BBC's Beatles Tribute Uncovers Unheard Outtakes, Rare Footage

Nearly 40 years after the breakup of the Beatles, the Fab Four's lasting legacy will once again take center stage in September 2009: In addition to the upcoming release of both The Beatles: Rock Band and the entire remastered catalog reissues, the BBC are set to air a new documentary dedicated to the band titled The Beatles on Record. The week-long tribute will feature the history of the Beatles in the studio, complete with never-before-heard outtakes and conversations from the band in the studio, plus rare footage and photographs.

Look back at all the LPs in the Beatles catalog, with their RS reviews.

Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, George Harrison and John Lennon will provide archival narration, along with producer George Martin. More than 60 Beatles songs will be featured in the doc, which was directed by Bob Smeaton, who also directed 1995's The Beatles Anthology. Beatles Week on the BBC kicks off September 5th, and will also include the TV debut of the David and Albert Maysles doc The Beatles: The First U.S. Visit, which chronicled the Fab Four's 1964 visit to the States. How the Beatles Rocked the Kremlin, a look at the band's impact on communist Russia, will also screen.

So far, no plans have been announced for the docs to air on BBC America, but a spokesperson told Variety that bringing the series to the states is under consideration.

As Rock Daily previously reported, the Beatles' entire remastered catalog will finally be reissued on September 9th, the same day the much-anticipated The Beatles: Rock Band hit shelves. Like The Beatles on Record, TB:RB will also feature unheard audio and banter courtesy of the band, as well as rare video and photographs.

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