"1" is a greatest hits album by The Beatles, released on November 13, 2000, to mark the 30th anniversary of the band's breakup. The compilation includes 27 of the band's number-one singles from 1962 to 1970, covering both the UK and US charts. It was a major commercial success, topping charts worldwide and selling over 31 million copies. It became the best-selling album of the 2000s in the US and remains one of the top-selling albums of the 21st century.
The album was curated by producer George Martin, along with Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. Notably, it includes tracks like "Hey Jude" in its full-length version, which had previously been shortened in other compilations. 1 was initially remastered in 2000, and later remastered and remixed again in 2011 and 2015, with Giles Martin, son of George Martin, overseeing the remixing process to make the audio "more immersive."
The album’s packaging features a pop art-style design by Rick Ward, with the iconic "1" logo. It includes a 32-page booklet with details about each single and the Beatles' history. A vinyl version was released in the UK, while the CD version was available globally, with a special fold-out poster in the vinyl packaging.
The success of 1 led to the release of similar "number one" compilation albums by other artists, including Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, and the Bee Gees.
