Apple’s iTunes slaat commercieel misschien een grote slag met het nieuwe, digitale verzamelalbum Tomorrow never knows van the Beatles, maar het is ook een teken van erkenning, al zijn de twee erg verweven.

Dat album komt namelijk in tegenstelling tot eerdere verzamelaars niet ook uit als fysieke cd, maar alleen digitaal.

Op Tomorrow never knows staan veertien songs die ‘van grote invloed zouden zijn geweest op de ontwikkeling van de latere rockmuziek’. Dat blijft overigens een dubieuze claim, want dat kun je zo ongeveer van elke Beatles-song zeggen.

EMI en Apple vinden in ieder geval dat dat geldt voor : Revolution, Paperback Writer, And Your Bird Can Sing, Helter Skelter, Savoy Truffle, I’m Down, I’ve Got A Feeling (in de Let It Be Naked versie), Back In The U.S.S.R., You Can’t Do That, It’s All Too Much, She Said She Said,  Hey Bulldog en The End (in de Anthology III-versie).

Apple en EMI strikten ex-Nirvana-lid en Foo Fighter Dave Grohl voor de eveneens digitale liner notes, waarin zijn liefde voor the Beatles belijdt:

‘If it weren’t for The Beatles, I would not be a musician. It’s as simple as that. From a very young age I became fascinated with their songs, and over the years have drowned myself in the depth of their catalogue. Their groove and their swagger. Their grace and their beauty. Their dark and their light. The Beatles seemed to be capable of anything. They knew no boundaries, and in that freedom they seemed to define what we now know today as ‘Rock and Roll.’

Recently I showed my 6-year-old daughter, Violet, the brilliant Yellow Submarine movie. It was her introduction to The Beatles, and she instantly shared the same fascination I felt when I was her age discovering The Beatles for the first time. She wanted to know their names, which instruments they played, who sang what song, etc etc etc….it made me so incredibly happy (and proud!). Within days she knew the verses and choruses to every song on the album. But, there was one song that stood out for her….

‘”Hey Bulldog” is not one of The Beatles’ greatest hits. It’s what most people would consider a ‘deep cut.’ But it is a quintessential Beatles rocker. The rolling bass line, the trademark Ringo drum fills, the gritty distorted guitar, and that sound that only the back of Lennon’s throat could produce. It stomps. It grooves. It makes your head bob. It makes your hips shake. When Lennon sings, ‘If you’re lonely you can talk to me!’ it soothes your heart, like you’ve finally found something to believe in. It’s so raw and real. It is 100% timeless Rock and Roll…

From one generation to the next, The Beatles will remain the most important rock band of all time.

Just ask Violet.’