Over two decades after their disbandment, The Beatles once again captured the imagination of Rock-n-Roll fans with a 1995 mini-series called The Beatles Anthology. A TV series that was broken into three parts, it aired on November 19th, 22nd, and 23rd in 1995, drawing in over 47 million viewers.
Proving that interest in The Beatles had not waned over time, it solidified why they are the most successful Rock-n-Roll band ever. A phenomena that even had The Beatles drawing the attention of a younger generation in the 1990s, the Anthology project was not just limited to the television documentary (which made it to VHS, DVD, Laserdisc in the years to follow), but was followed by a three double albums (Anthology 1 that came out on November 20, 1995, Anthology 2 which came out on March 18, 1996, and Anthology 3 which came out on October 28, 1996), and a 368-page book that arrived in 2000.
A reshaping of Beatles history, it gave each surviving member (at the time, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr) a chance to tell the band’s story in their own words. Also, a very insightful exploration of who they were and the lessons learned; it is safe to say they look back on it positively in hindsight. A multimedia project of epic proportions that allowed The Beatles to give fans an intimate look at their recording process, it was also an avenue to release unreleased songs in “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love” (which incorporated the entire band, along with the late John Lennon’s demo tapes).
Overall, a massive success that sold very well, the Anthology albums also boosted interest in The Beatles’ existing catalog, cementing their legacy for the ages. Jump forward another twenty years, came what is largely considered ‘the last Beatles song’ titled “Now and Then” which was put out in 2023 as a double A-single with a new stereo mix of 1962’s “Love Me Do.” Reaching number one on the day of release on the UK Singles Charts, its release coincided with a reissue of the classic The Beatles – 1962-1966 and The Beatles – 1967-1970 albums remixed, before 2024’s The Beatles – 1964 U.S. Albums, released mono as part of a vinyl or CD box set.
Seeming as if there is an endless array of material The Beatles can still put out there, now in 2025, they release the exciting new Anthology 4. Released on November 21, 2025, in digital, 3LP, or 2CD formats, it is a continuation of the series that began 30 years earlier. Timed around the 30th anniversary of the original series, Anthology 4 focused on the years 1963 through 1969, offering a total of 36 tracks.
A lot to dig into, 13 of the tracks were previously unreleased, giving you some exciting new perspective on some great Beatles recordings and rehearsals. A treat for long-time Beatles lovers, it is always fascinating to be behind the scenes and hear the process that went into creating these songs. With that said, the restored instrumentals of “Hey Bulldog” and “The Fool On The Hill” are outstanding in their own right, but are not alone in stimulating interest.
Beyond this, there are also new 2025 remixes of “Free As A Bird” and “Real Love,” coupled together with 2023’s “Now And Then.” Remixed by Jeff Lynne (who produced the original tracks from the 1990s), there is no question that the new mix of “Free Bird” feels much more natural. With Lennon’s voice sounding much less processed, it is an intimate remix that will bring a tear to any Beatles fan’s eye. On the other end of this spectrum, the new mix of “Real Love” has many divided, feeling Lennon’s voice sounds significantly off, and believing the 1996 mix is substantially better.
Altogether, Anthology 4 is a welcome addition to The Beatles Anthology series. Featuring many great moments that you can turn back to time and time again, just as with the prior three volumes and 1994’s outstanding Live at the BBC set, it makes you feel closer to the band. A great option to purchase either as a CD or vinyl set, it also includes an excellent booklet with photos (written by Beatles Historian Kevin Howlett) that serves as a reminder of how the greatness of The Beatles lives forever. Also, if you want all the Anthology albums together, there is a new box set featuring all 4 of them, put out the same day as Anthology 4. For everything involved, Cryptic Rock gives The Beatles’ Anthology 4 5 out of 5 stars.
){kind=link}
No comment