Customer Reviews
More from the vaults 
2008-09-30
The Fab Four had the tightest quality control in the business, as this final installment of "The Beatles Anthology" demonstrates. It covers, roughly, the period from the White Album sessions to the end of the group, including material that would be released as early solo efforts by Paul McCartney and George Harrison. There's a reason why "What's The New Mary Jane" was never foisted on the public--it's awful. The group respected its audience.
This collection, however, is nevertheless indispensible for Beatlephiles and rock historians alike, as it also reveals the most important group in music at work in the studio during its last phases developing songs we all know and love.
Wonderful 2007-09-30
As usual, the Great TALENT of the "BEATLES" is very evident in this CD,as well as all the other anthologies. It is especially interesting because there are unreleased versions of their hits while the FAB 4 were rehearsing during their recording sessions.
The Evolution of later Beatles Songs 2007-08-10
This is a great set of songs. It is really cool to hear how the recording of the songs progressed prior to the final takes which were on the studio releases.
Having heard the songs for a longer period of time, since I first purchased this set, my opinion has only gotten better of this Anthology 3. If you are a Beatles fan, you should most definitely purchase this release.
Yes a notch below the other two volumes, but still a very good collection 
2007-01-12
The Beatles need no introduction when it comes to the elite of Rock/Pop music. When trying to "rank" the greatest artists of the Rock/Pop era, there is no doubt that the quartet from England ranks number one on just about every list. Going even further, the Beatles might be the top act in the history of modern music - among any genre. Some quarter-century after their breakup, the Beatles began to consider their place in history. This impetus played a key role in the release of the three volume, "Beatles Anthology" CD set and corresponding television documentary. One of the main attractions of this project was that it would bring the three surviving Beatles together for the first time since the famous breakup. Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr would collaborate together on two unfinished John Lennon songs: "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love" - creating a "virtual" reunion among the four band members. This three volume set would not be an ordinary greatest hits collection - it would provide a historical retrospective to the band through rare and unreleased material. , "Beatles Anthology 3" covers the latter years of the Beatles focusing on the last three albums: "The White Album", "Abbey Road", and "Let It Be".
As mentioned, this CD serves as a historical retrospective to the band. One of the strengths of "Beatles Anthology Volume 1" was that there was material that was prefaced with spoken words by the likes of Lennon, McCartney, and Brian Epstein. These spoken words helped set the stage for the material to follow. Unfortunately like "Beatles Volume Anthology 2", "Beatles Anthology 3" does not have any spoken words with the exception of some comments that are on the demo cuts.
There is no doubt that Beatles fans will enjoy the content of Volume 3 but when you put it up against the content in the first two volumes, it does fall a little short. Like the first two volumes, Volume 3 does contain a 42 page booklet that helps to supplement the listening experience. This collection should not be confused with a traditional "Greatest Hits Collection". Instead of studio cuts, this collection consists of outtakes, demos, and rarities that construct a terrific listening experience.
Here are 10 things to look for - in no particular order:
1) This is the only volume of the three volume Anthology collection that does not contain an original song. (The original song "Free as a Bird" is found on Volume 1 while "Real Love" is found on Volume 2.)
2) Like Volume 1 and 2, George Martin does a masterful job at providing continuity and fusion to the collection. While he didn't actually produce every individual cut, he did produce each of the three volumes of the Anthology collection as a whole.
3) For the most part the first disc of Volume 3 revolves around "The White Album" and the associated recording sessions. The second disc revolves around the "Let It Be" and "Abbey Road" albums. As many know, "Let It Be" was the final Beatles album to be released, but it was shelved and "Abbey Road" would actually be released before it. I found it amazing how much material did not make it on to "The White Album".
4) Much of the material could easily be mistaken for "Beatles Unplugged". Many are acoustic guitar cuts that were used as demos. While a lot of the material on Disc 1 falls into this category, there is some material on Disc 2 that also falls into the "unplugged" category. Most interesting was George Harrison's solo demo of "Something".
5) Like the previous two Anthology volumes, there are also some covers. Volume 1 would contain the most covers, but Volume 3 includes a three song medley ("Rip It Up", "Shake Rattle, and Roll", "Blue Suede Shoes"), "Mailman Bring Me No Blues", and "Ain't She Sweet". These are "throwbacks" to the Beatles' early days (as evidenced on Volume 1). I personally liked the cover of "Ain't She Sweet". "Come and Get It" is included, but this was an original McCartney composition later made famous by Badfinger.
6) This volume reflects a period where the Beatles were doing more songs as "narratives" and began to introduce "characters" in their songs. These "characters" provided a great avenue for the Beatles. Some of the more popular characters we hear about on Volume 3 include "Maxwell Edison", "Polythene Pam", "Mr. Mustard", "Desmond and Molly Jones", "Sexy Sadie", "Jude", "Rocky Raccoon", and "Mary Jane".
7) There aren't as many alternate takes as I would have liked to have seen. "Glass Onion" is the only song we are given multiple takes on. Volume 2 did a much better at the multiple outtakes in showing how the song developed.
8) Despite the fact that this was the time the Beatles were coming apart at the scenes, you wouldn't seem to know it from these cuts. There are plenty of examples of the members laughing and joking around.
9) There is a shorter and stripped down version of "Hey Jude". It isn't as good as the final product, but it still is interesting to hear. I'd also put "Something" in the same category.
10) While some of the material on this version is unfinished or interrupted by spoken words, it is what adds to the charm of the collection. I heard a disc-jockey in "New York" so impressed with this collection as he said "...and this is the junk!" It's amazing how stuff that didn't make it through editing could sound so good, but in this case it works.
This is a good collection. However, when you compare this to Volumes 1 and 2, it just isn't as strong overall. This is not a knock on Volume 3 - just a testament to how strong Volumes 1 and 2 are. Overall, this is still a very good collection and one Beatles fans will surely want in their collection. Highly recommended.
A Sensational End 2006-12-05
This is remarkable. The third and final volume of the Anthology series reveals more previously unheard music from the greatest band of all time. This collection may prove to be the most interesting to casual fans. The first volume shared a lot of home recordings and live stuff that really only hardcore collectors would want. The second volume, while definately having value to hardcore fans, focuses again on live performances and studio cuts that the casual listener might not see the need for. On this third set, however, we hear many acoustic demos and outtakes that are more than listenable for the average fan. The material is late enough and all studio produced that it is quite good quality that all fans can equally enjoy it. And the beauty is, there is still enough to keep us die hard fans happy, too. The following are my personal favorites:
*Helter Skelter - nice bluesy mix.
*While My Guitar Gently Weeps - George on acoustic, very nice.
*The Long and Winding Road - stringless.
*Maxwell's Silver Hammer - Paul screws up third verse, fantastic.
*Something - again, George only on acoustic, and with alternate lyrics.
This is a beautiful set with something for everyone.
Beatles Anthology 3 2006-10-29
From the
White Album to the end, the last days of the Beatles weren't smooth, which made the fact that they still produced some astonishing music all the more remarkable. In abbreviated form, "What's the New Mary Jane" is finally issued here, and proves underwhelming. For the rest of the set, it's largely down to outtakes and demos, but this time there isn't the same insight of the previous two volumes.
Anthology 3 comes dangerously close to the sound of barrels being scraped. That said, it's the Beatles, and in whatever form, the music still shines brilliantly.
--Chris Nickson
When I grow up, I'll be a singer. 2006-07-14
This was the final volume of the Beatles Anthology series of rarities. It's a two disc set, with Disc One featuring "White Album" outtakes and Disc Two featuring "Abbey Road" and "Let It Be" rarities. A lot of this is demos or alternate versions of previously released songs, althought there are a few unreleased songs here. Of course, being the Beatles, most of it is very good, if not quite as good as the "official" versions of these songs. This is a must get for all Beatlemaniacs, although new Beatles fans should start with their regular albums before getting this.
The third of three 2005-11-05
Anthology three as with one and two also has outakes and unfinished songs.
I will only hit the highlights or songs of note.
You hear 3 unfinished songs from side two of the album (back when we still had vinyl).
Those songs are Mean Mr. Mustard, Polythene Pam and She came in thru the Bathroom Window. You hear John playing Mean Mr Mustard on an acoustic guitar with an altered tuning.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps is nothing like the vesion on the White Album with Eric Clapton doing the lead guitar. This version is an acoustic version and has a charm of its own.
Rocky Racoon is still unfinished and has verses that were later dropped. Something has George Harrison playing the song solo without the band and again he uses extra lyrics that were later dropped on Abbey Road.
You also hear Paul doing Teddy Boy that appeared on his first solo album. You also hear a very early version of George Harrison doing the title song from his first solo LP, All Things Must Pass. So you even get a little bit of a preview of what was yet to come.
Another song of note is the version of Come and Get It which was later recorded by Badfinger. As I said these are just the highlights, you need to give this a listen.
THE Beginning of the "Unplugged" fame! 2005-10-16
If ANYONE is a fan of the MTV "Unplugged" series then you owe an appreciation to The Beatles -- as if no one has anything to owe to The Beatles -- for having this album released. Unlike the other "Anthology" series, this album (because of sound quality) seems as if it were recorded just the other day and opens the listener up to so many of the songs that fans fell in love with.
There are many a "Eureka!" of sudden new-founded-nest (i.e. - finding out one of them just wrote a hit song) that songwriters Lennon & McCartney find in each other's songs in this album and it's great to take the ride with them. Plus, hearing their usual musician mistakes and ad-libs makes this album all the more worth buying.
Do yourself a favor and take the time to listen to this piece of history in the making.
The Beatles: Anthology Volume Three (1996) 2005-08-16
In October of 1996, The Beatles released their 32nd album entitled, ANTHOLOGY VOLUME THREE, yet another sequel into their Anthology series. This album features the last of The Beatles' hits, as well as what seems to be the last of their unreleased tracks and bootlegs.
Disc One
A BEGINNING
Unreleased. Not bad.
HAPPINESS IS A WARM GUN
From the album THE BEATLES (1968). Great song.
HELTER SKELTER
From the album THE BEATLES (1968). Great.
MEAN MR. MUSTARD (Early Take)
Original from the album ABBEY ROAD (1969). Great. Part of the "You Never Give Me Your Money" Medley.
POLYTHENE PAM
From the album ABBEY ROAD (1969). Great. Another part of the "You Never Give Me Your Money" Medley.
GLASS ONION (Demo Version)
Original version from the album THE BEATLES (1968). Great.
JUNK
Unreleased. Not bad.
PIGGIES
From the album THE BEATLES (1968). Great.
HONEY PIE
From the album THE BEATLES (1968). Great.
DON'T PASS ME BY
From the album THE BEATLES (1968). Great.
OB-LA-DI, OB-LA-DA
From the album THE BEATLES (1968). A lot of hits they had from The White Album. Great song.
GOOD NIGHT
From the album THE BEATLES (1968). Great.
CRY BABY CRY
From the album THE BEATLES (1968). Incredible.
BLACKBIRD
From the album THE BEATLES (1968). Amazing.
SEXY SADIE
From the album THE BEATLES (1968). Not bad.
WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS
From the album THE BEATLES (1968). Awesome.
HEY JUDE
From the single release of HEY JUDE (1968). Later included on the album HEY JUDE (THE BEATLES AGAIN) (1970). The best Beatles song to be recorded by The Fab Four.
NOT GUILTY
Unreleased. Not bad.
MOTHER NATURE'S SON
From the album THE BEATLES (1968). Great.
GLASS ONION
From the album THE BEATLES (1968). Great.
ROCKY RACCOON (Early Take)
Original version from the album THE BEATLES (1968). Hate it.
WHAT'S THE NEW MARY JANE?
Unreleased. Not bad.
STEP INSIDE/LOS PARANOIAS
Unreleased. Not bad.
I'M SO TIRED
From the album THE BEATLES (1968). Great.
I WILL
From the album THE BEATLES (1968). Great.
WHY DON'T WE DO IT IN THE ROAD? (Demo Version)
From the album THE BEATLES (1968). Great.
JULIA (Early Take)
From The album THE BEATLES (1968). Great.
Disc Two
I'VE GOT A FEELING (Demo Version)
Original version from the album LET IT BE (1970). Finally, songs from another album. The songs from The White Album wore me out, and they didn't even include "Back In The U.S.S.R."
SHE CAME IN THROUGH THE BATHROOM WINDOW
From the album ABBEY ROAD (1969). Great. Another part of the "You Never Give Me Your Money" Medley.
DIG A PONY (Demo Version)
Original version from the album LET IT BE (1970). Great.
TWO OF US (Early Take)
Original version from the album LET IT BE (1970). Great.
FOR YOU BLUE
From the album LET IT BE (1970). Great.
TEDDY BOY
Unreleased. Not bad.
MEDLEY: RIP IT UP/SHAKE, RATTLE, AND ROLL/BLUE SUADE SHOES
Unreleased. Not bad.
THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD
From the album LET IT BE (1970). My favorite from the LET IT BE album.
OH! DARLING (Early Take)
Original version from the album ABBEY ROAD (1969). Great.
ALL THINGS MUST PASS
George Harrison's solo song. This is actually George Harrison's song when he went solo after the breakup.
MAILMAN, BRING ME NO MORE BLUES
Unreleased. Not bad.
GET BACK
From the album HEY JUDE (THE BEATLES AGAIN) (1970). Awesome.
OLD BROWN SHOE
From the album LET IT BE (1970). Great.
OCTOPUS'S GARDEN
From the album ABBEY ROAD (1969). Great.
MAXWELL'S SILVER HAMMER (Early Take)
Original version from the album ABBEY ROAD (1969). Great.
SOMETHING
From the album ABBEY ROAD (1969). Great.
COME TOGETHER (Demo Version)
Original version from the album ABBEY ROAD (1969). Great song.
COME AND GET IT
Unreleased. Not bad.
AIN'T SHE SWEET
Unreleased. Not bad.
BECAUSE (Demo Version)
Original version from the album ABBEY ROAD (1969). Great.
LET IT BE
From the album LET IT BE (1970). Awesome ballad.
I ME MINE
From the album LET IT BE (1970). Great.
THE END
From the album ABBEY ROAD (1969). Great.
When you buy ANTHOLOGY VOLUME THREE, you will have, after buying all three Anthology albums, most of The Beatles' hits, along with one new song, unreleased tracks, and unreleased bootlegs. This is the album for all Beatles fans and Beatles fans to come.
