News

The Beatles Anthology returns on disc, on screen and in print

Remastered, remixed, restored & expanded

By Paul Sinclair

Comments

164

8CD and 12LP box sets with new ‘Anthology 4’ • Documentary coming to Disney+

The Beatles Anthology arrived in November 1995 as an eight-part TV documentary and three double albums of unreleased outtakes and alternate mixes (released over a 12 month period). Now 30 years on, this landmark examination of The Fab Four returns, offering remastered and remixed audio, restored visuals and new content, in the form of a fresh episode of the documentary and a fourth volume of music available in new 8CD and 12 LP Anthology Collection box sets. The book, issued in 2000, is also being made available again.

New physical music releases

In terms of the music, the new Anthology Collection box sets have been remastered by Giles Martin. The original three double albums are unchanged (remastering apart), but are joined by Anthology 4, newly curated by Giles, including 13 previously unreleased demos and session recordings and other rare tracks. This extra volume also includes new mixes of the 1995 and 1996 singles ‘Free As A Bird’ and ‘Real Love’. They have been freshened up by original producer, Jeff Lynne, using de-mixed John Lennon vocals (the original ‘Free As A Bird’ music video has also been restored). ‘Now and Then’, the last Beatles song, is also on Anthology 4. There is no mention of Dolby Atmos Mixes of any of the 191 tracks that make up The Anthology Collection. That would be a massive undertaking, to be fair.

8CD box with Fab Four photo ‘bellyband’ removed (click to enlarge)

Both 8CD and 12LP box sets include the original sleeve notes for Anthology 1, 2 and 3; the new Anthology 4 includes track notes written by Kevin Howlett and an introduction compiled from 1996 interviews recorded with The Beatles’ close friend and adviser Derek Taylor. If you are wondering about the packaging, as far as I can tell, that rather dubious photo that has been chosen of The Beatles appears to be a ‘bellyband’ which is removable to reveal the classic Anthology artwork below. Phew!

Documentary coming to Disney+

The original eight episodes of The Beatles Anthology documentary series have been restored and remastered. These were originally screened on TV networks around the world (ITV in the UK) at the time and were released on VHS and Laserdisc in 1996 and then on DVD in 2003. They never made it to blu-ray and there is a question mark over whether that will now ever happen, since as with The Beatles Get Back and Let It Be, restored Beatles Anthology is coming exclusively to Disney+, beginning in late November.

12LP vinyl box with with Fab Four photo ‘bellyband’ in place (click image to enlarge)

The restoration has been overseen by Apple Corps’ production team, working with Peter Jackson’s Wingnut Films & Park Road Post teams along with Giles Martin, who has created new audio mixes for the majority of the featured music.

There is now a completely new Episode Nine, including unseen behind-the-scenes footage of Paul, George and Ringo coming together between 1994 and 1995 to work on “The Anthology” and reflecting on their shared life as The Beatles. 

The book

The Beatles Anthology book took so long to come to market (five years after the first episode and the first album was released) it felt like something of an afterthought at the time. That’s not to say it’s not an impressive tome and the 368-page book remains the only official Beatles Autobiography. It’s back in print for what is its 25th anniversary, although it appears to be exactly the same content as before, and as such is the least exciting element of this reissue campaign.

The 8CD and 12LP vinyl Anthology Collection box sets are released on 21 November, The Beatles Anthology documentary will screen on Disney+ from 26 November and the book is available from 14 October 2025.

Compare prices and pre-order

The Beatles

Anthology Collection 8CD box set

Shop Price gbp Stock
Amazon uk   100.99 Pre-Order
Amazon usa   109.8 Pre-Order
Amazon fr   93.82 Pre-Order
Currency:

Compare prices and pre-order

The Beatles

Anthology Collection 12LP vinyl box

Shop Price gbp Stock
Amazon uk   341.99 Pre-Order
Amazon usa   374.98 Pre-Order
Amazon fr   324.46 Pre-Order
Currency:

Tracklisting

Anthology Collection The Beatles / 8CD box set

    • CD 1 – Anthology 1 – Disc 1
      1. Free As A Bird (1995 mix)
      2. John Lennon Speech 1
      3. That’ll Be The Day
      4. In Spite Of All The Danger
      5. Paul McCartney Speech 1
      6. Hallelujah, I Love Her So (Home demo)
      7. You’ll Be Mine (Home demo)
      8. Cayenne (Home demo)
      9. Paul McCartney Speech 2
      10. My Bonnie
      11. Ain’t She Sweet
      12. Cry For A Shadow
      13. John Lennon Speech 2
      14. Brian Epstein Speech 1
      15. Searchin’ (Decca audition)
      16. Three Cool Cats (Decca audition)
      17. The Sheik Of Araby (Decca audition)
      18. Like Dreamers Do (Decca audition)
      19. Hello Little Girl (Decca audition)
      20. Brian Epstein Speech 2
      21. Besame Mucho (June 1962 version)
      22. Love Me Do (First version)
      23. How Do You Do It
      24. Please Please Me (First version)
      25. One After 909 (Takes 3, 4 and 5)
      26. One After 909 (Edit of Takes 4 and 5)
      27. Lend Me Your Comb (BBC recording)
      28. I’ll Get You (Sunday Night at the London Palladium)
      29. John Lennon Speech 3
      30. I Saw Her Standing There (Live in Stockholm)
      31. From Me To You (Live in Stockholm)
      32. Money (That’s What I Want) (Live in Stockholm)
      33. You Really Got A Hold On Me (Live in Stockholm)
      34. Roll Over Beethoven (Live in Stockholm)
    • CD 2: Anthology 1 – Disc 2
      1. She Loves You (Royal Variety Performance)
      2. Till There Was You (Royal Variety Performance)
      3. Twist And Shout (Royal Variety Performance)
      4. This Boy (The Morecambe And Wise Show)
      5. I Want To Hold Your Hand (The Morecambe And Wise Show)
      6. Speech From The Morecambe And Wise Show
      7. Moonlight Bay (The Morecambe And Wise Show)
      8. Can’t Buy Me Love (Take 2 with solo from Take 1)
      9. All My Loving (The Ed Sullivan Show)
      10. You Can’t Do That (Take 6)
      11. And I Love Her (Take 2)
      12. A Hard Day’s Night (Take 1)
      13. I Wanna Be Your Man (Around The Beatles)
      14. Long Tall Sally (Around The Beatles)
      15. Boys (Around The Beatles session)
      16. Shout (Around The Beatles)
      17. I’ll Be Back (Take 2)
      18. I’ll Be Back (Take 3)
      19. You Know What To Do (Demo)
      20. No Reply (Demo)
      21. Mr Moonlight (Takes 1 and 4)
      22. Leave My Kitten Alone (Take 5)
      23. No Reply (Take 2)
      24. Eight Days A Week (Takes 1, 2 and 4)
      25. Eight Days A Week (Take 5)
      26. Kansas City / Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey! (Take 2)
    • CD 3: Anthology 2 – Disc 1
      1. Real Love (1996 mix)
      2. Yes It Is (Takes 2 and 14)
      3. I’m Down (Take 1)
      4. You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away (Take 5)
      5. If You’ve Got Trouble (Take 1)
      6. That Means A Lot (Take 1)
      7. Yesterday (Take 1)
      8. It’s Only Love (Takes 3 and 2)
      9. I Feel Fine (Blackpool Night Out)
      10. Ticket To Ride (Blackpool Night Out)
      11. Yesterday (Blackpool Night Out)
      12. Help! (Blackpool Night Out)
      13. Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby (Live at Shea Stadium, New York)
      14. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (Take 1)
      15. I’m Looking Through You (Take 1)
      16. 12-Bar Original (Take 2 edited)
      17. Tomorrow Never Knows (Take 1)
      18. Got To Get You Into My Life (Take 5)
      19. And Your Bird Can Sing (Take 2)
      20. Taxman (Take 11)
      21. Eleanor Rigby (Take 14 – Strings only)
      22. I’m Only Sleeping (Rehearsal)
      23. I’m Only Sleeping (Take 1)
      24. Rock And Roll Music (Live in Tokyo)
      25. She’s A Woman (Live in Tokyo)
    • CD 4: Anthology 2 – Disc 2
      1. Strawberry Fields Forever (Home demo sequence)
      2. Strawberry Fields Forever (Take 1)
      3. Strawberry Fields Forever (Take 7 and edit piece)
      4. Penny Lane (Remix)
      5. A Day In The Life (Takes 1, 2, 6 and orchestra)
      6. Good Morning Good Morning (Take 8)
      7. Only A Northern Song (Takes 3 and 12)
      8. Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite! (Takes 1 and 2)
      9. Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite! (Take 7)
      10. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (Takes 6, 7 and 8)
      11. Within You Without You (Instrumental)
      12. Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) (Take 5)
      13. You Know My Name (Look Up The Number) (Stereo remix)
      14. I Am The Walrus (Take 16)
      15. The Fool On The Hill (Demo)
      16. Your Mother Should Know (Take 27)
      17. The Fool On The Hill (Take 4)
      18. Hello, Goodbye (Take 16)
      19. Lady Madonna (Takes 3 and 4)
      20. Across The Universe (Take 2)
    • CD 5: Anthology 3 – Disc 1
      1. A Beginning
      2. Happiness Is A Warm Gun (Esher demo with false start)
      3. Helter Skelter (Take 2 edited)
      4. Mean Mr Mustard (Esher demo)
      5. Polythene Pam (Esher demo)
      6. Glass Onion (Esher demo)
      7. Junk (Esher demo)
      8. Piggies (Esher demo)
      9. Honey Pie (Esher demo edited)
      10. Don’t Pass Me By (Take 3 with Take 5 vocal)
      11. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (First version – Take 5)
      12. Good Night (Rehearsal and Take 34)
      13. Cry Baby Cry (Take 1)
      14. Blackbird (Take 4)
      15. Sexy Sadie (Take 6)
      16. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Acoustic version – Take 1)
      17. Hey Jude (Take 2)
      18. Not Guilty (Take 102 edited)
      19. Mother Nature’s Son (Take 2)
      20. Glass Onion (Original mono mix)
      21. Rocky Raccoon (Take 8)
      22. What’s The New Mary Jane (Take 4)
      23. Step Inside Love / Los Paranoias (Studio jam)
      24. I’m So Tired (Edit of Takes 3, 6 and 9)
      25. I Will (Take 1)
      26. Why Don’t We Do It In The Road (Take 4)
      27. Julia (Take 2)
    • CD 6: Anthology 3 – Disc 2
      1. I’ve Got A Feeling (Apple Studio)
      2. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window (Apple Studio)
      3. Dig A Pony (Apple Studio)
      4. Two Of Us (Apple Studio)
      5. For You Blue (Apple Studio)
      6. Teddy Boy (Apple Studio)
      7. Medley: Rip It Up / Shake, Rattle And Roll / Blue Suede Shoes (Apple Studio jam)
      8. The Long And Winding Road (Apple Studio)
      9. Oh! Darling (Apple Studio)
      10. All Things Must Pass (Demo)
      11. Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues (Apple Studio jam)
      12. Get Back (Third rooftop performance)
      13. Old Brown Shoe (Demo)
      14. Octopus’s Garden (Take 2)
      15. Maxwell’s Silver Hammer (Take 5)
      16. Something (Demo)
      17. Come Together (Take 1)
      18. Come and Get It (Demo – 1996 remix)
      19. Ain’t She Sweet (Studio jam)
      20. Because (Vocals only)
      21. Let It Be (Apple Studio)
      22. I Me Mine (Take 16)
      23. The End (Remix with the final chord of A Day In The Life)
    • CD 7: Anthology 4 – Disc 1
      1. I Saw Her Standing There (Take 2)
      2. Money (That’s What I Want) (RM7 undubbed)
      3. This Boy (Takes 12 and 13)
      4. Tell Me Why (Takes 4 and 5)
      5. If I Fell (Take 11)
      6. Matchbox (Take 1)
      7. Every Little Thing (Takes 6 and 7)
      8. I Need You (Take 1)
      9. I’ve Just Seen A Face (Take 3)
      10. In My Life (Take 1)
      11. Nowhere Man (First version – Take 2)
      12. Got To Get You Into My Life (Second version – unnumbered mix)
      13. Love You To (Take 7)
      14. Strawberry Fields Forever (Take 26)
      15. She’s Leaving Home (Take 1 – instrumental)
      16. Baby, You’re A Rich Man (Takes 11 and 12)
      17. All You Need Is Love (Rehearsal for BBC broadcast)
      18. The Fool On The Hill (Take 5 – instrumental)
      19. I Am The Walrus (Take 19 – strings, brass, clarinet overdub)
    • CD 8: Anthology 4 – Disc 2
      1. Hey Bulldog (Take 4 – instrumental)
      2. Good Night (Take 10 with a guitar part from Take 5)
      3. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Third Version – Take 27)
      4. (You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care (Studio jam)
      5. Helter Skelter (Second version – Take 17)
      6. I Will (Take 29)
      7. Can You Take Me Back? (Take 1)
      8. Julia (Two rehearsals)
      9. Get Back (Take 8)
      10. Octopus’s Garden (Rehearsal)
      11. Don’t Let Me Down (First rooftop performance)
      12. You Never Give Me Your Money (Take 36)
      13. Here Comes The Sun (Take 9)
      14. Something (Take 39 – instrumental – strings only)
      15. Free As A Bird (2025 mix)
      16. Real Love (2025 mix)
      17. Now And Then

Tracklisting

Anthology Collection The Beatles / 12LP vinyl box

    • LP 1 – Anthology 1

      Side A

      1. Free As A Bird (1995 mix)
      2. John Lennon Speech 1
      3. That’ll Be The Day
      4. In Spite Of All The Danger
      5. Paul McCartney Speech 1
      6. Hallelujah, I Love Her So (Home demo)
      7. You’ll Be Mine (Home demo)
      8. Cayenne (Home demo)
      9. Paul McCartney Speech 2
      10. My Bonnie
      11. Ain’t She Sweet

      Side B

      1. Cry For A Shadow
      2. John Lennon Speech 2
      3. Brian Epstein Speech 1
      4. Searchin’ (Decca audition)
      5. Three Cool Cats (Decca audition)
      6. The Sheik Of Araby (Decca audition)
      7. Like Dreamers Do (Decca audition)
      8. Hello Little Girl (Decca audition)
      9. Brian Epstein Speech 2
      10. Besame Mucho (June 1962 version)
      11. Love Me Do (First version)
      12. How Do You Do It
      13. Please Please Me (First version)
    • LP 2: Anthology 1
      Side 3
      1. One After 909 (Takes 3, 4 and 5)
      2. One After 909 (Edit of Takes 4 and 5)
      3. Lend Me Your Comb (BBC recording)
      4. I’ll Get You (Sunday Night at the London Palladium)
      5. John Lennon Speech 3
      6. I Saw Her Standing There (Live in Stockholm)
      7. From Me To You (Live in Stockholm)
      8. Money (That’s What I Want) (Live in Stockholm)
      9. You Really Got A Hold On Me (Live in Stockholm)
      10. Roll Over Beethoven (Live in Stockholm)
      Side 4
      1. She Loves You (Royal Variety Performance)
      2. Till There Was You (Royal Variety Performance)
      3. Twist And Shout (Royal Variety Performance)
      4. This Boy (The Morecambe And Wise Show)
      5. I Want To Hold Your Hand (The Morecambe And Wise Show)
      6. Speech From The Morecambe And Wise Show
      7. Moonlight Bay (The Morecambe And Wise Show)
      8. Can’t Buy Me Love (Take 2 with solo from Take 1)
    • LP 3: Anthology 1
      Side 5
      1. All My Loving (The Ed Sullivan Show)
      2. You Can’t Do That (Take 6)
      3. And I Love Her (Take 2)
      4. A Hard Day’s Night (Take 1)
      5. I Wanna Be Your Man (Around The Beatles)
      6. Long Tall Sally (Around The Beatles)
      7. Boys (Around The Beatles session)
      8. Shout (Around The Beatles)
      9. I’ll Be Back (Take 2)
      10. I’ll Be Back (Take 3)
      Side 6
      1. You Know What To Do (Demo)
      2. No Reply (Demo)
      3. Mr Moonlight (Takes 1 and 4)
      4. Leave My Kitten Alone (Take 5)
      5. No Reply (Take 2)
      6. Eight Days A Week (Takes 1, 2 and 4)
      7. Eight Days A Week (Take 5)
      8. Kansas City / Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey! (Take 2)
    • LP 4: Anthology 2
      Side 1
      1. Real Love (1996 mix)
      2. Yes It Is (Takes 2 and 14)
      3. I’m Down (Take 1)
      4. You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away (Take 5)
      5. If You’ve Got Trouble (Take 1)
      6. That Means A Lot (Take 1)
      7. Yesterday (Take 1)
      8. It’s Only Love (Takes 3 and 2)
      Side 2
      1. I Feel Fine (Blackpool Night Out)
      2. Ticket To Ride (Blackpool Night Out)
      3. Yesterday (Blackpool Night Out)
      4. Help! (Blackpool Night Out)
      5. Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby (Live at Shea Stadium, New York)
      6. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (Take 1)
      7. I’m Looking Through You (Take 1)
      8. 12-Bar Original (Take 2 edited)
    • LP 5: Anthology 2
      Side 3
      1. Tomorrow Never Knows (Take 1)
      2. Got To Get You Into My Life (Take 5)
      3. And Your Bird Can Sing (Take 2)
      4. Taxman (Take 11)
      5. Eleanor Rigby (Take 14 – Strings only)
      6. I’m Only Sleeping (Rehearsal)
      7. I’m Only Sleeping (Take 1)
      8. Rock And Roll Music (Live in Tokyo)
      9. She’s A Woman (Live in Tokyo)
      Side 4
      1. Strawberry Fields Forever (Home demo sequence)
      2. Strawberry Fields Forever (Take 1)
      3. Strawberry Fields Forever (Take 7 and edit piece)
      4. Penny Lane (Remix)
      5. A Day In The Life (Takes 1, 2, 6 and orchestra)
      6. Good Morning Good Morning (Take 8)
      7. Only A Northern Song (Takes 3 and 12)
    • LP 6: Anthology 2
      Side 5
      1. Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite! (Takes 1 and 2)
      2. Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite! (Take 7)
      3. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (Takes 6, 7 and 8)
      4. Within You Without You (Instrumental)
      5. Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) (Take 5)
      6. You Know My Name (Look Up The Number) (Stereo remix)
      Side 6
      1. I Am The Walrus (Take 16)
      2. The Fool On The Hill (Demo)
      3. Your Mother Should Know (Take 27)
      4. The Fool On The Hill (Take 4)
      5. Hello, Goodbye (Take 16)
      6. Lady Madonna (Takes 3 and 4)
      7. Across The Universe (Take 2)
    • LP 7: Anthology 3
      Side 1
      1. A Beginning
      2. Happiness Is A Warm Gun (Esher demo with false start)
      3. Helter Skelter (Take 2 edited)
      4. Mean Mr Mustard (Esher demo)
      5. Polythene Pam (Esher demo)
      6. Glass Onion (Esher demo)
      7. Junk (Esher demo)
      8. Piggies (Esher demo)
      9. Honey Pie (Esher demo edited)
      10. Don’t Pass Me By (Take 3 with Take 5 vocal)
      11. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (First version – Take 5)
      12. Good Night (Rehearsal and Take 34)
      Side 2
      1. Cry Baby Cry (Take 1)
      2. Blackbird (Take 4)
      3. Sexy Sadie (Take 6)
      4. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Acoustic version – Take 1)
      5. Hey Jude (Take 2)
      6. Not Guilty (Take 102 edited)
      7. Mother Nature’s Son (Take 2)
    • LP 8: Anthology 3
      Side 3
      1. Glass Onion (Original mono mix)
      2. Rocky Raccoon (Take 8)
      3. What’s The New Mary Jane (Take 4)
      4. Step Inside Love / Los Paranoias (Studio jam)
      5. I’m So Tired (Edit of Takes 3, 6 and 9)
      6. I Will (Take 1)
      7. Why Don’t We Do It In The Road (Take 4)
      8. Julia (Take 2)
      Side 4
      1. I’ve Got A Feeling (Apple Studio)
      2. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window (Apple Studio)
      3. Dig A Pony (Apple Studio)
      4. Two Of Us (Apple Studio)
      5. For You Blue (Apple Studio)
      6. Teddy Boy (Apple Studio)
      7. Medley: Rip It Up / Shake, Rattle And Roll / Blue Suede Shoes (Apple Studio jam)
    • LP 9: Anthology 3
      Side 5
      1. The Long And Winding Road (Apple Studio)
      2. Oh! Darling (Apple Studio)
      3. All Things Must Pass (Demo)
      4. Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues (Apple Studio jam)
      5. Get Back (Third rooftop performance)
      6. Old Brown Shoe (Demo)
      7. Octopus’s Garden (Take 2)
      8. Maxwell’s Silver Hammer (Take 5)
      Side 6
      1. Something (Demo)
      2. Come Together (Take 1)
      3. Come and Get It (Demo – 1996 remix)
      4. Ain’t She Sweet (Studio jam)
      5. Because (Vocals only)
      6. Let It Be (Apple Studio)
      7. I Me Mine (Take 16)
      8. The End (Remix with the final chord of A Day In The Life)
    • LP 10: Anthology 4
      Side 1
      1. I Saw Her Standing There (Take 2)
      2. Money (That’s What I Want) (RM7 undubbed)
      3. This Boy (Takes 12 and 13)
      4. Tell Me Why (Takes 4 and 5)
      5. If I Fell (Take 11)
      6. Matchbox (Take 1)
      7. Every Little Thing (Takes 6 and 7)
      8. I Need You (Take 1)
      Side 2
      1. I’ve Just Seen A Face (Take 3)
      2. In My Life (Take 1)
      3. Nowhere Man (First version – Take 2)
      4. Got To Get You Into My Life (Second version – unnumbered mix)
      5. Love You To (Take 7)
      6. Strawberry Fields Forever (Take 26)
      7. She’s Leaving Home (Take 1 – instrumental)
    • LP 11: Anthology 4
      Side 3
      1. Baby, You’re A Rich Man (Takes 11 and 12)
      2. All You Need Is Love (Rehearsal for BBC broadcast)
      3. The Fool On The Hill (Take 5 – instrumental)
      4. I Am The Walrus (Take 19 – strings, brass, clarinet overdub)
      Side 4
      1. Hey Bulldog (Take 4 – instrumental)
      2. Good Night (Take 10 with a guitar part from Take 5)
      3. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Third Version – Take 27)
      4. (You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care (Studio jam)
      5. Helter Skelter (Second version – Take 17)
      6. I Will (Take 29)
      7. Can You Take Me Back? (Take 1)
      8. Julia (Two rehearsals)
    • LP 12: Anthology 4
      Side 5
      1. Get Back (Take 8)
      2. Octopus’s Garden (Rehearsal)
      3. Don’t Let Me Down (First rooftop performance)
      4. You Never Give Me Your Money (Take 36)
      5. Here Comes The Sun (Take 9)
      6. Something (Take 39 – instrumental – strings only)
      Side 6
      1. Free As A Bird (2025 mix)
      2. Real Love (2025 mix)
      3. Now And Then

SuperDeluxeEdition.com helps fans around the world discover physical music and discuss releases. To keep the site free, SDE participates in various affiliate programs, including Amazon and earns from qualifying purchases.

Related Content

164 Comments

Subscribe
Notify of
164 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments