NEED TO KNOW
In November 1995, The Beatles Anthology reignited Beatlemania for a new generation with an ambitious project that combined a groundbreaking television documentary, a six-disc trove of rarities and outtakes as well as a lavish coffee table book filled with stories and photos from inside the world’s most famous band. The series allowed John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr to narrate their own history in a way that was raw, funny, occasionally contradictory, and always compelling.
Nearly thirty years after its initial release, Anthology is returning in a newly expanded and meticulously restored edition. The original documentary, long hailed as a landmark in music storytelling, will debut on Disney+ beginning Nov. 26 in pristine quality thanks to restoration overseen by Apple Corps with help from Peter Jackson’s production team — who helmed 2021’s much-lauded Get Back.
All eight original installments have been polished for modern viewing, and for the first time, a brand-new ninth episode will be included, featuring never-before-seen footage of McCartney, Harrison and Starr as they reunited in the mid-1990s to shape the project and reminisce about their shared past.
Bruce McBroom/© Apple Corps Ltd.
The musical half of the celebration arrives Nov. 21, when the Anthology albums return in expanded form across vinyl, CD and digital formats. Originally curated by Beatles’ producer George Martin as an alternate history of the band told through demos and studio outtakes, the collections now stretch to four volumes.
The newly created Anthology 4 includes 13 previously unheard recordings, plus refreshed mixes of the reunion-era singles “Free As a Bird” and “Real Love” overseen by Jeff Lynne. Both tracks, originally built from John Lennon’s late-1970s home demos, now appear alongside “Now and Then,” the 2023 single that was completed by McCartney and Starr and billed as the final Beatles song. Together, the four volumes span 191 tracks, presented in deluxe box sets with new notes and archival extras for fans and collectors alike.
Adding to the rollout is the 25th anniversary edition of The Beatles Anthology book, available Oct. 14. At 368 pages, the lavish volume captures the group’s journey in their own words alongside reflections from close collaborators like producer George Martin and press officer Derek Taylor. Richly illustrated with more than 1,300 photographs and documents, it offers a kaleidoscopic portrait of the band’s whirlwind rise, creative evolution and lasting cultural impact.
Fans can pre-order the the 12LP vinyl and 8CD box sets here. The book is available for pre-order here.
