The Beatles once asked us if we’d still need them when they’re 64. Only two of them made it that far. We still need Paul McCartney. We still smile at Ringo. But with George Harrison and John Lennon gone, the best we can get from them is reissues and remixes of their timeless work. In time for what would be his 70th birthday in October, the ex-Beatles’ solo albums are to be remastered and released.
Nearly 30 years after Lennon’s untimely murder, on Dec. 8th, 1980, a 11-CD John Lennon Signature Box set will be released, packed with new editions of his studio efforts, according to the LA Times. Additionally, Capitol and EMI are putting out a four-CD Gimme Some Truth box set with “thematically linked songs on each disc and a 15-song compilation Power to the People: The Hits.
What’s more, Lenonon’s last album, 1980’s Double Fantasy, will be completely stripped down, remixed and remastered. They estimate it will be similar to the treatment given to The Beatles’ album Let It Be…Naked which was a cleaned up version, with Phil Spector’s trademark wall of sound taken off. Reactions to that album were mixed, but Yoko Ono insists this album is worth the remix.
In a statement, Yoko Ono said,
“Double Fantasy Stripped Down really allows us to focus on John’s amazing vocals. It was [while] working on the new version of this album that I was hit hardest emotionally, as this was the last album John released before his passing.”
All of the releases will be available on CD as well as digitally on October 5th in North America and October 4th for the rest of the world. No word on whether the releases will also be out on vinyl, or whether bonus tracks will be released for the original albums. We imagine they’ll have bonus tracks. We still need John at 70.
