Being a huge Beatles fan, as with certain artists, can be frustrating. Which album format (UK, US) is the "right" one? Do I need to own both?

It's almost nice to look at a collection of albums by a particular band, like, say Living Colour, and feel smug about it. I own "Vivid," "Time's Up," and "Stain" and feel pretty good about it, and when I'm in the mood I crank it up. They broke up at some point, so I don't really have to worry about my Living Colour collection anymore. It's done -- life is good.

But wait... the rumors start to circulate... they're playing out again, re-releases, updated tracks, something called "Collideoscope" is Out There... somewhere. And I must seek it out and learn if it's worth hearing.

Obsessions like this are both blessing and curse. Onward with the Beatles US.

By the way: Two weeks ago, I played The Beatles' "Things We Said Today" every day, around 10-12 times per day. Last week, it was "Baby's in Black." I suspect next up will be "The Night Before."

Like I said: blessing and curse. Amazing songs though -- they still blow my doors down.

Eric Berlin
Dumpster Bust: Miracles from Mind Trash
http://dumpsterbust.blogspot.com

Eric you fossil, I was only 4 1/2 when the Beatles were on Ed Sullivan, but I still remember my pop bitching about "those damn long haired hippies".

In my deprived childhood I was normally only allowed to listen to the C&W that my pop listened to, but every once in a while, my uncle, only 7 years older than I, would turn me onto some good ole' rock and roll! He corrupted me for life! Good guy my uncle!

Andy, I can understand how old I must seem to you since I was 5 1/2 when the Beatles came to America! The girls next door served a similar function for me as your uncle, and their enthusiasm was very infectious.

I have all these albums on vinyl, though it would be great to have them in one place on CD with the two versions of each song and the booklet

I knew you were old, but damn!

I know the feeling, I have around 300 vinyl disks packed very tightly in boxes. The problem seems to be finding needles these days, so I keep them packed tightly in hopes that when I pull them out they'll still be relatively flat!

I think I may own one or 2 Beatles 4 tracks even!

All this copyrighted material that I've paid for already and could possible get into some kind of trouble for downloading from a p2p just doesn't seem fair, but that's a story for another post.

I think it would probably have been MORE fun to experience good music with a couple of girls that were a couple of years older than me! WOOHOO!

packing your vinyl tight and upright is the best way to preserve them, and I thought those girls were pretty hot stuff indeed

Y'know.....I never liked the Beatles when I was a kid - it was all Deep Purple, Sabbath, Grand Funk and...CSNY (go figure). I didn't really appreciate the Beatles 'til I was nearly 30 years old, adn I've been a huge fan ever since - I've got everything they've released on CD, so now I guess I've got to get these stereo mixes too.

But there's supposedly still lots of outtakes and alternates - why don't they just dig deep and release a couple of 4 CD box sets and get it done with? Before Paulie & Ringo go on to the great reunion gig in the sky, anyway.

Vern, the 3 Anthologies ARE a bunch of outtakes, alternative versions, oddities and rarities - have you tried them?

And I think a lot of people who didn't actually grow up in that era don't come around to the Beatles until later - you are not alone!