Rarities is the name of two separate and unrelated compilation albums by the English rock band the Beatles. The first was released in the United Kingdom in December 1978, while the second album was issued in the United States in March 1980.
Rarities | ||||
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Compilation album by | ||||
Released | 2 December 1978 | |||
Recorded | 1963–1969, EMI Studios, London; Pathé Marconi Studios, Paris; HMV Studios, Bombay | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 43:29 | |||
Label | Parlophone | |||
Producer | George Martin | |||
The Beatles British chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [2] |
Rarities is a British compilation album featuring a selection of songs by the Beatles. The album was originally released as part of The Beatles Collection, a boxed set featuring the 12 original Beatles studio albums, but was later issued individually. The album has never been issued on CD, but all of the tracks are available on the double CD compilation album Past Masters.
Rarities was conceived to include lesser-known songs that were not included on any other original Beatles album. These included B-sides of singles, two German-language recordings, the tracks from an EP with exclusive material, a song recorded for the American market and a version of "Across the Universe" that had previously appeared on a World Wildlife Fund charity record.
The selections chosen are tracks which have not appeared on any of the original British Beatles albums (that is, the albums included in The Beatles Collection). The career-spanning compilations 1962–1966 and 1967–1970, and the Magical Mystery Tour LP (which was originally only released in the US), would all be necessary for the collector wishing to acquire every song in the entire Beatles official catalogue; however, still missing would be the original single version of "Love Me Do". This track, which went out of print in late 1963, was not available anywhere until its inclusion on the 1980 Capitol Records compilation album Rarities. In 1982, the original recording of "Love Me Do" was finally reissued in Britain on a 12" single.
Rarities was released on 2 November 1978 in the United Kingdom, as part of The Beatles Collection boxed set. Due to popular demand, the Rarities album was issued separately on 12 October 1979, in the UK.
All songs written by Lennon–McCartney except where indicated. All songs are in mono unless indicated as stereo.
The unique US pressing of Rarities included in the American limited-edition numbered boxed set of The Beatles Collection contained "I Want to Hold Your Hand" rather than "Komm Gib Mir Deine Hand", and "She Loves You" rather than "Sie Liebt Dich".
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Rarities | ||||
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Compilation album by | ||||
Released | 24 March 1980 | |||
Recorded | 1962–1969 at EMI Studios, London, Pathé Marconi Studio, Paris; HMV Studios, Bombay | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 41:04 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Producer | George Martin | |||
The Beatles American chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [5] |
Christgau's Record Guide | C+[6] |
The Rolling Stone Record Guide | [7] |
Rarities is a compilation album released by Capitol Records in North America, featuring a selection of songs by the Beatles. The album was inspired by an earlier compilation of the same name which was released as part of The Beatles Collection box set. Most of the tracks on the Beatles Collection disc titled Rarities were already available on American Beatles LPs. As a result, Capitol assembled an album of Beatles tracks that were considered rare in America. They include tracks not previously issued on a Capitol or Apple LP and alternative versions of several well-known songs which were also not readily available in America. A highlight of the album was the gatefold sleeve featuring the controversial "butcher" photo from the 1966 Yesterday and Today album.
Although the Capitol Rarities album was geared towards the American market, it was also issued in several other countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Japan and New Zealand. The Rarities album has not been released on compact disc. All but three of the tracks were subsequently made available on other Beatles CDs,[8] such as the Beatles' 2009 mono and stereo box sets.
After the album was released in 1980, Paul McCartney stated that it was "quite good".[9]
All songs written by Lennon–McCartney except where noted.
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