1967-1970 (The Blue Album) [Original recording remastered, Double CD]

 

 

Create your own review

Commonly known as the "Blue Album", the 2LP vinyl set "1967 - 1970" became an instant classic when it was first released in April 1973 (as did its "Red" counterpart "1962-1966"). When they were finally reissued onto the new CD format in 1993 however, they caused consternation because of their extortionate full price.

So is this newly remastered 2010 mid-priced 2CD reissue on EMI/Apple 5099990674723 any better - the answer is an emphatic 'yes'.

PACKAGING:
The first thing you notice is that the clunky double jewel-case of the 1993 reissue has been dumped for a three-way foldout card sleeve. The centre and right flaps picture the photograph on the inner gatefold of the original vinyl double album (St. Pancras Old Church in London, 27 July 1969, The Beatles with the public looking through the railings - it's the same photo on the "Red" album). It also houses the two CDs - CD1 has the full Apple label (14 tracks, 51:15 minutes) and the 2nd CD has the half Apple logo (14 tracks, 48:43 minutes). The vinyl set is yet to come, the Digital Download versions are available from 25 Oct 2010 and there's also an issue that lumps both the Blue & Red reissues together as one package in late November.

The left flap houses a new 32-page booklet. The lyrics are intact from the inner sleeves of the original album issue, there's new liner notes by BILL FLANAGAN the MTV Executive and author of "Evening's Empire" (a book on Rock in the Sixties) and there's plenty of superb colour photos from the period - it's impressively done. Downsides - some complained that the 09/09/09 card digipak sleeves for The Beatles reissues were easy to smudge once out of the shrinkwrap and worse - the inner flaps easy to tear as you removed the disc. I'm afraid these are the same. I suppose I would have been naïve of us to think that EMI would actually listen to the complaints of 2009 about packaging, but they haven't - the need for these issues to look the same as the preceding ones has overridden all considerations... Having said that, I still think they look great - substantial even...

PLAYING TIMES:
Unlike the "Red" issue which could easily have fitted onto 1CD (and even included bonus tracks), as you can see from the playing times provided above, it would not have been possible with this set. Anyway - EMI would of course argue that a single CD issue of this most `iconic' of double albums would fundamentally alter the aesthetic of the original release. At least this time, this 2CD reissue is at mid price, so we're not being charged for the privilege of separation.

TRACK CHOICES:
The compilation itself is basically the A-sides of all their UK 7" singles releases between 1967 and 1970 in chronological release date order with a few key album tracks thrown in for good measure. Eagle-eye fans would therefore note that up to and including "Get Back" - ALL Beatles UK 7" singles for that period were issued only in MONO ("The Ballad Of John & Yoko" was their 1st STEREO single in the UK). So the tracks on the album should reflect that - the MONO single mixes. But EMI did nothing of the sort. They're all in STEREO (there's 4 MONO on the "Red" set) and i would argue that accuracy's loss is the listener's gain, because the STEREO versions used here are awesome.

SOUND:
Although the compilation is copyrighted to 2010 (released Monday 18 Oct 2010 in the UK and 19 Oct 2010 in the USA), the liner notes don't try to hide that these are the 2009 remasters by the same team who did the much-praised Beatles catalogue of 09/09/09. The sound quality is fantastic - breathtaking clarity on instruments - the piano and guitars on "Lady Madonna", the jet screeching in at the opening of "Back In The U.S.S.R", the brass on "All You Need Is Love", Billy Preston's superb keyboard work on "Let It Be", the wonderfully loose live feel of "Don't Let Me Down" (best B-side ever?) - and so on.

CONTENT:
But what impresses most is the actual listen itself. Even now, it's truly shocking to hear just how accomplished The Beatles became during this ludicrously productive period. And diversity of writers crept in too. There's the 3 Harrison gems "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", "Old Brown Shoe" and the magical "Something" while Ringo gets the witty "Octopus's Garden". Leaving the rest as Lennon-McCartney originals. And what an embarrassment of riches they are...

7" perfection comes twice - "Strawberry Fields Forever" b/w "Penny Lane" and arguably the greatest single ever released - "Hey Jude" b/w "Revolution" (melodious Paul on the A with rockin' blistering John on the B). Most bands would kill a close relative to get anywhere near this level of genius. And by the time you get to the ballads at the end of Disc 2 - "The Long And Winding Road" and "Across The Universe" - adjectives begin to fail you... Were The Beatles really 'this' good - the answer is yes - and always will be.

To sum up - the sound on these new reissues is fabulous; the packaging better than the 1993 versions and each is being sold at mid-price - available in most places for less than the price of a single new album. You can't help but think that millions of people globally will take one look at these beauties on a shelf somewhere and slap them straight into their shopping baskets. And rightly so...

I've loved re-hearing these classic Beatles songs in this beautiful sound quality - I really have - and despite some minor packaging quibbles - the 2010 version of the "Blue" album is wholeheartedly recommended.

There are some comedians on here criticising this release, questioning the cynicism of it or the production. They are missing the point. As much as there are older Beatles fans who shop with Amazon there are also young people who are not fully acquainted with the genius that is/was THE BEATLES. Whether they're the best band ever is open to debate but they are definitely a weighty contender for the throne. And so onto the red and blue albums 2010, well it's simple really, they are distilled compilations of some of the finest songs ever recorded in the history of rock and roll. And so it's a no brainer: If you're a new fan then these releases are essential kit. And if you're a fully formed fanatic they are probably essential kit too as the recent Beatles remasterings have definitely enhanced the sound quality. Anyone that says The Beatles are rubbish or over-rated is frankly not very knowledgeable about music, they think Krautrock is a candy bar and the twelve bar blues is a sunday league football team. Long live The Beatles! Long live good music!

One previous Amazon reviewer (Yovra) says of the "Blue album" that this is "the Old Testament for me". This is fully endorsed since the both the Blue and Red Albums were the starting point for many of the love affair with the Fabs particularly prior to the age of downloading and at a time when the "White Album" required a mortgage to purchase. The first time I bought this was on pre recorded cassette in the late seventies. It snapped at least three times but I carefully prized open the cassette case, gingerly stuck the tape back together with sellotape and constantly "put it back into the ring" like a beat up old prize fighter (I still have it). Its sound quality was awful but it was the Beatles music post 1967 for godsake, probably the greatest pop music ever recorded and there was no way that you could live without it.

Examining today this remaster coming hot on the heels of 2009's recent remastering in the brilliant Box set, the Blue Album still ranks as one of the great music compilations. With 28 tracks lasting 95 minutes it is much longer than the Red album and draws most heavily on tracks from the "Magical Mystery Tour" with seven songs present. St Pepper, the White Album, Let it Be and Abbey Road all get four each and there are some surprising omissions like "She's leaving home" the "Golden slumbers trio", "Blackbird" and "Yer Blues". The rest are singles and in the case of George Harrison's superb "Old Brown Shoe" initially a B Side to the "Ballad of John and Yoko".

There is not suggestion however that it should be changed or tampered with since somehow the sequencing on this album is perfect starting with "Strawberry fields" and ending with the "Long and Winding Road". In between you get Lennon's behemoth "A Day in the Life" interspersed with McCartney's "Woke up, got out of bed" bridge still standing as the greatest Beatles song. Listening again you remain blown away by the relentless procession of one classic song after another. Some other personal highlights are the pure pop of McCartney's "Hello Goodbye", Harrison's epic ballad "Something" (check out James Browns great cover), Lennon's precursor to heavy metal "Come together" while dear old Ringo gets his token song in the amusing "Octopus Garden". Side One probably has the more famous songs but Side Two are strangely the songs I listen to most. Some minor gripes include the fact that "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" remains with "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" one of the most irritating Beatles songs ever, while Joe Cocker's cover of "With a little help from my friends" is probably better than the original.

Overall even if you don't own a CD player or any Music equipment you should still own this album! Someone once said that everyone who listened to the Velvets seminal first album formed a band. It's probably true, but equally everyone who listened to the Red and the Blue albums discovered the benchmark that any new band with pretensions to greatness must aspire to. No one has reached that benchmark yet and perhaps they never will.

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 29 customer reviews on Amazon.co.uk

 

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
Had this CD as an LP many years ago so I knew exactly what I was buying. A lovely trip down memory lane.

Published 4 months ago by charliegirl

1.0 out of 5 stars ??????
Did not receive, so chased up after 5weeks to be told its out of stock even tho i paid for it 5weeks ago

Published 4 months ago by J. M. Dolton

5.0 out of 5 stars The Beatles Blue Album
The album was new it was sent very quickley I would recommend the sellar as the service was excellent. Contact from sellar was informative

Published 4 months ago by oliver

5.0 out of 5 stars Music that should be in everyones collection...
I do not think this album needs much introduction - it is just brillant and shows how the Beatles developed musically in the latter years. Read more

Published 4 months ago by Mr. Martin Hankin

2.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected
No wonder this album was being sold cheap, when I uploaded it to my computer to put it on my I pod the song titles on the first CD were in what I think is Arabic and on the second... Read more

Published 11 months ago by ian

5.0 out of 5 stars Great sounds!
I already had every Beatle album on vinyl and on CD. When the digitally remastered versions appeared I hesitated before taking the plunge and buying the Blue Album, just to hear... Read more

Published 12 months ago by R Howey

4.0 out of 5 stars Beatles Blue CD
CD was in great condition when it arrived. I was very happy with the service I received and would use this seller again.

Published 13 months ago by tori_board

5.0 out of 5 stars a favourite
What can I say. It's The Beatles. You love them or hate them. I am in the former category and I have now converted my 19 year old daughter into an avid fan. A timeless classic.

Published 13 months ago by twiz taylor

5.0 out of 5 stars Beatles fan
Digitally remastered, I had reservations at first. However, it is an excellent CD and a must for all Beatles fans to add to the collection.

Published 13 months ago by Bob

3.0 out of 5 stars Red and Blue
Its what it says on the tin....fab sounds from the past...part of our music history..the words are poiniant today more than ever,its part of our social history, the start of the... Read more

Published 14 months ago by Ian W

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

› See all 29 customer reviews on Amazon.co.uk

Search Listmania!