The Beatles Anthology revival
In recent years people have posted in internet forums and social media (and Andrew from Parlogram vlogged) that The Beatles Anthology TV series from 1995, later released on videocassettes, laserdiscs and DVDs, deserves an upgrade. It is not available in a Blu-ray edition or streaming platforms, for instance.
Upscaling the image in old videos is something that is currently being worked on, just look at Paul McCartney’s old Wings videos that have now appeared on YouTube in 4K resolution. George Harrison’s music videos also appear on YouTube now in better quality than they were in “The Dark Horse Years” DVD that came out in 2007. John Lennon’s videos are also being released in increasingly better resolution, and those are also getting new audio mixes.
25th anniversary softcover edition.
Maybe that’s what’s going on now, at least an anniversary edition of the book that came out after the series has been announced. Derek Taylor had the job of putting the book together, but passed away before the work was completed. The book was finally published in 2000, and that is why the 25th anniversary is now being celebrated with a new edition on October 14 in the US, November 20 in Europe – well before Christmas.
In the description, the book has the same number of pages as it’s 2000 printing, so don’t expect anything new. The text is great, culled as it is from loads of interviews with the members of the band, telling the story of The Beatles from their perspectives. But the layout is horrible, making two page spreads of great photos, marring them with the middle joint or putting handwritten text on top of photos. The size of the book doesn’t make it particularly reader-friendly, either.
Back in 2000, the book was translated into several languages for foreign editions, we don’t expect that this time around.
From the press release:
“The landmark international bestseller ― The Beatles’ own story, in their own words ― reissued on the 25th anniversary of its first publication.
“From their years growing up in Liverpool through their ride to fame to their ultimate breakup, here’s the inside story. Interwoven with The Beatles’ own memories are the recollections of such associates as road manager Neil Aspinall, producer George Martin, and spokesman Derek Taylor. The Beatles Anthology is a once-in-a-lifetime volume: warm, frank, funny, poignant, and bold―just like the music that’s been a part of so many of our lives.
“The Beatles Anthology is, for the first time, the story of The Beatles by The Beatles. Created with the full cooperation of Paul, George, Ringo, and Yoko Ono Lennon, it also includes the words of John, painstakingly compiled from sources worldwide. The Beatles Anthology is, in effect, The Beatles autobiography.
“The Beatles Anthology features over 1300 images, most previously unpublished. Paul, George, Ringo, and Yoko Ono Lennon all opened their own archives just for this project, as did Apple, EMI, and others long associated with The Beatles, allowing the unprecedented release of photographs, documents, and other memorabilia from their homes and offices. The result is an extraordinary wealth of visual material brimming on each and every page.”
Amazon links:
U.K. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beatles-Anthology-25th-Anniversary-Reissue/dp/1797241486
U.S.A. https://www.amazon.com/Beatles-Anthology-25th-Anniversary-Reissue/dp/1797241486
A ver si reeditan los álbumes remasterizados… Y ya podían incluir en el tercero ‘Now and then’ para completarlo
As everyone knows and has seen, technology has come a long was in improving old film and its audio. I suspect that there exists additional archive material that could not be used due to its degraded or low-quality state that could be added to the Anthology project. Wouldn’t it be nice to see Shea Stadium and some other Beatle concert footage in better condition that what we have seen? Now it could be “The Beatles Anthology 2025-Directors Cut Blu-ray” HDR Dolby with added bonus material!
I wish!
Anything from film can be converted into 4K+ resolution, even when just from 16mm, and just look outstanding. Issue is with videotapes, you cannot do miracles but, after seeing that footage from 90s sessions in Now and Then video, perhaps there’s hope for a nice upscale.
It could be a great re-issue. But would they add the footage from the ‘Director’s Cut’ bootleg? Like the four Beatles faces made into one titles, and George’s bluntly honest comments about Yoko and her presence? Also, the end was vague and the split was avoided. There was no mention of the now infamous September 20th 1969 meeting and John’s request for a ‘divorce’. The April 10th 1970 Daily Mirror cover story and its aftermath were also left out. There’s also the three man ‘I Me Mine’ session, which really was their last activity as a band before the Jeff Lynne sessions in 94.. According to the Anthology series, they did ‘Abbey Road’ and that was it. The story didn’t end there.
There’s also Peter Jackson’s MAL and his own knowhow. I’m sure he would love to work on it, if he was asked.