Beatles iTunes announcement set for Super Bowl?
The latest rumor regarding the Beatles' catalogue becoming available for digital download is that Apple Computers is planning a "special" iTunes announcement during the Super Bowl on February 4th.
The Toronto Sun has reported that the group's 11-album UK catalogue, which was first issued on CD in 1987 and 1988, will be re-released on CD in June to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Beatles' watershed album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band on June 1st.
Other sources says that the reissue of the group's albums could begin as early as March, with iTunes scoring an exclusive three-month, restricted deal for the tracks before the CDs hit the market.
Although no specifics have been given for the new reissues, which will feature state-of-the art 24-bit sound, the Sgt. Pepper release may feature both the stereo and mono mixes of the album which vary greatly from track to track.
Although 5.1 stereo mixes were done for Beatles songs on the 1999 Yellow Submarine Songtrack compilation, The Beatles Anthology DVDs, and most recently the "mashup" album The Beatles LOVE, there has been no word whether the revamped catalogue will feature the new state-of-the art technology.
The new partnership comes as a surprise to many, seeing as how the Beatles' company Apple Corps and Apple Computers, Inc., have been battling for the past 18 years over the right to sell music under the "Apple" banner.
Renowned Beatles author Bruce Spizer told us that he'd like to see the Beatles' company Apple approve a multi-media definitive edition of each of the group's original albums: "What I would like to see happen is special editions of albums. Such as where you have a Sgt. Pepper's special edition that would be mono, stereo, outtakes, 5.1 surround, videos, promotional tapes - things of that nature. And I would like to see this for the entire Beatles catalogue."
In March, Spizer will publish his sixth and final Beatles book, The Beatles Swan Song: She Loves You And Other Records will examine albums released by labels other than Capitol, including MGM, Decca, United Artists, Atco, Polydor, and Swan.
The Toronto Sun has reported that the group's 11-album UK catalogue, which was first issued on CD in 1987 and 1988, will be re-released on CD in June to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Beatles' watershed album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band on June 1st.
Other sources says that the reissue of the group's albums could begin as early as March, with iTunes scoring an exclusive three-month, restricted deal for the tracks before the CDs hit the market.
Although no specifics have been given for the new reissues, which will feature state-of-the art 24-bit sound, the Sgt. Pepper release may feature both the stereo and mono mixes of the album which vary greatly from track to track.
Although 5.1 stereo mixes were done for Beatles songs on the 1999 Yellow Submarine Songtrack compilation, The Beatles Anthology DVDs, and most recently the "mashup" album The Beatles LOVE, there has been no word whether the revamped catalogue will feature the new state-of-the art technology.
The new partnership comes as a surprise to many, seeing as how the Beatles' company Apple Corps and Apple Computers, Inc., have been battling for the past 18 years over the right to sell music under the "Apple" banner.
Renowned Beatles author Bruce Spizer told us that he'd like to see the Beatles' company Apple approve a multi-media definitive edition of each of the group's original albums: "What I would like to see happen is special editions of albums. Such as where you have a Sgt. Pepper's special edition that would be mono, stereo, outtakes, 5.1 surround, videos, promotional tapes - things of that nature. And I would like to see this for the entire Beatles catalogue."
In March, Spizer will publish his sixth and final Beatles book, The Beatles Swan Song: She Loves You And Other Records will examine albums released by labels other than Capitol, including MGM, Decca, United Artists, Atco, Polydor, and Swan.
The Rock Radio online