The Beatles Soar With A New Compilation — But The Band Is Blocked From No. 1

When the two remaining Beatles members, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, released the single “Now and Then” in 2023, the musicians promised that it was the last that would ever emerge from the beloved band. Of course, that refers to new music, not old recordings finally seeing the light of day.

There is an intense demand for all things connected to the Fab Four, which means there will likely never be an end to the countless stream of compilations, live albums, and more, as they typically sell incredibly well, even more than half a century after many of the group’s most famous tunes were shared with the world.

The Beatles have unleashed Anthology 4, the fourth installment of the retrospective series The Beatles Anthology, on Friday (November 21). Unsurprisingly, it becomes a strong seller in the United Kingdom right out of the gate, though it has yet to reach No. 1, which is slightly unusual for one of the most celebrated musical acts of all time.

Anthology 4 by The Beatles Debuts Inside the Top 10

At the time of writing, Anthology 4 ranks as one of the strongest sellers on the iTunes Top Albums chart in the U.K. The compilation sits, appropriately, at No. 4.

Who Blocks The Beatles From No. 1?

The three titles that beat The Beatles on the iTunes Top Albums list in the U.K. are largely brand new. The roster is led by the Wicked: For Good soundtrack, which is credited to both Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, as well as the entire Wicked cast. South Korean boy band Stray Kids launch the Do It EP at No. 2, while The Stone Roses appear at No. 3 with the band’s self-titled effort, which becomes a sudden bestseller all over again. Following Anthology 4 are new releases from Aerosmith, Yungblud, Olly Murs, and De La Soul, among others.

What Is Featured on Anthology 4 by The Beatles?

Anthology 4 features almost 40 songs, though many have been released in the past. At this point, when it comes to The Beatles’ music, there are seemingly no previously unreleased original compositions left, and fans are now flocking to buy albums full of slightly altered mixes of famous tunes.

The standouts include updated versions of singles like “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love,” which have been cleaned up using the same artificial intelligence that allowed The Beatles to release “Now and Then” with the contributions of both John Lennon and George Harrison years after their deaths. Other well-known cuts that appear across the two-CD or three-LP collections include recordings of “Nowhere Man,” “Strawberry Fields Forever,” “All You Need Is Love,” and “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”

The Beatles Score Multiple New Bestselling Songs

The Beatles fill three spaces on the iTunes Top Songs chart in the U.K. The 2025 mix of “Real Love” becomes an impressive top-40 bestseller as it lands at No. 37. “Now and Then,” which has already won a Grammy and hit No. 1 in the U.K., lives at No. 94, while the updated edition of “Free as a Bird” breaks in at No. 155 on the 200-spot roster.

The Beatles Chart Multiple Bestselling Albums in the U.K.

All the excitement around Anthology 4 has spurred a buying frenzy of Beatles titles, as the group fills nine spots on the iTunes Top Albums chart. The roundup of bestsellers in the act’s home nation includes Rubber Soul, both 1967–1970 and 1962–1966 — commonly referred to as the Blue Album and the Red Album, respectively — Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Revolver, Abbey Road, and A Hard Day’s Night, all of which break back onto the competitive list, following well behind Anthology 4.

The History of The Beatles’ Anthology Series

The Beatles initiated the Anthology series in 1995. The first of the four compilations reached No. 2 on the U.K.’s albums chart. Less than a year later, Anthology 2 climbed to No. 1, while Anthology 3, which dropped before the end of 1996, peaked at No. 4. Expectations are high for Anthology 4, but since it includes so little to entice Beatles superfans, where it will land on the charts is hard to predict.