The Beatles might be the most acclaimed rock group ever to walk the face of the planet, but their catalog of original albums is only really up to the standards of late ’80s CD sound quality. But come Sept. 9, all that will change. Apple/EMI is re-releasing The Beatles original albums and well the “Magical Mystery Tour” EP and a two-disc “Past Masters” set that collects up singles, b-sides and stray EP tracks -- all with remastered sound.

These releases will happen the same day as the Fab Four’s Rock Band release and their BBC documentary, “The Beatles on Record.” The CD releases will come packaged with the original UK album art replicated, plus booklets containing original and new liner notes and rare photos. There will also be limited edition documentary films embedded in the individual CD. The new liner notes were penned by Kevin Howlett and Mike Heatley.

Also on Sept. 9, two new Beatles boxed CD collections will be released. One will contain the re-released CDs (which are being put out in stereo – including the first four, which were originally put out in mono).

The other will feature the original mono albums, and is called, appropriately enough, “The Beatles in Mono.” It will offer the original LP releases in mono. According to Beatles historian and author Bruce Spizer, this set will be essential for Beatle fans because it will include the much-sought-after “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album's mono mix, which was the way the group intended the album to be heard. Spizer also notes the box will offer the “white album” mono mix, which is super-rare, since it was never released in the U.S. at all.

As for the digital distribution of the catalogue, discussions are apparently still continuing. Just for the record, below is the list of what’s being released and what’s unique about each release.

Albums:

Please Please Me (CD debut in stereo)

With The Beatles (CD debut in stereo)

A Hard Day's Night (CD debut in stereo)

Beatles For Sale (CD debut in stereo)

Help!

Rubber Soul

Revolver

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band* (also includes 1987 notes, updated, and new intro by Paul McCartney)

Magical Mystery Tour

The Beatles

Yellow Submarine (the original album not the songtrack; also includes original US liner notes)

Abbey Road

Let It Be

Past Masters (a double CD that has new liner notes written by Kevin Howlett)

Box sets:

The stereo box set (containing all of the above CDs)

The Beatles in Mono box set, with all the LPs up to the “white album,” and a separate disc of “mono masters” (i.e. singles and EP tracks in mono)