The Beatles - Remastered [2 Disc Sampler]

Apple / EMI

September 24, 2009, 08:08 AM

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It goes without saying that The Beatles certainly made an unforgettable impact on rock-n-roll. I though, am one of those individuals that never really cared for them. For me, they were always too “hippy-ish” (particularly in their later, more celebrated years), a view that has always been challenged by others, many of whom declared I was “too young” to appreciate their contributions to music. Nevertheless, even I have to say that EMI and Apple Corps Ltd. recent remastered release of The Beatles’ is awe-inspiring.

The much anticipated sets, released on the once-in-a-lifetime date of 09.09.09, have already made a lot of music on the charts and in sales. They contain The Beatles’ original UK albums, the Magical Mystery Tour (if that isn’t “hippy-ish” than please tell me what is) and the Past Masters. All of which have been remastered by a dedicated team at Abbey Road Studios in London. Each album is devoid of plastic - save for the actual discs themselves, of course and is packed with rare photographs and liner notes. Each CD (with the exception of Past Masters) also has a mini-documentary that is viewable on your computer.

Two different sets have been issued: one in stereo and another in glorious mono sound. As lovely as it would have been to shell out the dough for one of these - if just to have yet another collector’s item on my shelves to cause my fiancée to roll her eyes over if nothing else - my financial situation (read: broke) prevents me from doing such at this point in time. However, I was fortunate enough to receive a 2-disc sampler CD from the good folks at EMI (read: brownnosing), so that I could at long last “appreciate” The Beatles…Remastered.

It only takes one listen to one song to notice the difference. One track that stood out in particular for me was “Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!,” in which I could hear all of the background sounds as they were meant to be, background sounds and not a collection of muddled noises. The rest of the songs on the sampler CDs also have a marvellous clarity, with all of the pops, hisses, skips, and scratches everyone remembers so well removed (which will probably put off those people who prefer such traits - such as my boss). But it’s not the absence of said “flaws” (of course, there was nothing they could do to improve Ringo's drumming skills) that merits a purchase of The Beatles Remastered - it’s the fact that now these songs sound better than ever that makes it worth it.

At first, the music irritated me. It was very hippy-ish after all but then, an unexplainable change in mood came over me. I was permeated with an innate sense of happiness. The sun was shining. People didn’t look as sad and grumpy as they usually do. I even made a peace sign to one of the burly, unshaven, bear of a road construction worker on my way to work that morning and then, I sent my fiancée a random text message telling her I loved her. Damn it all, that hippy-ish curse of The Beatles was in play. Confound it!

Needless to say, I had to take several very long breaks in order to get through even the 2-disc sampler, fearing that I would become much more pleasant if I listened to it all in one go. The thought of what an entire box set would do to me is unthinkable but maybe that’s just what the world needs to correct itself, to buy the boxed sets of The Beatles Remastered. Doh. There it is again. That hippy shit. Regardless, the bottom line here is that The Beatles Remastered was a momentous undertaking that is well-rewarding to all.

Recommended, even by an ardent non-fan of The Beatles such as I.

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