Apple Records Boxed Set (Rm) [Box set, Limited Edition, Original recording remastered]

Hello All,

What's included in this box is a great variety of superb music, some with much help from a Beatle or two or three; plus some appearances by Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Steven Stills, Ginger Baker, Ray Charles (!) and others. Many tracks have no hands-on Beatle help but are still excellent, highly enjoyable music. The box focuses on the large amount of fine music released by Apple Records from 1968-1974 by artists other than by the Beatles or John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr solo material. The purpose of the rest of this review is to shed a little light on what was originally released by Apple, but isn't included in this box set.

The Iveys (early Badfinger) 1992 cd "Maybe Tomorrow" and Badfinger's 2010 "Magic Christian Music" cd share 12 tracks. These 12 on "Magic Christian Music" 2010 are remixed, alternate and mono versions of the tracks from "Maybe Tomorrow". Disc 16, exclusive to this box set, contains mono versions of 'Dear Angie', 'Think About the Good Times', 'No Escaping Your Love', and 'Yesterday Ain't Coming Back'.

The 9 tracks *only* on the "Maybe Tomorrow" '92 cd are these in stereo: 'See-Saw Granpa', 'Think About the Good Times', 'Yesterday Ain't Coming Back', 'Sali Bloo', 'I've Been Waiting', 'And Her Daddy's a Millionaire' (original version, '92 mix), 'No Escaping Your Love'. In mono: 'Mrs. Jones' ('92 mix), and 'Looking For My Baby' ('92 mix). So this box set excludes *any* version of only one Ivey's song, 'Looking For My Baby'. Whew! Clear? Then explain it to me.

Mary Hopkin's Those Were the Days was also released on cd in the UK, 1995. It had some of the "pop music" songs of which Mary has made clear she was not too fond, and are not included in this box set. These songs are: 1.) 'Temma Harbour', 2.) 'Knock Knock Who's There' (both Top Five UK hits), 3.) 'Think About Your Children' (Top Twenty UK), 4.) 'Que Sera Sera'(produced by McCartney, musical contributions by McCartney & Ringo), 5.) 'Lontano degli occhi', and 6.) 'Heritage'. Also a b-side that has never made it to cd, 'I'm Going To Fall In Love Again'. The songs from this album that Mary preferred have been added as bonus tracks to Postcard and Earth Song, Ocean Song.

Allen Klein (ABKCO) apparently owned the film and soundtrack rights to EL TOPO and Come Together Soundtrack, which were released via Apple. ABKCO released "EL Topo" as a dvd/cd El Topo, El Topo Soundtrack [DVD] A Film Of Alejandro Jodorowsky. The film or soundtrack of "Come Together" remain unreleased.

Raga, Original Soundtrack LP by Ravi Shankar has been sold, licensed, or loaned to Ravi's own label, East Meets West, as part of Ravi's 90th-year reissue series. The (former?) Apple film and soundtrack have been released on dvd, Raga: A Film Journey to the Soul of India with the soundtrack additionally available as a download. The download names all the same titles as the Apple lp, and even thought the total time of the lp (38:20) and the same download tracks (38:49) are close, the different timings on some of the individual tracks vary from a few seconds to several minutes! The download adds 4 bonus tracks, 3 of which are Ravi speaking. Total download set clocks in at 49:29. The Apple double-cd Ravi Shankar & Ali Akbar Khan in Concert 1972 was issued on cd in the UK, 1996. It may also appear later on Ravi's label, though as of April 2012, it has not been issued. Two new East Meets West Ravi albums have been announced, neither ever on Apple.

Yoko Ono reissued her four Apple albums - "Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band", "Fly", "Approximately Infinite Universe", "Feeling The Space" - and three Apple albums with John Lennon: "Unfinished Music 1: Two Virgins"; "Unfinished Music #2: Life With The Lions" (on Zapple); and "Wedding Album", all on the RykoDisc label, 1997, along with the rest of her catalog to that time. The Plastic Ono Band's "Live Peace In Toronto 1969" had an Apple/EMI cd release in 1995.

"Phil Spector's Christmas Album" was released first on Spector's Philles label in 1961, and after it's release on Apple in 1972, has appeared on the Warner-Spector label and others - now on cd as "A Christmas Gift for You".

The Delaney & Bonnie album was cancelled by Apple, but is available on cd as "Original Delaney & Bonnie: Accept No Substitute". "Listening to Richard Brautigan" a cancelled Zapple lp, was issued by The Collector's Choice label on cd, 2005.

One song by Trash, 'Golden Slumbers-Carry That Weight' is on "...The Best Of Apple Records". As far as the rumored Trash album, and unreleased recordings from the group Mortimer, Apple knows, Apple decides. Same for "The Beatles Christmas Album" of comedy skits including bits of music. It is available in edited version as an extra on the Beatles "Rockband" game software.

David Peel's album "The Pope Smokes Dope" has been released on cd twice; an import version in 2000, and again on Peel's own Orange Records label, date unknown - but never officially by Apple.

So what Apple albums are still unreleased by any label on cd? 1.) "Brother" by Lon and Derrek Van Eaton (One track is on "Come and Get It: The Best of Apple Records", included in this box set), 2.) "Elephant's Memory" by the Elephant's Memory Band. Also missing, the Ravi Shankar and Chorus e.p. "Joi Bangla/Oh Bhaugowan/Raga Mishra - Jhinjhoti". As far as singles: two A-sides - 'Road To Nowhere' by Trash, 'Goodbye Sweet Lorraine' by Chris Hodge; and 11 B-sides by Black Dyke Mills Band, Trash (2), Brute Force, Hot Chocolate Band, Mary Hopkin (1 - see above), Ronnie Spector, Lon and Derrek Van Eaton, Chris Hodge (2), and Sundown Playboys.

Since John Lennon and Yoko Ono produced, recorded, and performed with the Elephant's Memory Band, that album may be owned by the Lennon Estate. Likewise, ownership of the Billy Preston and Radha Krishna Temple (London) Apple albums are listed as owned by Umlaut Corp., a branch of the Harrison Estate, on the "...Best of Apple Records" cd booklet.

As far as the packaging, I was hopeful enough to think it would be in a little wood crate. But it's cardboard (think of a cereal box). Not the best choice, but also not as flimsy as some descriptions I've seen. Who knows how much a wood or plastic crate would have added to the price (and detracted from the "green" aspect)? But a firm box, such as with the box sets by the Beatles, Lennon, and Harrison seems reasonable and is an odd oversight.

To a point raised by another reviewer here, about George's Dark Horse label and Starr's Ring O'Records: Two Ravi Shankar lps from George Harrison's Dark Horse label, plus one previously on Angel Records (Capitol's Classical label), and an unreleased film are available on the beautiful box set "Collaborations" (3CD/1DVD). The 3 cds are available separately as downloads.

Sorry, but I have no info on the status of Ring O'Records or Ringo's early 2000 Pumpkin label.

I hope this helps to answer some questions. Information about Apple Records releases comes from my own personal collection and from the book "All Together Now: The First Complete Beatles Discography 1961-1975", by Harry Castleman & Walter J. Podrazik. My sincere thanks to those whose information (comments below) have been incorporated into this review.

(I posted a similar review on PaulMcCartney.com.)
It was the best of box sets; it was the worst of box sets...
This week, I purchased the Apple box set and "Collaborations" by Ravi Shankar and George Harrison.
Quite a difference.
While the Shankar set is a beautifully-assembled collection, obviously put together with love, the Apple set, despite the fine music, reminds me of those cheapo mullti-sets that you find for sale next to the flashlight batteries at a highway rest stop.
It's a shame because for those of us who remember Apple as an imaginative company with a very special place in musical history, this is a sad legacy.
Each individual CD is a masterpiece of remastering with great booklets, gatefolds, and plenty of bonus cuts. However, the package, as pointed out, is a thin and flimsy box that is sure to rip on the folds within a month. Be careful because if you don't carry it by the bottom, the box will give way, spilling your $300 worth of music all over the floor.
"Collaborations" has three CDs, a DVD, a beautiful hardcover book with many color photos, a numbered certificate, all in an elegant box with a bookmark ribbon.
Let's keep in mind the price difference too. Apple ran me $285 while Ravi's collection cost $55.
Here's a few suggestions Apple should have considered:
* A DVD of press conferences, newsreels, etc. that would have captured a visual scrapbook of that great company.
* A booklet about the Apple company with release dates and info.
* A CD of b-sides and withdrawn songs.
* A BETTER BOX! How about a fake Apple crate (wood or plastic) like the original albums once came in?
To me, Apple was much more than just the music. The home of the Beatles, it was a philosophy and a state of mind that will probably never return.

Well, finally, most of Apple's catalog is back in print. Most. Elephant's Memory, Lon & Derek Von Eaton, et al, are missing. Mary Hopkin's Those Were The Days, well, the list goes on, really. They're not here. It took entirely too long for this to see the light of day, and it emerges with parts missing.
What is here is wonderful, including all four Badfinger Apple albums, both Billy Preston releases, and both John Tavener works. Those are long overdue for rerelease. It's about time.
It's a stretch to call this a "box set." This is not a box. This is a thin folded cardboard wrapper that will not hold up to regular access in good condition. Die cutting tabs on the wrapper does not make it a box. Indeed, it's not as sturdy as the average frozen dinner box. For the money, this could have been much better packaging.

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