1 Album: Banner.

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.

  • 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
  • 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.

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.

1 Album cover: The Beatles.

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.

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.

  • 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.

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

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!

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.

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