Due to extreme laziness I'm virtually retired from Ciao, although I'll still read and post the odd o...
Due to extreme laziness I'm virtually retired from Ciao, although I'll still read and post the odd op every now and then......
Member since:16.01.2001
Reviews:369
Members who trust:124
Many , Many years ago the Beatles split up with much wailing and gnashing on teeth among their fans. As will all good groups the record companies saw their cash cows going west and started to think of ways to maintain their lucrative earnings on the back of this prodigious talent. Apple / EMI came up with two excellent compilations known as The Red (this one) and The Blue (1967-1970) albums which contained the most essential of the Beatles' recordings.
These were originally released on vinyl (they are that old), but were obviously a prime target for CD Re-issue.
My two complaints about these boxed sets is that they can still cost you between twenty and thirty pounds to buy. That is exorbitant for previously recorded material and from that point of view I would advise that you avoid these albums unless you can get them for substantially under twenty pounds. You can pick them up from Amazon for 18.99 GBP plus postage.
My second complaint relates to the Red album (this one). It consists of two CDs but clocks in at a miserly sixty minutes. This was acceptable on the vinyl format, as shorter albums are more durable, due to less groove cramming. However it is totally unacceptable on CD format. Either it should have been a single CD, or extra tracks should have been included ton boost the running time to a respectable length. Remember this is a compilation so you have no problems of artistic integrity and the like.
The content of the album is faultless consisting of twenty six single tracks from the years 1962 to 1966. The album listings are as follows:
Disc: 1
1. Love Me Do 2. Please, Please Me 3. From Me to You 4. She Loves You 5. I Want to Hold Your Hand 6. All My Loving 7. Can't Buy Me Love 8. A Hard Day's Night 9. And I Love Her 10. Eight Days a Week 11. I Feel Fine 12. Ticket to Ride 13. Yesterday
Disc: 2
1. Help! 2. You've Got to Hide Your Love Away 3. We Can Work It Out 4. Day Tripper 5. Drive My Car 6. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) 7. Nowhere Man 8. Michelle 9. In My Life 10. Girl 11. Paperback Writer 12. Eleanor Rigby 13. Yellow Submarine
Even at this early stage in their career (pre Sergeant Pepper) the breadth of sound is stunning. From the all out rock and roll of "I Want To Be Your Man" (also covered by The Rolling Stones) and ""Help" to the orchestral balladry of "Yesterday" and "Eleanor Rigby" and it includes , what in my opinion is their finest ever single "Paperback Writer" featuring a stunning guitar arpeggio and one of McCartney's best ever bass lines, and some fantastic vocal harmonising.
Every track is superb, but why they couldn't have included stuff like "Twist and Shout", "Rain" and some of their many rock and roll covers I don't know, I assume they were just maximising their profits.
While the content of this CD is excellent the value for money isn't and I reckon that the "1" CD is far better value for money featuring 27 (1 more track than this collection) number one singles on a single CD for approximately half the cost.
Its up to you to decide, to reiterate quality five stars, value one star.
That's why I give it an excellent rating , but do not recommend it to buy.
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Ignore the last comment! I meant to post it on your 'Blue album' review.....
Mauri 10.10.2001 11:38
This is also a very good compilation although it probably doesn't do full justice to the 'White' Album. They probably should have released a third compilation!
Elainebaba 09.10.2001 17:51
You know why it is a rip off! because you are going to twist and shout at the rain! Seriously though good points you have made there.
Avril
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Oct 9th, 2001
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