George Harrison: The Apple Years 1968-75 box set announced

A box set containing George Harrison’s first six solo albums is to be released on 22 September 2014.

The eight disc box set The Apple Years 1968-75 contains remastered versions of six albums originally released on Apple Records. The albums will also be available individually on compact disc and digital download.

The box set also contains a DVD with over 40 minutes of video including a new Apple Years feature, and a bound book with essay and rare and unseen photos.

I am so happy that what we started a decade ago by releasing The Dark Horse Years is now complete with the release of his first six albums as The Apple Years. Some of these records have long been out of print, and so I cannot wait for music lovers to get their hands on these newly remastered versions. It’s a very proud moment for us, and I would like to thank everyone who has helped us in any way to achieve this.

The press release:

London – September 2, 2014 – Universal Music Group and the Harrison family are proud to announce that George Harrison’s first six solo albums, released between 1968 and 1975 on The Beatles’ Apple Records label, have been digitally remastered from the original analogue masters for CD and digital release on 22 September by UMG. Wonderwall Music, Electronic Sound, All Things Must Pass, Living In The Material World, Dark Horse, and Extra Texture (Read All About It) are available now for preorder, both individually in digipaks and together within the deluxe, eight-disc boxed edition, The Apple Years 1968-75.

Designed to complement Harrison’s 2004 collection, The Dark Horse Years 1976-92, the new box features an exclusive DVD with several video pieces including a new seven-minute film with previously unreleased footage.

The Apple Years box also includes an exclusive perfect-bound book with an introduction by Dhani Harrison, new essays by award-winning radio producer and author Kevin Howlett, and rare and previously unpublished images.

The six albums have been digitally restored and remastered at Lurssen Mastering in Los Angeles by a GRAMMY® Award-winning team of engineers including Paul Hicks, Gavin Lurssen, and Reuben Cohen. Wonderwall Music, Living In The Material World, Dark Horse, and Extra Texture (Read All About It) are all newly expanded with previously unreleased or rare additional tracks. All Things Must Pass includes the five extra tracks first released in 2001.

Max Hole, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group International: “George Harrison is a musical icon and one of the most imaginative and influential artists of all time. It’s been great for us to work with Dhani and Olivia Harrison and all of the team behind The Apple Years project, a vital part of his legacy.”

The Apple Years 1968-1975 brings together these six albums for the first time in one beautifully presented collection. Remastered with meticulous care and attention to detail, George Harrison’s Apple albums now sound better than ever before. Olivia and Dhani Harrison believe that, with the release of these albums, many songs that were undervalued when first issued will now have new light shone upon them. There are many gems in the box awaiting fresh discovery or reevaluation.

• Wonderwall Music*
• Electronic Sound
• All Things Must Pass [2-CD]
• Living In The Material World*
• Dark Horse*
• Extra Texture (Read All About It)*

* denotes newly added bonus track or tracks

DVD [exclusive to The Apple Years box set]

• George Harrison – The Apple Years Feature (2014) [7:27]
• All Things Must Pass (bonus feature in 2001 album package) [8:03]
• The Concert for Bangladesh EPK (2005) [6:03]
• Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) (video from Live In Japan, 1991) [3:43]
• Miss O’Dell (alternative version from 2006 deluxe edition of Living In The Material World) [2:31]
• Sue Me Sue You Blues (acoustic demo version from 2006 deluxe edition of Living In The Material World) [3:04]
• Living In The Material World (feature from 2006 deluxe edition of Living In The Material World) [3:34]
• Ding Dong, Ding Dong (original promo video, 1974) [3:46]
• Dark Horse (original promotional clip, 1974) [:30]