The Beatles Remastered Stereo Box Set.

The Beatles Remastered Stereo Box set was released on September 09 2009. The ads for the set contained the reference to 09.09.09. which is interpreted as the phrase from "Revolution No. 9" (a track from "The Beatles (White Album)".  The catalogue number for the box set does not appear on the outer bos. My particular set was bought in Canada which I will use for reference.
This release was quite welcome at the time of it's release. All of the CDs contained replace the 1987 stereo CDs. The remastering was done at Abbey Road Studios by Guy Massey and Allan Rouse. The set contains the following CDs: "Please Please Me", "With the Beatles", "A Hard Day's Night", "Beatles for Sale", "Help!","Rubber Soul", "Revolver", "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", "Magical Mystery Tour", "The Beatles", "Yellow Submarine", "Abbey Road", Let It Be" and "Past Masters". All of the above CDs use the UK tracks with the exception of "Magical Mystery Tour" which was originally on the Capitol label, "Yellow Submarine" uses the 1969 version rather than the "Songtrack" version. "Past Masters" and "The Beatles" contain 2-CD configurations. The set also contains a DVD mini documentary on the "making of" for the various CDs contained within the set.This box is not available on vinyl.
The outer cardboard slipcase of the box is black at the front with a thin white border. "The Beatles" logo and a full Apple are also present. The sides of the slipcase have "The Beatles" logo. The back of the slipcase contains the thin white border along with green and white lettered blurbs indicating what is contained inside and mini photos of the front covers of the CDs. The Apple, Capitol, DVD, Quicktime and advanced CD logos are at the bottom along with the Beatles website address and the copyright information. The inner case has the same front and sides as the outer case. The back of the inner case contain "The Beatles" logo and a sliced Apple.
The "Please Please Me" CD has a tri-fold digipack style cover with a 20 page booklet tucked into the left panel which features the whole Apple logo on a white background. The other two panels have photos from the era. The booklet contains photos from the era as well as liner notes from Kevin Howlett and Mike Heatley. The CD label has the early Parlophone gold style which the original LP contained.The tracklisting is contained on the back cover along with the copyright information and Apple/EMI/Capitol/ etc. logos.
The "With The Beatles" CD also has the tri-fold cover although the Apple is on a black background. A 20 page booklet is also present with photos and liner notes of the area penned with the same authors as above. The CD label contains a simile of the Yellow/Black Parlophone style used on the original LP.
The "A Hard Day's Night" CD has the tri-fold and booklet. Apple is on a white background and the label is Yellow/Black Parlophone.
The "Beatles For Sale" CD has the tri-fold and booklet (lots of nice photos from Abbey Road studios !!). Apple is on a black background and the label is Yellow/Black Parlophone.
The "Help!" CD has the tri-fold and booklet (featuring some colour photos). There are recording notes by George Martin contained in the book. Apple on a white background and the label is Yellow/Black Parlophone. Like the others, tracklisting on back cover.
The "Rubber Soul" CD has the tri-fold and booklet. Apple is on a white background and the label is Yellow/Black Parlophone. The "Revolver" CD also has the tri-fold and booklet. Apple is on a black background and the label is Yellow/Black Parlophone.
The "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is tri-fold and the booklet for this CD has been expanded to 32 pages. There is an intro by Paul McCartney and George Martin. The lyrics are also printed. The Apple logo is on a red background. The label is Yellow/Black Parlophone.
The "Magical Mystery Tour" CD is tri-fold and the booklet has been expanded to 36 pages with the reproduction of the entire LP booklet first released on Capitol, the lyrics and liner notes. The Apple is against a white background and the label is the 60s Capitol "Rainbow" version.
The "The Beatles (White Album)" CD comes in a white slipcase with "The Beatles" embossed at the front. The back of the slipcase contains the tracklisting. The cover itself opens twice to reveal the four photographs of the individual band members taken from the portrait photos originally released with the double LP. The booklet is tucked behind the John photo containing 28 pages and notes as well as the complete lyrics. The first CD is behind the Paul photo with the label being the full Apple. The second CD is behind the George photo with the label being the sliced Apple. A tiny reproduction of the original poster is behing the Ringo photo.
The "Yellow Submarine" CD has the tri-fold and 20 page booklet. The Apple is on a white background and the label is a full Apple.
The "Abbey Road" CD has the tri-fold and 16 page booklet. The Apple is on a white background and the label is the full Apple.
The "Let It Be" CD has the tri-fold and 22 page booklet. The Apple is on a black background and the label is the full Apple.
The "Past Masters" CD contains 2CDs. It is tri-fold and contains a 30 page booklet. The first CD is tucked in the middle pocket and has the Yellow/Black Parlophone label while the second CD is tucked in to the right pocket and has the full Apple label. The Apple on the left is on a black background.
The "Mini Documentaries DVD included in the box set is gatefold. The front cover has "The Beatles" logo on front and the title. The inner sleeve shows a photograph of the Beatles taken at Abbey Road during the "Sgt. Pepper" sessions. The back cover has the chapter listings, credits, the Apple logo and the copyright information.
All of the above are true stereo with the exception of "Love Me Do" (both the Ringo and Andy White versions), "P.S. I Love You", "She Loves You", "I'll Get You", "Only A Northern Song" and "You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)" which are the original mono mixes; the stereo tapes do not exist for the songs above.

The Beatles 09.09.09 Sampler

In the middle of the summer 2009, it was announced by Apple that the Beatles catalogue would finally be released in remastered stereo. This announcement was a God-send to all Beatles fans who had waited since 1987 to have the music sounding as good as possible with the modern technology available. The entire UK canon plus "Magical Mystery Tour" and "Past Masters" would finally be released on compact disc complete with bonus DVD and either as individual discs or as a box set. But more on that later....

A 2-CD sampler was issued to radio stations around the world in early September 2009 (exact date unknown). The title of the sampler is: "The Beatles 09.09.09 Sampler" in reference to the fact that both a stereo and mono box set of the remasters was to be released on September 09 2009 and the date chosen in reference to the "number 9...number 9...number 9" quote from the "Revolution No. 9" track on the Beatles double "White Album". The catalogue number for the sampler is Apple 5 0999 6 84414 25.

The two compact discs are housed in a gatefold CD cover. The background is black and the front cover has the Beatles logo in white along with the sampler title. The spine print also includes the title of the sampler. Very plain, very simple. The back cover consists of the tracklisting for disc one and disc two. 16 songs on each CD for a total of 32 songs.

The inner sleeve, if you will, reveals text on the left panel explaining that the catalogue is to be released in remastered stereo along with instructions to "listen". The "all rights" claim is below the text. On the right side panel, all of the front cover art work to the collection is reproduced in miniature form along with the producer's credit and technical information. The Apple logo is underneath the information along with the Beatles website address.

CD 1 has the reproduction Parlophone label similar to the original vinyl. The background is black and the Parlophone lettering is yellow. The trademark symbol (in yellow), the record speed (33 1/3) and stereo lettering are silver. Underneath the center hole is the sampler title and "disc 1" followed by the artist name and "made in UK" underneath. The catalogue number is to right. CD 2 has the reproduction of the full Apple label from the side 1 vinyl records. The background is black filled out by the huge full Granny Smith Apple. The sampler title is above the center hole and the catalogue number is to the left. The artist name is once again below.

The tracklisting is as follows: CD 1 "I Saw Her Standing There", "I Wanna Be Your Man", "This Boy", "Things We Said Today", "Eight Days A Week", "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away", "If I Needed Someone", "Rain", "Here, There and Everywhere", "Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!", "The Fool On The Hill", Glass Onion", "Mother Nature's Son", "Hey Bulldog", "Something", "Two of Us". CD 2 "Please Please Me", "All My Loving", "If I fell", "Honey Don't", "I'm Down", "I Need You", "Day Tripper", "Drive My Car", "And Your Bird Can Sing", "She's Leaving Home", "I Am The Walrus", "Back In The USSR", "Long, Long, Long", "All Together Now", "Come Together", "I've Got a Feeling".

The Beatles "LOVE" CD Sampler

Another project, another sampler. This time Apple released a CD Sampler for the "LOVE" project in both the UK and North America in the fall of 2006. The catalogue number on my copy is Apple 0946. My copy is a North American description with the major differences (as in most cases) is the placement of the "Capitol" or "Parlophone" logos and the "FBI" warning on the North American version but not on the UK versions.

The front cover has the Beatles logo in dark, dark brown (almost black) against a white background. The Beatles jumping silouettes are in red with the "LOVE" logo in red and black. There is small print along the bottom of the front cover stating "Licensed for promotional use only. See package for details".

The back cover features the artist and title written in the dark brown/black followed by the tracklisting, composer credits and publisher. The production credit of George Martin and son follows the tracklist. The Apple logo is to the left and the Capitol logo (in North America) or Parlophone logo (in the UK) is on the right. This is followed by the wetsite address and trademark information. On the North American copies, the FBI logo follows. Underneath all this at the bottom of the back cover is the copyright information. All the text is written against a white background.

The disc itself is silver with white perimeter print containing the all right /manufacturing information. The bottom of the CD has the "LOVE" logo in outline alont with the jumping silouettes. On the left is the Capitol and Apple logos (Parlophone for the UK) and to the right is the Compact Disc logo.

The CD contains four tracks from the commercial CD/2-LP: 1. Strawberry Fields Forever (Love Version). 2. Octopus's Garden (Love Version). 3. Lady Madonna (Love Version). 4. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Love Version).

Each Beatle is represented beginning with John, then Ringo, then Paul, then George.

The Beatles "LOVE"

A new project released by Apple/EMI was entitled "LOVE". The tracklisting consists of mash-ups for the soundtrack to the Cirque Du Soleil Vegas show using re-mixed Beatles songs. The soundtrack was first released in CD format for the UK on November 20 2006 and for North America a day later on November 21 2006. The catalogue number for the CD is Apple 09463 and there are two choices in format : one being a regular CD and other being a CD/DVD-Audio (which plays in 5.1).

The 2-LP vinyl version of "LOVE" was released five months later on April 30 2007 worldwide although the vinyl was manufactured in England. The catalogue number for the vinyl version is the same as the other formats: Apple 09463 - the sub numbers vary depending on the format.

The front cover for this project shows a colourful yellow and red swirly background. The band logo is on the left in a dark brown (almost black) colour, the "LOVE" title has the letters in dark brown/black with the out lines of the letters in red and this is surrounded by the band members in red silouette from the original Dezo Hoffman photograph taken on Monday March 25 1963 at Allerton Golf Course in Liverpool. The band members have been re-arranged with the original line up on the black and white Hoffman photo as John, Ringo, George and Paul from left to right. On the "LOVE" front cover the member have now become Ringo, Paul, John and George from left to right.

Let's start with a description of the CD/DVD-Audio which I happen to own: there is an outer slip with the front cover as described above. The top and bottom of the slipcase have the front cover logo, the title of the project, Apple, Capitol and catalogue number. The back of the slip contains the tracklisting, the UPC code, the FBI logo and warning (all on the left side). The back also contains the band member silouettes, the website address, various logos, trademarks, composer information and copyright information (all on the right side).

The digipack opens has the front cover and the back is simply the yellow/reddish background with the internet address, composer's credits, copyright and various logos ; FBI, Dolby, DTS, DVD, Apple, Capitol at the bottom. The digipack opens up to reveal more of the background and then opens to reveal the two discs with the tracklisting on either side of the openings. The disc labels feature the background colours and the front cover logos in yellow on the CD and in brown on the DVD-audio. The Apple logo is featured on the left hand side. (The Capitol logo is above it on my North American copy). Copyright information is printed on both discs in white along the perimeter of the disc (s). The CD format also contains a 28 page booklet with an introduction by George Martin and Giles Martin with credits and copyright information. The rest of the booklet features various colourful images and the band members, scene images from the Cirque Du Soleil stage show and various montages.

The LP version features two discs and a gatefold cover. The front cover is the same as the CD, the back cover has the tracklisting under the individual sides in brown, the internet address, the Apple, Parlophone UPC code and Cirque Du Soleil logos from left to right. Underneath are the copyright information. The spine contains the catalogue number, the artist/title, "music from EMI" and the Apple logo. The inner gatefold photo reveals a colourful montage with the band members. The large book has the same information as the CD booklet but much, much more colourful, larger and nicely designed.

The two records come in white inner sleeves, Side A and B have a red label with the yellow front cover logo, the tracklisting for each side, the side letter on the right, the parlophone and Apple logos on the left and the copyright information written in yellow along the perimeter. Side C and D have a yellow label with the red front cover logo, same as above with the exception of the perimeter print being red instead of yellow. Both records are on black vinyl.

The tracklisting is as follows:

"Because"/"Get Back"/ "Glass Onion"/ "Eleanor Rigby"/ "Julia (Transition)"/ "I Am the Walrus"/ "I Want To Hold Your Hand"/ "Drive My Car/What You're Doing"/ "Gnik Nus"/ "Something"/ "Blue Jay Way (Transition)"/ "Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite/I Want You (She's So Heavy)/Helter Skelter"/ "Help!"/ "Blackbird/Yesterday"/ "Strawberry Fields Forever"/ "Within You Without You/Tomorrow Never Knows"/ "Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds"/ "Octopus's Garden"/ "Lady Madonna"/ "Here Comes The Sun"/ "The Inner Light (Transition)/ "Come Together/Dear Prudence"/ "Cry Baby Cry (Transition)"/ "Revolution"/ "Back In The USSR"/ "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"/ "A Day In The Life"/ "Hey Jude"/ "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (reprise)"/ "All You Need Is Love".

The Beatles' The Capitol Albums Vol. 2 Sampler

In early April 2006, Apple/Capitol/EMI released a CD sampler for the Capitol Albums Vol. 2. The catalogue number for the CD is Apple/Capitol DPRO 0946.

The front cover is similar to the previous volume 1 sampler; the middle has the large black label with rainbow perimeter print and the white playhole in the middle. The center of the label has the band logo in yellow and red with the title underneath in white along with the Capitol logo. The four front replica covers are as follows: "The Early Beatles" in the upper left; "Beatles VI" in the upper right; "Help!" in the lower left and "Rubber Soul" in the lower right.

The back of the sampler has the same colour design as the previous volume 1 sampler: purple into red into orange into yellow etc. The band logo is at the top in white followed by the title. Underneath is the tracklisting twice (once for stereo and once for mono), the production credit to George Martin in black followed by the composer credits. The blurb "From The Capitol Albums: Vol. 2" in black and indicated which songs appear for the first time in stereo. At the lower left are the Apple/Capitol/Compact Disc/ and FBI logos appear. Finally, at the bottom is the catalogue number and copyright information.

The CD has the black label with rainbow perimeter. The artist and title are at the top in white, the tracklisting in white under the playhole. The Capitol logo is at the left and the catalogue number, compact disc logo and EMI logo are at the right. At the bottom is the Apple logo and in the perimeter rainbow colours are the copyright information and FBI warning.

The tracks include "Baby It's You" and "Boys" from "The Early Beatles" collection; "What You're Doing" and "'I Don't Want to Spoil The Party" from the "Beatles VI" collection; "The Night Before" and "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" from the "Help!" soundtrack; "Think For Yourself" and "I've Just seen A Face" from the "Rubber Soul" collection. All tracks are offered in stereo followed by (mainly fake) mono mixes.

The Capitol Albums Vol. 2

On or around April 11 2006, Apple /Capitol/ EMI released the second box set of USA versions of the Beatles' LP mixes on CD. This 4 CD box set contained the 1965 versions of "The Early Beatles", "Beatles VI", "Help!" and "Rubber Soul". The tracklistings for these versions are unique to the American market and as with the first volume, the songs are presented in mono (somewhat) and stereo. The catalogue number for this set is: Apple/Capitol/EMI CDP 0946.

The front cover of the box containing the 4 CDs has the same colours as the previous version with purple at the top changing to red and then yellow. The same large black "label" circle is featured at the top aling with the band logo, a white "playhole", and the title under the band logo in white. The Capitol dome logo is beneath the title. The label has the rainbow perimeter. Under the "lable" is a colour photo of the Beatles taken in late 1965 by Robert Whitaker. Actually, it's the exact same photo as on the cover of the Apple 45/CD single "Real Love" (right down to the fact that the cigarettes have been air brushed out).

The spine of the set has the band logo in white, the title in black and the four CD titles in white from top to bottom. This is followed by the Apple logo, the Capitol logo, "music from EMI" and the catalogue number.

The back of the box contains this blurb at the top..."For the first time on CD...the original 1965 Capitol albums presented in both stereo and mono". Under this are small replicas of the front covers to the 4 CDs follow by the tracklisting. On the bottom left are the Apple logo, Capitol logo, FBI logo and the compact disc logo. The UPC code follows. On the bottom right is the band website address, the catalogue number, FBI statement and copyright information. My set was made in the US.

The inner portion of the box slides out the right side of the outer box. This time the CDs are not released from the top or bottom but the inner section must be folded back to release the CDs. This is due to the fact that complaints from consumers having their CDs fall out of the inner box and onto the floor when removing the inner section on "vol. 1" caused the change for this volume. The inner box duplicated the front cover of the outer box on one side and the tracklisting on the left side and replica covers on the right side complete the inner section (it's similar to volume 1). The 4 CDs fit on the right section and the 58 page booklet with liner notes written by Bruce Spizer and photos from the Beatles' 1965 career (the second movie, Shea Stadium, etc.). What's also nice is the 45 picture sleeves shown in the book. All of the copyright song information is also contained in the book.

All of the CD labels are black with perimeter print similar to the original Capitol labels. All have the titles at the top and the tracklisting at the bottom. The Capitol logo is to the left and the Apple logo at the bottom. The catalogue number and compact disc logo is at the right hand side. The "all right" and FBI warning are writtin in black as the perimeter print within the rainbow colours.

All four CD cardboard covers replicate the front covers, the back covers contain the replicas but the tracklistings are listed twice (mono and stereo) and the addition of the Apple logo, catalogue number, compact disc logo and copyright information are added to the replica photos on the back.

First up is "The Early Beatles": the stereo mixes on the CD are the same ones used on the UK "Please Please Me" LP with the exception of "Love Me Do"/"P.S. I Love You" which are issued in face stereo as there are no true stereo mixes of these two songs. The mono mixes used on this CD are not mono mixes. They are simply the fake stereo mixes collapsed to one speaker. Bizarre.

Secondly, "Beatles VI" uses the true stereo mixes with the exception of "Yes It Is" which has a duophonic mix with the highs on one side the lows on the other from the original mono mix. The mono version of "Beatles VI" uses the true mono mixes for all songs.

Thirdly, the "Help!" soundtrack uses the true stereo mixes for all of the songs with the exception of "Ticket To Ride" which is duophonic from the mono mix. The Ken Thorne instrumentals are also stereo. The mono mixes for the CD are not true mono mixes but actually consist of the stereo mixes collapsed into one speaker with the exception of "Ticket To Ride" which is the true mono mix. The Ken Thorne instrumentals are also folded down from stereo.

Lastly, the "Rubber Soul" stereo mixes are all true stereo; interestingly, "The Word" has a different stereo mix than it's UK counterpart with the vocals mainly on one channel and a harder stereo separation. Also, "I'm Looking Through You" contains a false start on the US stereo version not contained on the UK stereo version. The mono mixes for "Rubber Soul" are true mono mixes (a variation is used for "Michelle" which has louder percussion).

Initial copies of "The Capitol Albums Vol.2" contain an error for the "Rubber Soul" disc. The mono mixes for this version are not mono but folded down stereo. This error was corrected for subsequent issues. (Mine is the first issue).

Lastly: a bit of a complaint. There are three CD missing in action which would have made the set so much better: "The Beatles' Story" (which could have been issued in mono/stereo on the first set) "Yesterday...And Today" (which also could have been issued in mono/stereo on the second set) and "Hey Jude" (same as above). It's interesting to note that all issues released commercially were the work of Dave Dexter Jr. (wonder if that was a contractual thing). I would not include "Revolver" as the US version was simply the UK version with three tracks missing.

The Beatles' The Capitol Albums Vol. 1 Sampler

Yes folks, the release of a new project and the obligatory CD sampler which was at this point becoming a habit (probably used more as collector's items than radio fare at this junction of time). The CD sampler for "The Capitol Albums Vol. 1" was released in early November 2004 and contains selective tracks from the upcoming 4-CD commercial set. The catalogue number for this sampler is Apple DPRO 7087.

The front cover consists of the round logo for the project with a black background and the artist logo in yellow and red with the rainbow perimeter colours. A playhole in the middle of the cover is white. The surrounding four front covers of the Capitol LPs contained within the project are shown with "Beatles '65" at the upper left, "Meet The Beatles" at the upper right, "Something New" at the lower left and "Second Album" at the lower right. No format designations are shown on the front covers.

The back cover consists of the same colours as the commercial version with yellow on top slowly morphing to orange, red, and purple (top to bottom). The band logo is black followed by the project title. The track listing follows with the stereo designation first and the mono designation second. The production credit "Produced by George Martin" is next. Under that, the composer's credit and a blurb promoting the upcoming project. Finally at the bottom, the Apple logo, Capitol logo, compace disc logo and FBI logo are all there as well as the copyright information.

On the CD label, the background is made to look like the classic Capitol label. the black background and the rainbow perimeter. The copyright and "all rights" information is written inside of the rainbow perimeter. The title is at the top, the Capitol logo on the left side and the catalogue number and compact disc logo on the right side. The track listing and the Apple logo are underneath the center hole.

The track listing is as follows: "All My Loving"/ "I Wanna Be Your Man" (from "Meet the Beatles" LP); "I Call Your Name"/ "Roll Over Beethoven" (from "Second Album" LP), "Things We Said Today/ "If I Fell" (from "Something New" LP) and "She's A Woman"/ "I'm A Loser" (from "Beatles '65" LP). All tracks are played first in stereo and then repeated in mono. Why "She's A Woman" was listed as a featured USA mixed track by Capitol I will never know to my dying days.