One disc isn't enough to do justice to the Beatles catalogue, four discs are too much for a 'best of' compilation for casual fans. So there really should be a good double CD with all the best known songs.

Quoted from Joost

One disc isn't enough to do justice to the Beatles catalogue, four discs are too much for a 'best of' compilation for casual fans. So there really should be a good double CD with all the best known songs.

That's true. I really think someday will be out a good double-album with all the Beatles hits. That will be one of the next big Beatles releases out there. I'm sure. I wish it would include tracks not found on the Red or Blue albums, as "Twist And Shout", "Here There And Everywhere" or "Got To Get You Into My Life". And of course "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love".

Quoted from wingsman

That's true. I really think someday will be out a good double-album with all the Beatles hits. That will be one of the next big Beatles releases out there. I'm sure. I wish it would include tracks not found on the Red or Blue albums, as "Twist And Shout", "Here There And Everywhere" or "Got To Get You Into My Life". And of course "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love".

Makes you wonder what little gimmick they'll dredge up next. I fully expect the red and blue not to be re-issued, but for Apple to come up with some other concept to persuade us to part with our money.

Quoted from BlueMeanie

Makes you wonder what little gimmick they'll dredge up next. I fully expect the red and blue not to be re-issued, but for Apple to come up with some other concept to persuade us to part with our money.

If I could be bothered I'd love to make a little compilation of Beatle country songs. Opening with "What Goes on" which I really quite like. And a rare congratulations to George for his fine guitar work. It really suited him.
I think too it's something a tribute band could mine. (especially since everything else seems to be taken.)

You know what? The total running time of the four Red Album/Blue Album discs combined is less than 163 minutes... So if you'd delete one or two songs, that whole set could be released as one double CD...

Quoted from Joost

You know what? The total running time of the four Red Album/Blue Album discs combined is less than 163 minutes... So if you'd delete one or two songs, that whole set could be released as one double CD...

That was one of the big complaints about those sets when they were released on CD in 1993. With a running time of about sixty minutes, there was simply no reason to issue the red album as a double set. As you say, both sets could have been included in one two-disc package with a couple of deletions, and that would have made a quite decent album.

Without a doubt the blue album turned me into a Beatles fan, then the red.  It's hard to quibble with the songs that were chosen, they pretty well chose themselves.  Back in the day, when the records came out (1973), a double album was necessary because of the constraints of vinyl.  Sure they overpriced the CD's for years but these two were worth the money.  Rock and Roll Music was another pretty good double album.

Quoted from wingsman

I was introduced to the Beatles music through 1 too. To discover, buy and listen that album was a magical experience. It's like your little treasure, just 1 CD with some of the best music ever written and recorded. That's because I love it so much, because it's like a tiny piece with huge talent, work and creativity into it. And the booklet is soooooo good, I love all those colours, single covers ('Les Beatles', 'Los Beatles', hehe). The design is simply fantastic, using exclusively the Helvetica font (my favourite ever), even the George Martin introduction is beautiful.

I bought the 1 album right when it came out, and never bothered to look at the booklet!  Thanks for bringing that to my attention, I dug it out and it is pretty cool!!

As for the best though, I have to got with the red/blue.  My dad had them, and I loved listening to the red.  The 1 album is really good though for  their, well # 1's   The red and blue are good for all the rest of their stuff.  Is there really any bad Beatles songs?  Not really.  Even the songs that were not their greatest still rocked better then most other bands best stuff.

ive never owned either but without the red and blue album it would have  probably taken me a lot longer to get into The Beatles or maybe never :S used to dog school and listen to it at a listening post in Comet lol

Quoted from Geoff

That was one of the big complaints about those sets when they were released on CD in 1993. With a running time of about sixty minutes, there was simply no reason to issue the red album as a double set. As you say, both sets could have been included in one two-disc package with a couple of deletions, and that would have made a quite decent album.

They would never do that! Haha! The "Blue" and "Red" albums were really classic compilations. They deserved to be released on compact disc. And in a certain way, both deserved to be released on DOUBLE CD's. I mean, it's a shame to have the Blue one on a 2-CD beautifully blued-painted box set (I said that right?), while the Red one is on the standard jewel case. What a shame... No... I don't have these albums on CD, but I think they're so gorgeous. I mean, the Blue and Red boxes are so great! I want to buy them!

I seriously think that soon we'll see on the markets a 2-CD Beatles compilation.

Quoted from wingsman

I mean, it's a shame to have the Blue one on a 2-CD beautifully blued-painted box set (I said that right?), while the Red one is on the standard jewel case.  

I suspect the Red Album was released as a double so that it would be uniform with the Blue set. But why not give people their money's worth and add more tracks? Maybe it should have been released as a single 3-disc set with a few extras thrown in. The Rolling Stones' The London Years might have been a model here.

I voted Red+Blue--partly because they were the albums that introduced me to the Beatles' music, but also because I think they hold a better collection of the Beatles' songs.  I first saw the "1" CD in my friend's car a few years back, and after I glanced over the track listing, I just thought that it was really lacking.  But that's just me because I'm a nutty fan (and, needless to say, I let my friend borrow all my Beatles CD's so he could see other great songs he was missing out on).  No disrespect intended towards "1" fans, though!

It's funny that I'm hearing people say that they've listened to the Red album over and over and over.  I first got that album from my mom for Christmas (who wasn't really thrilled with my Beatles obsession at first, but she soon learned to tolerate it).  I listened to that album almost 24/7, basically to the point where my mom would start giving me worried looks.  I guess she couldn't really understand why I was always glued to my radio at that time.     I really loved that thing, though.  I haven't listened to it in years since getting all the Beatles' albums in full, but just thinking about the Red album brings back nice memories of growing up.

Quoted from Kevin

If I could be bothered I'd love to make a little compilation of Beatle country songs. Opening with "What Goes on" which I really quite like. And a rare congratulations to George for his fine guitar work. It really suited him.
I think too it's something a tribute band could mine. (especially since everything else seems to be taken.)

I really quite like the song, I think the harmonies (3 part + lead vocal?) are outstanding!

I must say thought that I have always been disappointed in George's playing on this song. It seems quite sloppy, like he kind of knew what he wanted to play, but hadn't really quite figured it out yet. More like a backing on a demo track IMO. He did better rockabilly guitar on any number of the songs on "Beatles at the Beeb". Just my 2c, from someone who likes George's rockabilly guitar in general!

The "Red" album was my very first Beatles' album I ever bought in 1975? I think.  But if given the choice between the three of them, it has to be the "1" cd as in it's all their number one hits.

The Red and Blue album for me.  i think it's worth the investment.  '1' misses out on gems like "Here Comes the Sun," "In My Life," "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "Strawberry Fields Forever," "Revolution," and "A Day in the Life," among others.

I do agree that it is a pity that what they could have fit into almost 2 CDs, they sold on 4.  I think a new 2CD career-spanning compilation would be a great introduction for fans...one that includes, as mentioned, a number of songs that were not included on the Red and Blue albums.

It might even be neat to include as a selling feature a Beatles version of "Now and Then."