Official Press Release For Remasters

Not sure if somebody has posted this yet or not...
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THE BEATLES’ ENTIRE ORIGINAL RECORDED CATALOGUE REMASTERED BY APPLE CORPS LTD. AND EMI MUSIC FOR WORLDWIDE RELEASE ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2009 (9-9-09)

Apple Corps Ltd. and EMI Music are delighted to announce the release of the original Beatles catalogue, which has been digitally re-mastered for the first time, for worldwide CD release on Wednesday, September 9, 2009 (9-9-09), the same date as the release of the widely anticipated “The Beatles: Rock Band” video game. Each of the CDs is packaged with replicated original UK album art, including expanded booklets containing original and newly written liner notes and rare photos. For a limited period, each CD will also be embedded with a brief documentary film about the album. On the same date, two new Beatles boxed CD collections will also be released.
The albums have been re-mastered by a dedicated team of engineers at EMI’s Abbey Road Studios in London over a four year period utilizing state of the art recording technology alongside vintage studio equipment, carefully maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the original analogue recordings. The result of this painstaking process is the highest fidelity the catalogue has seen since its original release.
The collection comprises all 12 Beatles albums in stereo, with track listings and artwork as originally released in the UK , and 'Magical Mystery Tour,' which became part of The Beatles’ core catalogue when the CDs were first released in 1987. In addition, the collections 'Past Masters Vol. I and II' are now combined as one title, for a total of 14 titles over 16 discs. This will mark the first time that the first four Beatles albums will be available in stereo in their entirety on compact disc. These 14 albums, along with a DVD collection of the documentaries, will also be available for purchase together in a stereo boxed set.
Within each CD’s new packaging, booklets include detailed historical notes along with informative recording notes. With the exception of the 'Past Masters' set, newly produced mini-documentaries on the making of each album, directed by Bob Smeaton, are included as QuickTime files on each album. 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.
A second boxed set has been created with the collector in mind. 'The Beatles in Mono' gathers together, in one place, all of the Beatles recordings that were mixed for a mono release. It will contain 10 of the albums with their original mono mixes, plus two further discs of mono masters (covering similar ground to the stereo tracks on 'Past Masters'). As an added bonus, the mono “Help!” and “Rubber Soul” discs also include the original 1965 stereo mixes, which have not been previously released on CD. These albums will be packaged in mini-vinyl CD replicas of the original sleeves with all original inserts and label designs retained.

The Stereo Albums (available individually and collected in a stereo boxed set)
The stereo albums have been remastered by Guy Massey, Steve Rooke, Sam Okell with Paul Hicks and Sean Magee
All CD packages contain original vinyl artwork and liner notes
Extensive archival photos
Additional historical notes by Kevin Howlett and Mike Heatley
Additional recording notes by Allan Rouse and Kevin Howlett
* = CD includes QuickTime mini-doc about the album
Please Please Me* (CD debut in stereo)
With The Beatles* (CD debut in stereo)
A Hard Day's Night* (CD debut in stereo)
Beatles For Sale* (CD debut in stereo)
Help!*
Rubber Soul*
Revolver*
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band* (also includes 1987 notes, updated, and new intro by Paul McCartney)
Magical Mystery Tour*
The Beatles*
Yellow Submarine* (also includes original US liner notes)
Abbey Road*
Let It Be*
Past Masters (contains new liner notes written by Kevin Howlett)

‘The Beatles in Mono’ (boxed set only)
The mono albums have been remastered by Paul Hicks, Sean Magee with Guy Massey and Steve Rooke
Presented together in box with an essay written by Kevin Howlett
+ = mono mix CD debut
Please Please Me
With The Beatles
A Hard Day's Night
Beatles For Sale
Help! (CD also includes original 1965 stereo mix)+
Rubber Soul (CD also include original 1965 stereo mix)+
Revolver+
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band+
Magical Mystery Tour+
The Beatles+
Mono Masters
Re-mastering the Beatles catalogue

The re-mastering process commenced with an extensive period conducting tests before finally copying the analogue master tapes into the digital medium. When this was completed, the transfer was achieved using a Pro Tools workstation operating at 24 bit 192 kHz resolution via a Prism A-D converter. Transferring was a lengthy procedure done a track at a time. Although EMI tape does not suffer the oxide loss associated with some later analogue tapes, there was nevertheless a slight build up of dust, which was removed from the tape machine heads between each title.
From the onset, considerable thought was given to what audio restorative processes were going to be allowed. It was agreed that electrical clicks, microphone vocal pops, excessive sibilance and bad edits should be improved where possible, so long as it didn’t impact on the original integrity of the songs.
In addition, de-noising technology, which is often associated with re-mastering, was to be used, but subtly and sparingly. Eventually, less than five of the 525 minutes of Beatles music was subjected to this process. Finally, as is common with today’s music, overall limiting - to increase the volume level of the CD - has been used, but on the stereo versions only. However, it was unanimously agreed that because of the importance of The Beatles’ music, limiting would be used moderately, so as to retain the original dynamics of the recordings.
When all of the albums had been transferred, each song was then listened to several times to locate any of the agreed imperfections. These were then addressed by Guy Massey, working with Audio Restoration engineer Simon Gibson.
Mastering could now take place, once the earliest vinyl pressings, along with the existing CDs, were loaded into Pro Tools, thus allowing comparisons to be made with the original master tapes during the equalization process. When an album had been completed, it was auditioned the next day in studio three – a room familiar to the engineers, as all of the recent Beatles mixing projects had taken place in there – and any further alteration of EQ could be addressed back in the mastering room. Following the initial satisfaction of Guy and Steve, Allan Rouse and Mike Heatley then checked each new re-master in yet another location and offered any further suggestions. This continued until all 13 albums were completed to the team’s satisfaction.

Official Site Link:
www.thebeatles.com

Preferred Retail Link:
http://beatles.fanfire.com/cgi-bin/W...rceCode=BEAWEB

Download album art, images, logos and press release here:
http://www.specialopsmedia.com/asset...les/assets.zip

Thanks. The only thing that sucks about these remasters is if you are looking to add a few Mono albums to the collection, you have to buy the whole set as there are currently no plans to sell them separately. They could have easily combined mono/stereo on one cd for each, they are doing it for 'Rubber Soul' and 'Help' for some reason, but that would mean less money in their coffers I guess.

i know someone who will say he has not spotted anything new

Originally Posted by FPSHOT

i know someone who will say he has not spotted anything new

I know you don't mean me, but after reading the first few lines I already had the feeling it wouldn't contain anything new. The same thing has been said in other press releases since the first announcments.

But I will finish reading it nevertheless, and Jerry thanks for posting.

Check out that last "assets" link, it's got some nice images of all the new album covers, the box sets, and other pictures and logos.

http://www.specialopsmedia.com/asset...les/assets.zip

Originally Posted by Legs

I know you don't mean me,

absolutely not and this time it was no sarcastic remark lol, it is just that when i post something 'new' I know someone will say he has seen it before lo l and since he is Dutch I do not even doubt it

I was looking at the assets, and was very pleased with the HQ images of the album covers and the individual Let it Be portraits. But looking at the album covers and realized for the first time how out of focus the image on Beatles for Sale is.

Originally Posted by Jerry

Check out that last "assets" link, it's got some nice images of all the new album covers, the box sets, and other pictures and logos.

http://www.specialopsmedia.com/asset...les/assets.zip

Thanks for that Jerry,
hadn't seen a link to the assets before.

It took sometime to download, but then you really get something.
Tho not really anything new, but everything is bigger looking and looking different.

Originally Posted by 834

Thanks. The only thing that sucks about these remasters is if you are looking to add a few Mono albums to the collection, you have to buy the whole set as there are currently no plans to sell them separately. They could have easily combined mono/stereo on one cd for each, they are doing it for 'Rubber Soul' and 'Help' for some reason, but that would mean less money in their coffers I guess.

There are there are three separate mixes for those albums. The original mono mix, the stereo mix and the 1987 remix on the current CDs. The 1987 remixes will be used on the stereo remasters. So this way all three mixes will be available.

And a few extra dollars will be made.

Originally Posted by biglou114

I was looking at the assets, and was very pleased with the HQ images of the album covers and the individual Let it Be portraits. But looking at the album covers and realized for the first time how out of focus the image on Beatles for Sale is.

I don't know if it was/is "out of focus".... I think there was a nice "warm" filter put on the lense. Added to the somberness of the image.

Upon viewing, it's really no more out of or in focus than "Rubber Soul".

Thanks, Jerry! Vey cool to see better images other than the teeny ones on the web.

Originally Posted by FPSHOT

i know someone who will say he has not spotted anything new

Hm, I see I have missed some posts... Probably because when I started to read the press release, I immediately thought 'this is old news... nothing new here...'

Another press release...
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Tomorrow, September 9, 2009 (9-9-9) marks the highly anticipated release of the entire original Beatles catalogue, which has been digitally re-mastered for the first time, for worldwide CD distribution and the release of “The Beatles: Rock Band” video game. Below is a link to an exclusive streaming video clip of “I Saw Her Standing There.” Please post this clip to celebrate worldwide Beatles day and remember to post your unique Beatles feature on Beatle Links tomorrow September 9, 2000.

“I Saw Her Standing There” Streaming Video Link:
http://emicat.edgeboss.net/qtime/emi...re_640x480.mov

Beatles fest Fandemonium Video Link:
http://emicat.edgeboss.net/qtime/emi...g1_640x360.mov

Official Site Link:
http://www.thebeatles.com

Preferred Retail Link:
http://beatles.fanfire.com/cgi-bin/W...rceCode=BEAWEB

Download album art, images, logos and press release here:
http://www.specialopsmedia.com/asset...les/assets.zip

Hard to believe that in 24 hours or so, I'll have the re-mastered stereo CD's of "Revolver" thru "Abbey Road"!

Another release...
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The Beatles have broken chart records around the world with their 9-9-09 release of their re-mastered catalogue. In support of the Beatles re-mastered catalogue, we now have an interactive Beatles widget available for you to embed on your page. The widget plays audio, video and allows you to customize the theme to match a Beatles album of your choice. We also have links to musical superstars Katy Perry, Lily Allen and Ronnie Spector talking about the Beatles influence on their careers.

Beatles Widget:
http://www.clearspring.com/widgets/4aa4cbc0d1c4b34a

Lilly Allen video:
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...deoid=62936526
Katy Perry video:
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...deoid=62936487
Ronnie Spector video:
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...deoid=63016731

“I Saw Her Standing There” Streaming Video Link:
http://emicat.edgeboss.net/qtime/emi...re_640x480.mov

Beatles fest Fandemonium Video Link:
http://emicat.edgeboss.net/qtime/emi...g1_640x360.mov

Official Site Link:
http://www.thebeatles.com

Preferred Retail Link:
http://beatles.fanfire.com/cgi-bin/W...rceCode=BEAWEB

Download album art, images, logos and press release here:
http://www.specialopsmedia.com/asset...les/assets.zip

THE BEATLES BREAK CHART RECORDS AROUND THE WORLD WITH 9-9-09 DEBUT OF RE-MASTERED CATALOGUE CDS

More Than 2.25 Million CDs Sold During First Week in North America, UK , Japan

Underlining their timeless appeal and unique status in music, The Beatles have broken multiple chart records around the world following the September 9, 2009 (9-9-09) CD release of their digitally re-mastered catalogue. In the major music markets of North America, Japan and the UK, consumers purchased more than 2.25 million copies of The Beatles’ re-mastered albums, individually and in two multiple-CD boxed sets, one in stereo and one in mono, during the first five days of release (excluding non-traditional retail outlets whose sales are not tracked by the chart compilers).

The Beatles’ original UK studio albums were re-mastered by a dedicated team of engineers at Abbey Road Studios in London over a four year period, carefully maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the original analogue recordings. The result is the highest fidelity the catalogue has seen since its original release.

The most popular band of the 20th century, The Beatles are beloved by music fans in the 21st century, as evidenced by their current unparalleled global chart performance:

· US: During the first five days of release, consumers purchased more than one million copies of re-mastered Beatles titles, and the individual CD and boxed sets debuted strongly across multiple Billboard charts.

o On Billboard’s Comprehensive Albums chart, which lists the most popular album releases in the US, including current and catalogue titles, The Beatles set a new record for the most simultaneous titles by a single artist (18), including five of the top 10 and nine of the top 20.

o On the Pop Catalog chart, The Beatles achieved another new Billboard chart first for the most simultaneous titles in the top 50 (16), a record they previously set themselves with 12 titles in December 1995. The Beatles have nine of the chart’s top 10 titles, and all 14 re-mastered CDs are in the top 20, led by ‘ Abbey Road ’ at number one and ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ at number two.

o On the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart, ‘The Beatles’ stereo boxed set debuted at number 15, and ‘The Beatles in Mono’ limited edition boxed set debuted at number 40.

· UK: In last week’s chart, The Beatles had four titles in the top 10, seven in the top 40 and 16 in the top 75, including both the stereo and mono boxes, as well as 2000’s ‘Beatles 1’ compilation. This set a new record for the most simultaneous albums in the UK charts according to the UK Official Charts Company. In this week’s UK chart, The Beatles have 13 albums in the top 75. A further 84,000 CDs were sold last week, bringing their total sales of the re-masters to more than 354,000 in 11 days and their total UK sales this decade to 6,755,000.

· Japan: All 14 re-mastered titles and boxed sets debuted in the top 25 of the international chart, including seven of the top 10, led by the stereo boxed set at number two, the mono boxed set at number three, ‘Abbey Road’ at four and ‘Let It Be’ at six. Across all titles and box sets, more than 840,000 albums were purchased by consumers in Japan in the first three days of sales.

· Canada: The Beatles have 15 of the top 20 catalogue titles including all of the top 11. The stereo boxed set is a new entry in the current albums chart at number four, the highest debut for a boxed set in Canada since Nielsen SoundScan started tracking sales. Cumulative sales across all titles were just under 160,000 over the counter.

· France: All 14 of the re-mastered titles and boxed sets entered the latest album chart, including three in the top 10, led by ‘Abbey Road’ at number four, a new record for the most original studio albums in the French album chart in one week.

· Italy: The Beatles have 17 titles in the current chart – all 14 re-mastered titles, the two boxed sets, plus the ‘1’ compilation, a record for the most simultaneous entries in the album chart.

· Belgium: With 17 entries in the current chart - the 14 re-mastered titles, two boxed sets and ‘1’ compilation – The Beatles have set a new record for the most simultaneous albums in the Belgian chart as confirmed by chart compiler Ultrapop.

· Sweden: The Beatles have 16 titles simultaneously in the top 60, led by ‘ Abbey Road ’ at number six. Local industry body IFPI have confirmed that this is a record for the Swedish charts.

· Argentina: Seven of the current top 10 albums are Beatles re-masters, led by ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band at number two, ‘Abbey Road’ at number three and ‘The Beatles’ (The White Album) at number four. All 14 re-mastered titles are in the top 20 and the boxed sets are at numbers 73 and 74 in the chart.

· Spain: 13 Beatles albums plus both boxed sets debuted in the latest chart, a record for a single artist. The combined sales of the boxed sets places them at number four in the chart

· Poland: All 14 re-mastered albums and two boxed sets debuted in the current top 100, led by ‘ Abbey Road ’ at six. This is a record for the highest number of simultaneous entries in the Polish chart.

· Switzerland: 14 Beatles titles, including the stereo boxed set, debuted in the most recent album chart, a record for the most simultaneous titles in the album chart.

· Denmark: The latest album chart includes 15 re-mastered Beatles titles, plus the ‘1’ compilation, including four of the top 20.

· Australia: The Beatles have 14 titles in the current chart, including the ‘1’ compilation.

· Germany: The combined sales of the stereo and mono boxed sets, with one boxed set counted as one unit sale, places them as the number three best seller in the latest chart.

· Austria: The current top 75 contains 12 re-mastered titles plus the stereo boxed set.

· Portugal: The re-mastered titles occupy 11 places in the current top 30 album chart, including three of the top 10.

· Norway: The combined stereo and mono boxed sets debut at number three with a further 12 re-mastered titles in the top 100.

· Colombia: Half of the current top 10 albums are re-mastered Beatles titles.

· Korea: During the first sales week The Beatles occupied 16 out of the top 17 spots in Korea ’s Hottracks album chart.

Interesting. Now imagine the numbers if we saw enough album copies to satisfy everyone!