WASTE OF MONEY: The Beatles remastered catalog
Posted by drocolate on April 10th, 2009It’s time for another episode of Waste of Money.
Today I’m going to rant pointlessly about:
The Beatles remastered catalog

On September 9, 2009 (09/09/09…does that have some sort of Beatles significance?) Apple Records will be releasing the entire Beatles catalog in a new remastered collection.
Actually, I think it would be more of a rerererererereremastered (the remasteredest?) collection because the majority of their music has already been remastered to death.
Let me say up front that I have no beef with The Beatles. I’m no Beatlemaniac (like Nic Cage in The Rock) but I think they’re a great band and I respect their place in the pantheon of music legends. However, on the other side of that, I also think the remaining members (I’m mostly looking at you, Paul) and their label are a bunch of greedy, money-ShamWowing jerks. Just let it be, guys (hehe). These songs have been remastered into oblivion. There really is no need to release this new catalog. And to release the entire thing on the all-but-dead medium of CD? WTF?!?
Just call it what it is: A big fat excuse to sell the same stuff in a new package.
But wait! It’s not the same product! It’s got awesome new features that the casual Beatles fan can’t live without, like a brief documentary pertaining to each specific album. And, well, that’s sort of the only new thing. Other than that, it’s just the same tunes (that maybe sound a wee, tiny, little bit better) in a new, flashier package. Not cool, Beatles. Not cool.
But wait! This is going to be the ultimate Beatles collection! This isn’t one of the dozen greatest hits collections that they’ve already released! This is EVERYTHING! This is exactly what all the young, up and coming Beatlemaniacs need to become totally knowledgedable about all things Beatles. Unfortunately these young potential Beatlemaniacs probably don’t own CD players, so the CD release probably won’t blow them away like a digital release would. Not cool, Beatles. Not cool.
So who is going to buy this thing?
I’ll tell you. Overly exploited Beatlemaniacs that already own the million other anthologies and collections and box sets. That’s who. These are the same people who own season one of Shining Time Station on VHS and who can actually say with a straight face that Paul McCartney’s “Freedom” is a great song. These people’s Beatlemania borders on addiction and instead of helping them to get off the junk, The Beatles keep pulling them back in with another (set of old) hit(s).
I want to say again that I like the Beatles and when they finally do decide to release their catalog as a digital download (after remastering this latest remasteredest edition, of course) I’ll be a little excited. But for now, yet another Beatles collection, no matter how far reaching it may be, just seems like a total waste of money.
Please hit me with your hate mail in the comments. XOXOXOXO!
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Previously on Waste of Money:
Tags: music, Paul McCartney, ShamWow, Shining Time Station, The Beatles, waste of money


You’re an idiot! The Beatles’ catalogue has never been Remastered, not even the first time. We’re still playing the 1987 original tinney CD’s from the first issue. The 2 previous Boxed sets were supposedly from the original American mixed tapes, (but I have my doubts about that one, Capitol!) Everything else has been duped from the 1987 CD’s. EVERYONE ELSE in the world has Remastered THEIR stuff to death. I say the government take out some of the stupid ear-marks from their “spending” packages, and send a check to Beatlefans so we can stimulate the economy by purchasing the wonderful, overdue 2 boxed sets coming out on 09-09-09. (And YES, it is significant, John Lennon’s birthdate is October 9th, and it was his favorite number.) The second boxed set will be the MONO versions of the albums. (I prefer the Mono on the early stuff.)
Fair enough, Jim. Well said and thanks for checking out the blog. And extra thanks for filling me in on the significance of the 9’s.
Let me ask you though, what is your favorite episode from that iconic first season of Shining Time Station?
A note on your digital download complaint:
CDs (or some sort of uncompressed file format like FLAC) are the only appropriate digital release medium for a remastered collection. MP3s are a compressed file format. Offering remastered music only as MP3 would be like touching up the Mona Lisa, then using a fax machine to duplicate it. It’s not so idiotic if you understand a few fundamentals about audio fidelity and technology.
Also 999 is 666 upside down, which is appropriate since the Beatles were ghostwritten by SATAN. Just listen to the remastered collection backwards on acid, you’ll hear it even clearer than before!!
Chris,
A note on your note about my digital download complaint:
I had no digital download complaint. I want digital downloads of Beatles music, and I think I want them even more now that I know they may represent an end to the rabid Beatles remasterbationization movement.
Thanks for the info. And for checking out the blog.
Oh, and also thanks for confirming my suspicions about those 9’s. I knew it had to have something to do with SATAN.
The number 9 relating to a balanced numerological personality or cyclical timing energy is most often associated with tolerance, generosity, forgiveness, passion, creative energy, success, romance, benevolence, and a deep love of life. Nine energy flows like water and is reflective of universal love.
Like all numbers, it also has an over-balanced side including energies such as hedonism, resentment, dejection, hostility, lack of integrity, prejudice, self-centeredness, and emotional volatility.
Under-balanced 9 energy includes such things as a hazy disposition, life as a drifter, an overly-detached disposition, apathy, confusion, impracticality, and submission.
Those who largely lack the number 9 throughout their comprehensive charts commonly endure earthly lessons involving learning about unconditional love, compassion, tolerance, and emotional maturity. This person will be at a community gathering, for example, and while all in attendance naturally feel a heart connection with everyone else, he’s uncomfortably disconnected and feels like an extraterrestrial in left field. He’s here to learn about humanity as if he’s had too many lifetimes in other, less emotionally based realms and planets.
Like its cousin, the number 7, 9 is one of the most spiritual numbers. It’s firmly related to prophesy, intuition, psychic flashes, clairvoyance, and inborn wisdom. Unlike 7, 9 has fleeting, vague impressions that vanish upon trying to weigh and analyze them. It’s like the energy associated with the number 9 offers incredible insight, but at the same time it’s telling you “sure, have a feel for it, but you’re not allowed to scrutinize it too much.” It’s all right there for the 9, but it’s not forever. Easy come, easy go, deep inspiration, broad visualizations, and unpredictability are key phrases for 9.
Also like 7, cheating, trickery, and an overly-aggressive and excessively selfish disposition can easily ruin everything. Dragging spiritual numbers such as 7, 9, 11, 22, etc., through negative karma-inducing behavior is flirting with disaster. Drug and, or alcohol problems, or otherwise over-indulging is also the demise of the 9.
9 represents more than an average share of relationship problems. Attracting troubled relationships is a common theme under the 9. Drawing those to you who have integrity and, or honesty problems while you are under strong 9 timing is par for the course, as is finding yourself with a (vs. “the”, as balanced 9 is always open to more love) love of your life. Whether you experience bliss, endure tragedy or circuit through a combination of both, depends on your collective natal and timing indicators.
Under heavy 9 cyclical timing, romance can be wonderful, even though it usually leaves you sooner than expected. 9 does in fact heavily represent rewards in life. It is symbolic of all the good things in life, such as friendship, love and other intangibles. 9 is golden in this respect and makes you feel that all else is tin.
During times ruled by potent 9, you’ll finally vent those long-repressed emotions, yet you’ll also find yourself strengthening your emotional maturity. You finally forgive those from the past.
Recognition and even fame is easy under the 9. It’s your time to experience the glory that escaped you in previous incarnations. Money can certainly be sweet too, but make sure to protect it because it can leave you just as easily as it flows to you while basking in the 9.
Find out about the number 9 in your basic numerology charts with our easy to use Numerology Decoder Software.
9 is “people person” energy, and even though those with heavy 9 are very personable and find harmony in everything, it’s often of the more impersonal variety where you sense humanitarianism, but it’s like they’re only willing to offer some of it to you.
Though 9 is liberal, charitable, and altruistic, don’t count on someone with heavy natal 9 to give you an accurate analysis. They will tell you, “Hey man, this idea seems cool,” then point to another, totally opposing concept and say the same thing. Yes, those with a lot of 9 are frequently non-judgmental, but there’s too often a lack of a healthy sense of discernment. They will also often appear to have strong convictions, but inwardly they waver.
One of the easiest ways to get to know the number 9 (the energy symbolized by 9) is to track your Personal Month numbers (see “mini reading” on scottpetullo.com). The Personal Month cycles are a great way to familiarize yourself with the cycles of time because, being a short-term cycle, the energy is more pronounced and obvious. Just keep in mind that the Personal Month cycle is only one of many time cycles to consider in a comprehensive analysis. Also know that all time cycles in the timing charts must be analyzed in accordance with the personality (natal) charts’ energy.
Hundreds of personality and timing indicators comprise the various charts of a typical comprehensive numerology system. Patterns (i.e., multiple corroborating aspects) signify character, life events and circumstances, although single aspects also hold significance.
The Day of Birth number is, by itself, a very important timing and natal consideration. The 9 as a Day of Birth number is frequently rewarding for those in the following lines of work: the arts, film, music, occult, teaching, writing, metaphysics, diplomacy, philosophy, managing people, travel, hospitality, counseling, therapy, and creative endeavors.
Copyright © Scott Petullo, Stephen Petullo
Scott Petullo and Stephen Petullo are identical twins and have been exploring metaphysics since the early 1980’s. They are experts in the fields of prediction, personal fate, love life, and past life regression, and are natural psychics and mediums. Get their free report: 13 Spiritual and New Age Myths and 11 Questions to Ask before hiring a Psychic. http://www.mystictwins.com – http://www.holisticmakeover.com
[...] The Beatles Remastered Catalog [...]
you know what also comes out that day? the new rockband: the beatles game which has ALL their songs playable. im personally gonna get that. I say playing/singing along to their whole catalog of remastered songs is better than just listening.
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Don’t talk shit about the beatles!!! Thats the band that changed history, and created a sound in music…. Paul and Ringo can do what they wan’t with there music!!! Who are you to tell them…..? What have you done lately besides this stupid website??? The Beatles remastered catalog is not a waste of money! but this website is a waste of time!!!
[...] The Beatles Remastered Catalog [...]
Having just discovered this blog, I will also chime in two months later. As a big fan of The Beatles, I need this definitively remastered collection. Seeing as most of their money has gone to the late, not-so-great Michael Jackson, I want Paul, Ringo and even Mrs. Harrison to get all the money they can out of this. The only wasted money in this equation is anything that goes to Yoko or her son, Wastospaceo Ono.
Now, when is my remastered Monkees collection coming out?
This “rabid Beatles remasterbationization movement” is only in your imagination. As it has been mentioned above; this IS the first time The Beatles’ catalog has ever been digitally remastered.
Also, the main reason they have declined to release the catalog digitally (beyond the Apple Corps/Apple Computer legal battles) is because they didn’t want to release a bunch of low quality B.S. on the interwebs; now that this is remedied, Sgt. Pepper’s should be on the top of iTunes’ album chart before the end of next year/beginning of 2011.
My baby says she’s traveling on the one after 909.
9 09.
not 10/09.
that’s totally not true!!! “the new beatlmaniacs” do own cd players they even have pick-ups!so that’s not a waste of money t all!!!
In reality, people opposing a Beatles re-release or any other group’s re-release usually comes from their favoritism of other bands whether thay admit it or not. They can say to the effect “hey, I like the Bealtles but….” and at the same time in the back of their mind their saying “they’re nowhere the band that Zeppelin is”.
Guess what?! The Beatles are still the most influential, top-song writing, energetic (add lots more positive to the list) rock group of all time. I love lots of other groups, some that come close to my love of the Beatles and most I loved bwefore I discovered the Beatles back in the 70s. They have not been equaled to date and it’s very doubtful they ever will be.
Here’s a kicker – I saw a forum where people were arguing about whether the Beatles or the Monkees were the best band. I almost fell to the floor laughing because that’s like comparing a weenie to a sirloin steak. I own every release and re-release by the Monkees as well and became a fan of their at about age-6 but they are simply not in the same category with the Beatles.
This view I have shared by millions of fellow fans, isn’t favoritism or even Beatlemania, it’s just being able to recognize the obvious. The Beatles are the best there’s ever been in rock and anything they re-release by them will soar to the top. The fans want it, let them enjot it!!
No offence, but you come off sounding a bit idiotic here. I’m not rushing to buy the remasters because I want to see what the general reaction is before I part with my money, but I’m tired of people claiming CDs are a ”dead format”. I don’t know any serious music fan who doesn’t consider CDs unquestionably superior to MP3s. You just sound like a prat, towing the usual media line instead of bothering to think for yourself.
I bought the remastered Abbey Road and you’d have to be born without ears not to be able to hear why they’ve released these versions. It’s much better than the 1987 version.
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As it is now 9/10/09, and I just finished playing Beatles Rockband for the first time, I can tell you EXACTLY why this newly packaged music set is coming out. This game is amazing and is going to introduce the Beatles to a whole new generation of people who might have been rather “meh” on them before and will want to dig a little deeper. How convenient that this is also available at the same time.
Wow-it is obvious from your comments that you are completly misinformed about the nature of this topic and the reasons for these important remasters. I am embarrassed for you. The only part of your clueless rant that has some merit is the problem of there being no digital downloads or streaming (do you even know what that is??) availability. Go and research this topic (or any, for that matter) before you write about it, and you won’t wind up looking so ignorant next time.
The Beatles suck. Bad.
Okay let me get to the point…I’m 13 years old i bought Help! The Beatles album, its great. What’s the problem with bringing out The Beatles albums on CD…. um… so people like me can listen to them because 13 year olds don’t no how to work tapes and things. Also the quality is brilliant
[...] The Beatles Remastered Catalog [...]
All you need is cash
I have all their vinyl,some of their cassettes,and most of their Cd’s.All you need is cash,and this new collection will be just another day in the life.How about getting a life and broaden your musical horizons.
[...] The Beatles Remastered Catalog [...]
Loved the rant (and agree wholeheartedly!) – and I AM a rabid Bealefan! My own similar rant is here:
http://moonroomrecording.blogspot.com/2009/09/beatles-remasters-or-you-like-me-too.html
I’ll be content to wait a few years for the REMIXES.
i thought 9/9/09 was a reference to revolution nine…..