In 2010, the Beatles certainly showed they weren't going to let things go quiet after the 2009 remasters explosion. This is the conclusion of the three-part series. (Part 1, Part 2) Here is a rundown of what happened in 2010 to the group itself:
The Beatles: Actually, things seemed relatively inactive for a long spell. "The Beatles Rock Band," which had grabbed all sorts of press in 2009 and got praise from gamers as the year began, faded rapidly in 2010 and we've seen new copies as low as $10. In July, EMI announced the release of the Apple reissues, and later we reported there was to be an Apple box set. We first mentioned the Red-Blue remasters in July, and in August, EMI and the Beatles formally announced release of those albums. But it seemed a little too quiet. The Red and Blue albums were hardly a big Beatles project, even though there were enough solo Beatles releases to occupy your wallet. It was almost as if they were saving something for the end of the year.
And then the news hit: The Beatles were finally on iTunes. Actually, there were clues out there, as we reported the day before the launch was announced. As part of the Beatles Box Set package, a more complete version of the Washington Coliseum concert was distributed.
Another surprise: The initial biggest selling single Beatles song on iTunes wasn't a Lennon-McCartney song: It was George Harrison's "Here Comes the Sun."
What's in store next year? Time will tell. Apple certainly isn't saying anything at this point. But given the way 2010 went, it should be interesting.
On a personal note, for us, this was a very interesting year. We were proud of the news stories, reviews and the interviews we did over all our four columns. Those we interviewed in 2010 included Yoko Ono, Edgar Winter and Gary Wright (and a second one), Brian Ray (with a second one here), Rusty Anderson, Micky Dolenz (in which we asked about his interest in being in Ringo's All-Starr Band), Gary Brooker of Procol Harum, Apple artist Brute Force, Tommy Roe, authors David Bedford, Ken Sharp and Jude Southerland Kessler, Beatles recording engineer Richard Langham and a special series of stories with Peter Asher in which he talked about his show, working at Apple Records, gave us stories behind Peter & Gordon's hits and, in a special article, told us the back story of "World Without Love" and showed us (and you) the original Paul McCartney hand-written lyrics.
There are fun things in store next year, too, with our news reports and special info. That's what we do. We hope you'll be along for the ride.
RELATED READING:
- 2010: The Year in Beatles was anything but dull (Part 2: Ringo and George)
- 2010: The Year in Beatles was anything but dull: a look back [part 1]
- EMI announces Beatles Red and Blue remastered albums coming in October
- Ex-Apple artist Lon Van Eaton has high hopes for new multimedia show
- Beatles 101: The Beatles on iTunes coverage checklist
- New Apple Records compilation 'Come and Get It' brings back some good memories
- EMI announces 15 CDs from Beatles' Apple label being reissued in October
- Beatles' Apple Records reissue CDs details announced; two new discs added; full bonus track details
- EMI announces Beatles Red and Blue remastered albums coming in October
- EMI brings back 45 RPM vinyl discs with limited 'John Lennon Singles Bag' for Record Store Day
- Box set of Beatles' Apple Records albums reissues includes rare digital tracks on disc
- Beatles: Rock Band gets love from gaming mag readers as top music game of 2009
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Comments
First off, must thank Steve for all he has done this year.
That said, iTunes was irrelevant. I know this is contrary to most opinions...but all we got was a new channel to buy from. The content was all what we already got in 2009. If iTunes has issued some new stuff...then that would have been news. Perhaps more to come in 2011...
To me the best items from 2010 were twofold.
First off, the RockBand songs were cracked. Now I know that these are not official releases, but having over 100 songs fully decomposed into individual tracks allows you to be George Martin. How cool! Also I have heard stuff on those that I never heard on official releases as they were buried in the mix.
My other big deal from 2010 was actually a late holdover from 2009. It is the Beatles USB issued in Dec 2009. The big deal on that are the 24bit FLAC files. I was totally underwhelmed with the 2009 remasters...until I heard them in 24 bit. Now I am converted. I know the USB was seen as a toy or a novelty when released but play the 24 bit through a home theatre which supports 24 bit audio and you'll never go back.
iTunes wasn't irrelevant from a marketing standpoint. The Beatles stand to make a lot of money from the sales. That and people who have wanted to download tracks without running out to the store can. Another brick in the wall for the stand-up CD stores. Good point about the FLAC files, though. That seemed to be forgotten.
According to Billboard, the No. 1 digital download was Paul's song, Let it Be. Here Comes the Sun was No. 2.
The initial reports had "Here Comes the Sun" as the most popular. That's what I was referring to.
Yeah, Cafe Wha?. Being George Martin may be the next big thing. Can you imagine having the disks and being able to mix the music yourself. I think I'd buy the Beatles catalog all over again.
I bet they can probably do the equipment now, fairly cheap. It may take two or three disks to load before you have all the data, but then you have it.
I'd love to just have the two track albums to play with. I imagine it would let you flip the tracks, put on distortion, echo etc, to make a bigger sound. Hell you could probably put Purdie on there if you wanted to.
Again, I think I'd buy the Beatles catalog all over again. (They'd probably want some serious bucks too.)
Bootleggers have been doing their own remixing of Beatles tracks for years in the absence of iTunes.
to me the best thing about the Itunes deal was the DC concert. complete and restored, I just want to be able to own it on DVD.
You're not alone.
I agree with you Rick.
THE highlight of the year for me was Paul's surprise walk on for Ringo's 70th Birthday at Radio City Music Hall...where they played BIRTHDAY together. Unforgettable moment!
True. How do they do that?
I know there was a big leak when the Beatle transfered all of their master library recordings to digital. Do these bootleggers have multitrack disks that they use to mix them. All the disks that I've ever seen are in stereo.
For that matter, how did apple, or whoever did it, make copies of these tapes digitally. Was it just transfered to digital tape?
I know the bootleggers are now getting a lot of the separate tracks from Beatles Rock Band.
There are two interesting things about The Beatles on iTunes.
1. It defied conventional wisdom. Instead of reducing demand for physical product, sales of Beatles discs increased with the iTunes launch.
2. For the true Beatlemaniacs (and let's face it, we are a small minority of the target market), the big news was being able to purchase a more complete, better quality, Apple approved Washington concert. Nice bonus for the casual buyer, but some Beatlemaniacs were certainly willing to buy a digital stereo box they didn't really need just to get the concert. This paves the way to turn iTunes exclusives into a profitable digital dumping ground. Apple's been siting on projects they have serious doubts about releasing on the mass market. Viola! "Hollywood Bowl", the "Let It Be" film, the promo videos, the "Get Back" album could all be released on iTunes over several wonderful Christmastimes.
I think 2011 will most likely see remastered vinyl, maybe even that original Special Edition Let it Be. Also, the movies remastered on dvd and on blu ray are possible. I know AHDN is, but that's not through Apple Records I don't think.
Maybe they'll even release a finished version of "Now and Then" on iTunes?[and amazon when the exclusive rights expire sometime this year]. Maybe even an Anthology 4 so people who want CDs can get the song too.
Sorry, Steve...but I am still very unimpressed with what the Beatles released on iTunes. You seem to be very up on iTunes...perhaps it is because you are from the Silicon Valley area. But like your earlier poll demonstrated, die hard fans bought the CDs last year and want new content. The Washington show was ok, but I'd like more stuff from the studio. Like I said in my earlier post, I am quite disappointed in iTunes BUT DO HOPE that 2011 will bring us some new content.
To clarify...2010 saw the RockBand tracks unlocked via a key so the audio separation is pristine. Earlier bootleggers had used OOPS and other audio tricks to garner the individual tracks but the results were never 100% pristing. RockBand unlocked manens we have the exact tracks that Apple/EMI sent Harmonix...
Again, there is significance in the fact that a lot of people who didn't have access to Beatles downloads do now. As far as the tracks themselves go, I agree, as the poll showed, that diehard fans bought the CDs last year.
Thanks Cafe for the explanation on the bootleg mixing that we've been hearing up to now.
I think the BeatlesMixers group would love to have official pristine copies from Apple to play with. I know I would. Just listening to the difference between the original mix and 2002-05 mixes on the Lennon albums, not to mention Double Fantasy Stripped Down, lets you know there is a lot of improvements to be heard. And I'm just talking tweeking.
I don't know if there can really be improvement to the official Beatles releases but certainly some fun could be had. Have you heard the stripped down version of Come Together?
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