Beatles fans can look forward to 09-09-09 for the digitally remastered reissues of the entire Beatles catalogue.
Apple has announced that on the same day as the release of the Rock Band: The Beatles video game, 14 albums and a box set will be also be released.The stereo albums will include mini-documentaries about the each albums. ‘Please Please Me’, ‘With The Beatles’, ‘A Hard Days Night’ and ‘Beatles For Sale’ will make their CD debut in stereo. ‘Past Masters 1 and II, originally two separate CDs will be released as a single album.
The new box set is called The Beatles in Mono. The box will feature all albums up until ‘The Beates’ (white album) with ‘Help’, Rubber Soul’, ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’, ‘Revolver’, ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ and ‘The Beatles’ becoming available in mono in CD for the first time.
To explain, in the 60s, you have the choice of buying mono or stereo versions of albums, as some of the old mono players would only play one channel of the stereo. Its a bit like DVD vs Blu-Ray today.
The Beatles reissues mark a lot of activity at Abbey Road studios. This project has been in play for a number of years ever since the reconstruction of The Beatles for the Las Vegas Cirque Du Soliel show ‘Love’.
The significance of the release date you ask? September 9, 2009 is a reference to “number 9, number 9, number 9’, from ‘Revolution 9’ off the White Album.
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
