BEATLES – ANTHOLOGY 3: TRIPLE VINYL LP (1996) UK APPLE PCSP 729 – AS NEW/EX     

	£		17
	$		22

The “Anthology 3” album on offer here is the triple vinyl LP version, issued on 29 October 1996. It’s the UK release on Apple Records ?– cat. no. 724383445110 (PCSP 729).

The three-album set comprises 50 rarities and alternative tracks from the final three years of the band's career, ranging from the initial sessions for “The Beatles” 2-LP set (better known as "the White Album") to the last sessions for Let It Be and Abbey Road in 1969 and early 1970.

For the uninitiated, these Anthology albums do NOT feature the “straight –originally released” hits and album tracks – they are recordings from between July 1968 and August 1969. 

It’s the final part of The Beatles’retrospective trilogy of “Anthology” albums. The three LPs are full offascinating “works in progress”, demo versions and song fragments, plus some cover versions that they played in the studio to loosen up before recording“takes”.

The triple-fold album sleeve is in excellent condition, with just two minor blemishes: a very slight creasing at the frontright edge of the sleeve, and a small patch on the inside face of the third fold, where something adhesive pulled off a little area of the top layer. Seethe photos – nothing to hide; these are very minor faults.

The three vinyl records as new and look unplayed, without any scuffing, scratches or labels marking. The three plain white die-cut inner sleeves are all in excellent, unmarked condition. 

The Anthology series of albums tied in with “The Beatles Anthology” TV special. The “III” album was certified 3 x Platinum by the RIAA and was the group's third double album in a row to reach number one on the US charts (equalling a record set by Donna Summer in the 1970s).

Following the artwork theme of the previous Anthology (I & II) albums, the cover image, painted by Klaus Voorman,features a collage of Beatles-related imagery designed to appear as a wall of peeling posters and album covers. There’s even an updated picture of Voorman in George’s hair in a segment of the Revolver album cover.

Record 1, side1:

"A Beginning"

"Happiness Is a Warm Gun"

"Helter Skelter"

"Mean Mr. Mustard"

"Polythene Pam"

"Glass Onion"

"Junk"

"Piggies"

"Honey Pie"

"Don't Pass Me By"

"Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"

"Good Night"

Record 1, side 2:

"Cry Baby Cry"

"Blackbird"

"Sexy Sadie"

"While My Guitar Gently Weeps"

"Hey Jude"

"Not Guilty"

"Mother Nature's Son"

Record 2, side3:

"Glass Onion"

"Rocky Raccoon"

"What's the New Mary Jane"

"Step Inside Love" / "Los Paranoias"

"I'm So Tired"

"I Will"

"Why Don't We Do It in the Road?"

"Julia"

Record 2, side 4:

"I've Got a Feeling"

"She Came in Through the Bathroom Window"

"Dig a Pony"

"Two of Us"

"For You Blue"

"Teddy Boy"

Medley: "Rip It Up" / "Shake,Rattle and Roll" / "Blue Suede Shoes"

Record 3, side 5:

"The Long and Winding Road"

"Oh! Darling"

"All Things Must Pass"

"Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues"

"Get Back"

"Old Brown Shoe"

"Octopus's Garden"

"Maxwell's Silver Hammer"

Record 3, side 6:

"Something"

"Come Together"

"Come and Get It"

"Ain't She Sweet"

"Because"

"Let It Be"

"I Me Mine"

"The End"

Overview (adapted from Amazon):

Anthology 3 documents the fractious Beatles years from 1968 to the end. Unfortunately their Apple Records company was launched as the quartet was splintering into different units - they were becoming solo artists that guested as session musicians on each other’s songs. The Fab Four members were already peering over the horizon at the post-Beatles world. At the time, for us Beatles devotees, that prospect was not one to consider – the hits kept coming, so the story didn’t unfold clearly, as we also enjoyed the riches of The Beatles (AKA the “White Album”),Abbey Road and Let It Be.

When the band split,there were no reconstructed and heavily overdubbed demos from which to create'new' singles in the aftermath, so with this LP set we now hear plenty of alternate takes from their final three album releases. Listen for when John manages to spoil the seriousness of a run-through of the Let It Be title track by cheerfully calling Paul a bounder and a cheat!

The album features early versions of "All Things Must Pass" and "Not Guilty",which George wrote and later recorded properly on his solo albums in the 70s. There are also Paul's versions of "Step Inside Love" and "Come And Get It", which became hits respectively for Cilla Black and Badfinger.

The band rattle through a rock'n'roll medley as light relief during the difficult "Let It Be" sessions  - and an amusing version of "Get Back", with Paul ad-libbing vocals at the end, just as the police were coming to order them off the roof during that famous last live open-air performance in January 1969.

The main exclusive isJohn Lennon's "What's the New Mary Jane", a much-hyped 'rarity' which had been rumoured as a possible Plastic Ono Band single at the time. The song features John, George, Yoko and roadie Mal Evans, but without Paul and Ringo.

As with the first two parts of the Anthology series, this album set is a treasure trove that Beatles fans can dig into for many years to come, revealing how their chemistry and genius unfolded, even as John, Paul George & Ringo grew apart from eachother. 

See picture gallery for further info – what you see is what you get, at a bargain starter price here too.  Expect to pay up to twice the price elsewhere!  

The album will be securely packed in a dedicated reinforced cardboard mailer, with a new 12"protective PVC outer sleeve and protected by cardboard stiffeners.

The individual records will be separated from the outer sleeve and placed into spare innersleeves, so that the LPs don’t “knife” through their original inners in transit. 

It will be posted by standard Royal Mail (or equivalent) service within 24 hours of payment (on a working day). The P & P charge shown is for UK Mainland posting only; any special delivery arrangements that are required by the buyer must be agreed and paid for prior to despatch.

Overseas orders are via EBay's Global Shipping Programme - the winning bidder will be invoiced by EBay, NOT by me!

Thanks for looking - happy bidding!