A Beginning - The Threetles chose not to enhance a third John Lennon demo for release following Free as a Bird and Real Love, so this collection opens instead with an orchestral piece from producer George Martin. Mark Lewisohn's liner notes state that this was recorded as an introduction to Ringo's composition Don't Pass Me By, and while that may be the case, this music is clearly heard in the film Yellow Submarine in the sequence right after the main titles as the sun rises over the city (London? Liverpool?) skyline.
Happiness is a Warm Gun - The group convened in May of '68 at George's house in Esher before proper sessions began for the "White Album" to record demos of the many songs they had already written. Lennon had only the middle sections of this number at this point, including a "Yoko Ono no, Yoko Ono yes" piece which was thankfully not part of the eventual master.
Helter Skelter - The Anthology briefly jumps ahead to the actual sessions to present an early take of McCartney's anarchic rocker, done here at a slow, deliberate pace as part of an extended jam.
Mean Mr. Mustard - The next six numbers are from the Esher demos, with each composer taking the time to double-track his tunes. This Lennon song would not resurface until the Abbey Road sessions in mid-1969. It has an extra section here which would not make the master.
Polythene Pam - This Lennon piece would also become part of the Abbey Road medley more than a year later than this recording, minus some of these lyrics.
Glass Onion - The final Lennon demo is a song that would make the cut for the "White Album." John only had the first verse at this point, repeating it twice and slowing it down seductively the last time around before throwing in some double-tracked nonsense at the end.
Junk - McCartney's first demo is this lovely tune that he would not record properly until he made his first solo album. It would have been a welcome addition to the "White Album" in place of a throwaway track such as Wild Honey Pie.
Piggies - Harrison's demo is this nearly-completed social satire. A slight change in the lyrics from "cut their pork chops" to "eat their bacon" and the addition of a musical coda were all that it was lacking at this time.
Honey Pie - The final demo is this wonderful Tin Pan Alley number from McCartney. Though the lyrics are incomplete, this recording has a little percussion and some vocal interjections in the background from John.
Don't Pass Me By - This is the basic track of Ringo's first solo composition featuring only the composer on drums and Paul on keyboard (every reference I've found says he's playing piano but it sure sounds like an organ). The vocal was overdubbed a day later.
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da - Here is a finished master comprising three days' work on a slicker and slightly faster version of this love-it-or-hate-it song by McCartney, which was almost released as the B-side of a single to accompany the Sessions album in 1985. The backing vocals and the saxophone parts are somewhat different, there are a xylophone and congas on the track and the sound has quite a bit of echo overall. A few days later, the group would start recording the remake we all recognize.
Good Night - The last item on side one is a rehearsal of this Lennon composition sung by Ringo. All of the Beatles and producer George Martin can be heard encouraging the drummer before George counts him in and he sings along with a piano (Paul?) and simple percussion. The Anthology crossfades into Martin's lush orchestration from the master at the end.
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