Remastered Red and Blue albums and Harrison/Shankar Collaborations are released

On 18 October 2010 (19 October in North America) remastered editions of The Beatles’ compilations 1962-1966 (Red Album) and 1967-1970 (Blue Album) were reissued. On the same days a new box set, Collaborations by Ravi Shankar and George Harrison, was also released.

The Red and Blue albums were first released in 1973, and served as an introduction to the group for many Beatles fans. The first compilations to be issued after their split, the double-disc collections were enormous worldwide sellers.

1962-1966 and 1967-1970 contained a chronological selection of single a-sides and b-sides, and album tracks. They were remastered by the same team at Abbey Road Studios, led by Allan Rouse, which were responsible for The Beatles’ back catalogue remasters. The new sets contain rare photographs and new essays by Bill Flanagan.

Collaborations is a four-disc box set released by Dark Horse Records and Rhino Records. The lavish collection contains remastered versions of three albums – Chants Of India (1997), Ravi Shankar’s Music Festival From India (1976), and Shankar Family & Friends (1974) – all of which were produced by George Harrison.

A DVD of Ravi Shankar’s Music Festival From India, live At The Royal Albert Hall in 1976 is also included, along with a 56-page hardback book containing photographs, comments and quotations by Harrison and Shankar, and an introduction by Philip Glass.