Beatles Catalog To Be Remastered, Offered on iTunes

[taxman]

http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2006/04/11/beatles_catalog_to_be_remastered_offered

The Beatles entire back catalog will soon be available for download - but only when each track has been digitally remastered to perfection. Up until now, the Fab Four are one of the few acts to have resisted making their work available at the iTunes Music Store. They were similarly the last stars to release their catalog onto compact disc.
But the boss of their record label Apple Corps, Neil Aspinall, revealed the development in London's High Court, where the company is currently battling Apple Computer over its logo.

He said, "We're remastering the whole Beatles catalog, just to make it sound brighter and better and getting proper booklets to go with each of the packages. I think it would be wrong to offer downloads of the old masters when I am making new masters. It would be better to wait and try to do them both simultaneously so that you then get the publicity of the new masters and the downloading, rather than just doing it ad hoc."

[HMVNipper]

I was about to post this, taxman, and I see you got to it first...

Maybe this is the "big 2006 release" Neil was hinting at a couple of years ago that was being discussed here recently???

[LauraBC]

I read this earlier on Abbeyrd. The re-masters should sound great... but I'm not too keen on re-purchasing everything :tongue6:

[BeatleBonJoviFan]

I read this earlier on Abbeyrd. The re-masters should sound great... but I'm not too keen on re-purchasing everything :tongue6:

Yeah, I know what you mean. That's a lot of albums to buy! I guess I'll space it out, one a week or something like that.

[Pepperland Kamer]

I must say I am very surprised....and happy!

What a surprise,this sure came out of nowhere!!!!!!!

Although typical Apple, no release date. Hope were not left waiting years and years like that Let It Be dvd they supposedly have been working on.....

[rwbarnes]

Well, it's about time. I'm really blown away by the sound of the Capital version on Rubber Soul (that's the only one I've had a chance to listen to), so the whole Beatles catalog remastered will be great!!!

[erinluv182]

Hmmmm... I just hope they don't mess with things too much. I for one would be really sad if I couldn't hear Ringo's bass drum squeaking, or John coughing at the end of "Twist and Shout". But clearer and brighter sound is good. :) I trust Apple. They usually seem to do a very good job. Do us proud, Nell!

[LauraBC]

I must say I am very surprised....and happy!

What a surprise,this sure came out of nowhere!!!!!!!

Although typical Apple, no release date. Hope were not left waiting years and years like that Let It Be dvd they supposedly have been working on.....


Yeah, and the Help! DVD :afraid2:

[rubbersoulster_mel]

Yeah, I know what you mean. That's a lot of albums to buy! I guess I'll space it out, one a week or something like that.
Buying one a week sounds reasonable to me! :wink2: Of course, that's fairly close to how I bought them the first time around.

Too bad news like this is always accompanied by a nagging little pessimistic voice in my head that say "Don't hold your breath… it'll be years before that happens." (It's the same little voice that says "Let It Be DVD, where are you?!? No really, where are you?!? Don't you know I had to resort to a fuzzy bootleg?!?" :laugh5:) Still, having the word come straight from Neil gives me some hope.

[Pepperland Kamer]

Buying one a week sounds reasonable to me! :wink2: Of course, that's fairly close to how I bought them the first time around.

Too bad news like this is always accompanied by a nagging little pessimistic voice in my head that say "Don't hold your breath… it'll be years before that happens." (It's the same little voice that says "Let It Be DVD, where are you?!? No really, where are you?!? Don't you know I had to resort to a fuzzy bootleg?!?" :laugh5:) Still, having the word come straight from Neil gives me some hope.


Yea ,Neil saying it rather then just some random internet rumor does give it some credit, but still Paul himself has been saying that the LIB dvd is being worked on for years now!

[Batman]

OMG THIS IS HUGE NEWS!!! Now the only question is, what do I do with all the DESS bootlegs I have on my ipod, and, will these be in mono and stereo too?

[getback]

i'd have to think that sales of the remastered originals have and will be watered down by the capital set. i'm not thrilled w/ re-buying the catalog, but if they sound anything like LIBN, i'll be very curious and tempted. and imagine all the "old" B's cd's entering the used market!

[Ringo77]

Yes! Yes! Yes!!!!! This is finally what I've been waiting for!! If anyone has seen any of my other posts, then you know I've been pushing for this for a while now. But... does anyone know if it's going to be the British catalog??

[darkhorse]

Most likely the British catalogue. Hope so at least.

Remastered records, proper bootlegs, that's what people need these days. I hope they're not only available through downloads, though... as I'd like to have the CDs as well.

[62hofner]

Considering I am so focused on having the Capitol albums on CD (and I have to assume a Volume 3 will ultimately be offered), I will probably only buy "Sgt. Pepper" and upward of these re-mastered CD's if and whenever they are released.

Guess that will mean updating my iPod... small inconvenience for better sound.

[Ringo77]

Most likely the British catalogue. Hope so at least.

Remastered records, proper bootlegs, that's what people need these days. I hope they're not only available through downloads, though... as I'd like to have the CDs as well.

I think the way the article says, they're gonna be on CD's too.

[Zimmerman The Gnome]

Better late than never Apple.

[Ringo77]

I hope they'll be offered in jewel cases. I hate those cardboard sleeves (i.e. "The Capitol Albums") and those stupid digipaks (i.e. "Brainwashed").

The jewel cases protect the CD much better than that cheap cardboard.

[Zimmerman The Gnome]

I hope they'll be offered in jewel cases. I hate those cardboard sleeves (i.e. "All Things Must Pass") and those stupid digipaks (i.e. "Brainwashed").

The jewel cases protect the CD much better than that cheap cardboard.

I agree.

[Ringo77]

What do you guys think they'll do with Past Masters Vols. 1 & 2?? I simply MUST have those remastered as well!!

I hope they combine those on 1 disc.

[Pepperland Kamer]

I hope they'll be offered in jewel cases. I hate those cardboard sleeves (i.e. "The Capitol Albums") and those stupid digipaks (i.e. "Brainwashed").

The jewel cases protect the CD much better than that cheap cardboard.

I agree. I avoid thoses cardboard covers like the plague. (unless its in box sets like the Capitol albums). But for other artists, if a jewel case exists as well as a digipak, I go out of my way to get ir instead of the cardboard/digipak.

And past masters 1 & 2 wouln't fit on a single cd. unless its double sided...But I doubt they would do that...I'm sure they want to make as much $ as possible.

[Ringo77]

Double-sided CD's!!! I hate those too! Now you have to worry about taking care of both sides of the disc. I'm just really particular about the condition of my discs.

But anyway, back on topic. I'm really looking forward to this release. I wonder when it will be. This summer, maybe????

[Pepperland Kamer]

Double-sided CD's!!! I hate those too! Now you have to worry about taking care of both sides of the disc. I'm just really particular about the condition of my discs.

But anyway, back on topic. I'm really looking forward to this release. I wonder when it will be. This summer, maybe????

Yea not too much of a fan either, but if its something like a dual disc with video on one side, it is pretty good value. And there not any harder to take care of then standard cds. If you keep 'em in the case when not in use and don't scratch em up, they'll last.

As for release date, we can only speculate right now. I for one (well I'm not the only one who has this view actually) think the catalog will be re-released in 07 to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Pepper. After all they released the cds for the first time in 87 to celebrate the 20th anniversary, so it makes sense that they would market the re-release around that (along with the fact that the sound is better, and the songs will be made available for the first time online)
I personally wouldn't mind waiting another year for these, if they at least announce an official date so we have a particular time to look foward to, instead of having to keep guessing when...(although I know some want it now now NOW! but hey, if you waited this long, whats another year? A-365 days)

[See_How_They_Run]

lol....i didn't know this forum existed...oh well....now I'm here! anyway...hopefully Apple will fix their placeholder site sometime soon!

[Ringo77]

I CAN'T WAIT THAT LONG!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then again... another year might not be that bad. It will give me plenty of time to start putting back money so I can buy them all at once on the release date!

[AMBOISVERT]

I hope they'll be offered in jewel cases. I hate those cardboard sleeves (i.e. "The Capitol Albums") and those stupid digipaks (i.e. "Brainwashed").

The jewel cases protect the CD much better than that cheap cardboard.


Personally, I think there is a special place in hell for the designer of the jewel case. I like the cardboard sleeves like the Stones used with their reissued abcko/london catalog. If those are digipaks, then call me stupid. I've never yet had to replace one, whereas I can't tell you how jewel cases I've broken (often damaging the CD in the process).

Tony

[See_How_They_Run]

woah woah woah.....you guys really think Apple Corp. is gonna work with iTunes after being in court with them 3 times??? naw....I see either Napster or Rhapsody being the dealer....hmmmmmmmmmmm

[AMBOISVERT]

I don't know. Do you really see the Beatles going with anyone but the industry leader? I suspect an iTunes release is part of a proposed settlement, maybe with a better percentage for Apple (corp) than usual, or a higher price per song and/or per album. Either that, or maybe they would open their own online retailer, with lossless formats as well as mp3s. This could be such a bonanza for them and for fans; I sure hope they don't blow it.

Tony

[Pepperland Kamer]

Personally, I think there is a special place in hell for the designer of the jewel case. I like the cardboard sleeves like the Stones used with their reissued abcko/london catalog. If those are digipaks, then call me stupid. I've never yet had to replace one, whereas I can't tell you how jewel cases I've broken (often damaging the CD in the process).

Tony


True, but you can easily replace jewel cases. If you damage the cardboard sleeves of digipacks, thats it, your stuck with it!

[Pepperland Kamer]

woah woah woah.....you guys really think Apple Corp. is gonna work with iTunes after being in court with them 3 times??? naw....I see either Napster or Rhapsody being the dealer....hmmmmmmmmmmm


Of course...they'd want to get the maximum exposure. To tell you the truth, this case is probably the real reason for the long wait for the remastered cds. They want to put them out the same time as they go online, and they most likely want to go online with iTunes, the biggest online store, and obviously they can't do that until they settle the case.And Apple Computer wants the Beatles, thats for sure.

[lennonluvr9]

Personally it doesnt really matter to me whether the Beatles get on iTunes (or Napster or whatever) cuz my MP3 player can have songs transferred from my CD player...Although i spose it would be cool if they did do that...

[ringo_rama]

I couldn't care less about downloading them; I have no intention of that. I want to buy the CDs.

If they remaster Past Masters, they should sell it as one complete two-disc set and include as a bonus track on the second disc the surpisingly well-done "The Beatles' Movie Medley" from 1982, the only official Beatles song that hasn't been released on CD in any form.

[JoanQuizzical]

I'm not buying the Beatles off of the iTunes Music Store (or wherever they put them), because I already have all the Beatles CDs (except for Anthology 2 and 3), which I put on my iPod.

It's cool that they'll be available digitally for the second- and third-generation people who want them in that format. I think in 15 or 20 years, kids will say to their parents, "You still have CDs?" like some kids today say "You still have vinyls?"

(I like jewel cases, too--I've learned how not to take care of them and have been more careful since then. The only digipak one I have is Brainwashed. Are the cardboard ones like what the All Things Must Pass CDs come in, inside their box?)

[Ringo77]

I couldn't care less about downloading them; I have no intention of that. I want to buy the CDs.

If they remaster Past Masters, they should sell it as one complete two-disc set and include as a bonus track on the second disc the surpisingly well-done "The Beatles' Movie Medley" from 1982, the only official Beatles song that hasn't been released on CD in any form.

Yeah, me too. I just want the optimal sound quality on CD.

As for the Past Masters: I MUST have those remastered as well. I do hope they do those too!!

[Ringo77]

(I like jewel cases, too--I've learned how not to take care of them and have been more careful since then. The only digipak one I have is Brainwashed. Are the cardboard ones like what the All Things Must Pass CDs come in, inside their box?)

They are inside a box, but the problem lies in removing the CD from the cardboard sleeve. The CD's get scratched when you pull them from the cardboard.

[Blackguard]

I read the following clip and thought I might pass it along to you ... and you ... and you etc.

In a development that broadly highlighted the friction between the traditional music industry and online-music services, Apple Corps sued Apple Computer in London's High Court last month, claiming that the computer maker had violated a 1991 agreement in which both companies agreed to stay out of each others' business territory.

The record label alleges that Apple Computer broke the agreement when it launched its iTunes music store and branded it with the now-famous logo of an apple with a bite missing from one side. Apple Corps' own logo is a green Granny Smith apple.

In a written statement issued in the court case last week, Aspinall alluded that Apple Corps plans to release the digital music to correspond with the release of the remastered albums.

"I think it would be wrong to offer downloads of the old masters when I am making new masters," Aspinall wrote. "It would be better to wait and try to do them both simultaneously so that you then get the publicity of the new masters and the downloading, rather than doing it ad hoc."

For the full story

http://www.sci-tech-today.com/story.xhtml?story_id=032003KMG0BK

from reading that it seams to me we will see a remastered Beatle CDs in the not so distant future. Dual discs. like the Stones did, maybe?

[Ringo77]

That last article is what sparked this whole thread in the first place.

And I don't think they produce SACD's anymore, right? They didn't go over too well.

[Legs]

That last article is what sparked this whole thread in the first place.

And I don't think they produce SACD's anymore, right? They didn't go over too well.

Just bought some newly released SACD's by the Moody Blues, so I am sure they still produce SACD's.

[BeatlesFan4life]

I will just keeping listening to the beatles on audio cds. I think that downloading songs on the internet is illegal.

[.Psychedelic.Stars.]

Personally it doesnt really matter to me whether the Beatles get on iTunes (or Napster or whatever) cuz my MP3 player can have songs transferred from my CD player...Although i spose it would be cool if they did do that...

Same with me. But I love this remastering thing... Even though I just finished getting all their albums.... Hopefully they will come with worthy CD booklets (espeically MMT!! I hope they add the original cartoon booklet!) and maybe.... Some sweet extras... Maybe, I can hope? :wink3:

[Pepperland Kamer]

I will just keeping listening to the beatles on audio cds. I think that downloading songs on the internet is illegal.


When they say downloading, they mean legally on services like iTunes etc... as of now the Beatles catalog isn't available anywhere on a legal downloading site.
But I'm with you, I'll continue to listen to the cd's and I'll buy the remastered cds, the online availabilty dosen't mean anything to me other then the fact that it will be finally online, hopefully giving easier access to fans who actually do download legally instead of buying cds.

[Dr. Dreamer]

What do you guys think they'll do with Past Masters Vols. 1 & 2?? I simply MUST have those remastered as well!!

I hope they combine those on 1 disc.

I'm willing to bet if we keep buying they'll keep remastering but I have to put in my little stick in about the depth of 33 1/3rds of old. If you kept them "mint-ish" like I have some of mine...just something about the physicalness of a needle over grooves that no digital version has reproduced to my ears but then maybe it's my nostalgic old ears...:laugh5:
Still it will be nice to have these fresh remasters available.

[BeatlesFan4life]

Thanks Pepperland Kamer for the nice comment.

[Ringo77]

I can't wait until we see a release date mentioned.

[getback]

i'd think that remastered box would be in 2 or 3 parts like the capital?

[Yesterday and Today]

i'd think that remastered box would be in 2 or 3 parts like the capital?
Wait, they're going to release it in a box set?

[getback]

Wait, they're going to release it in a box set?

i'd think, after the remastering, it'd be sold in 2 or 3 sets.

[Pepperland Kamer]

i'd think, after the remastering, it'd be sold in 2 or 3 sets.

That hasn't been mentioned before. I personally doubt they would do it like that. Maybe they would release a few albums at a time (like they did when they originally came out on cd) but I doubt they would release multiple box sets, even if they simutaneousley sell the cd's by separately themselves. I would however think they would offer one big box set with all the albums and past masters 1&2 (again just like they did with the original cds) and either keep that box set in print like the 80's set,or offer the box set (just the box not the new cds) as a limited edition, like Columbia did with the Bob Dylan remasters.

[.Psychedelic.Stars.]

OMG! If it was released as a box set I would buy it with no regrets! :heart1: I love box sets even though they cost so much.

[Ringo77]

If they do a box set, I hope they release them separately as well.

[getback]

i'm just trying to imagine how apple can squeeze the most out of this $-wise, which is why i was thinking a phased process. i think it unlikely they'd wait for the entire catalog to be remastered before releasing...and they'd almost certainly start w/ the early stuff. eventually, there will be a formal box, no question, and i'd think both past masters would be there...perhaps even the red & blues? any guesses on a box-price?

[ringo_rama]

I'll probably wait after they start doing it for the inevitable box set. I can put up with the current versions for a while; I don't want to get screwed by Apple though.