A quick, relatively inconsequential bit from gossipy gadfly Roger Friedman: he's apparently getting word that EMI/Capitol is planning to start overhauling the much-in-need-of-overhauling catalogue of Apple Records.

As any Beatlemaniac can tell you, Apple Records was The Beatles' own label, created in 1968 (part and parcel of the whole Apple Corps unit The Fab Four had spearheaded). Although the band broke up not long after its creation, Apple would be the home to several notable names through the first half of the 1970s. In addition to many of John, Paul George and Ringo's early solo releases, the label put out material by Billy Preston, Mary Hopkin, Doris Troy and others. The most notable for collectors, though, might be Badfinger (the tragic power-pop legends and arguably one of the best non-Beatle acts to come from the label) and James Taylor (whose debut LP was released on the label in 1968 and has never seen a CD release  my mistake, it was put on CD at least once).

Now, what's Friedman's claim to the reissue news? Nothing, admittedly. And as nice as it would be to see these many rare records get their due on CD, it's not going to be an easy process. For years, Apple Corps had been too engaged in legal wrangling with EMI (over royalties) and Apple Computer (over trademark disputes) to put out much product. Now that those suits have mostly been defused (giving us The Beatles' remasters and The Beatles: Rock Band video game), it's EMI's turn to have problems with just about everything.

Also, Friedman's insinuation that Capitol is going to distribute Apple reissues runs counter to the prevailing rumor that it'll be Rhino, not EMI, overseeing future dealings with the non-Beatles portion of Apple's catalogue. It was more or less confirmed on the Hoffman boards that remastering work had commenced on a handful of the other Apple LPs at Abbey Road (a discussion that was quickly squashed when the conversation began to insinuate that previous masterings - some of which were done by Steve Hoffman himself for DCC - were not based off the original master tapes).

Granted, everything we're dealing with on both sides is simply rumor. But it would be a treat for fans old and new to discover or rediscover the Apple discography past those fab young men. Hopefully more concrete info will surface as the year continues.