Coming to iTunes: 59 Beatles Rarities

Studio outtakes, live performances in 'new' batch
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 17, 2013 9:29 AM CST
Coming to iTunes: 59 Beatles Rarities
In this May 25, 1964 file photo, Beatles George Harrison, left, and John Lennon, are seen aboard an airplane in Los Angeles before leaving for London.   (AP Photo/File)

It took years for the Beatles to arrive on iTunes—but a treat for Fab Four fans could help make up for the wait. Fifty-nine rare tracks will arrive today, a mix of live BBC performances, demos, and studio outtakes. Previously, the recordings were only available as bootlegs, the Guardian notes. NME has the full track list for The Beatles Bootleg Recordings 1963, including plenty of classics as well as lesser-known songs.

Why now? A Beatles blogger tells the Guardian that Apple Records doesn't actually want to release the songs. "The only reason why they are doing this is to retain the copyright of this material," says Roger Stormo. New EU rules say unreleased material is copyright-free after 50 years, compared to 70 years for released material. So we might start seeing "new" Beatles recordings every year, industry insiders say. (More Beatles stories.)

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