The Beatles’ Anthology Collection – at 191 tracks and a starting price of £95 – could be too much of a Fab thing. Our music critic Adrian Thrills reviews…

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THE BEATLES: The Anthology Collection (Apple/UMG)

Verdict: Fab but spasmodic

Over the last eight years, classic Beatles albums have been revisited and re-released with extra content. Starting with Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in 2017, this included expanded versions of The White Album, Abbey Road, Let It Be, and Revolver. Now, it’s these already-expanded editions that are receiving special reissues.

The Beatles released their Anthology series – a collection of unreleased recordings and demos – in three parts alongside a 1995 television documentary of the same name.

Now that the original TV footage has been restored and will be available to stream on Disney+ starting Wednesday, November 26th, the three Beatles Anthology albums have been remastered by Giles Martin—son of the original Beatles producer, George Martin—and are being re-released. You can find them as a 12-LP vinyl box set (£310), an 8-CD set (£95), and digitally.

With 191 songs, the comprehensive (but expensive) Anthology Collection feels excessive, and even dedicated Beatles fans might think they’ve included everything possible.

However, this is The Beatles, so even a reissue is worth checking out. The special edition includes a fourth disc with rare and previously unreleased recordings – thirteen studio sessions, to be exact. You can get the complete box set, or for a lower price, just these extra tracks on a triple vinyl LP (£70) or a double CD (£23).

These newly released recordings aren’t a huge change from what people already know, but they offer a new perspective on classic songs. The collection covers a five-year period that was incredibly influential for pop music, beginning with John Lennon’s 1964 song “Tell Me Why,” inspired by girl groups, and ending with a lively instrumental take on “Hey Bulldog” from the 1969 “Yellow Submarine” soundtrack – featuring a lot of energetic piano playing by Lennon. As John himself put it, the music blends both bluesy and comedic elements.

As a lifelong Beatles fan, I always get chills listening to those extra recordings. They really transport you back to the height of Beatlemania, especially hearing John sing those beautiful ballads like ‘If I Fell’ and ‘In My Life’. It’s amazing to hear ‘In My Life’ with a different feel – without that sped-up piano solo, it’s a whole new experience!

Paul McCartney’s song “I’ve Just Seen A Face” features a lot of fast-paced acoustic guitar playing, so much so that John Lennon joked it would have been perfect for skiffle legend Lonnie Donegan.

The album also includes recordings from the band’s more chaotic later period – a live rehearsal of “All You Need Is Love,” a fast-paced instrumental version of “I Am The Walrus,” and a raw, rock-and-roll take on “Baby, You’re A Rich Man” without any of the original song’s elaborate production.

Despite any personal conflicts they had, The Beatles were incredibly creative and energetic when they were recording in the studio.

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2025-11-22 02:37