h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Today is the 50th anniversary of one of the greatest albums of all time, the Beatles White Album. It is so great that even the weather is commemorating its release, as today is the first frosty day we've had this year.

When writing the entry about this album (A87909745 'The Beatles' aka 'The White Album') I speculated whether there would be a 50th Anniversary special release:

"I wonder if they'll release a special 50th anniversary edition complete with previously unreleased bonus tracks? If so I bet the fact that by releasing previously unreleased tracks on or before the 50th anniversary extends their copyright for a further 25 years never crossed their minds..."

And yes, there was indeed a 50th anniversary edition that is digitally remastered, which really makes the songs so much clearer, as well as releasing on a bonus 3rd disc the Esher Demos, early acoustic versions of 27 songs they were proposing for the album recorded in May 1968.

In many ways we're living in the golden age of Beatles recordings. Unreleased tracks recorded over 50 years ago – particularly live recordings rather than early takes – may now be Public Domain and able to be released by record companies that can prove they have acquired the recordings legitimately (different laws apply in different countries), while the Beatles have officially released many of their early demos in excellent quality as they retain/extend the copyright on anything they release before the 50 year period expires.

Yet forget the legal motivation behind the re-release, sit back, close your eyes and enjoy high quality, quirky, music.

<BB<

Bonus point if you can identify the film today's conversation title is a quote from.

I didn't get the bonus point because I had to look it up - I've seen the film, but that line passed me by!