Beatles '64

Production

David Tedeschi directed the film after first working with Apple Corps as an editor on Martin Scorsese's documentary George Harrison: Living in the Material World, through which both directors became close with Olivia Harrison. Scorsese produced alongside Olivia Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Sean Ono Lennon, Margaret Bodde, Jonathan Clyde, and Mikaela Beardsley, with Jeff Jones and Rick Yorn as executive producers. The documentary uses footage shot by Albert and David Maysles for the 1964 film What's Happening!

The Beatles in the U.S.A., restored in 4K by Park Road Post. New interviews with McCartney and Starr were recorded. Restored footage of the Beatles' February 1964 Ed Sullivan Show performances and Washington Coliseum concert appears, with audio remixed by Giles Martin using de-mixing technology from Peter Jackson's WingNut Films, previously applied to the 2022 Revolver reissue and the 2023 1962–1966 reissue.

Soundtrack

A soundtrack compilation dropped on streaming services and for digital purchase on November 22, 2024, arriving a week before the documentary itself. It gathers the Beatles’ own studio recordings of songs heard in the film, plus the original versions of tunes they covered, like Chuck Berry’s “Roll Over Beethoven” and Little Richard’s “Long Tall Sally.” The set also features Smokey Robinson and the Miracles performing “Yesterday” on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1968. Unless noted, all tracks are Lennon–McCartney compositions performed by the Beatles. The album draws on the 2023 remix from the 1962–1966 reissue and the 2009 remaster from The Beatles: Stereo Box Set.