Beatlemania is set to break out again this week when The Beatles' digitally remastered albums and a new computer game are released as the world's most famous pop group finally embraces the digital age.

The legendary British quartet's entire back catalogue has been remastered and cleaned up, while the Fab Four appear in 'The Beatles: Rock Band', which is tipped to become one of the world's biggest selling games.

The Beatles' company, Apple Corps, has historically shunned releasing their music in digital formats due to piracy concerns.

But 'Rock Band' players will be able to download entire albums in the coming months as the 1960s icons catch up with 21st century technology.

The Beatles' back catalogue was first released on compact disc in 1987, though many fans felt the sound quality did not match the original vinyl, while technological advances since then have highlighted flaws and imperfections.

The new versions, to be released on Wednesday, include the group's 12 albums, plus the 'Magical Mystery Tour' soundtrack and the 'Past Masters' releases covering non-album singles.

Some are tipping them to dominate the charts around the globe.

Two box sets are also being released: one in stereo and the other in mono.

The albums are those released in Britain, and retain the original artwork and track listings.

It is the first time that the group's first four albums — 'Please Please Me', 'With The Beatles', 'A Hard Day's Night' and 'Beatles for Sale' — have been released on compact disc entirely in stereo.

Cleaned up

The albums were digitally remastered over a four-year period at Abbey Road Studios in London, where The Beatles — lead guitarist George Harrison, rhythm guitarist John Lennon, bassist Paul McCartney and drummer Ringo Starr — recorded most of their music.

The remasters were done "utilising state of the art recording technology alongside vintage studio equipment, carefully maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the original analogue recordings," Apple Corps and record label EMI said.

"The result of this painstaking process is the highest fidelity the catalogue has seen since its original release."

"It was agreed that electrical clicks, microphone vocal pops, excessive sibilance and bad edits should be improved where possible, so long as it didn't impact on the original integrity of the songs," they said.

De-noising technology was only used for less than five of The Beatles' 525 minutes of music.

To mark the event, the BBC is running a Beatles Week, with programmes examining the band in the studio, their first visit to the United States, their impact in the former Soviet Union and the Beatlemania phenomenon. The broadcasts feature previously unreleased out-takes and studio chat.

› Going virtual: the game - on page 2!

AFP

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