Beatles Fan Thinking vs Apple Thinking |  

Finally, a voice of reason amid all these godawful, tacky special editions!

I hated that bullshit with the gnome statues and whatever else Harrison put in that giant box. I also don't like the idea of the Mind Games thing that's going for about the same price. I'm glad I got the Plastic Ono Band and All Things Must Pass multi-disc set. All I wanted was the music. If the packaging was nice to look at, there's a plus, but the music was #1 on my list of priorities.

I'll pass thanks Apple, you've been taking my money for 50 years. What's next? A "Movie Medley" box set???

I'm not a collector. However, one thing that WOULD interest me is a Rubber Soul reissue. To my ears, Rubber Soul is the nearest to being a perfect Beatles album (with A Hard Day's Night a close second). I'd be willing to spend the money for a nice Rubber Soul box set, with the booklet, photos, outtakes, artifacts, etc. Hopefully, that will happen before I die.

The greatest way to honor the Beatles music is to learn to play their songs on guitar or piano.

Great video Matt. Apple really should listen to you! I’m a second generation Beatles fan now retired and in my 60s. Ringo and Paul are 84 & 82 respectively so you’d think that they would want to see the completion of the Beatles’ albums box sets before it’s too late. I’d like to think Apple 🍏 have a ‘roadmap’ of future releases but judging by recent releases it does make me wonder. As you’ve highlighted in your video there are so many excellent examples of releases we fans would like but it seems Apple/Universal/Beatles & their Estates are not listening. At the end of the day it’s all about the music… but as an oldie I need to have hard copies of their catalogue not streaming. Where’s Let It Be, Shea ‘65, Japan ‘66, The Music of Lennon & McCartney & Around The Beatles UK TV Specials etc. Complete no brainers crying out for release.

The Christmas album reissue on LP and CD is a great idea. It’s long been bootlegged, so there is demand. Originals are rare and expensive.

A Peter Jackson'd Star Club is all I really want. Thanks for another interesting video Matt, I like your micro rants which I'm usually always on board with - this one included. Regards, Terry, Australia.

I completely agree about the "rich kids" box sets. The ALL things must pass was a curio which I would've loved to have owned. But the Mind Games box was an over priced collection of tat to accompany a polished turd of an album. I was incredibly annoyed to see certain reviewers being given free copies of the box by the Lennon estate. One reviewer in particular buys everything connected with the Beatles and can clearly afford these items, yet gets given it for free, guaranteeing a favourable review for an album that he previously ranked as second from the bottom of his favourite Lennon albums...... Hypocrisy. As you rightly point out Matt, music and these collections should be accessible to everyone, and these super deluxe versions are just gifts to those that can afford to buy everything and then leave it, untouched, on a shelf to gather dust. Back in the 60s the Beatles were very keen to give value for money... Nowadays apple and the various estates do an awful lot of fleecing the fans.

They released butcher cover on CD which I have. Yes they should release it on vinyl

Releasing the Beatles cartoons on Blu-Ray, might well get children starting to like the music.

I would like to get a dvd copy of the re-release of "Let It Be" that came out on Disney on May 8, 2024. Cheers! 🥨

I'm sure we'll get to see Yesterday And Today reissued on vinyl as part of The US Albums In Mono Volume 2 box set (start saving now!)

Nice recap of your survey. I was never aware of the deluxe Magical Mystery Tour and Help!, I'll look into them. I still can't believe they skipped Rubber Soul in the box set series. They seem to think it was just an "Unplugged" side project while it was an important album. In most of1965 the Beatles were still perceived as part of the British Invasion, Meanwhile Folk/Rock had become the new wave that fused the folk revival people and rock. Rubber Soul fused the Beatles with Folk/rock, making them the leaders (along with Dylan) the leaders of a new, fused pop music.

You're more in tune with the fans than apple.

The Rubber Soul box needs to include the American LP.

That Magical Mystery Tour Box is really eye catching. Capitol should've just blown that picture up to album size and used it.

probably when the four Beatle biopics are out, demand for Beatle product will skyrocket...

I’ve become very selective, I just can’t afford those box sets so I’ve gone the bootleg route which often pirates material from box sets. I have no idea what the mindset of Apple is - except that their attitude is drip drip drip and make as much money as possible. I get that, it’s business - but at times it seems like Apple are cutting of their nose to spite their face. I’m sure that there is drama behind the scenes with all those strong personalities involved. I see a backlash coming from the public.

Can you shed some light on Mark Lewisohns next volume of Tune In? I’ve been waiting patiently since Volume 1 came out and I’m hoping I live long enough to read Vol.2 and Vol. 3.

'Fake' (contrived) collectibles killed baseball cards off in the 1980s. It took its toll on comic books, too: they started issuing fake-death issues (the character dies for about one year-a landmark!- and then comes back) in sealed plastic bags, discouraging you from even reading the thing!

Lennon cube was ridiculous.

This Capital release doesn’t make any sense. I won’t buy it. No need for yet another box set.

I got the mono box set when it came out at Barnes and Noble! I put a hold on it to buy it the next day when it officially came out!

I think apple tries too hard and swings for the fence when it comes to trying to please fans by giving what they think everyone wants. I think the remixes are geared towards the earbud fans but the boxes with the bonus content are more for the hardcore people. I remember listening to a podcast with a collector who met with Jeff Jones and he asked about a release of Beatles videos and his response was “who would want that?” so that tells us that Apple doesn’t have an idea of what we as fans want….thankfully they are listening to people like Peter Jackson who has a grasp of what fans are looking for….excellent video Matt!

You're absolutely right - Apple and the Lennon Estate have moved from releasing records to creating collectables and it makes me sick.

Excellent video. I'm a first generation Beatles fan. I bought their records as they came out. Fortunately, I took care of them and I still have them. I have continued to add to my collection of original releases from the US and UK. I avoid the manufactured collectibles. I've bought the album box sets for the outtakes. But with each successive release Apple has gotten stingy with them. Let It Be and Revolver had two meager, 40 minute CDs. That's shameful. I would never buy anything like the ATMP and Mind Games deluxe boxes. The upcoming Capitol mono box is of no interest to me. I suppose it makes sense for young fans who want the mono mixes. I agree with you that Apple has no respect for older fans and no interest in providing us with what we want. They release the outtakes reluctantly; Giles, Paul and Ringo have all expressed their surprise that fans want these and their distain for releasing them. Giles has been especially dismissive of them. It would be nice if Apple were to hire a fan or two as consultants. As far as a fan base that is being well-served by the artist's label, look no further than Bob Dylan's. Today, Columbia released a 27-disc box of all the professionally recorded shows from his 1974 tour with The Band. And it only costs about $100. His bootleg series is up to volume 17, including the Cutting Edge that gave us every note of everything he recorded in 1965-1966 (covering Bringing It All Back Home, Highway 61 and Blond on Blond, three of the most important LPs of the 1960s), which was accompanied by a massive box set of every sound board and audience recording of the historic 1966 world tour (again with The Band). Jethro Tull fans have been treated to elaborate uniform multi-disc box sets of all of their classic albums. Each one features a remix by Steve Wilson and outtakes. Many include live recordings and DVDs. Each is accompanied by an extensive and informative booklet with contributions from Ian Anderson, key band members and support staff. These are outstanding sets.

They need to release Shea Stadium and the Budokan shows. They also need to make the Super Deluxe album collections longer and do away with the EPs which are a waste and could just be tacked on to the discs.

Beatle cartoons I would buy!

Pumped to hear about the Living in the Material World Remix coming out in November

Too bad there is tension between Apple and Mark Lewishon. I actually corrected his first volume, tune in with genealogical facts about the Beatles that he got wrong in the first volume and he is going to incorporate my new information in the second volume.

Loved…”I don’t know, seems pretty simple…”

I want a new Anthology set. There's a lot of unreleased material still in the vaults such as Carnival Of Light and the 27 minute Take 3 of Helter Skelter. Us older fans need to have a chance to hear those before we pass away!

CAPITAL/APPLE SHOULD PICK UP THE VEE JAY ALBUMS AND /IN THE BEGINNING by THE BEATLES FEATURING TONY SHERIDAN on POLYDOR RECORDS, and the DECCA AUDITION album, CHRISTMAS ALBUM and release all these albums on CAPITAL/APPLE RECORDS

Havent seen the vid yet but I think Matt's about to GO OFFFFF

I want Rubber Soul period. Nothing else will do.

Haven't looked in a while, but I think I have all of the cartoons digitized in my archives.

The four Beatles' estates need to coordinate their releases better. Back in 2018 you had the Imagine Ultimate Mix in October, the White Album Super Deluxe Edition in November and Wings Wildlife and Red Rose Speedway in December.

Great video, Matt! I'd love to see that Lewishon video you mentioned.

Excellent video!

I regard myself as a music collector, more specifically a Beatles music collector. I'm not interested in the US albums, I wasn't interested in the red and blue albums either, they contained nothing new and I'm hoping that those remixes will all be available on other box sets. Also it doesn't bother me how much any of this stuff is worth in future, I want to enjoy it all now, my kids will have plenty left to them when I die. What does bother me at the moment is the trend towards vinyl being more important than the cd. Recently Paul's One Hand Clapping was released on cd without the inclusion of the backyard tapes, now we have George's Material World album being released and 1 track, The Sunshine Life For Me not being included on the cd version, 1 track, surely there's enough for it on a cd?!

I would love to see all your Beatles Reissue ideas happen especially a Let It Be Box set Volume 2 with all the unreleased songs and the original Let It Be movie. Your idea to just rerelease the 2014 Mono UK vinyl box set many would purchase. Your Yesterday and Today idea & album design is quite amazing, and Apple/Universal would do will to hire you as an artistic /creative consultant. Fun presentation!

I am definitely in the minority here, but I would like to hear something along the lines of the Love lp including mash ups and enhanced sound and production. It would have to be handled by someone like Steven Wilson who is an expert of new technology but also has a creative ear. The album could be called Something New.

Maybe Apple has someone in charge of the Beatles releases that don't know what they are doing..... KISS SUCKS!!!

I'm more excited for the U.S. albums in mono than I am for a Giles Martin remix of Rubber Soul. Everything can't be for everybody every year. 🤷‍♂

Instead of the Star Club tapes, get Peter Jackson to do his AI magic on milestone concerts from 63-66 in a CD / DVD deluxe box set like...London Palladium 1963, Washington DC 1964, Shea 1965 & 66, Budokan 1966, Munich1966, & Candlestick 1966 with audio and every available video source

collecting is worthless. everything we own will belong to someone else someday.

or Decca and Star Club could be put together with some AI help to stereo and clarity or into Anthology repackaged plus AI Free As a Bird and Real Love AND time is coming for sgt. Pepper's another anniversary even bigger box ! 😅

Like you I only care about the music so I've only bought The White Album set and the 1998 4-disc "John Lennon Anthology" collection of outtakes. As for future Beatles releases why not do the early albums in pairs, 2 each for 1963, 1964 and 1965? Also has there ever been a collection of their music videos? They were one of the first bands to make those in lieu of appearing on various talks shows. I don't know how many they made.

The “Living In The Material World” 50th Anniversary options offer a variety of selections at different price points and seem a much better option for fans than the 2004 Mono Capitol box set. In fact, for less than half the price in total, I just picked up both the 2 lp edition and the 5 lp “All Things Must Pass” deluxe edition. As far as potential releases, I’d like to see an official Shea Stadium release in addition to the rooftop concert.

I think he hit the nail on the head regarding the creation of these box sets for people who just like to collect just for the sake of collecting and have the money, which is fine, but it certainly does get away from the music. I think we live in an age that people desire to have some personal connection to the icons that have so enriched their lives, which is why these types of things sell. For example, the autographed book industry right now seems to be pretty huge. Having the actual signature of some author that you admire and paying a lot more than the actual retail cost of the book.

What ever happened to all the unreleased Get Back film footage that Peter Jackson wants release? I would definitely be interested in that. Matt, I would love for you to do a video on Mark Lewisohn's fallout with the Beatles, as well as MPL. Mark is an exceptional Beatles historian who respects their history. So it's all very puzzling to me

I’d rather focus on the original UK album releases.

I just want to hear the music.

I am sure that Pete Best would want to see 'Live At The Star Club' released. And it would be a major extension of The Beatles back catalogue. My main concern would be that for the source material to scrub up well it would have to be kept to a punchy mono mix.

I wish Apple had the foresight that The Doors, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix and Frank Zappa estates had and would launch a small boutique label to reissue archival titles that would appeal to the smaller but dedicated group of fanatics that want stuff a bit beyond the more common titles.

Great video, Matt ! Apple is totally out of touch. So much available, yet nothing of value is issued. Personally, I only the Box Sets for the outtakes and the mono lps: I don't care about the remixes. I'd like to see them made available as individual albums, which would be more available than buying the whole box, with stuff one doesn't want. You have some great ideas: wish you were running Apple .

I think the Beatles were great entertainers and there music belongs to them

great episode

Apple is not listening to the Beatles fans. they are only in it for the money and don't care what we want. I hope they watch your podcast and learn something from this travesty. wake up Apple Corps and start listening to fans of music.!!!

Most things that are designed to be collectibles don’t retain their value in the long run. I don’t need (or want) trinkets cluttering up a box set. It just means paying for a lot more for junk that I never wanted. All I want in a box set are the physical media discs (whether CD or LP) plus a nice book. The 2014 mono box set is a perfect example of them getting it right. Thankfully the Beatles (as a group) haven’t tried to sell us the ultra expensive box sets that the Lennon and Harrison estates have. But I can see a day when that might change.

great episode

I’m my opinion, you only need the 1987 Beatles CD albums to have everything of the Beatles essential, along with possibly the Anthology discs or BBC (for completest only). Not saying “don’t buy anything new” but a lot of the remastered songs are on RU-vid and can be gotten other ways. Vinyls are also essential for feel or nostalgia, but not necessary. As a kid in the 80s and 90s my intro to the Beatles were my father’s Capitol Beatle releases, so they are essential for me to have those albums. In my 20s, I collected the 1987 CDs when they became affordable and found in COSTCO. I’ve never been tempted to upgrade.

👍Very good Video of these Boxed Sets, Matt...Too Expensive for this older Fan!...Will stay with my CDs ( No LP player anymore!)...Such interesting Views in the Comments!..TY Matt! Always great content on Your Channel...Take Good Care...

I haven't bought many of the remix boxsets because I'm actually getting burned out on them. Even with the few I do buy, I find myself listening more to my original LPs and CDs. The Let It Be DVD/Blu-ray seems to be forgotten and is the one thing I want to buy.

Loved your final comments about the box-set craze going a bit far. Personally, if it's not about the music I'll probably pass. I really liked the remixes up to Revolver - particularly the job on SPLHCB (Wow). I agree that the remix route must get a little thin as not much unheard stuff is left to package with remaining releases. I'm still a bit surprised they chose the US '64 albums for this year. While I have some fondness for those early albums, it comes with knowing (later in life) what Capital did with the original Beatles records. Call me crazy but Star Club treatment still gets my top vote.

I play there songs on piano 🎹 long and winding road sounds really good on piano.

Rubber Soul 100%

I'm curious to see once Apple has released all possible Beatles box sets - perhaps they'll create a box set of box sets!

Apple thinking is probably "Now is our last chance to re-issue the US albums on vinyl while anyone will really care about it." I think we see: Rubber Soul in 2025, Magical Mystery Tour in 2026, The Beatles biopics with a soundtrack (unique remixes, instrumental mixes, etc) in 2027, and an upgraded Anthology on streaming in 2028 (with MAL remixed Free as a Bird and Real Love).

You mentioned limited release box sets, I tried to get the recent Pete Townshend set of 7 concert albums but it sold out BEFORE the release date. And now the Bob Dylan "The 1974 Live Recordings" set of 27 CDs is back-ordered. This is not serving the fans who want their product. Are the music companies that scared to produce more than will be sold immediately? What happened to supply and demand?

The Ready, Steady Go! Beatles special would be an obvious release, but I believe the film rights belong to Dave Clark, and he wasn't able to release it on a recent RSG compilation dvd because the music copyright belongs to Apple...

Matt, The bosses at Apple should be following you on Patreon to get an education. Outtakes? A customer friend of mine gave me a 90 minute cassette of alternate Beatles mixes, including Strawberry Fields, of course. But the tape snapped in my car player 30 or 40 years ago. My friend had several Beatles bootlegs on album (no CDs in those days), but he moved out of the area, and my awareness.

Appreciate your insight and dedication. You care about us fans.👍😃

The only thing i can see worthy would be a release of Yesterday and Today with the original butcher cover and a study of all the hoopla it caused.

I really need a surround mix for every album box set they may release. Still upset about Revolver not having it.

Getting more selective as I get older? Yes, most of us fans from the 1960s are on Social Security now.

The Giles Martin remixes using the Peter Jackson technology are worthy, and I think valuable, explorations into the music. It`s about the MUSIC. But these endless, overpriced boxed sets are not about the music, they are about the money. Music lovers who love Beatles music desire to hear something that they have never heard before - hence the remixes and outakes - but at this juncture (or should that be junkture?) there just isn`t anymore. We have gone deep into the mine, and the mine is exhausted, and so am I. I absolutely couldn`t care less if someone wants (and can afford) to buy so-called "objets d`art" like the MInd Games cube.But Apple is in danger of turning The Beatles into the musical equivalent of Renoir umbrellas, Monet coffee mugs, and limited edition Mona Lisa Espresso machines. Guess I`m just a mean,old Mr. Mustard. About Kiss, you nailed it Matt: "even in the seventies, they were nothing really but merchandising."

I can remember having to wait what felt like a lifetime for the Anthology, yet now we seem to have floods of product. I don't get the box set strategy- it cheapens their legacy and makes their output an investment asset rather than material to view and listen to. I'm keen on Decca audition & Rooftop concert and would love to see the Japan concerts from 1966 given the Jackson treatment.

Please Reissue The Hey Jude Album and The Yesterday and Today Album. Please Reissue it all!!!

Being advertised by product marketing it's 'Collectible' and then buying it because you were told it's 'Collectible', is like buying the 'Collectible' Elvis dishes.

You raise an interesting point about collectibles holding value. A lot of hardcore Beatles collectors say things like "if I ever need money in the future, I can always cash in some of my albums". However, they might want to take a look at what is happening to Elvis Presley collectibles: most have plummeted in value over the past ten years or so as the collectors die off and their collections are liquidated. There is more supply of once-rare Elvis records and marginalia on the open market than there is demand. As the Baby Boom heads for that Woodstock in the sky, a lot of Beatles records will be hitting the market too, with fewer people interested in collecting them. Generally, record albums are a very poor investment when compared to the S&P 500.

After my once massive music collection on LPs, tapes, CDs and 78s was transferred to digital and stored on flash drives, I almost never played the records again. Like the topic of this video, the records existed on a shelf as 'museum pieces' for years. I had many Beatles picture discs and special anniversary editions that no one ever cared to see or hear. I finally sold everything I deemed valuable (anything not scratched beyond resale, which were mostly the records I bought in the mid 70s as a child) and gave all the money to charity. I never regret the decision.

You have some excellent ideas. Interisting and entertaining clip🤩👌

They should release Lord Reith’s BBC package, 12 discs, very good ! Lots of songs

If they could somehow find like a orginal 16mm print for the Magical Mystery Tour film (it must be out there somewhere), release it as a Blu-Ray / 4K with the remixed album now that would be something. Also I would literally kill for a high definition concert box set

Butcher cover release! YES!!!

I didn't know that Help! set was so cheap. I'd love an updated mystery tour. The one out now is a little pricey. Lots of great suggestions regarding the concerts and interviews

You hit so many nails on the head here Matt. I used to collect Batman toys, then one year it just came to me that these are toys to be played with and not as things on a shelf that you have to dust. So I gave them all to an orphange. 9 boxes of toys sill in their original packaging, keeping only the toys I had as a child. Music is the same, its not supposed to be sitting in a museum, it's there to be played on your turntable. Apple releasing items that only the super rich can afford goes against EVERY concept of why Apple was created back in the 60s. Oh and in relation to Gene Simmonds et al. some friends are STILL getting into this band and I dont know why... is it the stage show? The last decent music I thought they made was on Destroyer in 76.

The Capitol box is ludicrous, merely about having a box with some new records. The mixes are the same as the 2009 mono box, so not even historically accurate. Then you have the absurd digital to vinyl thing, which is nonsense, basically MP3s transferred to analogue, so the whole point of vinyl is lost anyway. Tbh I am personally quite bored of re-releasing albums, this comes from the Revolver remix which I thought was just terrible. I think there is a case for putting out Magical Mystery Tour to have a box. Live at the Star Club could be incredible if the mix could be achieved, definitely historically important.

Still waiting on the London Town/Back to the Egg Archive collections to finish Sir Paul’s Wings Era!

I had NO idea that MMT box set even existed. Don’t know how I missed it. Anyway, I need it, so I bought it.

Hollywood bowl visual footage exists but I think it’s newsreel footage , and not great . Thanks for this video - it’s great 😊👍

Shouldn't YESTERDAY & TODAY be included?

I am so tired of deluxe box sets! I just need the originals, remixed or remastered, b-sides, and some selective live stuff! With the Beatles stuff, and John and George solo, I only buy the 2-disc Cd versions. I like the Ringo albums, of which I buy regular LP or CD releases. I don’t bother with Paul anymore.

I s there a colorized version of A Hard Day's Night?

Box stuff will sell if done right because it’s the Beatles I think the problem with Apple 🍏 is that they are probably less involved than we think. Good video Matt

The unfortunate thing, is that Apple, McCartney and the estates of George Harrison and John Lennon know that people will pay for these releases, without it becoming a taint to their legacy. That's a sad fact.

What a awesome video have you enjoyed the music Matt have a great weekend also happy last day of summer also happy first day of fall ❤😊

Funny, you should mention the Beatle cartoons. I hadn't seen any of them since I watched them (every Saturday morning!) in the 60s. For some reason, I got to thinking about them a week or so ago and looked for them on RU-vid. My God! Their voices were SO WRONG and offputting, that I could only watch one cartoon, and that barely.