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Not applicable
Value for Money
Advantages:
The Beatles
Disadvantages:
None
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Hi there:Yes, don't they look like if they were pissed-off in the cover of this album? If you haven't seen it before, I'll tell you this cover was a photograph made by Robert Freeman (as usual) in Hyde park. It's only them, the four members of the band, looking at the photograph camera with this serious faces. Why? they were not very happy about this bealtemania going on by that time (1964). They were tired of this big concerts, this long and constant touring, in witch they were never heard by anyone. It was all about them, and not their music. And they were fed up with all that. The back cover is just the same, only changing the view, but not their "sad" faces. The inside left photograph shows the Beatles during one of their performances at some TV show, with the list of songs above this picture. Inside right there's a photo-montage with a lot of photos (maybe the inspiration behind the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band cover). There are also sleeves notes written by Dereck Taylor(Beatles press officer).
Anyway, this album took 2 months and a half to record, and it was finally released on 4 decenber 1964, entering the top 30 from the first day. Only eight of the fourteen tracks were compiled by the Beatles (probably because of this constant touring). But, as always, there's a big improvement in this songs composed by them, and in this album, there's a big presence of McCartney, who composed 3 songs for this album by his own (same number than Lennon) and another one composed by both Lennon and McCartney.
And now, the songs:
1. No reply:
Main composer: Lennon, singer: Lennon. A slow nice song, meant to be a single, but it finally appeared on this album. An acoustic theme with George MArtin playing piano on the session. It took a few takes, some of them very funny (you can hear them on this anthology 1 album). Paul at second voice in the bridges.
Rate: 7/10
2. I,m a loser:
Main composer: Lennon, singer: Lennon. Another slow song, that shows the state of mood the Beatles were at. Lennon wasn't happy with his life as a Beatle, and this tittle got a lot to do with this fact. John said he was influenced by Bob Dylan when he wrote this song, that was originally considered for release a single along with "No reply".
Rate: 7/10
3. Baby's in black:
Main composer: Lennon/McCartney, singer: Lennon/McCartney. This is my favourite song from this album, and it also happens to be the only Lennon/McCartney one. It's kind of a vals, this 3x4 rythm, with a nice guitar solo played by Harrison. I really like this song, the rythm is not the usual rock and roll bands rythm, and also, this two voices together are lovely, and very well sung. It says they were inspired by Astrid Kirchher, who had been mourning Stuart Sutcliffe's death. This was one of the songs which the Beatles performed regulary in concert, with Paul announcing "and now for something different..." (this was before the Monthy Python's TV show, lol).
Rate: 10/10
4. Rock and roll music:
Main composer: Chuck Berry, singer: Lennon. This song was a hit in 1957, by Berry, one of Lennon's idols, and the Beatles included it in their repertoire in the early 60's (the 'cavern' and all that). A clasic rock and roll song very fast, with Lennon singing it with his special sort of voice. They would also sung this sung in concert almost always (one of the few non-Lennon/McCartney composition to remain in their repertoire for several years (until 1966, when they finished their tourings).
Rate: 7/10
5. I'll follow the sun:
Main composer: McCartney, singer: McCartney. Lovely slow song written by Paul in the 50's (yes, the 50's, not 64 when the song was recorded and released). He was 16 when he wrote it, sitting somewhere just looking to the sun throught the window. Very nice song with a weird solo part. Lennon sung the second voice in the bridge, in a quiet tune.
Rate: 8/10
6. Mr. Moonlight:
Main composer: Roy Lee Jackson, singer: Lennon. This song was released in 1962 by Dr. Feelgood & The Interns, but it wasn't a hit number. There's a false begining at Anthology I, and there's also a different really weird organ solo. The final track would be a guitar solo played by Harrison, and Lennon's voice, just wonderful.
Rate: 8/10
7. Kansas city/Hey, hey, hey, hey!:
Main composer: Leiber, Stoller and Penniman, singer: McCartney. Two songs joined together. The first one, Kansas city, a clasic rock and roll penned by Leiber and Stoller, the guys who almost all the material recorded by Elvis in his early years. The second one was penned by Little Richard (real name Richard PEnniman), one of McCartney's idols ever. He sung this song with this shouts aloud, like Richard used to do. VEry fast good sond.
Rate: 7/10
8. Eight days a week:
Main composer: Lennon, singer: Lennon and McCartney. Love song about how many days can John love his girl (8 days a week, that's too much love). He wrote this song quickly, and was meant to be the tittle of their next film, which turned out to be "Help!", another Lennon's song.
Rate: 7/10
9. Words of love:
Main composer: Buddy Holly, singer: Lennon and McCartney. Holly was another of McCartney's idols. In fact, he's the owner of his songs, after he bought the rights years ago, in the 80's. This 'Words of love' was released in 1957 by Buddy Holly and the Crickets, and the guitar played by Harrison during the whole song and specially at the solo part is fantastic. They used to sing this song in their early years, back in the 50's, with Lennon and Harrisong sharing voices. McCartney would share voices with Lennon in this track.
Rate: 8/10
10. Honey Don't:
Main composer: Carl Perkins, singer: Starr. This song was released by Perkins in 1956, in his famous and great album "Blue suede shoes". When they included this song into their repertoire, it was Lennon the songer, but in the final track, Ringo is the one who sings it, in his nassal style... By the way, I like how Ringo played drums for this song, with parts where there are only drums and Ringo's voice. Also goos Harrison at the guitar riffs during the song.
Rate: 8/10
11. Every little thing:
Main composer: Unclear, singer: Lennon. Slow nice song, but not the bests ones... Is not clear who penned this one, but lennon credited it to Paul in an interview for playboy.
Rate: 6/10
12. I don't want to spoil the party:
Main composer: Lennon, singer: Lennon. Very good song with the clasic second voices sung by McCartney and Harrison (this "Ooooohhh!" kind of second voices). Lennon wrote this one in his early days. He said that in those days he wrote less material than Pual, because Paul was more competent on guitar than him. I really like this one.
Rate: 9/10
13. What you're doing:
Main composer: McCartney, singer: McCartney. Very nice slow song penned by Paul McCartney, in which he shows us what a great singer he was (not only song writing or bass guitar player, he really was a great singer, probably, the best of the four members of the band). I like this second voice sung by Lennon, by singing only the first word of each line. Also, nice riff guitars played by Harrison.
Rate: 8/10
14. Everybody's trying to be my baby:
Main composer: Carl Perkins, singer: Harrison. Another song in this album penned by Perkins (released by him in 1958), but this time, Harrison playing lead vocals. Goos rock and roll song penned by one of the clasic rock and rollers from the 50's, and second song penned by him included in this album (there's also matchbox, penned by Perkins, and released by the beatles, but not in this album).
Rate: 6/10
Well, there's nothing more I can say about this album. Another great album recorded and released by The Beatles, their fourth one, and another album I just recommend you all. And now, the musicians:
-John Lennon: Rhythm Guitar, lead vocals, vocals and harmonica. -Paul McCartney: Bass guitar, lead vocals and vocals. -George Harrison: Lead guitar, lead vocals and vocals -Ringo Starr: Drums and lead vocals. -George Martin: Producer, and fifth beatle....
ciao!,
BLUESY
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Outstanding
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Outstanding
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