Anthology 1 is a compilation album by the Beatles, released by Apple Records in November 1995. It was released as the first part of the Anthology trilogy of albums with Anthology 2 and Anthology 3, all of which tie-in with the televised special The Beatles Anthology. It contains “Free as a Bird”, billed as the first new Beatles song in 25 years. The album topped the Billboard 200 album chart and was certified 8x Platinum by the RIAA. (More from Wikipedia)
The above disk is of Buddy Holly’s song “That’ll Be the Day” and is the first recording that was made by the Quarrymen, the skiffle band that later became the Beatles. Intended only as a demonstration disc, just one copy was ever pressed (in 1958); this record is one of the most valuable on earth, worth an estimated £100,000 according to NME.com. The song was officially released in 1995 on the Beatles’ Anthology 1 retrospective album package.
(June 2013/1)
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“My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean” is a traditional Scottish folk song that remains popular to this day. Several other songs by the Beatles were recorded at that time; Anthology 1 includes “My Bonnie” (but not “The Saints”) plus “Ain’t She Sweet” and “Cry for a Shadow” that were made at the same recording session but without Tony Sheridan. On “Ain’t She Sweet”, John Lennon sings lead; this song was a staple in their shows back in 1961. “Cry for a Shadow” is a rare instrumental by the Beatles and the only recording ever credited to George Harrison and John Lennon as songwriters.
One of the highlights of Anthology 1 for me are some 1963 recordings of “One After 909”, when the Beatles tried unsuccessfully to put the song together for an early release. Three takes are presented, each of which breaks down after a short time. The compilers realized though that an entire performance of the song could be pieced together from these takes, and it is also given on the CD.
“Hello Little Girl” was included on the Decca Records audition tape; there is also a home demo recording of the song that features Stuart Sutcliffe on bass guitar, which is currently available only on bootleg albums. A version of “Hello Little Girl” by the Beatles is included on Anthology 1.
(June 2015)
