The Beatles to release new album of rarities 'On Air – Live at the BBC Volume 2'
The record, out in November, features ten previously unreleased songs by the Fab Four
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A new Beatles album, featuring unreleased recordings and studio banter from the Fab Four’s sessions for a variety of BBC radio programmes, will be released in November.
On Air – Live at the BBC Volume 2, a sequel to the 1994 compilation Live At The BBC, features ten songs which the band never recorded for their record label EMI during the 60s.
The rarities include a live-to-air performance of Chuck Berry’s “I’m Talking About You” and a cover of the standard “Beautiful Dreamer.”
The 63 tracks include 37 previously unreleased performances. Of equal interest to fans will be 23 previously unreleased recordings of studio conversation between the band’s members and their BBC radio hosts, including Brian Matthew and Alan Freeman, which demonstrate the Liverpool band’s famously sharp wit.
Sir Paul McCartney said of the recordings: “There’s a lot of energy and spirit. We are going for it, not holding back at all, trying to put in the best performance of our lifetimes.”
The Beatles enjoyed a close relationship with the BBC, using the airtime offered to develop their live performances. Between March 1962 and June 1965, 275 unique musical performances by The Beatles were broadcast by the BBC. The group played songs on 39 radio shows in 1963 alone.
Sir Paul said: “We’d been raised on the BBC radio programmes. One of the big things in our week was Saturday Club – this great show was playing the kind of music we loved, so that was something we really aspired to.”
The album includes The Beatles’ tribute to the BBC’s most important pop show of the early ’60s – “Happy Birthday, Dear Saturday Club”.
On Air also includes different versions of 30 Beatles classics including I Saw Her Standing There and cover versions of Ray Charles’ “I Got A Woman,” and two songs they learned from Carl Perkins, “Glad All Over” and “Sure To Fall.”
On Air – Live at the BBC Volume 2 will be released in a special 180-gram vinyl package with a 48-page booklet as well as on CD and download. Live At The BBC sold 5 million copies and has also been remastered for reissue.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments