Album Review 221 - The Beatles - Rarities (UK Version)

In today's video, we chat about the UK version of the b-sides/singles/hard to find collection that once was part of the larger Beatles Collection box set a year earlier. What do you think of this thing?

Instagram: giggens_

[alwaysamysteryyes]

I had already had the American version and knew this existed, but didnt know much about it when a guy i used to hang out with showed up at my house with it. It was totally random some time in the past 10-15. Ironically we were having a party for my daughter and he walks up and im like "whaaa??" But then i look and see he had this, the US version and the bootleg Nothing is Real in his hand. All his old copies for me. Quite a nice surprise!

[MsTimothyswan]

an overall excellent compilation. felt that this album should have been released officially on CD by EMI. it represents a collectors item with some fine rock and roll to boot

[kirkfabrin]

Hey giggens.
I've never even seen this one before! Will have to look out for it...
Love the b sides....
The past masters cds are great, wish I could get them on vinyl!

[raymondgill]

Had this when it came out for novelty /completeness. I have always thought that if you draw a venn diagram of The Beatles/The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band/ Monty Python you would find in the overlap You Know My Name and Mr. Slater's Parrot along with much else like His Name is Legs, Penny Lane and The Equestrian Statue of course Apollo C Vermouth had a bare foot in both camps.

[ronfowlermusic]

Time for another Paul Revere and the Raiders review! I used to have this album, but parted with it when I moved ...hard to do, but us collector sometimes have to make some tough choices.

[chrisrainbow]

Hi Giggens,
I agree, not much thought has gone into this album and the track listing doesnt flow at all. A sort of throw together to make money i feel, although, as you say, its good to have these songs in one place.
Great T shirt man, i have one the same. what a great cover that album was.

[timallen]

Hey Giggens, one thing about this album is the UK mixes were usually a bit different and better than the US mixes, so at the time it was very nice to have, although not nearly as essential to Americans as the US Rarities album. I still think the tracks sound better here than on my original US 1987 Vinyl copy of Past Masters. It's worth having. Take care...

[andrewridge]

It was cool to get this LP in 1979, although I never play it now, as it was rendered redundant by “Past Masters”.
I rather like the non-chronological sequencing. It’s utterly weird to have the fading Indian instruments of “The Inner Light” followed the “Oh yeah” intro of “I’ll Get You”. When I hear “The Inner Light” even now, my mind’s ear imagines the “oh yeah”s coming next.
Have you ever reviewed The Beach Boys’ “Rarities” LP from 1983?
Assorted expanded reissues and archive releases have also rendered this album almost unnecessary, but again it was a boon at the time. I had never heard the brilliant Dennis B-side, “Celebrate The News” until then.
It also contained an alternative assembly of “Good Vibrations”, which hinted at the richness of different versions, yet to be released at that time.

[TomCwimpRock]

I bought this album back in the day to complete my collection and hated it, lol.. I felt that it had no flow whatsoever, and just wasn’t conducive to actual listening. And the unimaginative cover perfectly reflected the overall joyless experience. I had it for probably six months and sold it and never missed it - how’s that for a snarky comment, lol - nice video though.