How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Good
Value for Money
Advantages:
A new facet of rock's greatest
Disadvantages:
Not for the casual fan
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
For years it had been an open secret that there were several unissued Beatles tracks in the vaults. Nobody expected any bona fide classics, but even substandard Beatles material still put much of the rival product to shame. When Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and George Martin met to oversee the three anthology collections and associated video/TV footage in 1994, this was Part 1 of the results - a fascinating package of odds and ends, previously unreleased songs, and outtakes shedding new light on the creative process recorded up to late 1964. The earliest was their one and only 78 rpm disc, recorded in a Liverpool electrical shop studio in 1958, a crackly run-through of "That'll Be The Day" and a song written by Paul and George with John singing lead, "In Spite Of All The danger". Also included are five songs from the famously unsuccessful Decca audition of January 1962; Mitch Murray's "How Do You Do It", which they recorded under duress for a possible first A-side; "Moonlight Bay", taken from a Morecambe & Wise show, featuring Ernie on vocals with good-natured heckling from Eric; and various interview soundbites from the group and Brian Epstein. Last, or rather first, is the controversial 'new' single "Free As A Bird", which they and Jeff Lynne recorded, using a John Lennon demo from around 1977. Don't expect polished performances, but if you're familiar with the first few Beatles albums, this will be indispensable. The booklet annotations are first-rate.
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How does it rate alongside the competition
Good
Cover / Inlay Design and Content
Outstanding
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