Album Description
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PAST MASTERS VOLUME TWO is a compilation of singles, B-sides and other tracks that did not appear on the Beatles' original British albums. The Beatles as a general rule did not include their singles on their albums in the UK.
PAST MASTERS VOLUME TWO is available with PAST MASTERS VOLUME ONE on one cassette on Parlophone (91135).
The Beatles: John Lennon (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, percussion, sound effects): George Harrison (vocals, guitar); Paul McCartney (vocals, piano, bass, drums, maracas, sound effects); Ringo Starr (drums).
Additional personnel includes: Brian Jones (saxophone); Nicky Hopkins (piano); Billy Preston (organ); Mal Evans (sound effects).
Producer: George Martin.
Compilation producer: Mark Lewisohn.
Recorded between October 16, 1965 and January 4, 1970. Includes liner notes by Mark Lewisohn.
All tracks are stereo except "You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)."
Along with its sister volume, PAST MASTERS 2 gathers singles, oddities and B-sides together and saves the dedicated Beatlemaniac considerable time and money hunting down this uncommon material. Like the "Blue Album," VOLUME TWO covers the second half of the Beatles career from 1965 to 1970. During this time period, the Fab Four stopped touring and focused their energies on studio recordings. The results included some of the Beatles' more experimental forays, like their first use of backwards tape ("Rain") and the breaking of the singles time barrier ("Hey Jude").
There are alternate versions of well-known songs ("Get Back," "Across The Universe"), and songs influenced by Fats Domino ("Lady Madonna") and Indian culture ("The Inner Light"). The most unusual tune included on this collection is "You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)." This highly unusual recording was started in May 1967 and shelved before getting completed in November 1969. The result was an avant-cabaret number conceived by John Lennon, featuring mumbled vocals, Brian Jones' saxophone playing and sound effects replicating the inside of an after-hours club.
