It’s hard to believe the fabled 1962-1966 (AKA The Red Album) and 1967-1970 (AKA The Blue Album) double-LP compilations were released 50 years ago. These were the first post-breakup Beatles albums to fall off the Apple tree. Though the group had split up three years before and John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr were thriving with their respective solo careers, there was still a hunger and demand for Fab Four music. And with the emergence of a new generation of rock fans in the 1970s, it only made sense to take the best of the best and package it up for the masses. Then and now (or is it “Now And Then”?), the popularity and influence of the Beatles has yet to fade.
After multiple remasterings and reissues, 2023 editions of 1962-1966 and 1967-1970 offer expanded tracklists, new stereo and Dolby Atmos mixes, and a new song called “Now And Then.” Chances are if you’re any kind of Beatles fan, you already have the songs. “Now And Then,” included on 1967-1970, is one good reason to pick these up. The real catch, however, are the remixes. Thanks to Peter Jackson, who directed The Beatles: Get Back series, Giles Martin and his team were able to apply a little machine learning to the tracks, which resulted in a brighter and clearer listening experience never thought possible.
1962-1966 spans the years when the Beatles were splish-splashing their way through Beatlemania. Beginning with “Love Me Do” and rolling through such highlights as “She Loves You,” “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” “A Hard Day’s Night,” “Help!,” “Tomorrow Never Knows,” and 32 other favorites, you’ll feel like the band is right in your living room. The infectious energy and youthful exuberance that catapulted the Beatles to international fame are feverishly inherent in these mixes.
1967-1970 covers the studio years when the band became more experimental. “Strawberry Fields Forever,” “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” “Penny Lane” and especially “I Am The Walrus” are reborn along with 33 other sonically charged marvels. The addition of “Dear Prudence,” “Glass Onion,” and “Hey Bulldog” certainly add more punch, but the aforementioned “Now And Then” may be the single biggest reason to own this set. Even though it’s not from the time period and can be had as a standalone single, its inclusion neatly bookends the Beatles’ entire career.
If you follow the Beatles with any regularity, you’ll hear a lot of different opinions about these sets. Some fans are happy with what they have, others say they’re covered because they have all the studio albums. On a wider plane, there are those who will speculate Apple Corp. is scrambling to keep the Beatles gravy train rolling, and those who are screaming for a Rubber Soul box set. With MAL technology at his disposal, Giles Martin may have a few other tricks up his sleeve. Are there more “new” Beatles songs in the works? Doubtful. More reissues and packings planned? Likely. Is there still a demand? No question whatsoever. Until then, it’s all about the Red and Blue.
~ Shawn Perry
