Shimpei Asai

On 26 September 1969, The Beatles released the last album they recorded together, Abbey Road, which almost immediately became a popular, if not critical, success (it has become one of the most commercially successful Beatles albums, with over 30 million copies sold). And now here it is again, in a variety of mixes, with 23 additional tracks, most of which have never been officially released.

It is reasonable to assume that, by 1968, the capacity of the four Beatles to be shocked by the scale of their success had been reduced somewhat, if only to preserve a semblance of sanity. But if you were to tell them that their demos, discarded ideas, studio badinage, and even food orders (George was a cheese, marmite and lettuce sandwich man, who knew?) would amount to one of 2018’s most anticipated releases, even they might have been startled.