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Rating: Exactly 15 years ago, the definitive Beatles compilation, the so-called "1," was released. A compilation made up of 27 number-one hits, all composed between 1962 and 1969.
Truly a good album for those who want to start listening to the so-called Fab Four, which along with the new release "1+" released several days ago, retraces the videography of the quartet that has always been a subject of rarity and especially low visual quality, in some parts available in the monumental "Anthology" from the 90s. For those who have only relied on viewing rare television appearances and videos of questionable quality on the internet, "1+" is the essential DVD or Blu-Ray box set for anyone who wants to have a complete collection of all the Beatles videos, both live and official.
In addition to containing all the footage of the singles already included on "1," we also find songs (with related videos) never published in the aforementioned sound compilation such as "Strawberry Fields Forever," "A Day In The Life," and "Rain", just to name the most beautiful of the collection.
The footage now enjoys a cleanliness never seen before. From the live recordings of '63/'64 to the period of the still black-and-white videos of '65 ("Day Tripper," "We Can Work It Out") and to the color ones of "Paperback Writer," "Hello Goodbye," and "Penny Lane" then moving on to the live performances of "Hey Jude" and "Revolution" up until the psychedelic segments of the songs from the official film "Yellow Submarine" ("Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" to remember one) to the melancholic sessions of the album "Let It Be". In total, there are over 50 videos, including alternative and never-before-published versions.
The most substantial differences compared to the original versions are the more vivid and clear colors and the removal of many grainy spots, especially in the videos before 1966. "Something" has been reborn with the restoration, as has "Hey Bulldog" and "Hello Goodbye". They have also put effort into the audio field, making the "live" of "Revolution" go from terrible to truly enjoyable. The restorers' work was not limited to aesthetic improvement but also to that of greater visual resolution; in fact, all the footage is in Full HD up to 4K.
The recent work carried out at Abbey Road studios in restoring the entire Beatles filmography has thus fully achieved its purpose: to reintroduce the group's classics in high-definition video, thereby taking the opportunity to publish (also) alternative and little-known versions of the footage. It is no coincidence that the collection includes the videos of the two songs released posthumously to the group's breakup, "Free As Bird" and "Real Love".
Highly recommended to all those who listen to... ladies and gentlemen... The Beatles!
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