Tomorrow Never Knows (Beatles album)

Release

Released on 24 July 2012 as an iTunes Store exclusive in partnership with EMI Records, The Beatles' own Apple Corps and with approval from Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr as well as the Board of Directors representing the estates of John Lennon and George Harrison. The album intends to bring together The Beatles' most influential rock songs. It is named after the Revolver track "Tomorrow Never Knows", which is featured on the compilation.

Influence on rock music

Quotes from contemporary rock musicians accompanied the release. Ex-Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl wrote, "If it weren't for the Beatles I would not be a musician. It's as simple as that." Citing the gritty distorted guitar, rolling bass line, Ringo's drum fills and the groove of the song "Hey Bulldog", Grohl describes it as "a quintessential Beatles rocker ... raw and real."

Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park wrote, "Nearly everything my band knows about how to approach recording a song is attached to the Beatles in some way."

Win Butler of Arcade Fire said "There is a straight line from James Brown to death metal and it runs through "Helter Skelter." The primal edge to the singing on certain Beatles songs was present all along—from "Twist and Shout" onwards. It's that edge in the voice that, to me, makes rock n' roll. I've always thought of them as heavy."

Adam Levine of Maroon 5—"The Beatles are a massive part of who I am. My mother lived and breathed The Beatles and they were a huge part of my upbringing. Every time we went anywhere The Beatles were playing on the stereo. That seeped into my consciousness and completely shaped my musical style."

Ben Bridwell from Band of Horses—"Cheers to all involved on this track ["She Said She Said"]. Ringo Starr should be commended for the absolutely mental drums playing. The time signature alone is difficult to understand but to think of this performance being captured boggles my mind."

Mark Stoermer of The Killers—"With Helter Skelter, The Beatles rocked harder than Led Zeppelin ever did, one year before their first album came out."

Track listing

All songs written by Lennon–McCartney, except tracks 5 & 10 by George Harrison.

1. "Revolution" – 3:25
2. "Paperback Writer" – 2:19
3. "And Your Bird Can Sing" – 1:59
4. "Helter Skelter " – 4:31
5. "Savoy Truffle" – 2:54
6. "I'm Down" – 2:32
7. "I've Got a Feeling" (Let It Be... Naked version) – 3:38
8. "Back in the U.S.S.R." – 2:44
9. "You Can't Do That" – 2:35
10. "It's All Too Much" – 6:26
11. "She Said She Said" – 2:36
12. "Hey Bulldog" – 3:11
13. "Tomorrow Never Knows" – 2:59
14. "The End" (Anthology 3 version) – 2:52