(Originally published Dec. 27 on Examiner.com.)
By Steve Marinucci
Beatles Examiner
Nothing gets Beatles fans worked up than talking about releases of Beatle music. Especially releases of Beatle music they don't have.
The New York Times started all the commotion again with an article today by Allan Kozinn with the headline "Hard Day's Night for Beatle Reissues." As we mentioned in our Beatle news roundup this morning, for anyone looking for good news, there is very little to speak of. Getting the Beatles tunes on iTunes won't be coming soon. Paul McCartney said that at the end of November.
"Let It Be" on DVD? At one time, it was 2005, then supposedly 2007. In late July, after rumors circulated that Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr were blocking its release on DVD, an Apple spokesman told me exclusively, "We do have plans to release it sometime in the future" Not really much to go on, but at least it's still on someone's agenda.
What about the much rumored highly anticipated reissues? Nothing. In fact, it's so quiet on that score you could hear a needle drop. The best Apple could do for Christmas was the Beatles iPod (originally $899, though the price dropped to almost half of that just before Christmas) and assorted designer (read expensive) clothing at Bloomingdale's, "All Together Now," a backstage DVD of the Vegas "Love" show (what happened in Vegas didn't stay there this time) and a White Album rollerball pen for $295 through their website. And then there was the deal for a Beatles video game next year.
Whatever happened to the music?
As viewers of the "All Together Now" DVD saw and heard for themselves, nothing gets done by the Beatles' brain trust without a unanimous vote. This is something I was told years ago by a trusted source and the ATN DVD confirmed it for all to see. There are no three strikes here. One strike and you're out in the Beatles ball game.
Who's holding up the show isn't the question. The fact it's being held up and will apparently continue to do so is the problem.
The Beatles' arrival on iTunes is way overdue. So far overdue, in fact, that they've almost worn out their financial welcome, though certainly the public will respond when it finally does take place.
And almost everyone except the Beatles has issued updated CDs, some more than once. Meanwhile, Beatle fans are still stuck with the same original CDs released in 1987. That was over two decades ago. Those statistics only make a bad song even worse.
The Beatles certainly know what they need to do. For one, get the music on an online service ASAP. Every day it isn't there means big bucks that aren't in their pocket and that of the sagging industry, which would certainly reap benefits from it.
Release "Let It Be" on DVD. NOW. Forget the issues. It was out once on video. It needs to be out again. Put a stop to all those non-remastered "remastered" copies for sale all over.
Then, put a firm target date on the first remastered CDs and let the public know about it. They'll be excited and Apple will have a deadline to work to. And DON'T CHANGE IT.
The situation is not beyond repair. It can be fixed. All the Beatles need is to do is just do it.
