This is the second single released from the Beatles Anthology. "Real Love" is a pretty good song, but of course it's not as good as the classic Beatles songs. This song is available on

, so the real attraction here is the three otherwise unavailable "b-sides". "Baby's in Black" is a live recording from the Hollywood Bowl. "Yellow Submarine" is a remix of the master take, featuring an unused intro and the sound effects featured more prominently (i.e. louder). "Here, There and Everywhere" is Take 7, with the harmonies from Take 13 superimposed near the end. These aren't essential Beatles recordings, but they are fun to hear if you are a fan of the group.

In 1995, the Beatles began working on their "Anthology" project, and I believe this CD serves as a good preview to the set. You get the newly recorded song, "Real Love," and outtakes plus a live version of "Baby's in Black" from the 1965 Hollywood Bowl concert (which, I might add, was not released on the 1977 Hollywood Bowl record, so it is truly unreleased.) I now own this single on CD and vinyl, just because I love the Beatles. "Real Love" is one of John's best songs ever.

On a chilly night in December of 1980,the question of "Will the Beatles ever get back together?" was drowned out by the sound of gunfire that erupted,killing John Lennon.Fifteen years later,Beatles fans got the closest thing they were ever going to get....The Beatles Anthology.This single set features the newly recorded "Real Love".A re-mastering of an unrecorded John Lennon piece featuring new vocals and instrumentation by Paul,George,and Ringo.The song is a beautiful,and haunting,mastepiece that touches every soul.Beatle fan or not.The disc also features three classic Beatles tunes not on the anthology.In a way,that's like the way the band used to do things.Release songs strictly as singles and not put them on the albums(Like "I wanna hold your hand","I feel fine",and "Hey,Jude")."Baby's in black" is taken from a concert(Now we have the technology to drown out the screams).While "Here,There,and Everywhere" is a early take,"Yellow submarine" proves to be the real gem.It features a narrative opening by Ringo and increased sound effects through out.This is a must have for Beatlemaniacs.

Released right in the middle of the "Anthology" series of CD's we have the "Real Love" EP with four tracks of more Beatles alchemy. Paul, George & Ringo (with help from engineers Geoff Emerick and Jon Jacobs) joined forces with producer Jeff Lynne (of Electric Light Orchestra fame and glory) to complete a rough demo of John Lennon's song: "Real Love" and I am really happy with the results found here as it is magic in what the lads have done with this rough demo of John's that was constructed almost year after they had worked on: "Free as a Bird" in the same fashion. "Real Love" isn't a proper Beatles song as many have argued already but in the spirit of how John, Paul, George & Ringo are playing together one last time it is a wonderful reach from one world into the next and is a very positive thing that links it to all the best things: "Beatles." The mood of this song harkens back to late 1967 and it is highly effective to transport us all back to a time long gone that will never live in again, This is an incredible piece of music that really has wonderful energy.

"Baby's In Black" is lifted from the Hollywood Bowl tapes of The Beatles two concerts at that venue in 1965 on August 29th and 30th. The introduction is grafted onto the music from the second nights performance and once you get past the SCREEEEAMS! you have much insight that transports you right into the middle a live Beatles show from the height of Beatlemania. These Moptops deliver the goods once more!

"Yellow Submarine" is brought forth in big new mix that brings out many little heard sound effects to the forefront that were buried in the old mix. Ringo, has a spoken introduction that was recorded in 1966 and unheard until this new release. Ringo, has stated that this song gave him a career and that's not a bad thing as: "Yellow Submarine" is a classic tune for young and not-so-young folks that has never sounded better than it does right here.

"Here, There & Everywhere" is one of Paul's prettiest songs. This revisit to this track from the "Revolver" LP as an reworked version is mighty fine. Taken from take 7 as combined with take 13 and it is brighter and bigger than it was before, great care and a lot of work was done to this and the other three songs found on this EP. The backing harmonies leap forward out of this new mix and are much more prominent from what they once were.

This EP and the "Free as a Bird" single release are great additons to the three Anthology CD sets as must-have Beatles music.

Four & 1/2 Stars!

Unlike a lot of people, I didn't see much need for the surviving Beatles to do these songs. But even though "Free As a Bird" got more publicity, this is the better song. For one thing, it's complete; Paul didn't have to patch on a verse of his own like in the other (something he complains about on the Anthology DVD). George, Paul, and Ringo add tasteful accompaniment to John's song, as they no doubt did to complete Lennon compositions when they were a working unit. And it sounds more like the Beatles to me. The contributions to "Free As a Bird" sound more contemporary. George's guitar solo there sounds more like his solo work--he never did that slide thing with the Beatles (no offense to George--I always loved his solo work--it just isn't the Beatles). And Ringo isn't given much more to do than thump on "FAAB."

Also, the bonus tracks here are very cool additions to the Anthology collections.