Anthology 3 is a compilation album by the Beatles, released on 28 October 1996 by Apple Records as part of The Beatles Anthology series. The album includes rarities and alternative tracks from the final two years of the band's career, ranging from the initial sessions for The Beatles (better known as "the White Album") to the last sessions for Let It Be and Abbey Road in 1969 and early 1970. It is the third in a quartet of albums with Anthology 1 and Anthology 2, and Anthology 4, all of which tie in with the televised special The Beatles Anthology.
The album was certified 3× Platinum by the RIAA and was the group's third double album in a row to reach number one on the US charts, equalling a record set by Donna Summer in the 1970s.
The Anthology albums were remastered and made available digitally on the iTunes Store on 14 June 2011, individually and as part of the Anthology Collection box set.
Content Following "Free as a Bird" on Anthology 1 and "Real Love" on Anthology 2, a third John Lennon solo demo entitled "Now and Then" was to be reworked by the three surviving members of The Beatles (George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr) for Anthology 3. However, this project was shelved due to Harrison's dislike of the quality of the song recording. McCartney later stated that Harrison called Lennon's demo recording "fucking rubbish".YouTube video: "The Last Lennon/McCartney Song? (Now And Then)." McCartney told Q Magazine in 1997 that "George didn't like it. The Beatles being a democracy, we didn't do it."Q Magazine, 1997 The song would eventually be finished and released in 2023. In its place is "A Beginning", an orchestral instrumental track by the band's producer George Martin, initially intended for the White Album as the intro to "Don't Pass Me By".
Connecting to the previous Anthology albums, the cover image painted by Klaus Voormann features a collage of Beatles-related imagery designed to appear as a wall of peeling posters and album covers. An updated picture of Voormann can be seen in Harrison's hair in a segment of the Revolver album cover.
Track listing All tracks in stereo, except where noted.
Charts
Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for Anthology 3 Chart (1996) PeakpositionItalian Albums (FIMI) Set "Ricerca per" on "Titolo", then search "Anthology 3" and click "Classifiche". 27Japanese Albums (Oricon)5
Year-end charts +1996 year-end chart performance for Anthology 3 Chart (1996) PositionCanada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)62Japanese Albums (Oricon)174UK Albums (OCC)81US Billboard 200159 +1997 year-end chart performance for Anthology 3 Chart (1997) PositionUS Billboard 200107
Certifications and sales
See also Outline of the Beatles The Beatles timeline
References