hey all. i'd like to ask about the beatles anthologies. are they any good? are they worth the $$$? i wouldn't say i'm a hardcore beatles fan, but i've managed to get around 7 albums and i enjoy 85% of the beatles stuff i listen to. so, is there a particular vol of the anthologies that shines above the others? any recommendations?

thanks.

85%? what's the 15% you don't like?
give specifics plz

well, just some songs i've never really liked. a lot of the early stuff sounds kinda boring and repetitive after a while.

All are excellent.

I agree though, the earlier poppier stuff is great, but I much prefer the later stuff.

The DVD set is well worth checking out.

Great interviews and video footage.

Buy #3 first.

j.

They're only really worth buying once you are intimately familiar with the original catalogue. The Beatles are easy to get obsessive about, wait until you reach that point.

A far better buy if you want to appreciate The Beatles for the Gods they were is Ian MacDonald's 'Revolution In The Head' book. Read that while playing through the entire discography. When you reach I Me Mine you should be so deeply in awe of their collective genius that you'll be dying to hear six hours of unfinished songs, rehearsals, overdub sessions and alternate arrangements.

Cue Anthology 1,2 and 3...

btw, there are also Alternate Anthology 1,2 and 3 bootlegs which follow the same format , another six cds to mop up the stuff Paul, George and Ringo left off the official releases. I think they are being torrented at Bootcity at the moment. The Traders Den is also worth a look. They have the acetate of Get Back compiled by Glyn Johns that the band rejected amongst other fun stuff.

Doesn't really fit here, but what the heck . I burned a Beatles-CD for my gf's dad yesterday. He's really into them, but only has the "1" CD for his car, rest is vinyl I guess. Here's the tracklist of my mix for him, I hope he likes it:
1. Don't let me down
2. Good day sunshine
3. I saw her standing there
4. Free as a bird
5. I've just seen a face
6. Instant karma (JL)
7. Rocky Racoon
8. Yes it is
9. Real love
10. Hey bulldog
11. Taxman
12. She came in through the bathroom window
13. I've got a feeling
14. I'm only sleeping
15. I need you
16. Tell me what you see
17. Helter skelter
18. Getting better
19. One after 909
20. Fixing a hole
21. It's only love
22. Sexy sadie
23. She's leaving home
24. Two of us
25. Across the universe

definitely worth it. i got all 3 on eBay for $25.

i've been reading all the comments here, and i appreciate them. i think i'll try to get vol. 3 first, since i tend to like the latter stuff better. from what i've read, they're worth getting.

the tracklist for the mix cd from jupp is really good. i think i'll try to make myself one of those.

the alternate anthologies ms mentioned sound really interesting

What exactly do you get from buying the anthologies that you won't get from just buying their LP discography?

are you looking for an answer more detailed than 'tracks that aren't on the LPs'?

Why would you pay money for demo recordings?

Well, yeah. And I guess King's comment is part of my question. Is it just demos you are getting, or important Bsides and stuff?

Past Masters covered that stuff.

Anthology 1:
DISC 1:
1. Free As A Bird
2. Speech: John Lennon
3. That'll Be The Day - (mono, The Quarry Men)
4. In Spite Of All The Danger - (mono, The Quarry Men)
5. Speech: Paul McCartney
6. Hallelujah, I Love Her So - (mono)
7. You'll Be Mine - (mono)
8. Cayenne - (mono)
9. Speech: Paul
10. My Bonnie - (with Tony Sheridan)
11. Ain't She Sweet
12. Cry For A Shadow
13. Speech: John
14. Speech: Brian Epstein
15. Searchin' - (mono)
16. Three Cool Cats - (mono)
17. Sheik Of Araby, The - (mono)
18. Like Dreamers Do - (mono)
19. Hello Little Girl - (mono)
20. Speech: Brian Epstein
21. Besame Mucho - (mono)
22. Love Me Do - (mono, alternate version, with Pete Best)
23. How Do You Do It - (mono)
24. Please Please Me - (mono, early version)
25. One After 909 - (mono, false starts)
26. One After 909 - (mono, 1963 version)
27. Lend Me Your Comb - (mono)
28. I'll Get You - (mono, live)
29. Speech: John
30. I Saw Her Standing There - (mono, live)
31. From Me To You - (mono, live)
32. Money (That's What I Want) - (mono, live)
33. You Really Got A Hold On Me - (mono, live)
34. Roll Over Beethoven - (mono, live)
DISC 2:
1. She Loves You - (mono, live)
2. Till There Was You - (mono, live)
3. Twist And Shout - (mono, live)
4. This Boy - (mono, from "The Morecambe And Wise Show")
5. I Want To Hold Your Hand - (mono, from "The Morecambe And Wise Show")
6. Speech: Eric Morecambe And Ernie Wise
7. Moonlight Bay - (mono, from "The Morecambe And Wise Show")
8. Can't Buy Me Love - (alternate take)
9. All My Loving - (mono, live, from "The Ed Sullivan Show")
10. You Can't Do That - (alternate take)
11. And I Love Her - (alternate version)
12. Hard Day's Night, A - (alternate take)
13. I Wanna Be Your Man - (from "Around The Beatles" TV show)
14. Long Tall Sally - (from "Around The Beatles" TV show)
15. Boys - (from "Around The Beatles" TV show)
16. Shout - (from "Around The Beatles" TV show)
17. I'll Be Back - (demo)
18. I'll Be Back - (alternate take)
19. You Know What To Do - (demo)
20. No Reply - (demo)
21. Mr. Moonlight - (alternate version)
22. Leave My Kitten Alone
23. No Reply - (alternate take)
24. Eight Days A Week - (false starts)
25. Eight Days A Week - (alternate take)
26. Kansas City / Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey! - (alternate take)

Anthology 2:
DISC 1:
1. Real Love
2. Yes It Is - (combination of take 2 and master)
3. I'm Down - (take 1)
4. You've Got To Hide Your Love Away - (take 5, mono)
5. If You've Got Trouble - (previously unreleased)
6. That Means A Lot - (previously unreleased)
7. Yesterday - (take 1, Paul McCartney solo)
8. It's Only Love - (false start and take 2, mono)
9. I Feel Fine - (mono, live)
10. Ticket To Ride - (mono, live)
11. Yesterday - (mono, live)
12. Help! - (mono, live)
13. Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby - (mono, live)
14. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) - (take 1)
15. I'm Looking Through You - (alternate take)
16. 12-Bar Original - (previously unreleased)
17. Tomorrow Never Knows - (take 1, "Mark 1")
18. Got To Get You Into My Life - (take 5, mono)
19. And Your Bird Can Sing - (take 2)
20. Taxman - (take 11)
21. Eleanor Rigby - (TRUE instrumental)
22. I'm Only Sleeping - (mono, instrumental rehearsal instrumental)
23. I'm Only Sleeping - (take 1, mono)
24. Rock And Roll Music - (mono, live)
25. She's A Woman - (mono, live)
DISC 2:
1. Strawberry Fields Forever - (mono, demo)
2. Strawberry Fields Forever - (take 1)
3. Strawberry Fields Forever - (take 7, mono)
4. Penny Lane - (alternate mix)
5. Day In The Life, A - (alternate take blend of alternate takes)
6. Good Morning Good Morning - (take 8)
7. Only A Northern Song - (alternate take blend of alternate takes)
8. Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite! - (takes 1 & 2)
9. Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite! - (take 7)
10. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds - (alternate mix)
11. Within You Without You - (TRUE instrumental)
12. Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) - (take 5, mono)
13. You Know My Name (Look Up The Number) - (extended, stereo version)
14. I Am The Walrus - (take 16)
15. Fool On The Hill, The - (mono, Paul McCartney demo)
16. Your Mother Should Know - (take 27)
17. Fool On The Hill, The - (take 4, alternate version)
18. Hello, Goodbye - (take 16)
19. Lady Madonna - (alternate mix)
20. Across The Universe - (take 2)

Anthology 3:
DISC 1:
1. Beginning, A
2. Happiness Is A Warm Gun - (mono, demo)
3. Helter Skelter - (outtake, mono)
4. Mean Mr. Mustard - (demo)
5. Polythene Pam - (demo)
6. Glass Onion - (demo)
7. Junk - (demo)
8. Piggies - (mono, demo)
9. Honey Pie - (mono)
10. Don't Pass Me By - (outtake)
11. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da - (outtake)
12. Good Night - (outtake)
13. Cry Baby Cry - (outtake)
14. Blackbird - (outtake)
15. Sexy Sadie - (outtake)
16. While My Guitar Gently Weeps - (solo acoustic)
17. Hey Jude - (outtake)
18. Not Guilty - (outtake)
19. Mother Nature's Son - (outtake)
20. Glass Onion - (outtake, mono)
21. Rocky Raccoon - (outtake)
22. What's The New Mary Jane - (outtake)
23. Step Inside Love / Los Paranoius - (outtake)
24. I'm So Tired - (outtake)
25. I Will - (outtake)
26. Why Don't We Do It In The Road - (outtake, mono)
27. Julia - (outtake)
DISC 2:
1. I've Got A Feeling - (outtake)
2. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window - (outtake)
3. Dig A Pony - (outtake)
4. Two Of Us - (outtake)
5. For You Blue - (outtake)
6. Teddy Boy - (outtake)
7. Rip It Up / Shake, Rattle And Roll / Blue Suede Shoes - (outtake)
8. Long And Winding Road, The - (outtake)
9. Oh! Darling - (outtake)
10. All Things Must Pass - (George Harrison demo)
11. Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues - (outtake)
12. Get Back - (outtake)
13. Old Brown Shoe - (George Harrison demo)
14. Octopus's Garden - (outtake)
15. Maxwell's Silver Hammer - (outtake)
16. Something - (mono, George Harrison demo)
17. Come Together - (outtake)
18. Come And Get It - (Paul McCartney demo)
19. Ain't She Sweet
20. Because - (outtake)
21. Let It Be - (outtake)
22. I Me Mine - (outtake)
23. End, The - (outtake)

You listed the same tracklist for Anthology 2 and 3.

I don't own any of these discs but I'd pick them up if I saw them for a reasonable price. The demo version of A Day in the Life is wonderful.

I have a shitload of Beatles bootlegs though and there's tons of demos and alternate takes and studio recordings out there.

only get it if you can get it cheap

yep, seems like good advise. probably in a used record store, or like cal got his, through ebay or something.

fixed