.jpg "The Beatles - Anthology 1 (Compilation) (1995) front album cover")
22.jpg "The Beatles - Anthology 1 (Compilation) (1995) back album cover")
The Beatles - Anthology 1 (Compilation) (1995)
Front and back image album covers
The Beatles – Anthology 1 (Compilation) (1995)
The Beginning of The Beatles’ Definitive Archival Series
Anthology 1 is a 1995 compilation album by The Beatles, released on 20 November 1995 by Apple Records. It is the first volume of the landmark Anthology trilogy and features rare recordings, demos, outtakes, and live performances spanning 1958 to 1964 — from the Quarrymen era through the height of early Beatlemania.
The album was released alongside the highly anticipated The Beatles Anthology television documentary and marked the first new Beatles single in 25 years: “Free as a Bird.”
📌 Album Details
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Artist: The Beatles
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Title: Anthology 1
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Type: Compilation / Archival release
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Released: 20 November 1995
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Label: Apple Records
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Format: 2×CD, 3×LP, Cassette
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Genre: Rock and Roll / Merseybeat / Pop
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Recording Years: 1958–1964
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Producers: George Martin, Jeff Lynne (for new tracks)
🎶 Tracklist – Anthology 1 (1995)
Disc One
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Free as a Bird
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Speech: John Lennon
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That’ll Be the Day
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In Spite of All the Danger
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Hallelujah, I Love Her So
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You’ll Be Mine
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Cayenne
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My Bonnie (with Tony Sheridan)
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Ain’t She Sweet
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Cry for a Shadow
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Speech: Brian Epstein
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Searchin’
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Three Cool Cats
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The Sheik of Araby
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Like Dreamers Do
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Hello Little Girl
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Besame Mucho
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Love Me Do (1962 audition version)
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How Do You Do It
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Please Please Me
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One After 909 (early version)
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One After 909 (false start)
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Lend Me Your Comb
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I’ll Get You
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Speech: John Lennon
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I Saw Her Standing There
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From Me to You
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Money (That’s What I Want)
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You Really Got a Hold on Me
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Roll Over Beethoven
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She Loves You
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Till There Was You
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Twist and Shout
Disc Two
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This Boy
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I Want to Hold Your Hand
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Moonlight Bay
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Can’t Buy Me Love
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All My Loving
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You Can’t Do That
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And I Love Her
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A Hard Day’s Night
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I Wanna Be Your Man
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Long Tall Sally
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Boys
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Shout
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I’ll Be Back
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You Know What to Do
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No Reply
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Mr. Moonlight
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Leave My Kitten Alone
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No Reply (demo)
🎸 Album Credits
Core Lineup (1962–1964):
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John Lennon – Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
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Paul McCartney – Vocals, Bass Guitar, Piano
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George Harrison – Lead Guitar, Vocals
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Ringo Starr – Drums, Vocals
Earlier Lineups Include:
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Pete Best – Drums (early recordings)
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Stuart Sutcliffe – Bass (Quarrymen era)
Producers:
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George Martin (original recordings)
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Jeff Lynne (co-producer of “Free as a Bird”)
🎤 “Free as a Bird” – The Reunion Single
The highlight of Anthology 1 is “Free as a Bird,” built from a John Lennon home demo recorded in the late 1970s. Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr completed the track in 1994 with producer Jeff Lynne.
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Reached No. 2 in the UK
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Peaked at No. 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100
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Won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (1997)
It was the first new Beatles single since 1970.
📈 Commercial Performance
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Debuted at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart
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Reached No. 1 on the US Billboard 200
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Sold over 8 million copies worldwide
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Certified 8× Platinum in the US
The album became one of the most successful archival releases in music history.
🤩 Fun Facts
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“That’ll Be the Day” and “In Spite of All the Danger” are the earliest known Beatles recordings (1958, as The Quarrymen).
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“Leave My Kitten Alone” was a long-bootlegged outtake officially released here for the first time.
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The Anthology project reunited Paul, George, and Ringo for extensive interviews and collaboration.
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The music video for “Free as a Bird” is filled with hidden Beatles references and Easter eggs.
❓ Trivia
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“How Do You Do It” was originally offered as The Beatles’ debut single before they insisted on releasing “Love Me Do.”
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“You Know What to Do” is an unreleased George Harrison composition from 1964.
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The album includes studio chatter and historical narration clips.
🧠 Did You Know?
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The Anthology TV documentary was watched by over 400 million viewers worldwide.
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“Free as a Bird” uses John Lennon’s original vocal from his demo tape.
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The Anthology series sparked renewed global Beatlemania in the 1990s.
4.jpg "The Beatles - Anthology 1 (Compilation) (1995) cassette cover")
