    anthology 3 is a compilation album by the beatles released in october 1996 by apple records as part of the beatles anthology series. the album includes rarities and alternative tracks from the final two years of the band's career, ranging from the initial sessions for the beatles (also known as the white album) to the last sessions for let it be and abbey road in later 1969 and early 1970. following "free as a bird" in anthology 1 and "real love" in anthology 2, a third john lennon solo demo entitled "now and then" was to be reworked by the three surviving members of the beatles for anthology 3. however, it was decided against due to complications and sound quality issues involving lennon's recording. in its place is "a beginning", an orchestral instrumental track initially intended for the white album. "a beginning" was composed by producer george martin and intended to be the intro track to the ringo starr penned "don't pass me by". similar to the previous anthology albums, the cover image painted by klaus voorman features a collage of the beatles-related imagery designed to appear as a wall of peeling posters and album covers. an updated picture of voorman can be seen in george harrison's hair in a segment of the revolver album cover. the album was certified 3x platinum by the riaa, and was the group's third double album in a row to reach no. 1 on the us charts, 
1996_compilation_albums Albums_arranged_by_George_Martin Albums_certified_double_platinum_by_the_Canadian_Recording_Industry_Association Albums_certified_gold_by_the_British_Phonographic_Industry Albums_certified_gold_by_the_Recording_Industry_Association_of_Japan Albums_certified_multi-platinum_by_the_Recording_Industry_Association_of_America Albums_produced_by_George_Martin Albums_recorded_at_Abbey_Road_Studios Albums_with_cover_art_by_Klaus_Voormann Apple_Records_compilation_albums Capitol_Records_compilation_albums Compilation_albums_published_posthumously English-language_compilation_albums The_Beatles_Anthology The_Beatles_compilation_albums