Anthology 3 is a compilation album by the Beatles, released on 28 October 1996[8] by Apple Records as part of The Beatles Anthology series. The album includes rarities and alternative tracks from the final two years of the band's career, ranging from the initial sessions for The Beatles (better known as "the White Album") to the last sessions for Let It Be and Abbey Road in 1969 and early 1970. It is the last in a trilogy of albums with Anthology 1 and Anthology 2, all of which tie in with the televised special The Beatles Anthology.

Anthology 3
Compilation album by
Released28 October 1996 (1996-10-28)
Recorded28 May 1968 – 3 January 1970 (except 22 February 1967 for the final chord of "A Day in the Life")
StudioEMI Studios and Apple Studios, London
GenreRock
Length145:33
LabelApple, Capitol
ProducerGeorge Martin
The Beatles chronology
Anthology 2
(1996)
Anthology 3
(1996)
Yellow Submarine Songtrack
(1999)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Robert Christgau(choice cut)[2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[3]
Entertainment WeeklyB[4]
MusicHound3/5[5]
Q[4]
Rolling Stone[6]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[7]

The album was certified 3× Platinum by the RIAA and was the group's third double album in a row to reach number one on the US charts, equalling a record set by Donna Summer in the 1970s.

The Anthology albums were remastered and made available digitally on the iTunes Store on 14 June 2011, individually and as part of the Anthology Box Set.

Content

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Following "Free as a Bird" on Anthology 1 and "Real Love" on Anthology 2, a third John Lennon solo demo entitled "Now and Then" was to be reworked by the three surviving members of The Beatles (George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr) for Anthology 3. However, this project was shelved due to Harrison's dislike of the quality of the song recording. McCartney later stated that Harrison called Lennon's demo recording "fucking rubbish".[9] McCartney told Q Magazine in 1997 that "George didn't like it. The Beatles being a democracy, we didn't do it."[10] The song would eventually be finished and released in 2023.[11] In its place is "A Beginning", an orchestral instrumental track by the band's producer George Martin, initially intended for the White Album as the intro to "Don't Pass Me By".

Connecting to the previous Anthology albums, the cover image painted by Klaus Voormann features a collage of Beatles-related imagery designed to appear as a wall of peeling posters and album covers. An updated picture of Voormann can be seen in Harrison's hair in a segment of the Revolver album cover.

Track listing

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CD release

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All tracks in stereo, except where noted.

All tracks are written by Lennon–McCartney, except where noted

Disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)Recording date and locationLength
1."A Beginning" (instrumental)George Martin22 July 1968 EMI Studios, London, UK0:50
2."Happiness Is a Warm Gun" (home demo; mono) 28 May 1968 Kinfauns, Esher, UK2:15
3."Helter Skelter" (Take 2 edited; mono) 18 July 1968 EMI Studios4:38
4."Mean Mr. Mustard" (home demo) 29 May 1968 Kinfauns1:58
5."Polythene Pam" (home demo) 29 May 1968 Kinfauns1:26
6."Glass Onion" (home demo) 28 May 1968 Kinfauns1:51
7."Junk" (home demo)Paul McCartney28 May 1968 Kinfauns2:25
8."Piggies" (home demo; mono)George Harrison28 May 1968 Kinfauns2:01
9."Honey Pie" (home demo) 28 May 1968 Kinfauns1:19
10."Don't Pass Me By" (Takes 3 & 5)Richard Starkey5–6 June 1968 EMI Studios2:42
11."Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" (Take 5) 3–5 July 1968 EMI Studios2:56
12."Good Night" (rehearsal & Take 34) 28 June & 22 July 1968 EMI Studios2:38
13."Cry Baby Cry" (Take 1) 16 July 1968 EMI Studios2:46
14."Blackbird" (Take 4) 11 June 1968 EMI Studios2:19
15."Sexy Sadie" (Take 6) 19 July 1968 EMI Studios4:07
16."While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (demo)Harrison25 July 1968 EMI Studios3:28
17."Hey Jude" (Take 2) 29 July 1968 EMI Studios4:21
18."Not Guilty" (Take 102)Harrison8–9 & 12 August 1968 EMI Studios3:22
19."Mother Nature's Son" (Take 2) 9 August 1968 EMI Studios3:17
20."Glass Onion" (original mono mix) 11–13, 16 & 26 September 1968 EMI Studios2:08
21."Rocky Raccoon" (Take 8) 15 August 1968 EMI Studios4:13
22."What's the New Mary Jane" (Take 4) 14 August 1968 & 26 November 1969 EMI Studios6:12
23."Step Inside Love / Los Paranoias" (jam)Lennon–McCartney / John Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, Starkey16 September 1968 EMI Studios2:31
24."I'm So Tired" (Takes 3, 6 & 9) 8 October 1968 EMI Studios2:14
25."I Will" (Take 1) 16 September 1968 EMI Studios1:55
26."Why Don't We Do It in the Road?" (Take 4; mono) 9 October 1968 EMI Studios2:15
27."Julia" (Take 2) 13 October 1968 EMI Studios1:58
Total length:74:05
Disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)Recording date and locationLength
1."I've Got a Feeling" (Savile Row sessions) 23 January 1969 Apple Studio, Savile Row, London2:49
2."She Came In Through the Bathroom Window" (Savile Row sessions) 22 January 1969 Apple Studio3:37
3."Dig a Pony" (Savile Row sessions) 22 January 1969 Apple Studio4:18
4."Two of Us" (Savile Row sessions) 24 January 1969 Apple Studio3:27
5."For You Blue" (Savile Row sessions)Harrison25 January 1969 Apple Studio2:23
6."Teddy Boy" (Savile Row sessions)McCartney24 & 28 January 1969 Apple Studio3:18
7."Medley: Rip It Up / Shake, Rattle and Roll / Blue Suede Shoes" (Savile Row sessions)Robert Blackwell, John Marascalco / Charles Calhoun / Carl Perkins26 January 1969 Apple Studio3:11
8."The Long and Winding Road" (Savile Row sessions; master track with Phil Spector alterations removed) 26 January 1969 Apple Studio3:42
9."Oh! Darling" (Savile Row sessions) 27 January 1969 Apple Studio4:07
10."All Things Must Pass" (demo)Harrison25 February 1969 EMI Studios3:05
11."Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues" (Savile Row sessions)Ruth Roberts, Bill Katz, Stanley Clayton29 January 1969 Apple Studio1:56
12."Get Back" (Live at the Beatles' rooftop concert) 30 January 1969 Apple Building rooftop, Savile Row3:09
13."Old Brown Shoe" (demo)Harrison25 February 1969 EMI Studios3:03
14."Octopus's Garden" (Takes 2 & 8)Starkey26 April 1969 EMI Studios2:49
15."Maxwell's Silver Hammer" (Take 5) 9 July 1969 EMI Studios3:50
16."Something" (demo; mono)Harrison25 February 1969 EMI Studios3:19
17."Come Together" (Take 1) 21 July 1969 EMI Studios3:40
18."Come and Get It" (demo by McCartney)McCartney24 July 1969 EMI Studios2:30
19."Ain't She Sweet" (jam)Milton Ager, Jack Yellen24 July 1969 EMI Studios2:08
20."Because" (a cappella) 4 August 1969 EMI Studios2:24
21."Let It Be" (Savile Row sessions) 25 January 1969 Apple Studio4:05
22."I Me Mine" (Take 16)Harrison3 January 1970 EMI Studios1:48
23."The End" (remix featuring final chord of "A Day in the Life") 22 February 1967; 23 July; 5, 7–8, 15 & 18 August 1969 EMI Studios2:53
Total length:71:31

Vinyl release

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Cassette release

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Charts

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Certifications and sales

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Certifications and sales for Anthology 3
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[34] Gold 35,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[35] 2× Platinum 200,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[36] Gold 181,000[30]
United Kingdom (BPI)[37] Platinum 300,000
United States (RIAA)[38] 3× Platinum 1,500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Anthology 3 at AllMusic
  2. ^ "CG: The Beatles". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  3. ^ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.
  4. ^ a b "The Beatles – Anthology 3 CD Album" > "Product Reviews". CD Universe/Muze. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  5. ^ Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel, eds. (1999). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide (2nd edn). Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink Press. p. 88. ISBN 1-57859-061-2.
  6. ^ "The Beatles: The Beatles Anthology: 3". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 31 October 2009. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  7. ^ "The Beatles: Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 20 September 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  8. ^ "BPI".
  9. ^ YouTube video: "The Last Lennon/McCartney Song? (Now And Then)."
  10. ^ Q Magazine, 1997
  11. ^ "The Beatles' 'Last Song,' 'Now and Then,' Is Set for Release, Along With Expanded, Remix-Filled 'Red' and 'Blue' Hits Collections". Variety. 26 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  12. ^ "Australiancharts.com – The Beatles – Anthology III". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  13. ^ "Austriancharts.at – The Beatles – Anthology III" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  14. ^ "Ultratop.be – The Beatles – Anthology III" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  15. ^ "Ultratop.be – The Beatles – Anthology III" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  16. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2938". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  17. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Beatles – Anthology III" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  18. ^ "The Beatles: Anthology III" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  19. ^ "Lescharts.com – The Beatles – Anthology III". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  20. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Beatles – Anthology III" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  21. ^ "History" (in Italian). FIMI. Retrieved 31 May 2022. Set "Ricerca per" on "Titolo", then search "Anthology 3" and click "Classifiche".
  22. ^ "ザ・ビートルズ・アンソロジー3/ザ・ビートルズ-リリース-ORICON STYLE-ミュージック" [Highest position and charting weeks of Anthology 2 by The Beatles]. oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  23. ^ "Charts.nz – The Beatles – Anthology III". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  24. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – The Beatles – Anthology III". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  25. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – The Beatles – Anthology III". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  26. ^ "Swisscharts.com – The Beatles – Anthology III". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  27. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  28. ^ "The Beatles Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  29. ^ "RPM Year End Top 100 Albums". RPM. 16 December 1996. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  30. ^ a b Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  31. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1996". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  32. ^ "Billboard.BIZ - Year-end Charts - Billboard 200 - 1996".
  33. ^ "Billboard.BIZ - Year-end Charts - Billboard 200 - 1997".
  34. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1996 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  35. ^ "Canadian album certifications – The Beatles – Anthology 3". Music Canada. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  36. ^ "Japanese album certifications – ザ・ビートルズ – アンドロジー3" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 21 July 2022. Select 1996年11月 on the drop-down menu
  37. ^ "British album certifications – The Beatles – Anthology 3". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  38. ^ "American album certifications – Beatles, The – Anthology 3". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 15 September 2013.