The Beatles
Reissues
Rating: 5.0/5.0
Label: EMI
There is a pathological weakness to being a collector that music labels, movie studios and comic book companies love preying upon. Whether it is the completist complex or the audiophile looking for the best sonic variation possible, there is going to be a corporation ready to sell you the same product gussied up in different clothing. My comic collector days came to an abrupt halt at 14 when I realized I didn’t have to buy all five covers of X-Men, and that keeping copies of Todd MacFarlane’s Spider-Man sealed in its original plastic ate away at my original reason to collect: the love of the comic book. And I am sure we’re sick of the 100th iteration of The Evil Dead series on DVD. Yet, the studios know that there is a market for that lost scene where Ash blinks three times, rather than once. It’s just how it goes.
When it comes to music, most venerable musicians have had their oeuvre packaged, then repackaged, quite a few times. While the recent Dylan and Stones reissues breathed essential life into music that arrived too early to the digital scene, hucksters like the people behind Elvis Costello and David Bowie keep putting out the same product with one hook more each time. But that’s okay. I’m happy with my Rykodisc Bowies, thank you very much, although I did spring for the Rhino Costello discs. Hey, I like the bonus tracks on their own disc! You see where I’m going with this.
It is hard to argue against the Beatles remaining one of the most loved bands in the world, yet since their digital inception in 1987, their music has not appeared on 16th anniversary crash grabs, iTunes or any other re-selling ploy. Yeah, the powers that be used Sgt. Peppers’ 20th anniversary as a reason to release the initial CD version, but at that time there were no other Beatles CDs out there. Its raison d’être was reason enough to celebrate. So what gives? Why didn’t we see a newfangled Beatles release every other year? Did this dearth of product make us want the Beatles music to come out so we could buy it again?
So, why now? It’s no joke that CD industry is hurting. The labels are working overtime to make plush editions of classics to take our cash. And a lot of the time, the effort is showing. The lavish Radiohead special editions are handsomely cased; those Sub Pop reissues contain some delicious servings of long-defunct bands. Perhaps by putting out definitive versions of seminal albums, bands with large or rabid cult followings, the studios can aspirate just a little more lucre.
But we’re not complaining. For those of us old enough, many of us are more than happy to shed the copies of Revolver and Abbey Road that have sat in dusty jewel cases on our shelves for the past 22 years. This new arousal of consciousness and marketing (including that Rock Band game with the creepy commercials) is enough to stoke interest in the Beatles’ music once more. Sure, we all know the songs, but when is the last time we sat down and listened to an album all the way through? Luckily, these new editions feature crackling sound (not to mention gorgeous packaging) that makes their purchase essential to hardcore fans.
As most of you know, EMI has reissued all 12 albums in stereo (there is a mono box as well) and combined the Past Masters discs into one collection. Each disc is packaged in smooth, but durable cardboard and comes with an essay and a mini-documentary you can watch on a computer which may or may not be limited to the first batch. There are also plenty more archival notes within than came with the thin liner-ed jewel case bunch.
However, the biggest selling point is the sonic upgrade on these discs. While the old variety sounded good for its time, these new discs are warmer, richer, yet do not suffer from the idea that louder-is-better aesthetic that’s plagued many other reissued classics. While the sound is at higher volume, there is enough room for the real dynamics of the disc to shine through. Rather than conform into a miasma of sound, Paul McCartney’s bass has enough space to bounce along on its own and Ringo Starr’s drums sound like a drum kit rather than tied up in the melody. It is also easier to discern the harmonies and the vocals retain their original crispness.
Look, I understand that the economy calls for us to forgo excesses like buying the same album again and the 1987 Beatles discs certainly sound quite good. The impulse is to rush out and buy the best version possible and although there may some rumbling of a backlash against the intense marketing ploy, these new discs are not limited editions. They are not going to go out of print. Just because something comes out on 09/09/09 doesn’t mean you have to buy that day. But if you are Beatles fan and you are in the position to upgrade that 22 year old collection, you will not be displeased with these new versions. Let’s hope this is the first and last time we have to re-buy these and ignore anyone who is leaving the plastic wrapper on the discs to, you know, make a profit someday.
by David Harris
