January 02, 2024

Beatles Minus One Project - 4CD RMW Collection

I had the pleasure of re-listening to the Beatles Minus One 4 CD bootleg collection. It was released in conjunction with the remastered Beatles 1 sets. This is an amazing collection of remixes and remasters from the Beatles outtakes library. You get to hear songs in a new light with side tracks brought to the front. And vocals stripped of extra backing tracks. Below is more information on this amazing set. Excellent work by the Beatles Remasters Workshop group. This has become one many fans' favorite bootleg sets. Highly recommended.

From the web:
It's a collection of single tracked vocal mixes of familiar tracks. Some of them are subtly different. On others the difference is dramatic and obvious. I hope you have fun spotting all the variations.

One of the reasons fans love the early BBC radio recordings so much is because there were rarely overdubs. The Beatles had marvellous untrained raw voices and I always felt that much of that power and subtlety was lost when they applied blanket double tracking to everything. Here you can hear just how good they were as singers. John's voice in particular on some of these tracks from 1965 onwards is just gorgeous. Listen to him on Nowhere Man, In My Life and Across The Universe to name but a few. Of course Paul was equally great in a different way, and I think the final 60 seconds or so of Back In The USSR is one of the most exciting things I have ever heard.

Also included is a bonus volume of other remixes. All the mixes were remixed by Lord Reith. He doesn't purport that these are "real" or "authentic" any more than anything else in this set. They are just a new way to enjoy familiar tracks, or to put right historical errors like the missing harmonica on From Me To You.





















VOLUME 1

Don't Bother Me - after recording a live take The Beatles overdubbed some percussion including tambourine, claves and an Arabian drum. At the same time George double tracked his vocal, but here is the percussion version with a clean vocal.

I Want To Hold Your Hand - this is the raw take as performed live. After this they made an overdub onto the final track of the 4 track tape: John double tracked some of his vocals, George added some extra guitar riffs and presumably Paul and Ringo added the handclaps (see disc 3).

This Boy - this is another raw live take. The overdub consisted of John double tracking the middle section and George adding some extra guitar notes towards the end. According to Lewisohn there was also originally a guitar solo in the middle - probably after the line "till he's seen you cry".

A Hard Day's Night - this is the basic rhythm track with the live lead vocals muted. In their place is the overdub where John and Paul double tracked their voices; at the same time Ringo added bongos and cowbell and George a driving acoustic guitar part. A further overdub saw George add a 12-string electric guitar and George Martin piano.

I Should Have Known Better - presented without John's vocal double tracking.

If I Fell - presented without John and Paul's vocal double tracking. The second time around Paul stumbles over the lyric "was in vain" which, when combined with the subsequent vocal overdub, made it sound like his voice broke.

I'm Happy Just To Dance With You - this is the basic live take with George singing solo and John on guitar. For the overdub George double tracked his vocal while John and Paul added "ohhhh"s and Ringo percussion. George doesn't seem to have played any guitar on this song.

And I Love Her - presented without Paul's vocal double tracking.

Can't Buy Me Love - for the basic take the group played live but George's guitar work was erased and redone (the original solo can be heard faintly in the background). During an overdub Paul double tracked his voice and George double tracked his electric guitar solo. There was one further addition: 12 string electric guitar made after the return to England.

Anytime At All - a basic live take with George on 12 string once more and George Martin on piano. During an overdub John and Paul double tracked their vocals. Because of the way the lyrics crossed over, John left out different words on each vocal. Here he omits one word in the middle of every verse; in the other vocal he sings this word and then leaves a long pause before continuing in unison.

I'll Cry Instead - this is the basic live take. Onto this was overdubbed more guitar and vocals, plus tambourine.

Things We Said Today - the basic live take, after which Paul double tracked his voice adding harmonies and the others overdubbed piano, tambourine and some extra guitar.

I Feel Fine - presented without John, Paul and George's vocal double tracking.

Baby's In Black - this is the basic live take. Onto this John and Paul overdubbed two extra sets of vocals while George added a second lead guitar part including a solo.

Eight Days A Week - presented without John, Paul and George's vocal double tracking.

Leave My Kitten Alone - the group did a basic live take onto which they then overdubbed piano and tambourine and replaced George's lead guitar track (the old one can be heard in the background). This is how it sounded before John double-tracked his voice.

The Night Before - they seem to have recorded the rhythm track first with John on pianet and then added the vocals heard here. George played the solo twice, each time in a different octave. Paul then later added vocal double tracking.

I Need You - George not only double tracked his voice but also joined John and Paul to double track the background harmonies. Here there is only one set of vocals.

Ticket To Ride - during an overdub John double tracked his voice while Paul played a third electric guitar part and either George or Ringo rattled a tambourine. Here it is presented minus the overdub.

It's Only Love - this is how the basic performance would have sounded, with John on 12 string electric guitar similiar to the anthology take. On a subsequent overdub a vibrato electric guitar was added, and then a third guitar (Paul again?) along with tambourine and John's vocal double tracking. When George Martin remixed this song in the 1980s he did not fade down the second overdub towards the end as originally done, leading to some extra guitar and tambourine being heard.

I've Just Seen A Face - this performance harks back to the sound of their skiffle days with either Paul or John (or both) on acoustic guitar, George on 12 string acoustic and Ringo on brushes. An overdub added Paul's double tracking, marraccas and a second acoustic 12 string.

If You've Got Trouble - the basic take used the regular line up onto which Ringo added a vocal. During a different overdub Ringo double tracked his vocal, Paul and George chimed in with some "ohhh"s and George added a third guitar part for the solo. This mix uses some of the elements of that overdub but not Ringo's extra vocals. Rock on, anybody!

We Can Work It Out - the basic track consisted of drums, bass, acoustic guitar and tambourine. Paul and John added their vocals to this, and then a harmonium part was added (the one heard in this mix). The final overdub would have been the vocal double tracking by Paul with John simultaneously adding a second harmonium part (not heard here).

Day Tripper - as was common in this period the rhythm track was recorded first with the usual line up. The vocals heard here were then probably added and a subsequent overdub saw double tracked vocals, tambourine and (as was also common in this period) a third electric guitar added.

Nowhere Man - presented without John, Paul and George's vocal double tracking.

Think For Yourself - the basic track seems to have been drums, electric guitar and Paul on regular bass, to which Paul added "fuzz bass" (bass notes played on an electric guitar fed through a fuzz box) while the others played tambourine and maracca. John, Paul and George double tracked all of the vocals - only one batch is heard here.

The Word - one of the first times Paul was given a separate track for his bass. Presented here without John, Paul and George's vocal overdubbing.

Michelle - Paul seems to have played the guitar on this song in the same style as Yesterday and as he would later do on Blackbird and other songs. John's organ part is on the same track as the bass guitar. Paul did not double track his voice, but in the silent spaces in the track used for background harmonies he double tracked some of his guitar work. That final track is mixed out here. The ending seems to be authentic.


VOLUME 2

What Goes On - presented as a solo from Ringo without John and Paul's harmonies.

In My Life - presented without John, Paul and George's vocal double tracking.

Run For Your Life - presented without John and Paul's vocal double tracking.

Paperback Writer - a single tracked vocal from Paul. Also mixed out is the overdub where John and George added extra harmonies including "Frere Jacques". Paul played the aggressive electric guitar on this song, striving (if George is to be believed) to emulate Jeff Beck.

Eleanor Rigby - Paul seems to have been the only Beatle on this song. Only one of his vocal parts is heard here. Two more were overdubbed before the song was finished.

I'm Only Sleeping - John double tracked some of his vocals on this song while adding harmonies with Paul. The ADT effect was also later applied but is absent here.

Here There And Everywhere - presented without Paul's vocal double tracking. The harmonies by Paul, George and John are also single tracked.

And Your Bird Can Sing - presented without ADT on John's voice.

Dr Robert - presented without ADT on John's voice.

Penny Lane - Paul's voice is single tracked on the verses.

Strawberry Fields Forever - the first remake of this song (take 7), presented without John's vocal double tracking, but with the guitar and mellotron overdub not present on take 6.

Strawberry Fields Forever - the second remake (take 25), presented without John's vocal double tracking.

Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - presented without John, Paul and George's vocal double tracking, and with the full "Billy Shears" ending.

All You Need Is Love - presented without John, Paul and George's vocal double tracking.

The Fool On The Hill - presented without Paul's vocal double tracking.

Your Mother Should Know - presented without Paul's vocal double tracking.

Across The Universe - presented without ADT on John's voice and guitar.

Back In The USSR - presented without John, Paul and George's vocal double tracking.

Come Together - presented without John's extra vocal parts.

Because - presented with single tracked vocals. On the record they were triple tracked.

Something - presented without George's vocal double tracking. However his own harmony parts are included.



Volume 3

From Me To You - a stereo equivalent of the mono single mix.

Thank You Girl - a stereo equivalent of the mono single mix.

The One After 909 - a stereo equivalent of the mono Anthology mix.

I Want To Hold Your Hand - the overdub during which they added various voices and instruments.

Komm Gib Mir Deine Hand - includes vocalisations on the right channel at the start not heard on Past Masters. When they recorded this song they took the basic rhythm track from I Want To Hold Your Hand and (because some elements were on a different track along with handclaps and vocals) George overdubbed some extra guitar and new handclaps were added. But the quality was poor for some reason. Here the left channel has been rebuilt in better sound.

Can't Buy Me Love - the other vocal and guitar solo (the first is heard on disc 1).

I Feel Fine - the other vocal overdub (the first is heard on disc 1). The guitar solo here is single tracked too rather than double tracked (George played it once on each vocal overdub).

Help! - the soundtrack to the "dart-less" clip with noticeably different vocals. This is taken from a 1966 German tv broadcast.

The Night Before - the other vocal overdub (the first is heard on disc 1).

That Means A Lot - a clearer and better balanced stereo mix than what has been heard before. On Sessions it is in faux stereo with copious reverb.

If You've Got Trouble - a different vocal from Ringo to that on disc 1.

Nowhere Man - the other vocal overdub (the first is heard on disc 1).

In My Life - the other vocal overdub (the first is heard on disc 2).

Yellow Submarine - a longer mix with the opening chant added (partially only), full sound effects, and the ending.

And Your Bird Can Sing - the original version (take 2) without the giggling. Remixed for better balance and stereo placement.

For No One - backing track.

Tomorrow Never Knows - with the guitar solo forwards rather than backwards.

Penny Lane - highlighting the myriad of small overdubs to this song.

Strawberry Fields Forever - a complete edit of take 25. The first verse is taken from an early mono mix. After this was made John apparently re-recorded his vocals, but never got around to finishing them, leaving the first verse blank.

Volume 4

Penny Lane - the stereo mix augmented with the trumpet flourish originally heard only on the advance promo.

Sgt Peppers - the complete track sans audience applause and with the original ending.

A Day In The Life - sans orchestra and with the unused "Ommmmmm" ending.

I Am The Walrus - complete stereo mix.

Obladi Oblada - the original version in a clear stereo mix. On Sessions it is in faux stereo with heavy reverb, ADT and limiting, giving the false impression of extra overdubs.

Revolution 1 - reconstruction of the version Lewisohn seems to describe in "Recording Sessions".

Old Brown Shoe - remixed to boost the very faint vocals. These were recorded (as was done with Not Guilty) by placing a microphone in the same room as a speaker through which George sang. As can be heard here, the results were slightly distorted, which is possibly why they were mixed so far down in volume.

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Beatles Minus One 4CD Box Set Track Listing

1-1 Don’t Bother Me (Percussion Version With A Clean Vocal)
1-2 I Want To Hold Your Hand (No Overdub-Raw Take)
1-3 This Boy (No Overdub-Raw Take)
1-4 A Hard Day’s Night (Basic Track Without Overdub)
1-5 I Should Have Known Better (Without Vocal Overdub)
1-6 If I Fell (Without Vocal Overdub)
1-7 I’m Happy Just To Dance With You (Without Vocal Overdub)
1-8 And I Love Her (Without Vocal Overdub)
1-9 Can’t Buy Me Love (Basic Track Without Vocal Overdub)
1-10 Any Time At All (Basic Track Without Overdub)
1-11 I’ll Cry Instead (Basic Track Without Overdub)
1-12 Things We Said Today (Basic Track Without Overdub)
1-13 I Feel Fine (Without Vocal Overdub)
1-14 Baby’s In Black (Basic Track Without Vocal Overdub)
1-15 Eight Days A Week (Without Vocal Overdub)
1-16 Leave My Kitten Alone (Basic Track Without Overdub)
1-17 The Night Before (Basic Track Without Overdub)
1-18 I Need You (Without Vocal Overdub)
1-19 Ticket To Ride (Without Overdub)
1-20 It’s Only Love (Basic Track Without Overdub)
1-21 I’ve Just Seen A Face (Basic Track Without Overdub)
1-22 If You’ve Got Trouble (Basic Track Without Overdub)
1-23 We Can Work It Out (Basic Track Without Overdub)
1-24 Day Tripper (Basic Track Without Overdub)
1-25 Nowhere Man (Without Overdub)
1-26 Think For Yourself (Basic Track Without Overdub)
1-27 The Word (Without Vocal Overdub)
1-28 Michelle (Basic Track Without Overdub)
2-1 What Goes On (Without Vocal Overdub)
2-2 In My Life (Without Vocal Overdub)
2-3 Run For Your Life (Without Vocal Overdub)
2-4 Paperback Writer (Without Vocal Overdub)
2-5 Eleanor Rigby (Without Vocal Overdub)
2-6 I’m Only Sleeping (Without Vocal Overdub)
2-7 Here, There And Everywhere (Without Vocal Overdub)
2-8 And Your Bird Can Sing (Without ADT Overdub)
2-9 Dr. Robert (Without ADT Overdub)
2-10 Penny Lane (Without Vocal Overdub)
2-11 Strawberry Fields Forever (Take 7 – First Remake)
2-12 Strawberry Fields Forever (Take 25 – Second Remake)
2-13 Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Without Overdub / Full Billy Shears Ending)
2-14 All You Need Is Love (Without Vocal Overdub)
2-15 Foot On The Hill (Without Vocal Overdub)
2-16 Your Mother Should Know (Without Vocal Overdub)
2-17 Across The Universe (Without ADT Overdub)
2-18 Back In The USSR (Without Vocal Overdub)
2-19 Come Together (Without Vocal Overdub)
2-20 Because (Single Tracked Vocals)
2-21 Something (Without Vocal Overdub)
3-1 From Me To You (Single Version-Stereo)
3-2 Thank You Girl (Single Version-Stereo)
3-3 The One After 909 (Single Edit)
3-4 I Want To Hold Your Hand (Overdubs)
3-5 Komm Gib Mir Deine Hand (Clear Stereo Mix)
3-6 Can’t Buy Me Love (Alternate Mix)
3-7 I Feel Fine (Alternate Vocal)
3-8 Help (Film Version)
3-9 The Night Before (Alternate Vocal)
3-10 That Means A Lot (Clear Stereo Mix)
3-11 If You’ve Got Trouble (Alternate Vocal)
3-12 Nowhere Man (Alternate Vocal)
3-13 In My Life (Alternate Vocal)
3-14 Yellow Submarine (Complete)
3-15 And Your Bird Can Sing (Clear Stereo Mix)
3-16 For No One (Backing Track)
3-17 Tomorrow Never Knows (Forward Solo Mix)
4-1 Penny Lane (Minimalist Mix)
4-2 Strawberry Fields Forever (Complete Fast Version)
4-3 Penny Lane (Stereo With Trumpet Flourish)
4-4 Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Complete Sans Audience)
4-5 A Day In The Life (Sans Orchestra)
4-6 I Am The Walrus (Complete Stereo Mix)
4-7 Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (Clear Stereo Mix)
4-8 Revolution 1 (Reconstruction)
4-9 Old Brown Shoe (Clear Vocal Mix)




Below are the complete artwork scans from the 4 CD set:
















Source: https://www.giginjapan.com/beatles-minus-one-project-box/

You can listen to them online here:
D1: https://archive.org/details/minus-one-disc-one
D2: https://archive.org/details/01-what-goes-on-single-track
D3: https://archive.org/details/20220714_20220714_0214

More info is available here:
https://forum.beatlegdb.com/viewtopic.php?t=1943

https://mega.nz/file/IwVU0LTR#N_1zULyxkP7BQJP6jyJDfmz8smpK8DJ84ows2af6Ehc
https://mega.nz/file/8sE2XIha#cG-mn1kiUiVlpFZhTTdJEu1ND2bU5XvbuQsvJdandVI
https://mega.nz/file/UwNxFIyA#H227EMhotF2HPomEE6ovqeVB4nLOnSxsIOrN0P4jdoI



January 01, 2024

Beatles - The Ultimate 'Sessions' Collection

Sessions was a cancelled compilation album of previously unreleased tracks by the Beatles, planned for release by EMI in 1985 but never issued officially, due to objections by the surviving Beatles. The album consists of 13 finished but unreleased Beatles songs. A planned single containing two of the tracks from Sessions – "Leave My Kitten Alone", backed with an alternative version of "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" – was also left unissued. The idea was resurrected in 1995 as the greatly expanded three-volume double CDs called The Beatles Anthology with an accompanying six-hour documentary.

However, other bootleg labels came up with their own sets of unreleased tracks.

The Beatles Ultimate Sessions Collection is a 2 CD set. It has a nice selection of rare tracks in very good sound quality. It has appeared under several labels. I have been enjoying revisiting this collection. A detailed track listing appears below.
 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 






 

 














DISC ONE - US black and white version, includes original "Sessions" mixes taken from DESS "Sessions" (Version 2)

01 Come And Get It
02 Leave My Kitten Alone
03 Not Guilty
04 I'm Looking Through You
05 What's The New Mary Jane
06 How Do You Do It
07 Besame Mucho
08 One After 909
09 If You've Got Trouble
10 That Means A Lot
11 While My Guitar Gently Weeps
12 Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues
13 Christmas Time (Is Here Again)
14 Revolution 1 (take 18) - Sessions (Fake Apple) ST 12373/4 (2LP set)
15 And Your Bird Can Sing (take 2) - Purple Chick Revolver Deluxe Edition
16 She's A Woman (take 7) - Purple Chick Beatles For Sale Deluxe Edition
17 Yes It Is (rechannelled stereo) - Past Masters Vol. 1 (left channel-stereo mixed to mono/right channel-OOPsed version)
18 For You Blue ("Get Back" album version) - Purple Chick Let It Be Deluxe Edition
19 Free As A Bird (outfake) - Upgraded Collection-Highlights
20 Come And Get It (take 5) - Sessions (Fake Apple) ST 12373/4 (2LP set)
21 I'm A Loser (take 2) - Purple Chick Beatles For Sale Deluxe Edition
22 Don't Bother Me (take 10) - Purple Chick With The Beatles Deluxe Edition
23 Dizzy Miss Lizzy ("backing track" outfake) - Help (OOPSed)
24 Revolution (take 15)
25 Hello Goodbye (take 1) - Miscelleneous Tracks (Yellow Dog 2005)

DISC TWO - UK colour version - fake EMI PROMO CD configuration, All tracks taken from Another Sessions...PLUS

01 Hello Little Girl - Hope We Passed The Audition (Purple Chick)
02 Love Of The Loved - Hope We Passed The Audition (Purple Chick)
03 How Do You Do It (Ultra Rare Trax mix) - Please Please Me Deluxe Edition (Purple Chick)
04 Do You Want To Know A Secret (take 7) - Please Please Me Deluxe Edition (Purple Chick)
05 One After 909 (true stereo outfake) - DESS "Sessions" (Version 2)
06 That Means A Lot (stereo version) - Help! Deluxe Edition (Purple Chick)
07 Shout (complete - mostly stereo) - Anthology 1 + Around And Around (Silent Sea)
08 Leave My Kitten Alone (stereo version) - Beatles For Sale Deluxe Edition (Purple Chick)
09 I'm Looking Through You (alt. stereo mix) - Rubber Soul Deluxe Edition (Purple Chick)
10 Paperback Writer (alt. stereo mix) - Anthology VHS
11 Strawberry Fields Forever (takes 4,25,26) - Sgt. Pepper Deluxe Edition (Purple Chick)
12 The Fool On The Hill (demo) - Anthology 2
13 I Am The Walrus (reference mix) - DESS Casualties
14 While My Guitar Gently Weeps (unedited take 1)
15 What's The New Mary Jane (complete alt. mix) - Another Sessions...PLUS + Miscelleneous Tracks (Yellow Dog 2005)
16 Not Guilty (unedited take)
17 I Me Mine (acetate) - Acetates (2002)
18 Goodbye (acetate) - Acetates (2002)

HIDDEN TRACKS:
19 Like Dreamers Do - Hope We Passed The Audition (Purple Chick)
20 Besame Mucho (Ultra Rare Trax mix) - Hope We Passed The Audition (Purple Chick)
21 If You've Got Trouble (alt. stereo mix)
22 Christmas Time Is Here Again (alt. stereo mix)
23 Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues (stereo reconstruction using "Sessions" configuration)
24 Come And Get It (stereo demo)

BONUS TRACKS (from original US versions):
25 Medley: Obladi Oblada/Christmas Time (Is Here Again) - Ultra Rare Trax Vol. 5
26 Real Love (video mix) - Anthology DVD

Below are similar albums under different labels.







































































 

































More info available here:

https://www.guitars101.com/threads/the-beatles-the-ultimate-sessions-collection-sbd.757666/

https://superdiscografiathebeatles.blogspot.com/2021/09/2021-ultimate-sessions-collection.html

https://music-that-we-adore.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-beatles-bootleg-albums-320kbps.html

https://we.tl/t-jXwqIAaSYg




December 09, 2023

Listen to all 12 Beatles Christmas Messages in Auto Play + Christmas Songs from John & Paul


For this year, if you would like to listen to a full hour of Beatles Christmas Messages, you can stream them all in great fidelity at the below link. These are the Christmas messages included here:

Beatles - Wish you a Happy Xmas 1963/1969:
1-Crimble medley (BBC Saturday Club 12-21-1969).
2-Christmas time is here again(edit version 1995).
3-From us to you 1963.
4-Another Beatles Christmas 1964.
5-Third Christmas record 1965.
6-Everywhere it's Christmas 1966.
7-Christmas time is here again 1967.
8-1968 Christmas record.
9-Seventh Christmas record 1969.
10-Hello Dolly(1964 outtake).
11-Speech(1964 outtake).
12-Christmas time is here again (full version).














Two more Christmas songs from John and Paul:



From John, Happy Christmas War Is Over, and
From Paul, Wonderful Christmas Time... Enjoy









The Beatles Christmas Messages are available on the below collections along with outtakes:



















December 07, 2023

Beatles Christmas Messages Recordings

As a special treat for Christmas, I've posted the Beatles Christmas Messages recordings. 
Below are details on each of the recordings and their audio to enjoy. These bring back fond memories.



Each year from 1963 through 1969, the Beatles recorded a special Christmas greeting for their fans. The Official Beatles Fan Club in England sent flexi-discs containing the Christmas messages to its members each holiday season.The American fan club, Beatles (U.S.A.) Ltd., was established in 1964, and for their first Christmas, the American fan club sent fans the 1963 Christmas message on a soundcard, which is like a flexi-disc, but is "printed" on the post card that is mailed. No message was sent to the American fans in 1965 because the tape was not received on time.[Read more →] The Beatles Christmas flexis are very rare, and sell, in excellent condition, anywhere from $200 to $500.


These recordings offer a unique time-capsule glimpse into the personalities and evolution of the Beatles from 1963 through 1969. In the early years, like their appearances in A Hard Day’s Night, even though these messages were scripted by “somebody’s bad hand-wroter” (their Press Agent Tony Barrow), the Beatle’s geniune wit and humor shines through, for example, in 1963, when as John mentions taking part in the Royal Variety show, the boys extemporaneously launch into a whistling version of God Save The Queen, or in 1964, when Paul mentions that they don’t really know where they’d be without the fans, John says, off-handedly, “In the Army, perhaps…”


For older Beatles fans who remember hearing these messages over the years, “these little bits of plastic” are a fond holiday tradition, while for younger Beatles fans they offer a whole new insight into a pop music phenomenon which might never be repeated.


We present the Beatles Christmas Records here as a Christmas present to you from the Internet Beatles Album. Happy Crimble!

 



1963
The Beatles Christmas Record
Released December 6, 1963
Recorded October 17, 1963
EMI Abbey Road Studio 2
Engineer: Norman Smith
Recorded after a session for I Want To Hold Your Hand and This Boy.
About 30,000 total copies were manufactured.
This recording was sent to US Fan Club members in 1964.









 

1964
Another Beatles Christmas Record
Released December 18, 1964
Recorded October 26, 1964
EMI Abbey Road Studio 2
Engineer: Norman Smith
The only Beatles Fan Club Christmas record that played at 45 RPM instead of 33 1/3 RPM.
Recorded on the same day that they recorded Honey Don’t for Beatles For Sale.
US Fan Club members received the 1963 Christmas message this year.







 


1965
The Beatles Third Christmas Record
Released December 17, 1965
Recorded November 8, 1965
EMI Abbey Road Studio 2
Engineer: Norman Smith
Recorded during the Rubber Soul sessions, on the same day they recorded Think For Yourself. Cover photo taken on November 1 during the taping of Granada-TV’s ‘The Music of Lennon and McCartney’.








 


1966
Pantomime (Everywhere It’s Christmas)
Released December 16, 1966
Recorded November 25, 1966
Recorded in the basement studio of Dick James Music in London
Mixed at Abbey Road, December 2, 1966. Produced by George Martin.
Cover designed by Paul.







Some of the historical info on this page is from the books The Beatles: A Day In The Life by Tom Schultheiss, The Beatles Day By Day by Mark Lewisohn and The Price Guide for the Beatles American Records by Perry Cox and Frank Daniels As the 60’s evolve, so do the Beatles, and so do their Christmas records.


The previous year, the Christmas message changed from scripted messages talking directly to the fans, to sketch comedy, mostly Paul’s idea, but enthusiastically joined in by the other three. 1967 brings a similar production, but as the members of the group start desiring to go their separate ways, this is also reflected in the Christmas records, as the final two years bring messages recorded in bits and pieces recorded separately by each Beatle and assembled together later.







1967
Christmas Time (Is Here Again)
Released December 15, 1967
Recorded November 28, 1967
EMI Abbey Road Studio 2
Produced by George Martin
Special guest: Victor Spinetti

The script was written earlier in the day by the band. Last Christmas record the Beatles recorded together as a group. Cover designed on November 29 by John and Ringo.

The song Christmas Time (Is Here Again) was later released on the Real Love single in 1995.










1968
Happy Christmas
Released December 20, 1968
Recorded in November, 1968 at John’s home in London, Paul’s home in London, in the back of Ringo’s van in Surrey, with George in America and at George’s house in Esher during rehearsals for the White Album.
Special guest: Tiny Tim.

Created by Radio 1 disc jockey Kenny Everett who edited together separately-recorded messages from John, Paul, George and Ringo, and inter-cut random fragments from the White Album.











1969
Happy Christmas 1969
Released December 19, 1969
Recorded in fall of 1969 at John and Yoko’s home in Ascot, Ringo’s home in Weybridge, Paul’s home in London, and the London offices of Apple.
Edited by Maurice Cole (Kenny Everett’s original name)
Cover designed by Ringo










Because the Beatles officially broke up in 1970, no Christmas message was prepared for that holiday season.


In early 1971, fan club members were sent an album on the Apple label containing all seven of the Christmas messages.
Pictured is the American version of the LP. The British LP entitled From Then To You included a reproduction of the cover of the 1963 Christmas record.




Along with Let It Be and Introducing The Beatles, this is one of the notoriously most heavily counterfeited of Beatles albums. Counterfeits can be identified by blurry cover photos and an indentation ring much larger than 1 1/2″.

Some of the historical info on this page is from the books The Beatles: A Day In The Life by Tom Schultheiss, The Beatles Day By Day by Mark Lewisohn and The Price Guide for the Beatles American Records by Perry Cox and Frank Daniels.


You can listen to all Christmas Messages here:
https://brunchradio.com/beatles-christmas-messages-all-7/

Below is my previous post of scans of the covers:
http://jfnmusicmemories.blogspot.com/2009/07/christmas-messages-covers.html

You can get the recordings here:
http://teenagedogsintrouble.blogspot.com/2009/12/very-merry-beatles-christmas.html




Source :
http://www.ringofstars.ru/across/?p=2767







December 04, 2023

Christmas Messages Covers- Updated HQ Scans

Each year the Beatles would send a studio message thanking all their fan club members for a wonderful year. Below are the covers for each year from 1963 thru 1969 and a link where you can get them. Enjoy http://returntopepperland.blogspot.com/2006/11/beatles-christmas-records.html


1963 -














1964 -








1965

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1966 -






1967 -






1968 -







1969 -