Beatles Anthology Disney Plus, 9 Episodes: All watched
What is the Beatles Anthology?
Paul George John Ringo are the Beatles. The Beatles Anthology is a series that documents the band’s lifespan from their very beginnings, when Paul McCartney approached John Lennon after hearing his band, the ‘Quarrymen’, at a Liverpool fete, up until their end.
The people who made the documentary have researched it thoroughly and it is a good watch.
Why do I like Paul George John Ringo in The Beatles Anthology?
Paul George John Ringo are great musicians. You get to hear the band’s evolution. The transition from a rock/pop touring band to these experimental geniuses is enjoyable. You hear these young teenagers growing up to become musicians who could operate and manipulate the studio to produce extraordinary music.
As most know the Beatles split towards the end of the sixties. Basically, when they, The Beatles aka: Paul George John Ringo had had enough of each other and wanted to be relatively normal, anonymous people again. For example, Paul McCartney moved to a remote farm miles from anywhere with Linda and the kids for a while to get over Beatlemania.
Hold On! George Harrison and George Martin have died. How was this new 2025 release documentary made?
This documentary was made initially some 30 years ago. I personally wondered why Paul McCartney looked so youthful, considering how ‘old’ he looked at Glastonbury.
That is also why George Martin and George Harrison were included often. This is a reissue. There is some new footage, new material, and 4k remastering. Also, there is a whole new episode where, George. Paul and Ringo Reunite in the Studio. The fact that this happened 30 years ago and George is dead slightly tarnishes the ‘wonderfulness of it.’
The Beatles Anthology Overall Review
Sadly not enough John Lennon
As with the first one, there are understandably fewer John Lennon contributions in the retrospective bits than the other members of the band. Sadly, these were confined to bits he said on chat shows and interviews over the 10 years he spent in New York before he was shot. His presence is still there, though sadly not enough.
He did contribute a lot of verbal opinions/banter to things as they happened in the band, of course.
Early Beatles were very likeable
When the documentary started, you could not help but adore them in their early stages. They are just lovely, positive young men who have each other to pull them through this adventure of screaming fans and tours. In later days, there would be partners, such as Yoko for John and Linda for Paul, for example. Because of this, and many intence years they would want to do what ‘normal people’ do when they reach their mid twenties rather than be pop stars.
Claustrophobia of Beatlemania took its toll.
As other distractions happened, they also felt claustrophobic in their ‘own company’, and they inevitably grew apart. However, I did learn something from the documentary. Through the Beatles’ recording of the album ‘Let It Be’, there were personality clashes. This was their last album to be physically released commercially. This maybe misleading as their actual ‘last recording’ was Abbey Road, and that was recorded in much better spirits. It provides a happier ending.
Last Album Was Recorded In Good Spirits
The Happy End To The Beatles
However, the band were under no illusion that Abbey Road was their last recording. Too much water had gone under the bridge, and they all wanted to take a break from living and working together.
See the documentary by Peter Jackson ‘Get Back’ that had a fly on the wall of them recording their penultimate album ‘Let It Be’. If you watch it, you will see that, though there were tensions, they were not as bad as they seem.
Conclusion Reissues can be a bad thing:
Bad Music Industry Robbing! Us Of Our Hard Earned Cash
I found this on Disney+ a few days ago and decided I must watch it. I was vaguely aware that the Beatles had released an Anthology many years. However, the show was timestamped as being made this year. It wasn’t until the end that I googled Gemini about this new release and felt a bit cheated.
I realised that I had fallen for something that the record industry has done, which I hate. This show is a reissue of a 30-year-old of a documentary/compilation. They have also added a new chapter, which isn’t essential but pleasant to watch. They are releasing old material marked as new.
You can hear Paul George John and Ringo in an extra chapter of the anthology
It must be mentioned that a new Beatles Anthology that has been released alongside the other anthologies,in the new 4th edition. All tracks are demos or 2nd or 3rd takes of previously released material. This is definitely selling money for old rope, as all the rest of the anthologies had been released in the 90s.
This stuff had been rejected in the 60s and nineties for a reason. I must state that I will buy this when finances permit. So I will be buying money for old rope as I am converted to all things Beatles. 🙂
According to Google Gemini, this anniversary version contains new material, including more interviews. Also, there is an extra episode of the Beatles reuniting in the recording studio on Disney+, without John, of course, and recording a new song based on one of John’s riffs in the studio.
The fact that George Harrison has been dead does remove some of the ‘newness and ‘wonderfulness’ of it all. You are reminded that this is a 30-year-old documentary. The anthologies of Paul George John Ringos was released 30 years ago.
This is, new Beatlemania is in effect, as a celebration of the 30th anniversary of a compilation. Bad Record Industry! Slap them on the wrist! for such a cynical manoeuvre. I am annoyed that I fell for it.
The whole concept of reissues annoys me, but that is a personal thing from being in the record business for a year or two many years ago. It is not bad for individual albums but it is when they take the piss.
A Bit Of A Tangent
For example, ‘What’s The Story Morning Glory’ by Oasis reissue is released as a 2-album pack when it should really be a 1-album setup. As a result, you listen for about 10 minutes and feel thoroughly immersed, but then you have to get up and turn the record over, so you never feel truly immersed. This kind of gumph is done purely for marketing purposes.
Cynical physical media Pisstakery is wrong and should be banned. If you consider yourself an audiophile, then fair enough, but if you are a fat-arsed lazy git like me, then you get irritated.
I don’t always like new stuff
However, people don’t always want new stuff, and I am one of them, and getting a new Beatles album set would be a good gift or something to treat yourself with. After all people like Paul George John Ringo
Although I was younger and more foolish when the anthology first came out, I had ignored it. However, I was pretty enthusiastic about reviewing it when I saw it on Disney+, as I enjoyed the other Beatles documentary on Disney+, Get Back. Due to this I trusted Disney and watched it.
Despite the wool being pulled over my eyes regarding this cynical ‘reissue’,I thoroughly enjoyed this so I will give it a 8/10. I will definitely not be buying the 12 LP anthology that accompanies the ‘celebration’ as the cost of a 12 LP compilation will be unimaginable.
Note: I will not be totally abandoning ‘ Paul George John Ringo ‘ and will be buying Beatles Anthologies 2 and 3 2nd hand on CD on Ebay but will wait around till the 4th episode becomes available at a more competitive price.
8/10
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Disneyplus where you can watch the anthology
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