A look at some of the items surrounding the BBC sessions of The Beatles. The first official release of BBC material came in 1994, and was compiled and digital remastered by George Martin.
What I love most about the albums is the speech tracks, its somehow more personal than a studio recording and you get a sense of the band's humour at the height of beatlemania.
Can you imagine going so many years without a Beatles release? This release gave us (obsessed) Beatles fans hope that finally we will start getting legitimate releases of their unreleased recordings. Through this release, this became the first time I heard the song “Some Other Guy” - and despite the "slightly better than rotary phone” audio quality, I was blown away.
It was a looooooong time without any unreleased material, and a heck a lot of compilations beforehand. They did a nice job on the remastered reissue in 2013 to improve the sound.
Excellent video Mike. I bought the CD's when they were originally released but learned so much more about them in your video. I must remember to start reading the CD booklets! I bought the bootlegs over time and thought the covers as well as the actual music were brilliant. The first radio show was recorded in my hometown of Manchester at the Playhouse Theatre. A 50th anniversary show was organised by local historian Paul Wilde and featured Pete Best, local band The Threetles, Mark Lewisohn and original producer Peter Pilbeam. Fifty years too late but it's all we've got. Great do it yourself haircut😂😂
Who knew a simple Beatles head shake could provide such results?!!! Wow, that 50th Anniversary Show sounded amazing! Those of us who weren't there must take what we can get. As Derek Taylor started, "...these are the days..."
The BBC stuff was discussed for release in the 80's. Not sure why it took so long, but once it did come out, we got some great subsequent releases in Anthology, Yellow Sub. Soundtrack, Let It Be ... Naked, etc.
@@MagicalMysteryMike EMI could not release any unique Beatles related content throughout most of the eighties due to a lawsuit with Apple involving unpaid royalties. The decade of the eighties was largely a missed opportunity for both EMI and Apple but thankfully they were able to settle their dispute in 1989 leading to plans being put in motion for "Live At The BBC" and the other releases that would follow.
Morning Mike, great that you've featured this. I was fortunate enough to be a good 10 years ahead of you for the BBC recordings! Aside from the fantastic body of music, the aspects love the most is the razor sharp chat & humour in between. That's a definitive statement of the lads at that time & the essence of what they were & went on to be! Congrats on all you've achieved & love the Ringo head shake! 👍
Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment. Much appreciated. I agree that the chat is interesting to hear. This is similar, and perhaps more stark, on the Christmas Records. Amazing how those guys evolved! so glad they left us a body of work to still be enjoying 50+ years later.
@@MagicalMysteryMike - Very much agreed Mike. It was George Martin who said that the little ones find the music for themselves & so it passes from generation to generation. The music is of such quality to do that & in a thousand years + they'll still be singing & rocking to She Loves You & all the rest! Now that's genius right there!
Hi Mike, I'm from Australia and have just subscribed. Your excellent Live at the BBC post has reignited my desire to play these songs again , and also to search out the re released vol.1 from 2013. I have the original 1994 set,the single and the 2013 vol, 2 but somehow never bought the reissued vol. 1. That will be rectified. Thanks again for a most informative video, enjoyed every bit of it and learnt a few new things.
A great thing to acknowledge is that between the two sets, 3 promo films were done. 1. Baby Its You, 2. Medley of the known Beatles songs from the 1’s compilation (Both Aired in 1994 & 1995), 3. Words Of Love. I just love the BBC Sessions, got both the 1994 & 2013 issues of the first one on Vinyl & CD, also the Cassette for the 1994 release. Also to mention is the iTunes release of the 1963 Recording Sessions which offers more BBC content not issued in both releases.
Biggest highlight on the first Live at the BBC for me was the long awaited release of "Some Other Guy", as I only knew of that tune from the old Cavern footage that we've all seen. I feel this particular version is far superior to the Cavern version! Thanks for posting this vid dude ! 👊
You're welcome, and thank YOU for watching and taking the time to comment. That is a pretty bad a** performance. John really nails it on a lot of them ol' rockers!
Hey MM Mike in 94 I had a side job in Hollywood and on the Sunset Strip they had a Giant billboard of the cover it was something to see. Great Video Thanks
I'm a recent subscriber so just catching up on your videos - nicely done. I think the BBC is off the radar for many people, but it's a listening universe unto itself and they could easily release more if they did it year by year, for example. I've probably watched about five of your videos so far and notice 2 things: first, I always learn something I didn't know, and second, you often show some promo I was aware of at the time so feel sad that I will never be able to own everything ;=) .
Thank you so much for the kind words. We'll never own it all. I've resigned myself to this. I'd love to have it all on vinyl, but I have decided that the room and resources necessary are not beneficial to me. My collection is mostly CD, some old cassettes, a few vinyl pieces. I'll collect more, but for now, I'm enjoying what I have. I have enough to continue making videos for months. It's been nice to revisit these items, listen to them, research a bit about them. I've been spending quality time with what I have, and it's nice that that's been enough. Still, I would have liked to have purchased the In Mono vinyl box when that came out.
I received this for Christmas on cassette from my brother. I was 10 years old. I later got the cd . It would have been nice if they release all the BBC material.
Very cool. It's fun when you can recall a story about a particular release and where you got it. I remember winning the Yellow Submarine Soundtrack at a boardwalk game at the shore one summer. :)
Thank you very much Tom! Glad you're enjoying them. Still working out some kinks to the production, but if you keep watching, I'll do my best to keep creating.
The BBC and Antholody albums are must listens for people that enjoy the Beatles. They have great recordings on them along with interestng talking parts. it's crazy that people overlook them.
I agree. Anthology was so great to hear back in the mid 90's, and are still fantastic compilations. The BBC sessions have grown on me over the years as well.
So in my collection I have: the original 2-disc CD version and the newer Vol. 2 CD (which I must've gotten at Best Buy as I also have the 5 art cards), I also have the newer vinyl copies of each release. I should look into getting the updated Vol. 1 on CD. Over the years I've only listened to these albums maybe a handful of times. They are not albums I pull out very often. I don't know why that is. I'll definitely have to listen to them again though because there is a lot of great stuff on them. Thanks for the detailed look at these releases!
You've got a great collection; the updated Vol. 1 CD is worthwhile. When I first bought Live at the BBC on cassette in '94, I listened to it a few times, and enjoyed it, but I put them aside for a while as I changed over to CD and started concentrating on getting the original UK albums 1 at a time. Then once Anthology was released, those BBC recordings didn't have a chance. It was years before I really gave them another listen with a fresh perspective. i enjoyed revisiting them again while making this video. Good stuff!
Oh the memories. In that time, i was trying to buy Beatles cassettes ( cds were a bit expencive for my young me, and i liked to carry my music everywere) so no was exactly in my priorities ( the White Album was there instead)...two years after, The Beatles Anthology appeared and then used my limited montly money for get the double cassette. In the same shop, was an cassette BEAUTIFUL edition of the Live in BBC...and suffered a lot because i knew who only was able to buy one thing. Finally got the Anthology, but the Live in BBC was always in my mind. Then get all the Antologies in cassette form, bit never saw the BBC again. At least, i have now the complete Anthology in a interesting format.
Thanks for sharing your memory. The last Beatles cassette I bought was Live at the BBC ... it's the one featured in this video. After that I had changed over to CD, and I bought Anthology and all subsequent releases offered on CD in that format.
Glad The Legendary BBC albums are also available for Digital Download and Streaming on Apple Music and Spotify. Wish they were released on Vinyl. I only have the first volume of Live At The BBC the original copy and not the Remaster. I also can't wait for the Disney and Peter Jackson film on The Beatles Get Back Sessions made for The Let It Be Film.
Me too on the Get Back / Let It Be stuff. You can get the Live at the BBC albums on vinyl. I would have mentioned iTunes and streaming in this video, but I like to try to keep these videos to about 10 minutes. This one was starting to swell.
Hi, I liked these albums when they were released back in the days. Time flies, vol I relesed 25 years ago. The cover photo used on vol Ii is used to make a staue of the Beatles, which can be found next to the Museum of Liverpool at the waterfront.of the river Mersey. It's hight is about 2.3 meters.
Live at the BBC became part of the Beatles' mono discography, which has been missing a 'fine' live album since 1966. Like The Beatles In Mono box set, this album contains the great myth of the '60s mono sound, while also being the best example of the Beatles' energy on stage. Previously unreleased material and the atmosphere of radio broadcasting create its unique charm too.The second volume was rather tedious, showing mostly one period of the group's chronology, and was not representative. And that was not enough, because there is still a lot of material in the archive.
Re 6:04 - why would it be Dolby digital on an analog cassette? It's Dolby B noise reduction encoded (analog), precisely to cut tape hiss when played back (with Dolby B NR engaged on the deck).
Another Great Video. Congrats on the 1K ❤️✌🏼👍🏻 if this comment gets read by others this content needs to be shared. Deserves so many more subscribers & support. Thank you.
Have you A/B'd the 1994 release and 2013 remaster? Might need to add that to my collection. I bought it on vinyl and cd at the time. Also I somehow missed the second volume on vinyl, so thanks for reminding me. These are precious recordings. It's amazing they were able to be rescued and restored the way they were. 👍
Yes. Some sound similar, but there are definitely tracks that sound better. Following the original release, better source of some of the songs were found and used for the reissue. Also, it's nice to have a version without all of the crossfades. It's one of the more justifiable re-releases. That being said, some of these recordings were a little rough to begin with, so there's only so much that can be done.
I hadn't thought of those cassettes in so many years, but luckily I was able to find them and it was like opening a time capsule to see them again. I resisted the move to CD until the mid 90's but after this release, I did not buy any more by The Beatles on cassette.
@@MagicalMysteryMike Too true. Even I knew cassettes were on the way out by then. Though I have to admit I barely have any Beatles on CD, other than the original "1" and the "White album". I'm just glad I stumbled onto your channel to live like a Beatles collector vicariously.
It's worthwhile to build up a collection of the original studio recordings if you like The Beatles. There are only 14 albums to get, counting Magical Mystery Tour and the 2 disc set, Past Masters!
Hey Magical Mystery Mike! Can you make a video where you spot the differences between the real mono & stereo boxest & the fake ones? I've been planning to buy one and I wanted to know the differences between the real ones & fakes ones.
I have the fat boy case release of BBC 1 from 1994 (and the 4 track single), as well as the remasters of BBC 1 and 2. I like both the original and the reissue of BBC 1. Fun stuff! I like the sepia tone in its own unique way, but prefer b&w. Odd ?, see you had a lot of cassettes, was the track listing ever rearranged on any of them, like 8 tracks did?
Hey Mike, when they redid the Hollywood bowl CD for the movie not to long ago to me it didn't sound that great. I played it yesterday I thought what the hell! Anyway about the BBC CD, never bought it and I don't know why. So you think I should pick up the 2013 remaster? I know some of these songs might be a little rough but I don't care. Sorry man, but back to that last Hollywood bowl CD, I don't know why the didn't turn down the screaming. Drives me nuts. Hope you do a video about it. Later man. TRIP
Firstly ... yeah, yeah, yeah you should pick up that 2013 remaster of Live at the BBC. It was redone very nicely! The second volume is worthwhile as well. But, you could even find a used copy of the original these days for a couple bucks. It sold millions, and they're out there! I see 'em all the time when I go to the record store ... when I used to go to the record store. :( As far as the Hollywood Bowl, I've heard Giles comment that the screaming was considered to be an essential part of the recording and that's why it wasn't turned down more. I agree, it's hard to listen to. These BBC recordings are a much better live recording experience!
@@MagicalMysteryMike Hey Mike. I have not ordered the BBC yet. Been a bit sick over the past few months. Being inside for to long. 2020 has been so fucked up. I'm gonna order that cd right now. This Christmas is gonna be crazy if everything pans out. All things must pass boxset.........POB boxset.......McCartney lll. Let's see what happens. Gotta go Mike. Stay Safe..Take Care. Kregg
I would think that many were made and many are still out there. I haven't personally looked, but I'm sure you could search and find one pretty easily for a fair price. It might look nice on your wall. If you like it, that's all that matters!
Yeah, I knew he was in his 20's in 1994, I'm just not sure what age he is in the photo I used when I mentioned it.. I know he acted as his father's ears as George Martin's ears started to go. What an education!
Sure that Bananas at end wasn't a reference to "Have a Banana" from BBC1, LOL! Or The Rutles label? I have the Rutles CD and have the movie on DVD, a fun Beatles parody, both from Rhino!
While commercially successful, the original 1994 issue of The Beatles' "Live At The BBC" stands as one of the few faux pas of The Beatles professional career. The set which was Apple's first attempt to dip a cautious toe into the vast pool of unreleased Beatles recordings that had been available to collectors over the preceding two decades was a hastily produced affair. The Beatles BBC recordings while they represent one of the two most concentrated sources of Beatles rarities [the other being the 1969 "Get Back" sessions] were bereft with certain issues in terms of sound quality and fidelity. To begin with in the aftermath of the original sessions that the band recorded for the BBC, the British Broadcasting Corporation failed to preserve all but a handful of these recordings in their archives. That meant over the course of the seventies and eighties their archives would have to be meticulously rebuilt primarily through the efforts of farsighted and at times enterprising individuals who recorded the programmes off the air in the sixties. Indeed the initial BBC broadcasts to become known to collectors didn't sound that great. But this was not necessarily due to the fact that they were pressed on inferior, unofficial wax as many collectors assume to this day. Instead this was due to how these broadcasts were recorded usually through off-line methods. It wasn't until the early nineteen eighties, that higher fidelity broadcasts began to circulate amongst collectors and these were oftentimes incomplete collections, placing the material in improper context and choosing instead to focus on only the rarest material available. However, in 1986 a collection of near complete BBC broadcasts both in terms of scope and content surfaced courtesy of a UK collector who according to Beatles author John Winn began in April of 1963 recording the broadcasts using a "high quality reel-to-reel machine plugged directly into a VHF/FM receiver". To this day this collection of high fidelity recordings remains in the opinion of many collectors the definitive document of The Beatles recordings for BBC radio. Once the complete broadcasts had come to light they brought forth two undeniable truths regarding the value of these recordings. Firstly, they represented better than any other recorded document the energy, spirit and desire of the early Beatles. Here was the band that would become the musical phenomenon of the twentieth century in the early stages of their commercial success relentlessly climbing the ladder to greater fame and fortune and this energy is clearly communicated in the BBC performances. Secondly the BBC recordings places The Beatles squarely within the context of the timeframe of when they were recorded. The style of BBC radio in the sixties, The Beatles role in it and their interaction with disc jockeys such as Brian Matthew represents a slice of early sixties nostalgia and a window into an era that is not likely to come again. Unfortunately, this sentiment is for the most part not to be found on 1994's "Live At The BBC" issue largely for two reasons. To begin with Apple refused to release the bulk of the recordings they had available to them and when asked by the press why this was so, George Martin's somewhat puzzling reply was "To keep The Beatles' flame burning bright". While this may have been enough to satisfy the general public, Beatles collectors knew better and denying the BBC recording their proper context did little to keep the flame. Additionally the recordings as issued in 1994 did not represent the best sounding fidelity that these sessions could be presented in. In the mid nineties, there was the philosophy that by using a technique known as "no-noise" that the fidelity of older recordings such as the BBC material could be vastly improved. Unfortunately that way not the case while the "no-noise" technique did eliminate hiss and other audio gremlins inherent to older recordings they also removed a ton of high-end from the recordings and this was the case with "Live At The BBC". The initial issue is one of the worst representations of fidelity in the entire Beatles catalog as it sounds as if you are listening to music with a blanket placed over the speakers. To EMI's credit this issue was corrected on the re-issue of the album in 2013, but in between their was an entire decade in which the official word on these important recordings was suboptimal to say the least.
Wow, thank you for taking the time to write that. I encourage you to consider making videos of your own to share these thoughts. I am glad Live at the BBC was remastered and reissued with a second volume!
