Apple Corps Ltd./Capitol/UMeThursday marked the 50th anniversary of the release of Abbey Road, the final album recorded by The Beatles. Today sees the arrival of the series of special reissues commemorating the milestone.
The reissue boasts a new stereo mix by Giles Martin, son of Beatles producer George Martin. The deluxe versions of the collection feature 23 session recordings and demos, most of which are previously unreleased.
The Super Deluxe edition of the reissue includes a Blu-ray disc with a striking Dolby Atmos surround mix and other high-res mixes.
In an interview promoting the reissue, Giles says of the new mixes, “We can take more time and we have better technology now than they had in 1969. So we can make things more visceral, more vibrant, more energetic.”
Giles also discusses how, in the Dolby Atmos mix of the album-closing anthem “The End,” they were able to sonically separate the guitar solos by John Lennon, George Harrison and Paul McCartney so that you “get the sense it’s the three of them playing off each other.”
Among the extra tracks are McCartney’s demos of “Come and Get It” and “Goodbye,” tunes not featured on Abbey Road that became hits, respectively, for Badfinger and Mary Hopkin.
In addition, some of the studio outtakes include banter that gives fans the sense of the camaraderie between the band members.
The Super Deluxe Abbey Road reissue includes a total of 40 tracks over three CDs and the aforementioned Blu-ray, packaged in a 100-page hardbound book with a foreword written by McCartney, track-by-track details, rare photos and more.
Other editions of the reissue include a three-LP package, a two-CD set and single-CD, single-LP and digital versions.
Here are the details for the Super Deluxe set:
CD One (2019 Stereo Mix):
“Come Together”
“Something”
“Maxwell’s Silver Hammer”
“Oh! Darling”
“Octopus’s Garden”
“I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”
“Here Comes the Sun”
“Because”
“You Never Give Me Your Money”
“Sun King”
“Mean Mr. Mustard”
“Polythene Pam”
“She Came In Through the Bathroom Window”
“Golden Slumbers”
“Carry That Weight”
“The End”
“Her Majesty”
CD Two (Sessions):
“I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” (Trident Recording Session & Reduction Mix)
“Goodbye” (Home Demo)
“Something” (Studio Demo)
“The Ballad of John and Yoko” (Take 7)
“Old Brown Shoe” (Take 2)
“Oh! Darling” (Take 4)
“Octopus’s Garden” (Take 9)
“You Never Give Me Your Money” (Take 36)
“Her Majesty” (Takes 1–3)
“Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight” (Takes 1–3 / Medley)
“Here Comes the Sun” (Take 9)
“Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” (Take 12)
CD Three (Sessions):
“Come Together (Take 5)
“The End (Take 3)
“Come and Get It (Studio Demo)
“Sun King (Take 20)
“Mean Mr. Mustard (Take 20)
“Polythene Pam (Take 27)
“She Came In Through the Bathroom Window” (Take 27)
“Because” (Take 1 – Instrumental)
“The Long One” (Trial Edit & Mix – 30 July 1969)
(Medley: “You Never Give Me Your Money,” “Sun King,” “Mean Mr. Mustard,” “Her Majesty,” “Polythene Pam,” “She Came In Through the Bathroom Window,” “Golden Slumbers,” “Carry That Weight,” “The End”)
“Something” (Take 39 – Instrumental – Strings Only)
“Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight” (Take 17 – Instrumental – Strings & Brass Only)
Blu-ray: Abbey Road
Audio Features:
– Dolby Atmos
– 96kHz/24-bit DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
– 96kHz/24-bit High Res Stereo (2019 Stereo Mix)
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