Description

Along with Rooftop, other huge bestsellers, including various “GET BACK” album-related releases, are also making a comeback this week. “GET BACK: WBCN ACETATE DEFINITIVE EDITION” features acetate recordings made during the album’s production that eventually made their way to American radio stations, and unlike previous releases, the acetate noise has been cleaned and naturalized. Furthermore, “GET BACK: GLYN JOHNS 1969 & 1970 MIX,” which was completed twice but ultimately shelved, is another best-seller and sold out due to its easy-to-understand coupling of the lost album in its best possible form.

　Naturally, these two albums have been requested to be reissued, which is why they are being released this time. However, this is more than just a reissue; it has been reborn as a comprehensive four-disc set that includes even more material related to the previously unreleased album “GET BACK.” Let’s take a look at the changes and additions to each of the four discs.

　Let’s start with the first disc. The main focus is a reissue of the “WBCN ACETATE DEFINITIVE EDITION” mentioned earlier. Its exceptional clarity, unprecedented removal of acetate noise while maintaining extremely low equalization, has earned it acclaim from enthusiasts worldwide. This acetate is a rough mix, so to speak, made on January 30th (Rooftop Day!) towards the end of the Get Back sessions. Glyn Johns, who played a more significant role in the “GET BACK” project than George Martin, selected potential album tracks from the countless Beatles recordings up to that point and compiled them into an album-length compilation on the 26th and 27th. This was before the final session on the 31st, and the loose take from the 26th was used for “Let It Be.” The mixes of the tracks included on the Get Back album are also different.

　Following this acetate is another acetate, also made on the 30th. This one features selected takes from the loose but exciting session on the 26th that could potentially be used on the album, and is characterized by a large number of covers. Based on a Sunday session, the acetate label reads “Beatles Sunday.” However, this acetate has been circulating as a recording that appears to have been copied from the tape stage before being engraved onto the disc. It’s puzzling that the sound quality is mono, but it’s likely that this was converted to mono during dubbing by a member or staff member who requested a tape copy rather than acetate.

This was first discovered during the LP era, when John’s high-energy “I’ve Got A Feeling” and the lengthy “Dig It” were unearthed, and later released in full length on Yellow Dog’s nostalgic “CELLULOID ROCK.” The title of this recording comes from “GET BACK: JOHN BARRETT’S REEL,” which contained an upgraded version of the same material. Contrary to the title, the recording contains material unrelated to John Barrett, a familiar name to enthusiasts. Even without worrying about the complex sound source situation, the mono recording is exceptionally clear and the instruments are well balanced, making it a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

This release also includes precise pitch correction. The previously released version of “I’ve Got A Feeling” featured a noticeable crackling noise at the louder sections, but this issue has been thoroughly fixed. Oldies covers like “Miss Ann/Kansas City/Lawdy Miss Clawdy,” seen in the film “Let It Be,” are also included here in their complete, unedited versions. While a snippet of the same performance of “Dig It” can be heard, it seems likely that the tape used for the “Beatles Sunday” acetate actually contained two mixes of the song, and that this snippet was a remnant of one being cut during copying to the mono tape.

The second disc may be the highlight of this four-disc set. It features a pressing of “OPD,” one of the earliest Beatles bootlegs, originally included as a bonus CD-R with the release of “WBCN Acetate.” This LP, truly a mega-rare item, is recorded in its best possible condition on the aforementioned bonus CD-R. While pressings have been released on CD before, the CD-R version was a best-transfer version circulated only among traders, not via the Internet or MP3. Remasters Workshop also distributed this LP as a file, but the sound quality of this CD-R is undoubtedly superior. The difference is clear, with the Remasters Workshop version sounding flat.

For that reason, there were voices from enthusiasts saying, “It’s a waste to have this as a bonus, rather it should be a press CD.” We thought that this reissue was a good timing to record it on a press CD, and finally the promotion from CD-R will be realized. The sound quality is exactly real vintage.

The contents are also extremely valuable, including a longer version of “Dig It” and a reprise of “Get Back,” which set it apart from other notable “Get Back” bootlegs that appeared later. This LP originated from a radio broadcast on WKBW, making it an important item as evidence that different acetates were distributed to different stations. Furthermore, while the three “Get Back” bootlegs that followed—”Kum Back,” “Get Back to Toronto,” and the Lemon Records release—were all stereo recordings, this one is recorded in mono, further elevating its vintage appeal. While this mono recording only captures the left channel of the stereo mix, the WKBW broadcast apparently only had the left channel, suggesting this may have been an error during acetate production.

Of the three, only Lemon Records, a slightly later arrival, copied “One After 909” and “Dig It” from “OPD” to enrich the content, which speaks to the valuable content of this LP. And what’s more, it’s fascinating to be able to listen to this ultimate antique in Beatles bootleg history on a pressed CD.

The second half of this disc features various remixes of John Barrett’s recordings, which first surfaced 20 years ago and caused a sensation. This time, the source material is MasterJedi’s “BARE IT ALL,” widely regarded as the best remastered version available online. All of these are stereo and offer exceptionally clear sound quality, and the inclusion of Phil Spector’s remix of Paul’s “Teddy Boy” for “LET IT BE” is particularly valuable.

The third and fourth albums again feature the best remasters of “GET BACK” from each era, with minor tweaks such as removing some noise for the reissue, but with some refinement and changes. As you’ll see, this is no mere reissue. It’s a compilation of recordings from a phantom album that never made it to release. While the content is far more comprehensive than the previous release, the “GET BACK GLYN JOHNS 1969 & 1970 MIX” album, which is simply coupled with the album itself, is a simple and extremely appealing finish, and its value remains undiminished.

Rather, this four-disc version has become the best package of “GET BACK” related sound sources that will impress any enthusiast, as can be seen from the fact that even the mega-rare “OPD” has been incorporated into the press CD. As is well known, this was an unfortunate album project that stumbled from the start as discord between Beatles members surfaced from the recording stage. The album itself will likely never be officially released in the future. Still, it is a phantom album full of rough charm. In fact, this is all there is to “GET BACK”!

Disc 1 (62:19)
Get Back Glyn Johns 1st Compilation
Glyn Johns 10th-13th March 1969 Mix

1. Get Back
2. Teddy Boy
3. Two Of Us
4. Dig A Pony
5. I’ve Got A Feeling
6. The Long And Winding Road
7. Let It Be
8. Don’t Let Me Down
9. For You Blue
10. Get Back
11. The Walk
12. I’ve Got A Feeling
13. Dig It
14. Rip It Up-Shake Rattle And Roll
15. Miss Ann/Kansas City/Lawdy Miss Clawdy
16. Blue Suede Shoes
17. You Really Got A Hold On Me

Disc 2 (67:38)
Get Back Glyn Johns 2nd Compilation
Glyn Johns Early May 1969 Mix

1. One After 909
2. Rocker
3. Save The Last Dance For Me
4. Don’t Let Me Down
5. Dig A Pony
6. I’ve Got A Feeling
7. Get Back
8. For You Blue
9. Teddy Boy
10. Two Of Us
11. Maggie Mae
12. Dig It
13. Let It Be
14. The Long And Winding Road
15. Get Back (Reprise)

Bonus Tracks

16 Teddy Boy (Glyn Johns Mix)
17 Teddy Boy (Phil Spector Mix)
18 Rip It Up / Shake Rattle And Roll (John Barrett Mix)
19 Kansas City/Miss Ann / Lawdy Miss Clawdy (John Barrett Mix)
20 Blue Suede Shoes (John Barrett Mix)
21 Cannonball / Not Fade Away/Hey Little Girl (John Barrett Mix)
22 Mailman Bring Me No More Blues (John Barrett Mix)

Disc 3 (42:56)
Get Back Glyn Johns 3rd Compilation
Glyn Johns 28th May 1969 Mix

Disc 4 (44:32)
Get Back Glyn Johns 4th Compilation
Glyn Johns 5th January 1970 Mix

1. One After 909
2. Rocker
3. Save The Last Dance For Me
4. Don’t Let Me Down
5. Dig A Pony
6. I’ve Got A Feeling
7. Get Back
8. Let It Be
9. For You Blue
10. Two Of Us
11. Maggie Mae
12. Dig It
13. The Long And Winding Road
14. I Me Mine
15. Across The Universe
16. Get Back (Reprise)