Red Album (1962–1966): Introduction
The so-called “Red Album” is a compilation of the greatest hits from The Beatles, which came out in the spring of 1973. Furthermore, it is a double album with The Beatles’ songs, covering the period from 1962 to 1966. Of course, in 1973, The Beatles were no longer together as a band.
However, they were enjoying individual success as solo artists or with a new group. Be that as it may, the “Red Album (62–66)” release was a welcome addition to the market for the record-buying public.
The Beatles made so many songs that one compilation album was never going to be enough. With this in mind, they released the “Blue Album” at the same time. Obviously, this was to cover the period from 1967 to 1970.
**Updated Information: In 2023, they released revamped versions of both the Red and Blue albums. So, now, these albums contain Beatles songs up to 2023! Furthermore, there are additional songs. In this case, the Red Album gets 12 extra songs with the original mono versions changed to true stereo!
In Detail
- Release Date: April 19, 1973 (UK), April 2, 1973 (US) (2023 version: November 10, 2023)
- Recorded: September 11, 1962, to June 21, 1966
- Album Duration: 62:34 (original releases) (2023 version: 94 minutes)
- Record Label: Apple
- Studios: EMI Studios, London and Pathé Marconi Studios, Paris
- Producer: George Martin
- Compiler: Allen Klein
Red Album (1962–1966): The LP Records
The following track listings apply to the LP versions. The CD versions are below.
Disc One
Side One
From Album or Single
01) Love Me Do
02) Please Please Me
03) From Me To You
04) She Loves You
05) I Want To Hold Your Hand
06) All My Loving
07) Can’t Buy Me Love
01) Please Please Me (1963)
02) Please Please Me (1963)
03) Non-album single (1963)
04) Non-album single (1963)
05) Non-album single (1963)
06) With the Beatles (1963)
07) A Hard Day’s Night (1964)
Side Two
From Album or Single
01) A Hard Day’s Night
02) And I Love Her
03) Eight Days A Week
04) I Feel Fine
05) Ticket To Ride
06) Yesterday
01) A Hard Day’s Night (1964)
02) A Hard Day’s Night (1964)
03) Beatles for Sale (1964)
04) Non-album single (1964)
05) Help! (1965)
06) Help! (1965)
Disc Two
Side One
From Album or Single
01) Help!
02) You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away
03) We Can Work It Out
04) Day Tripper
05) Drive My Car
06) Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
01) Help! (1965)
02) Help! (1965)
03) Non-album single (1964)
04) Non-album single (1964)
05) Rubber Soul (1965)
06) Rubber Soul (1965)
Side Two
From Album or Single
01) Nowhere Man
02) Michelle
03) In My Life
04) Girl
05) Paperback Writer
06) Eleanor Rigby
07) Yellow Submarine
01) Rubber Soul (1965)
02) Rubber Soul (1965)
03) Rubber Soul (1965)
04) Rubber Soul (1965)
05) Non-album single, 1966)
06) Revolver (1966)
07) Revolver (1966)
CD Versions
1993 CD
The 1993 CD version is a 2-CD set, with identical running order as above.
2023 Release
Disc One
Song
Album or Single
01) Love Me Do (2023 Mix)
02) Please Please Me (2023 Mix)
03) I Saw Her Standing There (2023 Mix)*
04) Twist And Shout*
05) From Me To You (2023 Mix)
06) She Loves You (2023 Mix)
07) I Want To Hold Your Hand (2023 Mix)
08) This Boy (2023 Mix)*
09) All My Loving (2023 Mix)
10) Roll Over Beethoven (2023 Mix)*
11) You Really Got A Hold On Me (2023 Mix)*
12) Can’t Buy Me Love (2023 Mix)
13) You Can’t Do That (2023 Mix)*
14) A Hard Day’s Night (2023 Mix)
15) And I Love Her (2023 Mix)
16) Eight Days A Week (2023 Mix)
17) I Feel Fine (2023 Mix)
18) Ticket To Ride (2023 Mix)
19) Yesterday (2023 Mix)
01) Non-album single (1962)
02) Please Please Me (1963)
03) Please Please Me (1963)
04) Please Please Me (1963)
05) Non-album single (1963)
06) Non-album single (1963)
07) Non-album single (1963)
08) Non-album B-side (1963)
09) With the Beatles (1963)
10) With the Beatles (1963)
11) With the Beatles (1963)
12) A Hard Day’s Night (1964)
13) A Hard Day’s Night (1964)
14) A Hard Day’s Night (1964)
15) A Hard Day’s Night (1964)
16) Beatles for Sale (1964)
17) Non-album single (1964)
18) Help! (1965)
19) Help! (1965)
Disc Two
Song
Album or Single
01) Help! (2023 Mix)
02) You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away (2023 Mix)
03) We Can Work It Out (2023 Mix)
04) Day Tripper (2023 Mix)
05) Drive My Car (2023 Mix)
06) Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (2023 Mix)
07) Nowhere Man (2023 Mix)
08) Michelle (2023 Mix)
09) In My Life (2023 Mix)
10) If I Needed Someone (2023 Mix)*
11) Girl (2023 Mix)
12) Paperback Writer (2022 Mix)
13) Eleanor Rigby (2022 Mix)
14) Yellow Submarine (2022 Mix)
15) Taxman (2022 Mix)*
16) Got To Get You Into My Life (2022 Mix)*
17) I’m Only Sleeping (2022 Mix)*
18) Here, There And Everywhere (2022 Mix)*
19) Tomorrow Never Knows (2022 Mix)*
01) Help! (1965)
02) Help! (1965)
03) Non-album single (1965)
04) Non-album single (1965)
05) Rubber Soul (1965)
06) Rubber Soul (1965)
07) Rubber Soul (1965)
08) Rubber Soul (1965)
09) Rubber Soul (1965)
10) Rubber Soul (1965)
11) Rubber Soul (1965)
12) Non-album single (1966)
13) Revolver (1966)
14) Revolver (1966)
15) Revolver (1966)
16) Revolver (1966)
17) Revolver (1966)
18) Revolver (1966)
19) Revolver (1966)
*2023 release only
Lennon-McCartney Songs
Allen Klein compiled this collection from 7 early Beatles albums, of course. However, it includes 7 non-album singles too. Then there are 6 tracks from the “Rubber Soul” LP.
In the early days, The Beatles made covers of many songs, which obviously showed their appreciation for the original artists. However, what is noticeable with this “Red Album (62–66)” is that it only includes their own works, i.e., Lennon-McCartney songs. This also applies to the album’s sister, the “Blue Album (67–70)”.
Red Album (1962–1966): The Cover
Obviously, this album cover is similar to the Beatles’ first ever album, “Please Please Me,” from 1963. When photographer Angus McBean took the shots at EMI House in Manchester Square, London, he obviously took a few. So, this Red Album has one of those on the front cover. But it is not the same as that on the “Please Please Me” album; it is just similar.
On the back of this double album, we see a 1969 pose by The Beatles from the same stairwell. Angus McBean took those as well, but those were for the “Get Back” album, which didn’t make the light of day. Also, the image we see on the back is the same as that on the front of its sister, the “Blue Album (67–70)”.
The designer of both the red and blue covers was Tom Wilkes, and the inner photo of the gatefold albums is from the “Mad Day Out” photo session in London on Sunday, July 28, 1968.
Release And Chart Success
Firstly, the release of The Beatles’ “Red Album” came partly as a response to a bootleg album with the name “Alpha Omega.” This is because, in 1972, the bootleg version was widely available after a television campaign. However, Apple/EMI released the “Red Album” as “the only authorized collection of The Beatles.”
Of course, the “Red Album (62–66)” reached the charts upon release. However, unlike their original studio album releases, it didn’t reach number one in the official UK charts. But it did reach a respectable number three. It did better in the American Cash Box Charts, though; there it got to number one.
For those who missed out on The Beatles the first time around, this was also an ideal opportunity to get the best of The Beatles in one go. The Fab Four may no longer be together, but the compilation albums still sold like hot cakes.
Just as you thought things couldn’t get better, they did. That is because they reissued the Red Album with all the bells and whistles you could wish for.
Take A Listen
So, listen to the album and leave your thoughts below.
