordings on Spotify. (It is there, but it’s hidden. You won’t find it under “The Beatles”, but here is a direct link to it.) It’s currently not playable.
This had been published on 23 December 2019, and the reason for compiling this album was more than likely to keep these recordings under copyright.
As you might remember from the 2013 release of a similar compilation of 1963 recordings, the tracks would have fallen out of copyright in the EU and into the public domain after 50 years, but only if they had not seen an official release. So why did the Beatles only release the 1963 recordings compilation in 2013 and the 1969 recordings compilation in 2019 and not 1964-1968 recordings compilations in the years between these two? Or maybe they are there, but hidden like this one?
Anyway, with the fiftieth anniversary of the Let It Be film and album coming up in 2020, Apple and Universal must have agreed that it made sense to somehow release the hitherto unreleased recordings that they wanted to use i Peter Jackson’s new “Get Back” documentary, as well as in a fiftieth anniversary “Let It Be” boxed set of sorts. The compilation now exists only as a list, and is not playable, although at some point – probably for a short time just after publication – they were probably playable, only for the recordings to stay copyrighted. The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and the Beach Boys also all released 1969 copyright extension collections in 2019.
Artwork for one of the “Get Back” versions of the “Let It Be” album.
The compilation comprises 49 tracks, lasting in total 2 hours and 37 minutes. It starts with 15 tracks of one of the aborted “Get Back” album compilations that Glyn Johns did, this one is his second variation from May 1969.
1. One After 909 – «Get Back» LP May 1969 (3:06)
2. I’m Ready – «Get Back» LP May 1969 (0:46) (previously called “Rocker” on bootlegs of this album)
3. Save The Last Dance For Me/Don’t Let Me Down – «Get Back» LP May 1969 (1:16)
4. Don’t Let Me Down – «Get Back» LP May 1969 (4:09)
5. Dig A Pony – «Get Back» LP May 1969 (4:05)
6. I’ve Got A Feeling – «Get Back» LP May 1969 (2:53)
7. Get Back – «Get Back» LP May 1969 (3:14)
8. For You Blue – «Get Back» LP May 1969 (2:47)
9. Teddy Boy – «Get Back» LP May 1969 (3:42)
10. Two Of Us – «Get Back» LP May 1969 (3:30)
11. Maggie Mae – «Get Back» LP May 1969 (0:39)
12. Dig It – «Get Back» LP May 1969 (4:24)
13. Let It Be – «Get Back» LP May 1969 (3:54)
14. The Long And Winding Road – «Get Back» LP May 1969 (3:43)
15. Get Back – Reprise – «Get Back» LP May 1969 (0:41)
16. All Things Must Pass – Rehearsal 3 January 1969 (3:58)
17. I Me Mine – 8 January 1969 (1:37)
18. Suzy Parker (aka Suzy’s Parlour) – 9 January 1969 (2:07)
19. Oh! Darling – Paul’s solo performance (4:18)
20. Don’t Let Me Down – 22 January 1969 (3:30)
21. Two Of Us – 24 January 1969 (3:20)
22. I Lost My Little Girl – 24 January 1969 (2:14)
23. For You Blue – Take 1 – 25 January 1969 (2:23)
24. For You Blue – Take 3 – 25 January 1969 (2:31)
25. For You Blue – Take 4 – 25 January 1969 (2:50)
26. For You Blue – Take 11 – 25 January 1969 (2:37)
27. For You Blue – Take 13 – 25 January 1969 (2:34)
28. Let It Be – 26 January 1969 (3:44)
29. Medley: Rip It Up/Shake, Rattle and Roll – 26 January 1969 (2:10)
30. Medley: Kansas City/Miss Ann/Lawdy Miss Clawdy – 26 January 1969 (3:56)
31. Blue Suede Shoes – 26 January 1969 (2:12)
32. I Told You Before – 26. January 1969 (5:49)
33. The Walk – 27 January 1969 (0:54)
34. I’ve Got A Feeling – 27 January 1969 (3:37)
35. Get Back – 27 January 1969 (3:50)
36. Dig A Pony – 28 January 1969 (3:59)
37. Something – 28 January 1969 (8:59)
38. One After 909 – 29 January 1969 (3:26)
39. Medley: Cannonball/Not Fade Away/Hey Little Girl/Bo Diddley – 30 January 1969 (4:25)
40. Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues – 29 January 1969 (1:32)
41. Get Back – First Roof Performance – 30 January 1969 (4:24)
42. Get Back – Second Roof Performance – 30 January 1969 (3:34)
43. Don’t Let Me Down – First Roof Performance – 30 January 1969 (3:30)
44. God Save The Queen – Roof Performance – 30 January 1969 (0:26)
45. I’ve Got A Feeling – Second Roof Performance – 30 January 1969 (5:32)
46. Don’t Let Me Down – Second Roof Performance – 30 January 1969 (3:33)
47. The Long And Winding Road – 31 January 1969 (3:54)
48. All Things Must Pass – George’s Demo (3:51)
49. Something – Take 37 (3:01)
©2019 Apple Corps Limited
This Compilation ℗ 2019 Calderstone Productions Limited (a division of Universal Music Group)
An advance pressed disc containing one of the “Get Back” versions of the album was sent to some U.S. radio stations
Of course now that the fans have found out about this unavailable “release”, speculations about the purpose of the recordings and what the delayed “Let It Be” anniversary celebrations will look like abound.
I got to it on Spotify but out will not stream
The compilation now exists only as a list, and is not playable, although at some point – probably for a short time just after publication – they were probably playable, only for the recordings to stay copyrighted.
Similar releases by The Beach Boys are wonderful compilations by the way. Very rich in sound and available songs.
What was the Stones one? Was it from the band themselves or was it from ABKCO? Both Beggars Banquet and Let It Bleed came without any bonus tracks with their 50th reissues. Same goes for Satanic Majesties in 2017. I am wondering if it was live stuff from Mick Taylor’s first tour in 69, or the last recordings Brian Jones was involved in from from the Banquet and Bleed sessions?
The Stones stuff is indeed ABKCO. However, most of it is either glitched or of bootleg quality. Some great gems though. And the Stones stuff is still out there. Whereas the Beatles stash in nowhere to be found.
Maybe it always was just a list. Either that or the songs were available for about half an hour. Because nobody knows about this. Steve Hoffman also only found out today and many Beatles fansites and bootleggers I know of also have next to no info about this. If that’s the case, then Apple/UMG have been pretty snide.
It is sneaky, snide and annoying. Those that were around in 2013 when the 1963 bootleg compilation was released, at a ridiculous price, will know how it was, with it being available for very short time. It’s still available on iTunes. This is a slap in the face of all those (including me) who bought the ‘Pepper’, ‘WA’, ‘Abbey Road’ releases.
It’s time the Beatles had their own spotify like site with all this and more! Including solo, Apple, video,
live, radio, TV, outakes, older released mixes, outtakes and so on
There are other Stones/ABKCO tracks that were put out for ‘copyright preservation’. These range from 1965 to 1968. Also two 71 tracks including a beautiful ‘Wild Horses’ with strings and glass harmonica.
Spotify shows each track was played fewer than 1,000 times. If barely anyone heard it, was it really ‘released’?
On the other hand, this has to be a good indication of what we can expect to see on any future LIB box set.
I tried to reply to this at the time but it didn’t work. Presumably this compilation was released on the understanding that any material from 1970 didn’t need to be included, since it would be released in a boxset in 2020 anyway. As that didn’t happen, are they going to have to do another one of these shortly?
There’s a lot of good stuff missing. At least 40 interesting ones, If this is the release; It will be very disappointing. This is available on ebay. George Martin was not the main producer here. I hope that Giles does a proper job and checks the bootlegs.