Paul McCartney in a Sept., 2008, file photo.
(AP Photo/Joel Ryan)
Nothing gets Beatles fans worked up than talking about releases of Beatle music. Especially releases of Beatle music they don't have.
The New York Times started all the commotion again with an article today by Allan Kozinn with the headline "Hard Day's Night for Beatle Reissues." As we mentioned in our Beatle news roundup this morning, for anyone looking for good news, there is very little to speak of. Getting the Beatles tunes on iTunes won't be coming soon. Paul McCartney said that at the end of November.
"Let It Be" on DVD? At one time, it was 2005, then supposedly 2007. In late July, after rumors circulated that Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr were blocking its release on DVD, an Apple spokesman told me exclusively, "We do have plans to release it sometime in the future" Not really much to go on, but at least it's still on someone's agenda.
What about the much rumored highly anticipated reissues? Nothing. In fact, it's so quiet on that score you could hear a needle drop. The best Apple could do for Christmas was the Beatles iPod (originally $899, though the price dropped to almost half of that just before Christmas) and assorted designer (read expensive) clothing at Bloomingdale's, "All Together Now," a backstage DVD of the Vegas "Love" show (what happened in Vegas didn't stay there this time) and a White Album rollerball pen for $295 through their website. And then there was the deal for a Beatles video game next year.
Whatever happened to the music?
As viewers of the "All Together Now" DVD saw and heard for themselves, nothing gets done by the Beatles' brain trust without a unanimous vote. This is something I was told years ago by a trusted source and the ATN DVD confirmed it for all to see. There are no three strikes here. One strike and you're out in the Beatles ball game.
Who's holding up the show isn't the question. The fact it's being held up and will apparently continue to do so is the problem.
The Beatles' arrival on iTunes is way overdue. So far overdue, in fact, that they've almost worn out their financial welcome, though certainly the public will respond when it finally does take place.
And almost everyone except the Beatles has issued updated CDs, some more than once. Meanwhile, Beatle fans are still stuck with the same original CDs released in 1987. That was over two decades ago. Those statistics only make a bad song even worse.
The Beatles certainly know what they need to do. For one, get the music on an online service ASAP. Every day it isn't there means big bucks that aren't in their pocket and that of the sagging industry, which would certainly reap benefits from it.
Release "Let It Be" on DVD. NOW. Forget the issues. It was out once on video. It needs to be out again. Put a stop to all those non-remastered "remastered" copies for sale all over.
Then, put a firm target date on the first remastered CDs and let the public know about it. They'll be excited and Apple will have a deadline to work to. And DON'T CHANGE IT.
The situation is not beyond repair. It can be fixed. All the Beatles need is to do is just do it.
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Comments
It just boggles the mind. (Yes, I commented on this yesterday as well.) It's so stupifyingly ridiculous and idiotic. Here we have The Beatles, the greatest rock group of all time who once led the recording industry in ALL things, now sounding so out-of-date as to render themselves almost irrelevant. When a Stones' song or one by The Who comes on the radio it crackels with energy and power. By comparison, The Beatles' Day Tripper, for example, is so lifeless; so without energy; so primitive sounding. It's just sad. Don't Paul and Ringo even care a teensy little bit or do they even notice?? Who woulda' thunk it would come to this?? If/when they (Apple Corps.) ever get around to doing anything about the music, no one may even care anymore. It all just might be too late. I mean people not around during The Beatles' heyday and who are hearing them on the radio, might just be wondering what all the fuss was about anyway. If I were new to the music scene, I certainly would. I just wouldn't get it. Oh, did I mention how angry this all makes me?
Jon: Yes, it is crazy. Actually, I can think of other words to describe it. And the Beatles pretty much have no one to blame for this except themselves.
I'm sure the new Apple Corps head -Jeff?- found out about a year ago why the late Neil Aspinal had heart attacks. Jeff has a superb resume for reissues, as the NYT Kozinn article mentioned. Yes Jeff Jones was brought in to Apple Corps because they were going to try a new direction. Apparently that direcction is to move away from music and go into the toy & trinkets field. Whoever came up with the idea for that $400 white pen, should have it shoved way far where it'll do the least good. I find the pen especially galling, GREEDY, pointless (no pun), and downright sickening.
Ok, other biggies like the Stones, Zep, Who, (AC/DC?), are also online holdouts. I'm interested in sound quality, not online convenience, but I wish the Beatles would get with that for the millions who like it. The aboved-named groups have had at least one catalog remaster - Zep about 5 by now? Personally I'm waiting for the cd rollout. And I'm also dreading it. Will Apple Corps put out a nice re-issue and then, pre-holiday put out a super-deluxe, super-expensive "Help!"-with-book-type release that I can't afford?
Will the reissues come in 2009? I don't think so. Online? Let It Be? Again I think not. Will Jeff Jones remain at Apple with hands-tied much longer? Doubt it!
With EMI in a near-collaspse state, could they promote & produce a lavish cd roll-out? Judging from some of their (and Capitol's) past performance, I wonder.
I'm a 1st gen fan, and my Father died when he was 11 years older than I. Aside from Olivia, all the Apples are pushing 70, or already beyond it. None of them seem to be averse to money. So what gives? Will I - or they - live to see a Beatles cd reissue?
Harrison once said that the only thing that would get the Beatles back together was if they needed the money. Harrison's ex-manager had (allegedly?)swindled George down to his last 11 million or so (1 month's utilities for Friar Park?) when George agreed to do the Anthology. Ok, this comment is very long and not too well organized, so I'll stop and hope I made some kind of point.
I can understand some of the clamoring for “better sound,” at least from those folks who have speakers that can really tell the difference. But the continual upgrading of things is really wearing thin with me.
I started w/vinyl albums and then recorded them on cassette for my walkman. Then CDs. Then some downloads. I had VHS tapes and then got DVDs. I got a computer, and then upgraded again, and again, and again.
But it’s never ending. I’ve run out of space on my hard drive. That means I need to get an external drive. But my operating system is a few years out of date now. That means it’s harder to find a drive that’s compatible. And once I do, I’ll just have to replace it later anyway. Like I’ll have to upgrade my operating system. I usually avoid that one by buying a new computer.
But I realized that someday I won’t be able to afford a new computer. Or even a new operating system. That’s why I haven’t switched to doing everything online, because one day I won’t have the access. I bought the stereo system to play vinyl and tapes, and added on the CD player. I bought the VHS player, I bought the DVD player. But I can’t afford to keep on doing that. They’re talking blu-ray now. If that fails, it’ll be something else anyway. And I’ll start out to lose out. I can’t afford to buy a new machine and buy all the VHS and DVDs I have again. Not to mention stuff taped from TV that will never be on VHS or DVD (like local news broadcasts). Oh, I can buy a machine that will convert them. But then that new format won’t last and I’ll have to convert them again. If I could afford to buy all that equipment. Which I can’t.
Maybe you don’t care about those of us that are going to be left out eventually. I wonder how many of us there are. I’ll just have my VHS and DVD players for as long as they work, then I’ll be out of luck I guess. No more movies or TV for me. I’ll hang on to the computer and keep upgrading for now, as I use it for work. And it’s handy even for non-work stuff. But the continual upgrading may do me in eventually. I should buy a couple more walkman CD players now while they’re still around. I did have an iPod once, a gift. But it stopped working after six months.
So the upgrading of the Beatles’ catalogue isn’t that important to me. I won’t be able to afford to download all the songs, though I suppose someone will post them for free like they seem to do everything else. Don’t know what difference the sound will make coming out of the two inch speakers on my computer (my stereo speakers aren’t that much bigger). I like getting the upgrades other artists put out, but I have to admit I’ve not been able to tell much difference about the sound. I just like getting the unreleased stuff. A previous poster commented about the Beatles sounding worse on radio than other acts. I must admit I don’t hear it. But I usually only hear the radio in other people’s cars, so who knows how good those speakers are anyway?
Don’t worry kids, you’ll get your upgraded Beatles music eventually. Because it means more money for them and that’s ultimately what it’s all about. I guess that’s all it was ever about, really.
If the Beatles remasters have the same sonic differences that "Yellow Submarine Songtrack" did, you can bet everyone will want them. They will be worth the price. Your comment about the continual upgrading really doesn't apply here because the Beatles CDs have been around for over 20 years. An upgrade is due. Overdue.
I'm an audio engineer and share the frustration that you all have with not getting updated masters, but you can't say that they aren't just being cautious. IF the remasters are in fact finished, why on earth are they not in stores for the Christmas season. Something tells me that they are NOT done and they want the right sound for these things and not just some quick, wham bam thank you ma'am remasters.
I don't care how a Stones track or a Who track sounds on the radio. The post 1969 catalog was remastered not long after the Beatles, seven years I believe. Those tracks sound great, but the technology that was around in 1994 compared to 1987 wasn't THAT different. The early Stones stuff sounds great, but that is also due to the high bit rates used to remaster for SACD.
This is the Beatles. They don't have to do what people tell them to do and maybe at the end of the day, that's just it. This is going to be on THEIR terms.
Hi Steve,
Ron from Boston weighing in. I think it's important that readers know the facts before posting opinion. First off, the remastering work is DONE. It took 3 years to finish, mostly because the entire project evolved over time. At first, the plan was to issue simple remasters, just updating the sound from the master tapes and enhancing or creating booklets for each title. After Neil Aspinal retired, and Jeff Jones came on board, it was decided that the original mono and stereo mixes would be issued, probably as two-fers, similar to the Capitol Years sets. Meanwhile, EMI facing incredible financial hardships, made a very public announcment that ALL archival releases needed to offer more bang-for-the-buck to succeed in the shrinking CD marketplace. After much discussion with Jones and the Apple board memebrs, remixing the entire catalogue took place. Not satisfied with using the masters, EMI engineers used the pre-bounced session tapes to get (hopefully) a cleaner sound. EMI wanted to issue several different sets to the public to max out profits. Apple was hesitant at first, but sometime in late 2007 agreed to EMI's desires. This includes issuing limited edition Deluxe Set which would include stereo and 5.1 remixes where applicable, and previously unreleased outtakes.
What EMI never counted on was the agreement between Apple Corp. and Apple Inc. To settle their longtime legal disagreements, Apple Corp now "leases" their naming rights from Apple Inc. but they also received (or will receive) a huge advance for the rights to release the Beatles music as digital downloads via ITunes. This is what's behind the delay now. It's not Paul, or the others, wanting more money, it's EMI wanting a piece of the advanced sum that Apple Corp got from Apple Inc. This will never happen. It's also important to know that EMI/Capitol has a pending lawsuit brought on by Apple Corp for some 50 million dollars in underpaid and unpaid royalties. Not an insignificant sum.
Lastly, one needs to remember that neither EMI nor Apple can release any Beatles music without permission of the other, by court agreement. Placing blame on the Beatles for the long delay is misplaced at best. Want to vent people? Besiege EMI with emails and phone calls. Tell them not to be so greedy and that the remasters WILL sell if only they get released. Ron in Boston
It seems that we were upgrading before CD's came out particularly in the late 70's to the early 80's when we started to scope out higher quality pressings from the UK, Germany and Japan plus those specialty domestic audiophile pressings. When the Beatles' CD's started coming out in 1987 standardizing into generally worldwide configuration it seemed that it would be the last time we had to buy upgrades or replacements as I used to refer to them. Of course there were a series of repackages and remixes ala “Yellow Submarine (Songtrack)”, “Beatles 1”, “Let It Be Naked”, “Love” plus the “Anthology” series. But after twenty years an upgrade would be welcome. At least the catalog isn’t upgraded as often as Microsoft Windows.
“Your comment about the continual upgrading really doesn't apply here because the Beatles CDs have been around for over 20 years. An upgrade is due. Overdue.”
Steve, I’m sure you don’t mean it that way, but this statement comes off as a little arrogant. It’s something that does fully apply to people who don’t have money. Like myself. I would have thought as a writer you could relate to that. Most writers I know don’t make money. I’m a writer, and I don’t make money. The only reason I have the previous Beatles CDs is because I got review copies! I would have bought them used otherwise, like I do most everything else.
And you clearly expect people to have to keep buying future upgrades, by saying since the Beatles CDs have been around for (gasp!) 20 years, an upgrade is “overdue.” So you assume that every 20 years we should keep upgrading our music — or actually earlier, since you say 20 years is “overdue.” Maybe that should be every ten years. You’re not by any chance secretly employed by the record industry? (I’m joking there).
I did my upgrade w/CDs and I can’t afford to buy 100s and 100s of albums in a new format again. Though what I’ve noticed about my friends and family (that grew up w/vinyl), they had good-sized record collections with vinyl. But when CDs came they ended up getting far fewer of them. Maybe they’ll have even fewer of the new format(s).
You might have some sympathy for those of us lower down on the economic scale.
Gillian: I was basing my comment as a fan who likes to hear Beatle music in the best way possible. The CDs out now were made to standards that were in effect 20 years ago. Things have changed a lot since. I mentioned the fact that some artists have upgraded their CDs more than once. Though they have released compilations (like "Yellow Submarine Songtrack") with improved sound, the Beatles haven't upgraded their original album CDs at all. Isn't it about time?
I could not agree with you more Steve. And I am sure in another few years you will be writing the same exact article as you have above. All you will have to do is copy and paste it in atleast...don't bother remastering it...:)
I agree with everything you have said Steve. For the people who think that this is the Beatles way of just making more money . . the true Beatles fans do not think that, we just want the best sound out of the best band around. We got a little taste over the years with the technology on how much better the songs could sound. I could understand complaints if this was their 5th time remastering since 1987, like some artists do. When I see one and two hit wonders put out CD's and then do remastered versions a couple years later, it bothers me so much. I'm friends with some of the oldies acts from the late 50's and early 60's and some of their material came out for the first time about 5 years ago on CD, but was supposed to be out in the late 80's and the sales were not that good, because most of their fans that were there from the beginning are either dead or in their later years and do not care anymore. I was 6 years old when the Beatles came out now I'm 51, what about the fans that were teenagers or in their 20's they waited too long. I still keep up with the latest technology (I'm on my 4th iPod) but friends my age are just happy with their CD's and don't know how to download songs off the internet, so I'm just hoping that with the long wait for the Beatles remasters, and the sales are not up to what they expected, that they don't think that it was a waste of time. There are new Beatles fans being born every year, so they'll hear what all the fuss was about. Sorry for the long comment, I was only going to write about the fans getting too old to care, but I'm just getting tired of hearing "Next Year" I live in Philly and we've heard that with our sports teams, but it finally happened with the Phillies this year so I have my fingers crossed for that big 3 million dollar commercial during the Super Bowl with Steve Jobs, Paul & Ringo announcing Beatles on iTunes and starting in the summer the remastered CD catalogue. Thank you Steve for keeping me updated, you are the only site that I visit several times a day.
Joe
David: Whatever the issues are Apple would be crazy to not want to resolve them. So, given Allan Kozinn's comments in the short item I wrote on the reaction to his reissues article, they do realize this needs to be fixed. That's a good thing.
Joe: "Next year" could very well be 2009 as far as this issue goes. Let's hope.
Nevermind iTunes, just release remastered CDs. I don't see the big deal with them needing to be online for download but it's way overdue for remastered CDs to be released.
I hate to tell u this but is is beyond repair for me. I waited and waited and then I waited some more. Finally I just downloaded some rips of the old 33s (records) and you know what? They sound better than the CDs. I am in no rush to run out and support an organization (that what the beatles are now) that seem to have no respect for their fans.
Tom: The online thing is basically for those who want to plug them into playback devices. But I'm with you. It's way way overdue.
Dave: You're not alone, I'm sure. And the Beatles certainly know this.
This is, quite simply, preposterous. The most celebrated catalogue in rock history going to waste behind closed doors because of the obstinacy of various "interested" parties. Those who've been lucky enough to hear them have declared that the original masters and "pre-bounced" tapes sound like they were recorded yesterday, yet the public are stuck with poor quality, under-annotated and over-priced CDs which are eating away at The Beatles' reputation daily. "Love" and the "Yellow Submarine" songtrack projects may have been misfires in many respects, but at least they gave us an indication of how The Beatles could and should sound. Eminent Beatles biographers have claimed that "certain individuals" are no longer reliable witnesses when it comes to providing an account of the group's history, and it's clear that the same people no longer have the best interests of the group's recorded legacy at heart either. "Gold standard" rock and pop acts like Led Zeppelin, The Beach Boys, The Byrds, Genesis and particularly ABBA have taken care to ensure that their legacy has been renewed with a series of well-timed and well packaged reissues, but the biggest group of all are found wanting time and time again. And to think, the copyrights start to expire in just three years...
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