The Beatles 1962-1966 (2023 Edition) Half-Speed Mastered 180g 3LP

The Beatles' 1962-1966 ('The Red Album') landmark compilation introduced generations of fans to the incredible history of the most storied band in music. For its 50th anniversary, the collection has been expanded: 'Red' has 12 additional tracks, including for the first time some of George Harrison's earliest songs and some classic Beatles versions of R&B and rock 'n' roll hits that were so influential on the band.

The 3LP collection now contains 38 tracks, 30 of which have new mixes for 2023. The set's 12 newly added tracks are collected on its third LP. An insert contains new sleeve notes by journalist and author John Harris.

For current fans and future generations alike, the new 1962–1966 collection is a joyous celebration of The Beatles' timeless musical legacy.

The expansion corrects a couple of flaws on the original sequence of The Red Album by adding a good chunk of Revolver and several songs from George Harrison, who had no lead vocals or compositions in the 1973 incarnation of the compilation. Additionally, the enduring standards 'I Saw Her Standing There' and 'Twist and Shout' have been added to the album, making for a fuller picture of the Beatles' early years. The big news about this particular reissue isn't the expansion so much as the remix. Using the machine-learning technology developed for Peter Jackson's 2022 documentary Get Back, Martin was able to isolate elements of the original mixes, thereby allowing him to develop dynamic new mixes that employ the full range of the stereo spectrum. These new remixes retain the spirit of the original but leap from the speakers, sounding bigger and bolder than before.

Hearing the 2023 stereo remixes of early mono tracks like 'I Saw Her Standing There' and 'Twist and Shout' or Rubber Soul's 'Norwegian Wood' truly tells the tale. Once peaky vocals are smoother, a soundstage is defined, harmonies are detailed, and the clarity of the bass and drum figures are far superior. 'Twist and Shout,' for example, rocks like never before—Lennon's throaty vocal was never as vivid or present. The original British monos still may win on pure immediacy, but these close the gap. If you grew up listening to the American pressings in processed, hard-panned stereo, these are stunners and worthy additions to any Beatles collection.