Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The Beatles to release new album of rarities 'On Air – Live at the BBC Volume 2'

The record, out in November, features ten previously unreleased songs by the Fab Four

Adam Sherwin
Thursday 12 September 2013 13:48 BST
Comments

A new Beatles album, featuring unreleased recordings and studio banter from the Fab Four’s sessions for a variety of BBC radio programmes, will be released in November.

On Air – Live at the BBC Volume 2, a sequel to the 1994 compilation Live At The BBC, features ten songs which the band never recorded for their record label EMI during the 60s.

The rarities include a live-to-air performance of Chuck Berry’s “I’m Talking About You” and a cover of the standard “Beautiful Dreamer.”

The 63 tracks include 37 previously unreleased performances. Of equal interest to fans will be 23 previously unreleased recordings of studio conversation between the band’s members and their BBC radio hosts, including Brian Matthew and Alan Freeman, which demonstrate the Liverpool band’s famously sharp wit.

Sir Paul McCartney said of the recordings: “There’s a lot of energy and spirit. We are going for it, not holding back at all, trying to put in the best performance of our lifetimes.”

The Beatles enjoyed a close relationship with the BBC, using the airtime offered to develop their live performances. Between March 1962 and June 1965, 275 unique musical performances by The Beatles were broadcast by the BBC. The group played songs on 39 radio shows in 1963 alone.

Sir Paul said: “We’d been raised on the BBC radio programmes. One of the big things in our week was Saturday Club – this great show was playing the kind of music we loved, so that was something we really aspired to.”

The Beatles perform live on stage in front of a circular lit backdrop at the BBC TV Centre in 1966 (Getty Images)

The album includes The Beatles’ tribute to the BBC’s most important pop show of the early ’60s – “Happy Birthday, Dear Saturday Club”.

On Air also includes different versions of 30 Beatles classics including I Saw Her Standing There and cover versions of Ray Charles’ “I Got A Woman,” and two songs they learned from Carl Perkins, “Glad All Over” and “Sure To Fall.”

Amazon Music logo

Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music

Sign up now for a 30-day free trial

Sign up
Amazon Music logo

Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music

Sign up now for a 30-day free trial

Sign up

On Air – Live at the BBC Volume 2 will be released in a special 180-gram vinyl package with a 48-page booklet as well as on CD and download. Live At The BBC sold 5 million copies and has also been remastered for reissue.

The Beatles in shiny suits at a BBC studio, holding drummer Ringo Starr upside down to give him 'the bumps' the day after his 24th birthday in 1964 (Getty Images)

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in