Beatles Break Free of CDs

Fab Four expected to hold five top 20 spots

(NEWSER) - It’s a flashback to Beatlemania in Britain after the release of remastered versions of the band’s discography, Reuters reports. The Fab Four are expected to hold at least five of the top 20 spots on the pop charts when the sales week closes Saturday, along with 15 of the top 75 albums. “It is clear that the Beatles' enduring appeal shows no signs of waning," says one expert. More»

(NEWSER) - The Beatles are getting a long-awaited makeover. The group's entire music collection, including all 12 studio albums released in stereo, is being digitally remastered for release in September, the UK Times reports. It will be the first time the first four Beatles albums will be available in their entirety on CD, notes CNN. The release will coincide with the issue of a Rock Band video game, in which fans will get to play along. More»

Now at Christie's; may fetch $11K

(NEWSER) - Looks like the stars were aligned for Ringo. A 1960 letter written by Paul McCartney sought a drummer for the Beatles two years before Starr joined the Fab Four. The note was discovered folded into a book at a Liverpool yard sale, the AP reports. It was a response to an ad placed by a drummer looking for a band. In the missive, McCartney offered the drummer—whose identity remains unknown—an audition. More»

Even so, his latest album is available on it

(NEWSER) - “The Internet is the most dangerous thing invented since the atomic bomb,” according to rocker John Mellencamp. “It's destroyed the music business. It's going to destroy the movie business,” and it could lead “some smart people, the China-Russians or something,” to conquer us by hacking our power grid or financial system. He made the dire warnings while promoting his latest album…which was released in stores as well as, yes, on the Internet, Reuters reports . More»

Yes, they're mostly by George

(NEWSER) - Sam Greenspan admits he had a little trouble with this list for his 11 Points blog , but he toughed it out and came up with the best 11 Beatles songs written by Ringo Starr or George Harrison. The top five:

1. "Something" (George): "Arguably his best lyrics, melody and vocal performance all coming together on one track ."
2. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (George): On the other hand, this could have been No. 1, too.