The White Album 50th Anniversary Edition: What To Expect?

Although the official announcement is most likely next Wednesday, September 26, it is gradually becoming clear what we can expect from the White Album 50th Anniversary Edition, which is due to be released in November. As hoped, it will be a release similar to that of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, last year. Meanwhile, The Beatles started a promotional campaign on social media:

pic.twitter.com/bK4MW4MB2f

— The Beatles (@thebeatles) 21 september 2018

Just like Sgt. Pepper's 50^th anniversary edition, the album The Beatles, better known as The White Album, is taken care of by Giles Martin, the son of Beatles producer George Martin. The result is a new stereo mix, with, according to the first rumors, a clearer sound, which particularly benefits the bass and drums. The new mix will appear on vynil, on CD and, as part of the Deluxe Box Set, on Blu-ray where you can find four different versions:

- Album mix in high-resolution PCM stereo 
- DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Album mix
- Dolby True HD 5.1 album mix
- Direct transfer of the original monomix of the album

But there is much more! What about the Esher Demos? These are demo versions of 27 songs recorded in Kinfauns, George Harrison's bungalow in Esher, Surrey, in the weeks prior to the recording session. Nineteen of those songs eventually appear on the White Album, some never saw an official release and others were published by the Beatles solo; such as Junk by McCartney, Not Guilty by George Harrison and Child of Nature, a song by John Lennon that, with new lyrics, became known as Jealous Guy.

The Esher Demos can be found on numerous bootlegs and it seems that they now also get an official release, but undoubtedly in a better sound quality. Thus, the renewed edition consists of a triple CD and triple LP:

- CD 1 / LP side 1 & 2: 2018 new stereo mix,
- CD 2 / LP side 3 & 4: New stereo mix
- CD 3 / LP side 5 & 6: Esher Demos

And if all that is not enough, the Deluxe Box Set contains, besides a 168-page book, another three additional CDs with a further fifty recordings, most of which have never been released before. These include outtakes from Hey Jude, Revolution, Across The Universe, Lady Madonna and Inner Light. There would also be an early recording of Let It Be and a number of still unknown jams / improvisations / rehearsals. Finally, there is also a 12-minute version of Helter Skelter, but not the legendary 27-minute version of the song.

The White Album 50th Anniversary Edition is expected to be released on November 9th.

Track listing CD 3 / LP side 5 & 6: Esher Demos:

Back in the U.S.S.R.
Dear Prudence
Glass Onion
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Happiness is a Warm Gun
I’m so tired
Blackbird
Piggies
Rocky Raccoon
Julia
Yer Blues
Mother Nature’s Son
Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey
Sexy Sadie
Revolution
Honey Pie
Cry Baby Cry
Sour Milk Sea
Junk
Child of Nature
Circles
Mean Mr. Mustard
Polythene Pam
Not Guilty
What's the New Mary Jane

More news:

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André Homan

André Homan is a Dutch writer and journalist.

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