‘I passed a record store that had a window display showing two ‘new’ Beatles albums – one with a red cover, the other a blue cover. On the red album were the four Beatles in their young mop-top days, and on the blue album, in exactly the same pose, were the bearded hippy Beatles that my mother had warned me about. Needless to say, I blew my double aircraft money on those two double albums and got back on the train with what, I came to learn later, were the most wonderful songs I’ve ever heard, tucked under my arm.’
– Peter Jackson in introduction ‘Get Back: The Book’

Now this article is a bit overtaken by time. Its purpose was to create alternative versions of the Beatles’ famous Red and Blue Albums: the ultimate compilations of their work. My feeling was that although they were great albums, many of my favorite songs were missing. My thesis was that I could create two albums that were just as good using the apparent B-songs only. And of course I was correct; the output of the Beatles is so brilliant that you can never capture this with just two albums.

The idea was good, but then last year, simultaneously with the release of Now and Then, Apple Corps also released new versions of these two albums featuring many songs I have included on these alternative compilations. I decided to publish the track listings anyway. These ‘albums’ can be found on Spotify as playlists.

The Yellow Album (1962 – 1965)

What Beatles fans might notice is that unlike the Red Album, this compilation only goes to 1965 and excludes ‘Revolver’. I figured this would be a better split for two reasons:
– 1962 till 1965 covers the Beatlemania years with ‘Rubber Soul’ (1965) being the transition albums between Beatlemania and the studio years.
– It gave me the chance to open both compilations with a 1, 2, 3, 4 countdown. The one from ‘Please Please Me’ sounds pretty ‘live’ and the ‘Revolver’ one sounds more studio-like.

I am happy with the track listing of the Yellow Album. Yes, the well known A-sides are missing, but look at the sheer quality of the tracks it does have: I Saw Her Standing There, I Should Have Known Better, If I Fell, You Can’t Do That, I’m A Loser, I’ve Just Seen A Face, If I Needed Someone, I’m Down… In any other band, these would be their absolute best songs.

Track Listing

1. I Saw Her Standing There
2. Do You Want To Know a Secret
3. I’ll Get You
4. This Boy
5. Hold Me Tight
6. Little Child
7. It Won’t Be Long
8. I Should Have Known Better
9. If I Fell
10. I’m Happy Just To Dance With You
11. When I Get Home
12. You Can’t Do That
13. I’ll Follow The Sun
14. No Reply
15. I’m A Loser
16. What You’re Doing
17. The Night Before
18. Tell Me What You See
19. I’ve Just Seen A Face
20. You Won’t See Me
21. Run For Your Life
22. What Goes On
23. Wait
24. If I Needed Someone
25. I Call Your Name
26. I’m Down

The Green Album (1966 – 1970)

The green album, I think, is an even more amazing compilation. It might even beat the Blue Album in my humble opinion. Compare for example the output from ‘Sgt. Peppers’ on the two compilations. Yes, A Day In The Life on the Blue Album is most likely John’s masterpiece, but the album doesn’t include Fixing a Hole, She’s Leaving Home and Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!, three of my all time favorite Beatles songs.

Other absolute classics that are included: Here, There And Everywhere, And Your Bird Can Sing, Tomorrow Never Knows, Dear Prudence, Happiness Is A Warm Gun, Blackbird, Because, Golden Slumbers… I mean, it’s kind of ridiculous really…

Track Listing

1. Taxman
2. Here, There And Everywhere
3. And Your Bird Can Sing
4. For No One
5. Tomorrow Never Knows
6. Getting Better
7. Fixing A Hole
8. She’s Leaving Home
9. Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!
10. Your Mother Should Know
11. Baby, You’re A Rich Man
12. Dear Prudence
13. Happiness Is A Warm Gun
14. Martha My Dear
15. Blackbird
16. Birthday
17. Sexy Sadie
18. Julia
19. Two Of Us
20. One After 909
21. Dig A Pony
22. I Me Mine
23. Maxwell’s Silver Hammer
24. Oh! Darling
25. Because
26. Golden Slumbers
27. Carry That Weight
28. The End

Read also: The White Album Compressed