Beatles cigarettes airbrushed out

[I am the Paulrus]

Capitol Records have air-brushed cigarettes from an original picture featured on the cover of a Beatles four-CD box set, in a bid to fit in with more health-conscious times.

The Capitol Albums, Vol 2 - which marks the first appearance on CD of the US versions of Rubber Soul, the Help! soundtrack, The Early Beatles and Beatles Vi - will see the Fab Four's former tobacco habit and two of Ringo Starr's fingers magically erased.

Previous Beatles reissues have also had their artwork changed - when I Want To Hold Your Hand was re-released in 1984 by EMI records, Sir Paul McCartney's cigarette was removed from the original cover.

A US poster company also digitally removed the same Beatle's cigarette from its poster of the 1969 album Abbey Road three years ago.

[walrus_mania67]

Yeah, I saw an article about this under the headline "Fag Four" in The Sun today. I think it's a bit ridiculous really. Everybody knows that they used to smoke and if you asked either Paul or Ringo they would admit it themselves but then say they gave up. It's not as if they're setting a bad example or anything, it's just what they used to do. The Abbey Road one is particularly stupid. I mean, that's an iconic photo for God's sake. It's like giving Paul shoes, or putting John in a pink suit instead of a white one. It's just silly.

[Rellevart]

I agree that it's silly. To pretend that things in the past didn't happen or to try to judge anything that happened 40 years ago by today's standards is just ridiculous. Leave the cigarettes in the photos. It's just idiotic to get rid of them.

[Georgie Girl]

Or get some of that hair off George, why don't they? :rolleyes:

[feelfab]

Stupid, I agree. Let's all pretend that anything from the past that was silly or makes us uncomfortable just didn't happen.

[rubbersoulster_mel]

I believe this is the second time the cigarettes in this picture have been taken out digitally for a cover… the first time being the cover of the Real Love single in 1996. The whole idea of retouching this picture (or, god forbid, the Abbey Road cover) to remove the cigarettes is ludicrous.

The funny thing is that I see that picture, cigarettes and all, everyday because I have a postcard of it up on my desk. Frankly, I find the original background with the big scary swirly eye far more disturbing than the cigarettes. :laugh5:

http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/2892/t65rw606bj.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[I am the Paulrus]

I understand where you all are coming from...but let's remember dear, sweet George who died from smoking cigarettes.These people just want to protect the younger generation from these horrid cancer sticks. My mom's best friend's husband died from smoking so it has hit home for me.

[Rellevart]

I understand where you all are coming from...but let's remember dear, sweet George who died from smoking cigarettes.These people just want to protect the younger generation from these horrid cancer sticks. My mom's best friend's husband died from smoking so it has hit home for me.

Yeah, I get that, but really do people start smoking because they see a 40 year old photo of somebody else smoking? I mean, EVERYBODY smoked in 30's and 40's movies, but growing up in the 70's, that never made me go "I must smoke because they did". I guess I think today's kids are smart enough to think "They smoked because that's what people did back then, but they didn't know what we know now...."

[feelfab]

Yeah, I get that, but really do people start smoking because they see a 40 year old photo of somebody else smoking? I mean, EVERYBODY smoked in 30's and 40's movies, but growing up in the 70's, that never made me go "I must smoke because they did". I guess I think today's kids are smart enough to think "They smoked because that's what people did back then, but they didn't know what we know now...."
I agree with you--- it occurs to me that if they airbrush out the ciggies in all the pictures, kids in the future will think everyone had something wrong with their hands because they held they fingers funny.

[wednesdaymorning]

I agree with you--- it occurs to me that if they airbrush out the ciggies in all the pictures, kids in the future will think everyone had something wrong with their hands because they held they fingers funny.

:laugh5: That's what I was thinking, exactly. And airbrushing the Abbey Road cover would be a sin!

[joenamherst]

I read about 'smoking is no longer cool' in todays USA Today. I immediately fired off an e-mail to the articles author. I told him that I haven't smoked in 35 years. I informed him of the airbrushing. He apparently did not know about the death sticks being removed from Beatles albums. The main point that I made was that I hate to see history meddled with.......especially Fab history. He sent back that he agrees with me and sent my e-mail to their music people.