| THE BEATLES REMASTERS - 09.09.09 |
| Written by Matt Andree Wiltens |
| Monday, 07 September 2009 16:52 |
 They gave us 'All We Need Is Love' and 'Happiness is a Warm Gun'. They gave us 'Let It Be' and 'Why Don’t We Do It In The Road'. They also, gave us 'Dig a Pony'?!?... Everyone has a favourite Beatles song and there are plenty to choose from. From 1963 to 1970, The Beatles reigned supreme as the untouchable kings of the charts – if you believe John Lennon, they were bigger than Jesus! I’m not sure that he ever got the proof he needed, but according to EMI the group have sold over a billion records. Think about THAT! Every person in China could own a Beatles album – from the smallest rice paddy to the largest multi-national exporter of beads! Wow that’s a lot! Inspired by Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and other great rock acts of their youths, the band were also influenced by friends and contemporaries such as Bob Dylan, The Beach Boys and The Byrds. None of these artists were ever as big as The Beatles became though. The scenes of mass hysteria that came with each of their concerts and appearances gave birth to a whole new world of fan madness. Theirs is the mania, that all future manias are named after. Miley Cyrus ain’t got nothing on these guys! Over twenty years ago, all of the bands albums were released on CD. The record company tried hard... but they failed! All of the discs were pressed off the old 60’s recordings, not even one was digitally re-mastered. As of the 9th of the 9th of the 9th (hopefully at 9 seconds and 9 minutes past 9 o’clock!), all of this changes. After four years of work turning the old analogue tapes into digital goodness, all of the Beatles albums are going to be released in their modernised glory.  For millions of fans around the world this is the moment they’ve been waiting for; the chance to buy the soundtracks to their youths, to countless films and to countless R-rated experiences. Finally the music has caught up with the technology we have to hear it! As surprising as anything else, is the news that the band are also fathers to one of the year’s most anticipated video games – The Beatles: Rock Band. Using the successful Rock Band format, players can join the Fab Four for 45 songs playing guitar, bass, drums and voice, on either their PS3, Wii or Xbox 360. I want it! I want it now!! So Beatles day approaches... I’m left with a conundrum – which body part will I sell so that I can get the box set, the game and all the instruments? Kidney? Liver? Foot? Just leave me the parts I need to listen and play. Nine fun Beatles facts to celebrate 09-09-09...
- Every one of their albums went to #1 in Britain.- They hold the record for most #1 singles in the Billboard Hot 100. That’s 20 #1's! - The band had 15 #1 singles in New Zealand. - Their songs have been covered by more than 1000 other artists. - The cover for the 2003 JET album 'Get Born', is influenced heavily by the Beatle’s cover for 'Revolver'. - The closest that fans have come to a Beatles musical, is the Oscar nominated film 'Across the Universe' which takes lyrics and songs and works them into a road-trip story set in the 1960’s. - Negotiations continue to sell Beatles tracks through iTunes. It seems the sticking point is that Apple is the name of both the iTunes owner/operator and the Beatle’s own company. - Oscar nominated I Am Sam has a soundtrack featuring Beatles song covered by artists such as Rufus Wainwright, The Wallflowers, Eddie Vedder, Ben Harper, Ben Folds, Nick Cave and the Vines. - Although 'Let It Be' was the last of The Beatles albums to be released, recording on the album actually began before the Abbey Road sessions. |
