Despite excitement for the upcoming Anthology 4 release, fans of The Beatles are holding out hope for another project.
With Anthology 4 set for a November 21 release, some fans are already turning their attention to an album which turns sixty this year. There are no plans in place for a remaster or re-release of the album, and some are thoroughly disappointed to see there will be no extra material from the sessions. Rubber Soul, which was released on December 3, 1965, is not seemingly set for a remaster release this year. There could be one announced in the months to come, but with Anthology already giving fans enough to look forward to, it may be an overlooked anniversary. Disappointed fans took to the r/Beatles subreddit to share their disappointment.
One wrote: “I was really hoping for a Rubber Soul remaster for the 60th anniversary this year. The fact that we’ve just got remastered compilations for the past couple of years is a bummer. I genuinely don’t care.” Another agreed, adding: “Really though. I want the remastered Rubber Soul soooo bad!!”
A third shared: “Yeah, I kind of understand why they went with Red and Blue instead of giving Rubber Soul the super deluxe treatment, as they had to take Now and Then on something, but instead of having a roadmap for release, it seems like they are a dog being distracted by the next new toy.”
Some are still hoping for a release, albeit a delayed one. An extra episode of the Anthology show will be released on November 26, and fans believe the Rubber Soul celebrations could be delayed to 2026. One suggested: “They could still release an anniversary edition in late December. Even January isn’t too bad considering the circumstances.”
Another disagreed, replying: “I highly doubt it. They’ve basically been doing one big release per year for most of the past decade now, and it’s almost always in the late summer, just like now. This Anthology set is the big release for this year.”
Others were left somewhat deflated by the proposed tracklist for Anthology 4. One listener suggested the band are now “scraping the barrel” of their archives, while another suggested the release is only for the most dedicated of listeners.
They shared: “I guess this appeals to the people who have to own a recording of every single time the Beatles breathed within earshot of a microphone, but I can’t see many people outside of that caring all that much. Remastered compilations two years in a row is a bummer.”
Another added: “Would have preferred Rubber Soul. Hell, I would have preferred Past Masters remixed with Free As A Bird, Real Love, and Now and Then last year instead of Red and Blue.
“But I’m pragmatic, and for like 100$ I’ll get a remastered version of Anthology (which is probably a bigger deal using modern technology than the 90s when released). Kinda hope they’ll speed up releases going forward and combo up the last releases.”
