New Beatles Album Due November 16

The Beatles are back in action again. They will release a double-LP set on November 16, simultaneously in the United States and Britain. The set will contain 24 new Beatles songs and will not include recent singles such as "Lady Madonna" and "Hey Jude."

The Beatles have also videotaped a "live" performance of "Hey Jude" for television promotion, and Paul McCartney and George Harrison have been quoted recently in the British press to the effect that they would enjoy appearing again.

"We will be doing a live television show later in the year," Paul said. "I don't know about a concert, but it might lead to that. The idea of singing live is much more appealing now. We are beginning to miss it. I love the idea of playing again -- and I know, the others feel the same way."

The "Hey Jude" film was done in a television studio, unrehearsed, for showing on two British programs. (In the United States it will be aired on the Smothers Brothers television show.) The Beatles were accompanied by 300 extras and a thirty-six piece orchestra.

Also on the Beatles front, the cartoon film Yellow Submarine will be released in the United States on December 15, accompanied by a fairly large merchandising program on the part of the film company. And Magical Mystery Tour will by made available to colleges for showing in the late fall.

The double-LP release will be the Beatles' first album on the Apple label. Other than the Hey Jude/Revolution single, the only other Apple success has been Mary Hopkins' "Those Were The Days" which replaced "Hey Jude" as the number one song on the British charts.

Accompanying the Beatles LP release, will be other Apple records including: the soundtrack to Wonderwall, a film scored by George Harrison, recorded in Bombay and London; an album by the Modern Jazz Quartet, which has signed with Apple; and an album by a North Carolina folk-singer named James Taylor.

No decision has been made so far on the packaging, the cover and the title of the Beatles release. However, it is expected to be a quite simple package. In fact, according to Derek Taylor, the Beatles' press officer, the whole package will be characterized by "a marked absence of psychedelia."

The release will have 24 new Beatles songs. At this moment, what exactly will be on the album has not been decided, because the Beatles expect to he recording more songs for possible use through the middle of October. Currently, the Beatles have recorded over 35 new songs for possible use on the album, a number which they will cut down 24. In fact, the problem now is what to leave off, not how to get any more.

Of the songs, recorded, some of the ones definitely picked include: "Back In the USSR," on which Paul sings lead, more or less an uptempo rock and roll song, featuring humorous musical moments from Fats Domino and the Beach Boys, among others.

"Mother Nature's Son," another Paul McCartney solo, with Paul on guitar and an occasional brass backing.

"Birthday," "Everyone's Got Something to Hide," "Blackbird," "Rocky Racoon," "Sexie Sadie," and "Not Guilty," one of George's compositions, have also been decided on for use in the records.

The rest are still to be picked. The majority of the songs were written in India, some in London, and all are very good and will be great to hear. Paul McCartney has been especially prolific in the past few months, and the albums will be dominated by his work. The material includes a "bit of everything" according to Taylor, "'and are very simple, straightforward songs, with a lot of rock and roll. There is a lot of freedom in them. The Beatles are very aware of their roots, more aware of them than they have ever been, and this will show very strongly."

George has written about three or four songs, more than he usually contributes. Ringo has written one song by himself, co-wrote another, and sings lead on them. Most of the songs are uptempo, with only one or two ballads.

Taylor, speaking from London, described the recordings in general to Rolling Stone this way:

"Imagine a double Sgt. Pepper's album, all at once, the only difference being that this is 1968, not 1967, which was also a very special year. But, keeping in mind the different climate, imagine the record to be that way. They are much more free these days. There is a lack of guile in them and their approach, and that is what this record is like."

Tapes of some of the songs have already found their way to the United States, and once educated listener described them this way: "The early Beatles up to date."

(RS 20 - October 26, 1968)

Beatles' Buried Treasure Main