Written, produced and presented by music historian Kevin Howlett.
Featuring interviews with John, Paul, George and Ringo, as well as many other musicians and producers including George and Giles Martin, Dave Grohl and Mark Ronson, this documentary celebrates the 50th anniversary reissues of the ‘Red’ and ‘Blue’ compilations.
You can watch the full 6 part doc here
The Beatles’ compilation albums, titled the Red Album and Blue Album, have re-entered Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart (dated November 25) at No.6 and No.5, respectively. Both albums received reissues on November 10.
The albums sold 22,000 and 24,000 in the week ending November 16 in the U.S., according to Luminate. For both records, it is their largest sales week since the week ending December 24, 1994, when they sold 37,000 and 40,000 units.
On November 10, The Beatles’ 1962-1966 (‘The Red Album’) and 1967-1970 (‘The Blue Album’) collections has been released in 2023 Edition packages by Apple Corps Ltd
Since their first incarnations appeared 50 years ago, these albums have introduced successive generations to The Beatles’ music. Now, both collections’ tracklists have been expanded, with all the songs mixed in stereo and Dolby Atmos. New 4CD and 180-gram 6LP vinyl collections pair ‘Red’ and ‘Blue’ in slipcased sets. The UK single version of “Love Me Do” now kicks off 1962-1966 (2023 Edition) and “Now And Then” is featured on 1967-1970 (2023 Edition) to complete the career-spanning collections.
In other Beatles chart news, earlier this month they broke a UK chart record with their return to No.1. The group landed there after the release of their “final” track, “Now and Then.” It represents the band’s 18th chart-topper.
With their last No.1 coming in 1969, they became the band or artist with the longest gap between No.1 singles. At 54 years, they set the record previously established by Kate Bush, who earned a No.1 for “Running Up That Hill” 44 years after landing at the top with “Wuthering Heights.”
Paul McCartney says of the Number 1: “It’s mind boggling. It’s blown my socks off. It’s also a very emotional moment for me. I love it!”
The Beatles are now the act with the longest gap ever between Number 1 singles (54 years) as they last reached the chart summit with ‘The Ballad of John and Yoko’ way back in 1969.
The previous record holder was Kate Bush with 44 years between 1978’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ and 2022’s ‘Running Up That Hill’, which enjoyed a fresh wave popularity following its inclusion in Stranger Things.
The Beatles also boast the longest time span between an artist’s first and last Number 1 singles – 60 years and six months since ‘From Me to You’ in May 1963.
The Fab Four overtake Elvis Presley, who had 47 years and 6 months between ‘All Shook Up’ (1957) and a posthumous reissue of ‘It’s Now or Never’ (2005).
Additionally, The Beatles are the oldest band ever to score a UK Number 1 single with an average age of 82 between surviving members Paul McCartney (81) and Ringo Starr (83), is also the fastest-selling single of 2023 to date– 48,600 physical and download sales based on the track’s first 7 days.
‘Now And Then’ has the biggest one-week physical sales in nine years, and it’s the fastest-selling vinyl single of the century so far with 19,400 copies in a week.
John Lennon started working on "Now and Then" in the late '70s. At that point, it was an unfinished track featuring his piano and vocals. In 1994, Yoko Ono Lennon found the demo and gave the recording to Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr for possible inclusion on the Beatles' Anthology project.
On potentially witnessing a return for Britain's most successful and enduring band, Martin Talbot, Chief Executive Officer of Official Charts, says: "What a week it will be if The Beatles return with a Number 1 in the Official Singles Chart. The Fab Four are a key part of the history of British music and the UK’s charts, so to have returned with such a huge impact is incredible.”
Based on sales and streaming data captured from the first 48 hours in the chart week, “Now And Then” is in pole position, outselling the rest of the top 5 combined, the Official Charts Company reports.
If it holds its spot, “Now And Then” will become the Fab Four’s 18th U.K. chart-leader, and their first in 54 years, since “The Ballad of John and Yoko” topped the weekly tally back in 1969.
