Artist: Beatles, The
Label: Parlophone Records
Release: 2006
Rating: 4.4/5
The Beatles in the 21st century! How? The musical father of the greatest musical institution ever and his son (George and Giles Martin) have finally dragged the Beatles into the 21st century with the album “Love”. They’ve boiled the most important chunks of Beatles music, and of the band’s life itself, down into 79 minutes of timeless music. The project, which the two producers kicked off at the request of the Cirque Du Soleil theater company, ended up outgrowing the show itself. Beatles songs and little snippets of individual tracks show up on this album in the most unbelievable combinations, and yet it still hangs together as one whole. The producers squeezed eight years of the Beatles’ musical life into just under 90 minutes, which is a seriously demanding job, especially with music, or rather a whole body of work like the one the Beatles have.
Across the entire Beatles catalog it’s hard to find an average song, let alone a bad one, no matter how divided the opinions of Beatles experts or casual listeners may be. The producer duo has made an album packed with different layers of music that weave into each other and form a perfect whole. Even longtime fans can (we can) find plenty of surprises on this album, and at the same time it’s a killer starting point for anyone who doesn’t know Beatles music yet. With its whole concept, the album unintentionally works as a superb introduction for all the new Beatles fans. For the old fans, this album also brings hope that one day we’ll see the entire Beatles catalog remastered too.
The Martin duo has used modern technology to pull pretty much every last bit of noise that was ever captured at the Beatles’ recording sessions off the master tapes. They did their job to an incredible extreme. Modern technology does Beatles music a world of good. The sound is unbelievably improved even in stereo, and I won’t even waste words on the 5.1 surround mix. New fans might be happy with just the single version of this album, but for older fans, especially the die-hard collectors, I’d recommend buying both versions: the single one and the double digipak version that includes the stereo and 5.1 surround discs. After all, why shouldn’t those die-hard collectors who are a bit better off have both versions. Hey, this is the Beatles!
Line-up
John Lennon-guitar, vocals
Paul McCartney-bass guitar, vocals
George Harrison-guitar, vocals
Ringo Starr-drums, vocals
George Martin-various instruments
Billy Preston-keyboards
Production
George Martin & Giles Martin
Track list
1.Because
2.Get Back
3.Glass Onion
4.Eleanor Rigby/Julia
5.I Am The Walrus
6.I Want To Hold Your Hand
7.Drive My Car/The Word/What You’re Doing
8.Gnik Nus
9.Something/Blue Jay Way
10.Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite/I Want You (She’s So Heavy)/Helter Skelter
11.Help!
12.Blackbird/Yesterday
13.Strawberry Fields Forever
14.Within You Without You/Tomorrow Never Knows
15.Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
16.Octopus’s Garden
17.Lady Madonna
18.Here Comes The Sun/The Inner Light
19.Come Together/Dear Prudence/Cry Baby Cry
20.Revolution
21.Back In The U.S.S.R.
22.While My Guitar Gently Weeps
23.A Day In The Life
24.Hey Jude
25.Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
26.All You Need Is Love
