The Beatles – Anthology Vol. 1 Review

Bootleg tapes, anthology archives, whatever you want to call them, they’re an inevitability of big bands. The longer a group goes on, the more likely it is they’ll receive a package release of deep cuts and demo offerings. Anthology Vol. 1 is that for The Beatles, a two-hour package of material pulled together from the earliest years of the Fab Four. Where Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr were struggling to find a route through to anthologising the group, it appeared a Jeff Lynne and George Martin-produced effort incorporating John Lennon interview snippets was the best way to go. It’s also the most respectful, too. It’s as close as you can get to hearing all four of The Beatles in the studio with one another after Lennon’s death. Anthology Vol. 1 is a rewarding listen with depths to it that other artists can only dream of offering. Even fewer musicians can offer a fine blur of historical relevance and enjoyable listening experiences.  

In Spite of All the Danger and That’ll Be the Day may be borderline shocking in quality, but the strength of the song is right there. A magnificent double bill to kick off Anthology Vol. 1. Some of those early moments drift into historical interest rather than playlist essentials, like Hallelujah, I Love Her So, but that’s the point of the set. The fact that these documents exist is enough for many listeners. Those who are well-versed in early years Bob Dylan tapes have given their ears the workout needed to survive scratchy tapes and poor-quality recordings. Historical value prevails, and it brings out some brilliant quality tapes, like a rock and roll adaptation of My Bonnie. Superb, the first song on the Anthology collection to pair studio quality with innovative material from the band. It’s quite unlike anything The Beatles were doing at the time, and hearing them cut loose on a traditional folk song is a treat. Follow-ups like Ain’t She Sweet and Cry for a Shadow show a darker, better side to The Beatles than Please Please Me did.  

Part of the charm for Anthology Vol. 1 is in hearing The Beatles as a band which had not yet been moulded. These are the rough edges and loose ends which are preserved brilliantly. They had not yet found their voices as independent artists, as trailblazers for the time, but they did have a phenomenal understanding of catchy, pop music. Searchin’ and Three Cool Cats is a great example of that, and Anthology Vol. 1 ushers in a collection of originals soon after to highlight that rapid growth for the four. Flashes of what The Beatles were capable of in the studio soon appear. Rough cuts of Love Me Do and Please Please Me are delightful, and in some ways, that raw edge to the song makes them stronger. It certainly strengthens the original release.  

Few listeners may return to those early releases, but Anthology Vol. 1 shines a light on the quality of those pop rock and roll days. Live performances of Money (That’s What I Want) and You Really Got a Hold On Me are delightful. Nothing short of brilliant. For those wanting to learn more about The Beatles, what better way than to listen to their deep cuts? Anthology Vol. 1 is as much an educational tool for the budding Fab Four fan as it is a demonstration of the group’s earliest, best efforts. Those latter stages of Anthology Vol. 1, from an appearance with Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, to some tremendous versions of And I Love Her and A Hard Day’s Night, are essential listens for any fans wanting to hear more about the band’s history.