Producer teases “top secret” Beatles project

Kevin Howlett, who helped compile the second volume of The Beatles Live At The BBC collection has teased a “top secret” project he is working on with the Fab Four’s back catalogue.

Howlett, alongside Mike Heatley, put together On Air – Live at the BBC Volume 2, which was released on Monday [November 11]. The first collection of recordings was released in 1994, hitting Number One in the UK charts and selling more than five million copies worldwide within its first six weeks of release.

Speaking to Billboard, Howlett says that there are no plans for a third volume of BBC recordings but did let slip about another project he is working on. “I think these two albums are wonderful from the point of view of presenting the real highlights of The Beatles’ BBC sessions,” said the producer.

However, he continued: “The Beatles completists out there may want to own every version of ‘Twist And Shout,’ and I can understand that because every version of ‘Twist And Shout‘ is really good, but I don’t know that we want to go that far.”

Asked if there is more archive material away from BBC radio sessions that could be released, Howlett added: “There is something, but I don’t think we’re allowed to talk about it yet. If you’re involved in these Beatles projects, you have to be very discreet. It’s all top secret.”

Between March 1962 and June 1965, 275 Beatles performances were broadcast by the BBC in the UK. The group played live on 39 radio shows in 1963 alone. One day in 1963, the band recorded 18 tracks for three editions of their Pop Go The Beatles show.

Click here for the full tracklisting for The Beatles Live At The BBC Volume 2

Click here to read the Uncut review of The Beatles Live At The BBC Volume 2