Beatle-related releases seem to be coming more frequently in previous years than at any other time. We have recently had Paul’s deluxe re-issues including Flowers In The Dirt, Ram, Wings Over America and more. All releases costing over £100 with Wings Over America on Amazon today at £196!
Then we’ve also had the 50th anniversary issues, Sgt. Pepper, The White Album and more recently Abbey Road.
What next? How about throwing in all 22 Beatles 7” vinyl records (from their original mono/stereo masters of course) and including a 7” ‘Free As a Bird’ and ‘Real Love’ as a double ‘A’ side (making a total 23 discs) ??
Tempted? What about throwing in a 40 page booklet including essays by Beatles historian Kevin Howlett? Tempted now? How about if they released it as a limited edition?
If I entered a record shop and saw this item on display I would certainly need to go and inspect it, I’d be slightly upset that they have used sleeve covers from various other countries instead of the plain ‘boring’ original sleeves issued in the UK. I just would have loved the replica original sleeves such as they used on ‘Love Me Do’ when that was issued as a 50th anniversary in 2012.
Anyway, I’d still interested in purchasing it until I turned it over an saw the price tag – £194.99! You have got to be kidding me. I don’t mind paying over the top prices on an issue which gives you unreleased demos or outtakes, but I feel it’s overpriced for what is in included.
It’s available to pre-order now for a release of 22nd November. Price has potential to go down before release and will be sold at this lowest price despite pre-ordering.
Paul McCartney is to release another version of ‘Egypt Station’… only joking, I think the three or four we already have is enough thank you. But it’s another example of how rich you need to be for a Beatle fan who needs everything.
Although there is a sound check album on the horizon, Paul is releasing two songs for Black Friday and Record Store Day on 29th November. ‘Home Tonight’ and ‘In a Hurry’ will be easier to obtain via download rather than the limited physical release in the independent record stores.
Not forgetting his ‘Hey Grandude’ Childrens book which comes as a hardcover release or including a Paul narrative on an audio CD. Good stuff.
Finally there is the 20th studio album release from Ringo, and just like his previous album ‘Give More Love’, Paul is on to help.
‘What’s My Name’ is the album’s title, available to pre-order now for a release date of 25th October.
Paul plays bass and provides backing vocals to ‘Grow Old With Me’ which of course is the John Lennon song released posthumously on 1984’s ‘Milk and Honey’.
Ringo – “I really wanted Paul to play on it and he said yes. Paul came over and he played bass and sings a little bit on this with me.”
Adding : “So, John’s on it in a way. And the strings arranged for this track, if you really listen, they do one line from ‘Here Comes The Sun’ So in a way, it’s the four of us.”
Ringo also does a version of the Motown classic ‘Money (that’s what I want)’ which as we all know, the Beatles also recorded. There are also the usual all-stars involved – with Joe Walsh, Steve Lukather and Colin Hay who composed lead single ‘What’s My Name’ which comes from a chant Ringo uses when performing live.
You don’t review Ringo albums, you pay your money and you get a Ringo album. Love it.