After the Beatles broke up in 1970, they individually released solo albums that were fabulous and influential, but were somewhat ignored by the general public as compared to Beatles albums.
As George Harrison saw it back then, they were still the Beatles. “I’m sure that after we’ve all completed an album or even two albums each, then that novelty will have worn off.” He outlined a future for the band. “There is a big gain by recording together… The least we could do is to sacrifice three months of the year, at least, you know, just to do an album or two.”
What if the Beatles had followed this plan, and allowed the evolution of their musical styles to come forth, but within the framework of a Beatles album? What if they used their brand to make their solo material more popular?
From this idle speculation, “Beatles Solo Fantasy – The Red Album” was born. (Not the greatest hits album with the red border around the cover — the Beatles, if they had stayed together, probably would not have put out a greatest hits album.) In the early 1970s, the Red Album could have easily been three LPs (long-playing vinyl records), like George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass — with about 25 minutes or less on each of six sides.
When you listen to these sides and pretend that it’s a Beatles album… magic occurs. It sounds and feels like a Beatles album!
Here are the sides in Apple Music/iTunes, and in Spotify:
Apple Music playlists:
Side 1 | Side 2 | Side 3 | Side 4 | Side 5 | Side 6
Spotify playlists:
George Harrison and Ringo Starr
