Anthology 3
Anthology 3 is a double-album compilation of rarities and alternative takes from the Beatles' last two years together. It was released on 28 October 1996 by Apple Records, and it follows the sessions that produced the band's self-titled double album, known as the White Album, through to the final work on Let It Be and Abbey Road in 1969 and early 1970.
It is the third volume in the Anthology series, which accompanied the televised special The Beatles Anthology. It is worth hearing for the chance to follow the group through their closing chapter, from the first White Album sessions to the last recordings. In the US it was certified 3× Platinum by the RIAA and became the band's third double album in a row to reach number one, equalling a record set by Donna Summer in the 1970s.
Anthology 3: tracklist, credits and charts
50 tracks · 2:25:33Tracklist
- Disc 1
- 1A BeginningGeorge Martin0:50
- 2Happiness Is a Warm GunJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney2:15
- 3Helter SkelterJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney4:38
- 4Mean Mr. MustardJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney1:58
- 5Polythene PamJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney1:26
- 6Glass OnionJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney1:51
- 7JunkPaul McCartney2:25
- 8PiggiesGeorge Harrison2:01
- 9Honey PieJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney1:19
- 10Don't Pass Me ByRingo Starr2:42
- 11Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-DaJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney2:56
- 12Good NightJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney2:38
- 13Cry Baby CryJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney2:47
- 14BlackbirdJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney2:19
- 15Sexy SadieJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney4:06
- 16While My Guitar Gently WeepsGeorge Harrison3:27
- 17Hey JudeJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney4:21
- 18Not GuiltyGeorge Harrison3:22
- 19Mother Nature's SonJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney3:17
- 20Glass OnionJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney2:08
- 21Rocky RaccoonJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney4:13
- 22What's the New Mary Jane?John Lennon and Paul McCartney6:12
- 23Step Inside Love / Los ParanoiasJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney2:31
- 24I'm So TiredJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney2:14
- 25I WillJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney1:55
- 26Why Don't We Do It in the Road?John Lennon and Paul McCartney2:15
- 27JuliaJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney1:57
- Disc 2
- 1I've Got a FeelingJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney2:49
- 2She Came In Through the Bathroom WindowJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney3:37
- 3Dig a PonyJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney4:18
- 4Two of UsPaul McCartney and John Lennon3:27
- 5For You BlueGeorge Harrison2:23
- 6Teddy BoyPaul McCartney3:18
- 7Medley: Rip It Up / Shake, Rattle and Roll / Blue Suede ShoesPerkins, Blackwell, Marascalco, Bosteels, Calhoun, Stone3:11
- 8The Long and Winding RoadJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney3:41
- 9Oh! DarlingJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney4:08
- 10All Things Must PassGeorge Harrison3:05
- 11Mailman, Bring Me No More BluesKatz, Roberts, Thiele1:56
- 12Get BackJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney3:09
- 13Old Brown ShoeGeorge Harrison3:03
- 14Octopus's GardenRingo Starr2:49
- 15Maxwell's Silver HammerJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney3:50
- 16SomethingGeorge Harrison3:19
- 17Come TogetherJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney3:40
- 18Come and Get ItJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney2:30
- 19Ain't She SweetMilton Ager and Jack Yellen2:09
- 20BecauseJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney2:24
- 21Let It BeJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney4:05
- 22I Me MineGeorge Harrison1:48
- 23The EndJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney2:51
- Produced by
- George Martin, The Beatles, Chris Thomas
- Recorded at
- Abbey Road Studios: Studio 1, Abbey Road Studios: Studio 2, Abbey Road Studios: Studio 3, Apple Studios, Abbey Road Studios, EMI Studios and Apple Studios, London
- Recorded
- 28 May 1968 – 3 January 1970 (except 22 February 1967 for the final chord of "A Day in the Life")
- Mixed by
- Giles Martin
- Engineered by
- Ken Scott, Geoff Emerick, Ken Townsend, Glyn Johns, Jeff Jarratt, Phil McDonald
- Labels
- Apple Records, Apple, Capitol
- Length
- 2:25:33
Line-up
- John Lennon · lead vocals, background vocals, piano, acoustic guitar, harpsichord, percussion, guitar, temple blocks, electric guitar, electric piano, lap steel guitar, vocals, bass guitar, tambourine, handclaps
- George Harrison · electric guitar, lead vocals, background vocals, shakers, acoustic guitar, guitar, piano, bass guitar, vocals
- Ringo Starr · drums (drum set), bell, piano, cowbell, lead vocals, tambourine, claves
- Paul McCartney · lead vocals, drums (drum set), bass guitar, acoustic guitar, guitar, background vocals, organ, piano, recorder, maracas, Hammond organ, electric piano, electric guitar, vocals
- James Gray · saxophone · guest
- Rex Morris · saxophone · guest
- Cyril Reuben · saxophone · guest
- Billy Preston · electric piano, Hammond organ · guest
- Mal Evans · piano · guest
Peak chart positions
| Chart | Peak |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 · 1996 | 1 |
| UK Albums Chart · 1996 | 4 |
| Australian Albums (ARIA) · 1996 | 3 |
| Canadian Albums (RPM) · 1996 | 3 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon) · 1996 | 5 |
| Swedish Albums · 1996 | 5 |
| Finnish Albums · 1996 | 7 |
| French Albums · 1996 | 9 |
| German Albums · 1996 | 9 |
| New Zealand Albums · 1996 | 10 |
All 17 charts
| Belgian Albums (Wallonia) · 1996 | 11 |
| Dutch Albums · 1996 | 12 |
| Norwegian Albums · 1996 | 13 |
| Austrian Albums · 1996 | 15 |
| Belgian Albums (Flanders) · 1996 | 15 |
| Swiss Albums · 1996 | 23 |
| Italian Albums (FIMI) · 1996 | 27 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification |
|---|---|
| Australia · 1996 | Gold |
| Canada | 2× Platinum |
| Japan · 1996 | Gold |
| United Kingdom · 2024 | Platinum |
| United States | 3× Platinum |
From MusicBrainz, Wikipedia and Wikidata. Only what the sources record is shown.
Released the same week
Also released on 28 October
Every year →More from The Beatles
Full discography →The best of 1996
All of 1996 →More on Apple Records
The label →Releases and pressings
How we know the release date wikipedia + musicbrainz + wikidata
| Source | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MusicBrainz | 28 October 1996 | |
| Wikipedia infobox | 28 October 1996 | |
| Wikidata | 28 October 1996 | |
| US release | 28 October 1996 | earliest US date |
| UK / Europe release | 28 October 1996 | earliest UK or European date |
10 editions
| Date | Country | Label | Barcode | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | AR | Apple Records | 724383445127 | other |
| 1996 | AU | Apple Records | 724383445127 | other |
| 28 October 1996 | US | Apple Records | 724383445110 | original |
| 28 October 1996 | XE | Apple Records | 724383445127 | original |
| 28 October 1996 | GB | — | 724383445127 | original |
| 29 October 1996 | US | Apple Records | 724383445127 | other |
| 29 October 1996 | CA | Apple Records | 724383445127 | other |
| 2016 | US | Apple Records | 5099902965451 | other |
| 4 April 2016 | XE | EMI Catalogue | 602547852014 | remaster |
| 29 August 2025 | XW | Universal Music Recordings | 00602478806056 | remaster |
Cover art sources
itunes · native: native 3000x3000
| Source | Size | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| itunes ✓ | 3000×3000 | native: native 3000x3000 |
| coverartarchive | 1280×1280 | upscaled |
| deezer | 1200×1200 | upscaled |
| fanarttv | 1000×1000 | upscaled |