Unsurpassed Masters series

Unsurpassed Masters vol. 1

The first in the most recognized series of Beatles bootlegs ever, Unsurpassed Masters vol. 1 was mastered incorrectly in its first run and the stereo and cues were wrong. Tracks are from 1962-1963 recording sessions.

Besame Mucho

Features Pete Best on drums, from their first Abbey Road recording sessions. Unknown take recorded on June 6, 1962. How Do You Do It

Take 2 recorded on September 4, 1962 There’s A Place

Takes 5 and 6, both false starts, recorded on February 11, 1963 I Saw Her Standing There

Takes 6-9 recorded on February 11, 1963 Do You Want To Know A Secret

Take 8 recorded on February 11, 1963 A Taste Of Honey

Take 6, featuring a vocal overdub on take 5, recorded on February 11, 1963 There’s A Place

Takes 12 and 13 recorded on February 11, 1963 I Saw Her Standing There

Takes 11 and 12, featuring handclapping overdubbed onto take 9, recorded on February 11, 1963 Misery

Takes 2-6 recorded on February 11, 1963 From Me To You

Takes 1 and 2 recorded on March 5, 1963 From Me To You

Takes 8-13 featuring some edit piece overdubs, recorded on March 5, 1963 Thank You Girl

Takes 2-4 recorded on March 5, 1963 Thank You Girl

Takes 7-13 featuring some drum overdubs, recorded on March 5, 1963 One After 909

Reversed stereo takes 1 and 2, recorded on September 11, 1963 Hold Me Tight

Takes 22-24, recorded on September 12, 1963 Don’t Bother Me

Takes 11-13 featuring some harmonica overdubs onto take 10, recorded on September 12, 1963

Release history

Yellow Dog YD001

Unsurpassed Masters vol. 2

Demo, outtake, and remix recordings from the prolific 1964-1965 sessions, featuring 3 songs recorded for Rubber Soul but unissued.

A Hard Day’s Night

Takes 6 and 7 recorded on April 16, 1964 Leave My Kitten Alone

Take 5 recorded on August 14, 1964 She’s A Woman

Take 7 with an extended jam session, recorded on October 8, 1964 I Feel Fine

Stereo reversed takes 6 and 7 recorded on October 18, 1964 Yes It Is

Stereo reversed takes 1 and 2 recorded on February 16, 1965 If You’ve Got Trouble

Stereo reversed, unedited take 1 mix, recorded February 18, 1965 That Means A Lot

Take 1 recorded on February 20, 1965 Help!

Stereo reversed takes 1, 2,and 5 recorded on April 13, 1965 Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)

Take 1 recorded on October 12, 1965 Day Tripper

Takes 1-3 recorded on October 16, 1965 We Can Work It Out

Takes 1 and 2 recorded on October 20, 1965 12-Bar Original

Take 2 recorded on November 4, 1965 I’m Looking Through You

Take 1 with no chorus and all instruments and vocals on a single track, recorded on October 24, 1965

Release history

Yellow Dog YD002

Unsurpassed Masters vol. 3

Featuring a cover photo from the ‘Our World’ broadcast, Vol. 3 features demos, outtakes, and rarities from 1966 and 1967.

Paperback Writer

Take one with no vocals (and a slide guitar solo where the vocals should be) which breaks down after the first verse, recorded on April 13, 1966, couple with take 2 featuring incomplete vocals. Rain

Mostly instrumental take 7, recorded on April 14, 1966. Tomorrow Never Knows

Listed incorrectly in the linear notes as “Mark 1”, but is just a poorly transcribed take 3. Recorded on April 6, 1966. Strawberry Fields Forever

Stereo mix of take 1 recorded on November 24, 1966. Strawberry Fields Forever

Takes 2-4, showing the evolution from light to rough as used on the eventual master, recorded on November 28, 1966. Strawberry Fields Forever

Takes 5-7, recorded on November 29, 1966. Strawberry Fields Forever

Remix of take 25, featuring an orchestral overdub, some ‘cranberry sauce’ chatter, and a drum solo onto a mix of takes 15 and 24, recorded on December 9, 1966. Strawberry Fields Forever

Take 26 featuring further overdubs onto take 25, recorded on December 15, 1966. A Day In The Life

Three failed remixes of takes 4 (a reduction mixed into takes 5, 6, and 7) and takes 5-7. Recorded on January 20, 1967. All You Need Is Love

Takes 57 and 58 from the ‘Our World’ broadcast with some studion chatter by Mal Evans and audience noise. Recorded on June 25, 1967. I Am The Walrus

Take 9, a stripped down take recorded days after Brian Epstein’s death. Monitor mix recorded on September 5, 1967. Aerial Tour Instrumental

Take 8 and remix 4; and alternate mix of ‘Flying’. Recorded on September 8, 1967. Hello Hello

Take 1 of “Hello Goodbye” introduced as “Hello Hello” by Geoff Emerick. Complete take with no vocal or guitar overdubs, recorded on October 2, 1967.

Release history

Yellow Dog YD003

Unsurpassed Masters vol. 4

Focuses on recordings from 1968, encompassing demos, outtakes, and unreleased versions and entire songs recorded during the White Album sessions as well as versions of several successful singles.

Lady Madonna

A comedy routine preceding take 3, take 3, and take 5, recorded on February 3 and 5, 1968. Across The Universe

Take 8, remix 2, known as the “Hum’s Wild” mix. Recorded and remixed just before their trip to India, on February 4-8, 1968. Brian Epstein Blues

A studio outtake by John with some lyrics about Epstein, shortly after his death. Recorded on July 19, 1968. Hey Jude/Las Vegas Tune

Take 7, recorded without George presumably due to some comments made by Paul. Features some mocking vocals by John and some studio chatter. The take ends and Paul starts singing a ditty known as “Las Vegas Tune”. Recorded on July 30, 1968. St. Louis Blues

A version of the short song also known as “I Hate To See”, recorded on July 30, 1968. Back In The USSR

From the ‘Peter Sellers Tapes’, take 6, remix 1 with a longer jet intro, recorded on August 23, 1968. Rocky Raccoon

From the ‘Peter Sellers Tapes’, take 10, remix 1, recorded on August 15, 1968. Wild Honey Pie

From the ‘Peter Sellers Tapes’, take 1, remix 6, recorded on August 20, 1968. Mother Nature’s Son

From the ‘Peter Sellers Tapes’, take 26, remix 8, recorded on August 9, 1968. Sexy Sadie

From the ‘Peter Sellers Tapes’, take 117, remix 5 with an unedited instrumental coda, recorded on August 21, 1968. Don’t Pass Me By

From the ‘Peter Sellers Tapes’, take 7, unknown remix featuring an additional verse and instrumental, recorded on July 12 and 22, 1968. Yer Blues

From the ‘Peter Sellers Tapes’, take 16 and 17 with remix 3 and an edit piece, recorded on August 14, 1968. First song on second side of ‘Sellers’ tape, so there is some drop outs. Good Night

From the ‘Peter Sellers Tapes’, take 34, remix 6, recorded on July 22, 1968. Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey

From the ‘Peter Sellers Tapes’, take 12, remix 1 with some extra unedited vocals and sound effects, recorded on July 23, 1968. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

From the ‘Peter Sellers Tapes’, take 23, remix 21 without the chirping birds sound effects, recorded on June 11, 1968. Blackbird

From the ‘Peter Sellers Tapes’, take 32, remix 6, recorded on August 23, 1968. Not Guilty

From the ‘Peter Sellers Tapes’, take 102, remix 1 (although Anthology notes that nowhere near that many takes were attempted), recorded on August 12, 1968. What’s The New Mary Jane

Take 4 with overdubs – an incredibly unlistenable mix of sound effects and drug references that was dropped from the White Album in favor of “Revolution 9”. Recorded on August 14, 1968.

Release history

Yellow Dog YD004

Unsurpassed Masters vol. 5

Vol. 5 features some supurb Abbey Road and Let It Be outtakes from 1969.

Octopus’s Garden

Take 32 recorded on April 26, 1969. Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight

Take 13 recorded on July 2, 1969. You Never Give Me Your Money

Take 30 recorded on May 6, 1969. Oh! Darling

Previously listed as take 26 from July 18, 1969, then as “unknown take” (although take 26 is probably the best guess). Paul’s voice gives out midway through the song. Recorded on April 26, 1969. Maxwell’s Silver Hammer

Take 21 recorded on July 9, 1969. Something

Take 37 (reduction mix) recorded on July 11, 1969. You Never Give Me Your Money/Sun King/Mean Mr. Mustard/Polythene Pam/She Came In Through The Bathroom Window

The second remix of these songs, without orchestral, vocal, or solo overdubs. Also features “Her Majesty” between “Mean Mr. Mustard” and “Polythene Pam”. Recorded on July 24, 28, and 30, 1969. Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End

Second remix (“The End” is marked as “Ending” and featured no vocals). Recorded on July 3 and 23, 1969. Her Majesty

Take 3 recorded July 2, 1969. Stand By Me

Recorded January 24, 1969, from the Get Back sessions I’ve Got A Feeling

Recorded January 1969, from the Get Back sessions Two Of Us

Recorded January 25, 1969, from the Get Back sessions For You Blue

Recorded January 25, 1969, from the Get Back sessions Let It Be

Recorded January 31, 1969, from the Get Back sessions

Release history

Yellow Dog YD005

Unsurpassed Masters vol. 6

More alternate takes, mixes, and demos from 1962-1970, some of which were originally mixed for the ill-fated Sessions project.

There’s A Place

A historic inclusion, as this is the first take of the first recording from their first session with EMI. Take 1 recorded on February 11, 1963. I Saw Her Standing There

Take 2 and 3 recorded on February 11, 1963. From Me To You

Take 6 and 7 recorded on February 11, 1963. Thank You Girl

Take 1 recorded with some slight vocal variations and some rehearsing, recorded on March 5, 1963. Don’t Bother Me

Take 10 recorded on September 12, 1963 with some studio chat by George. A Hard Day’s Night

Take 3 recorded on April 16, 1964. I’m A Loser

Take 1 and 2 recorded on August 14, 1964. Mostly just a rehearsal, as Paul is heard giving instruction to John and attempts some vocal options throughout take 2. She’s A Woman

Take 2 recorded on October 8, 1964, with the songs mechanics still being worked out. If You’ve Got Trouble

Take 1 recorded on February 18, 1965. A mono version of the Sessions mix. Help!

Take 8 and 9, which was used as a basic track that the guitar and vocals were later dubbed onto. Recorded on April 13, 1965. Here, There, And Everywhere

Take 14 recorded on June 16, 1966. I Am The Walrus

Take 7 recorded on September 5, 1967. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

The mix for Sessions, which fades out before the crossfade of “Christmas Time Is Here Again”. Hey Jude

Takes 8 and 9, recorded on July 30, 1968. Not Guilty

Mix for Sessions Let It Be

Take 30 recorded on January 4, 1970. Because

A capella overdubs recorded for take 16 on August 1 and 4, 1969. Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues

Sessions mix What’s The New Mary Jane

Sessions mix

Release history

Yellow Dog YD012

Unsurpassed Masters vol. 7

Another career-spanning compilation, as is Vol. 6, of tracks from 1962-1970.

Do You Want To Know A Secret Misery

Take one without the piano overdub. Recorded February 11, 1963. One After 909

Alternate edit of takes 4 and 5. Undocumented mono edit from same mix as Anthology version. Recorded March 5, 1963. Hold Me Tight

Takes 25 and 26. Take 25 is incomplete, with some questioning by John, and take 26 is complete. Recorded September 12, 1963. Can’t Buy Me Love

Recorded in Pathe Marconi Studios, Paris, on January 29, 1964. I’m A Loser

Take 3 with some studio discussion as to the direction of the song (as well as some shushing by Ringo). Recorded on August 14, 1964. I Feel Fine

A nearly complete take 5 recorded on October 18, 1964. Yes It Is

Take 14 later used for vocal overdubs. Recorded on February 16, 1965. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)

Take 4 mono mix in right channel only. Recorded on Octobe 21, 1965. Penny Lane

Take 9 – an alternate mix of the promo mix (mono). Recorded January 17, 1967. Lady Madonna

Take 4 with some laughing at the beginning. Recorded February 6, 1968. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

Outtake from take 5 recorded on July 5, 1968. Not Guilty

Take 102 – a stereo, unedited mix recorded on August 12, 1968. Revolution

A reduction or ‘bounce’ of take 15, switching to mono after the first couple of seconds. Recorded on July 10, 1968. While My Guitar Gently Weeps

An acoustic take 1, stopping before some studio chat occurs by George. Recorded on July 25, 1968. Come And Get It

Paul’s demo, the same as the Sessions version. Recorded July 24, 1969. ‘Beatle Speech’

Although the track listing has this as “Think For Yourself”, many experts agree the title is “Beatle Speech”, as it is marked that way on the tape box which Mark Lewisohn used.

Release history