Amazon.com: The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl: CDs & Vinyl (original) (raw)

This is something I really don't understand. Obviously with John and George gone there will never be any more new Beatles music, so pretty much ever since CDs were invented we've seen countless rehashed "Greatest Hits" compilations, re-releases, and generally nothing from the vaults (1994's BBC album, and 1995-96's three Anthologies being the notable exceptions). I'm surprised that the American albums (Meet the Beatles etc) got deluxe boxed-set treatment, because that to me is the ultimate rehash, but the amazing Hollywood Bowl album has never seen the light of day in digital format.

The Beatles' Hollywood Bowl concerts in 1964 and '65 were recorded by Capitol for a potential release, and even though that release didn't come until many years later, the recordings still bring light on what Beatlemania must have felt like -- more so, in my opinion, than the live cuts on the Anthology discs. It's a true shame that this record is no longer available. I'm sure many young people who are just getting into the Beatles, some of whom probably don't own a turntable, would value this on CD as a historical document of this amazing time and place of history. Likewise, for the older generation, it would serve a a way to preserve their memories.

This album rocks. You can tell the Beatles are really enjoying themselves, and the fans are wild and very enthusiastic. If you go see Paul McCartney nowadays, you will have a good time, but it is only a dim recollection of the energy that the Beatles had in the early- to mid-60s. That's not to say Paul is a nostalgia act -- actually he's far from it -- but nothing on Earth compares to the magic that blossomed from the four of them together.

This is an amazing album. Even though it's not officially on CD yet, I would strongly recommend finding a good-quality turntable and transport yourself back to the greatest era in rock history.