1 Album: Introduction

In November 2000, The Beatles’ 1 (One) album finally hit the shops. This release comes a little after the 30th anniversary of the band’s breakup. In short, it’s a compilation album full of The Beatles number-one hits in the UK and the USA.

Recording: In Detail

Release Date: November 13, 2000
Recorded: September 11, 1962; April 1, 1970
Studio: EMI, Apple, Olympic and Trident Studios, London; Pathé Marconi Studios, Paris
Album Duration: 78:39
Record Label: Apple/Parlophone, Capitol
Genre: Pop, rock, Merseybeat, Psychedelic Pop, Folk Rock, Psychedelic Rock
Producers: George Martin (also Phil Spector) for ‘The Long And Winding Road’
Engineers: Geoff Emerick, Phil McDonald, Glyn Johns, Jeff Jarratt, Tony Clark and Barry Sheffield

Performers And Instruments

John Lennon: vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, harmonica, banjo and also some percussion
Paul McCartney: vocals, bass, guitars, keyboards, double bass, drums and also some percussion
George Harrison: vocals, guitars, violin and also some percussion
Ringo Starr: vocals, drums and percussion
George Martin: keyboards, orchestral arrangements, and some backing vocals as well.

Other Performers

Mal Evans: bass drum
Billy Preston: keyboards
Andy White: drums
The Beatles also used various session musicians on some occasions.

Beatles 1 Album Track List

01) Love Me Do
02) From Me To You
03) She Loves You
04) I Want To Hold Your Hand
05) Can’t Buy Me Love
06) A Hard Day’s Night
07) I Feel Fine
08) Eight Days A Week
09) Ticket To Ride
10) Help!
11) Yesterday
12) Day Tripper
13) We Can Work It Out
14) Paperback Writer

15) Yellow Submarine
16) Eleanor Rigby
17) Penny Lane
18) All You Need Is Love
19) Hello, Goodbye
20) Lady Madonna
21) Hey Jude
22) Get Back
23) The Ballad Of John And Yoko
24) Something
25) Come Together
26) Let It Be
27) The Long And Winding Road

1 Album Cover

The Beatles 1 album cover is simplistic in design, of course. However, it packs a punch, with a massive yellow number 1 on a red background.

The Beatles’ name is also on the front cover. Designed by Rick Ward, the pop art 1 album cover is both ambitious and bold at the same time.

Indeed, it’s a very prominent statement. After all, this album will be a popular choice, and making it instantly recognisable was important.

A small booklet is included with the CD, and there is information about the 27 number-one singles.

Furthermore, the cover is the same on the CD and the vinyl LP. However, with some issues of the LP came a large poster. All in all, the album cover is very effective. It is bright and bold, making it easy to grab when a Beatles fix is necessary.

Beatles 1 Album: The Sounds

What you get with The Beatles 1 album is all the Fab Four’s hits in chronological order. In other words, their first number-one hit was “Love Me Do,” so this is number one on the album. Their second number one was “From Me To You.” Therefore, this is the second track on the album, and so on.

In short, what we see is The Beatles as they progress and re-invent themselves over and over again from their early Beatlemania days. To many people, this album is all they need, of course.

However, because they didn’t release any songs from some of the Beatles’ albums, this 1 album lacks some of the Fab Four’s best tracks. For example, there were no singles from “With The Beatles,” “Rubber Soul,” “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” or the “White Album.“

While the original release in 2000 was good, the remastered release in September 2011 makes the sound better. Then, in November 2015 (see below), they released the remastered and remixed version that offers even more pleasurable listening, depending on your taste.

1+ Album

Released: 6th of November, 2015
Producer: Giles Martin (son of George Martin)
Record Label: Apple/Parlophone, Capitol

On November 6, 2015, The Beatles 1+ album came out, together with DVD and Blu-ray video discs. This deluxe version also includes a hardback book with promotional films, performances, commentary, and introductions from Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. In fact, there are 50 individual video clips.

Giles Martin remixed the tracks for the +1 album after helping to fix them for the video clips.

“My approach was to be respectful of everything, I had sessions and sessions where I flipped between previously remastered stereos, the mono remasters, and the remixes we’ve done. I flip between everything and make sure I prefer what we’ve done.”
Giles Martin

In addition to the new mixes, you hear surround sound 5.1, Dolby and the usual frills, together with 4K video. Of course, you might not buy The Beatles’ “1” album because you own all the tracks on other albums. However, the stand-alone video discs are available separately. Therefore, this release has something for everyone.

Watch The Beatles 1 Blu-Ray DVD Trailer

Beatles 1 Album Sales

With the odd exception, The Beatles’ 1 album hit the top of the charts in most countries. In brief, this release hit the top of the charts in over 35 countries. In fact, by 2009 alone, worldwide sales of the “1” album were over 31 million.

So far, in 2016, it has sales of over 12,410,000 in America, over 3,230,000 in the UK, and over one million in Canada. While in Australia, sales are over 750,000 and over 250,000 in New Zealand. The 1 album shows that The Beatles are still as popular now as they were when they hit the charts in 1962!

Take A Listen

Obviously, The Beatles’ 1 (One) album will please those who are not too familiar with their album tracks but like the single releases. So, to listen to snippets of the songs on the album, click the play button below. Then, let us know your thoughts below.