The Beatles’ Ever Expanding Anthology

Is the new fourth volume a worthy listen?

December 1, 2025December 1, 2025 David Bash 0 Comments Anthology, Anthology 4, George Harrison, George Martin, Giles Martin, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, The Anthology Collection, The Beatles

The Beatles “Mad Day Out” photo session 1968. (Image: Apple Corps Ltd.)

You’re probably expecting the cliched “use a Beatles song or album title as a turn of phrase” to begin this review, but you won’t see me do that.

What you will see and hear, if you purchase this collection, is an amazing snapshot of several days in the life of the most iconic band in rock ‘n roll history, an extremely deep dive, the kind that, other than for Brian Wilson and his Pet Sounds/Smile outtakes, very few people would care about if it wasn’t The Beatles.

Anthology Collection, the LP version, contains 191 tracks spread across 12 LPs, housed in four separate gatefold packages.

The Beatles Anthology Collection on vinyl. (Image: Apple Corps Ltd.)

Volumes 1 through 3 have been lovingly remastered by Giles Martin, and they sound better than ever, unmarred by that ponderous bass heavy remastering style of the New Millennium, but of course it’s Anthology 4 which we care about the most.

Of its 36 tracks, 13 have been previously unreleased anywhere and the 23 others were appended to some recently released compilations and album box sets, many of which are on vinyl here for the first time.

Unlike the previous three volumes, Anthology 4 represents a full cross section of The Beatles career, which really is a window into the souls of four men whose oeuvre changed with the times, and set the trend for so many other artists to try to follow. This is probably the cheekiest volume, with John and Paul laughing and joking their way through some of the tracks, and the spontaneity of conversation is always fun.

Some of the highlights include “Tell Me Why”, takes four and five, where John gives direction, superseding George Martin’s; “If I Fell”, take 11, which is warmer than the released version; a faster take of “I’ve Just Seen A Face”; a different phrasing on “Nowhere Man,” which may very well have become an instrumental version; a BBC rehearsal of “All You Need Is Love”, featuring DJ commentary and George Martin’s direction; “Helter Skelter”, with some different lyrics; a standalone version of “Can You Take Me Back,” which we know as the beginning of “Revolution 9” on the White Album; a softer take on “Here Comes The Sun” and gorgeous instrumental versions of “She’s Leaving Home,” “The Fool On The Hill” and “I Am The Walrus.”

But for many listeners the major gifts are the remastered versions of the ’90s singles “Free As A Bird” and “Real Love,” which, while not perfect, definitely sound a helluva lot better, thanks to Jeff Lynne’s remixes; the lead vocals are much more present than in the previous mixes.

The Beatles Anthology Collection cover. (Image: Apple Corps Ltd.)

Each volume in the box is in three-disc “anapacks” (coining it), and contain the notes in the originals; Volume 4 is in the same format. The only carp here is it would have been nice to have a book or at least a booklet, with new notes and photos, but that would have probably raised the price into the stratosphere and made it prohibitive for a lot of collectors.

All in all, this is a very worthy box set. But anyone who would consider shelling out for this set already has Anthology 1 through 3 somewhere in their collection, take note: With Anthology 4 available as a vinyl standalone, why not simply get that?

Well, more than likely you missed out on getting Anthology 1-3 on vinyl, and they’re long out of print, so here’s your second chance, as the artwork here is the same as the original vinyl.

Also, it’s just so neat to have all four volumes housed in a well-presented box. Finally, it’s the freakin’ Beatles for god sakes, so as a rabid fan you absolutely need this…and you know it’s true. Yes it is.