X

Still no Beatles, but Apple adds Lennon

Music from John Lennon's solo career is now available on iTunes, making him the third former Beatle to have their individual work on sale while the group's songs remain unavailable.

Tom Krazit Former Staff writer, CNET News
Tom Krazit writes about the ever-expanding world of Google, as the most prominent company on the Internet defends its search juggernaut while expanding into nearly anything it thinks possible. He has previously written about Apple, the traditional PC industry, and chip companies. E-mail Tom.
See full bio
Tom Krazit

Beatles fans can imagine a world where the iTunes Store can sell Rubber Soul, but today they'll have to settle for a working-class hero.

The Walrus is now on iTunes. Goo goo g'joob. Johnlennon.com

Apple announced Tuesday that the solo work of John Lennon is now available on The iTunes Store in the DRM-free iTunes Plus format, as part of Apple's agreement with EMI, Lennon's record label. Lennon joins Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr as solo artists featured on iTunes, but despite what appeared to be a truce in the bitter battle over the Apple trademarks between the California Mac maker and the famous Apple Records of the Beatles, the two sides have yet to come together.

The trademark dispute was settled in February, which makes me wonder why the two parties haven't managed to work out a distribution deal yet. Maybe the Beatles are waiting for a better deal, or a special U2-like themed iPod, or perhaps they are considering testing the digital waters with other services, such as the new gBox venture supported by Apple's good friend Google and directly backed by not-so-good friend Universal.

Lennon's not a bad consolation prize, but come on, folks, quit playing mind games. "John would have loved the fact that his music will now be available in a format suited to a new generation of listeners," said Yoko Ono, John's wife and Beatle-wrecker (kidding), in the press release announcing the deal.