|
Post by jk on Jan 14, 2021 20:31:09 GMT
Ha. When I was at school, almost everyone was Beatles crazy, which put me off them for years. Looking back on this album so many years later and checking the track listing, I must say I don't see a bad song in sight. Everything has something to recommend it. And it includes one of my all-time favourite songs by anyone, "There's A Place".
The six covers and eight originals on Please Please Me shouldn't gel by rights but they do. "Misery" seems to have one foot in each camp -- it sounds every bit a cover of an old song! Of course, the album as a whole turned the musical world as it was then on its head. In many ways, it vies with the UK Rubber Soul as my favourite Beatles album, with Revolver and Abbey Road in hot pursuit.
Ten.
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Jan 19, 2021 12:26:13 GMT
Today is the final day of voting on Please Please Me, so if you haven't yet but want to be counted, please get your rating in.
|
|
|
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 19, 2021 15:02:14 GMT
I like this version. Paul made it his own here:
|
|
|
Post by kds on Jan 19, 2021 15:18:36 GMT
I like this version. Paul made it his own here:
I wish I'd have seen that tour. Too Many People was also in that setlist.
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Jan 19, 2021 15:32:59 GMT
That is a good version, but I have to say it (totally understandably) sounds more polished and professional, less frenzied-energetic and jubilant, than the original. No criticism, though. And I'm sure it would have been an amazing show. I've never seen McCartney live, and I wonder whether that's going to be a permanent misfortune. (Who knows when, whether, or where he'll tour again.)
|
|
|
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 19, 2021 15:39:08 GMT
That is a good version, but I have to say it (totally understandably) sounds more polished and professional, less frenzied-energetic and jubilant, than the original. No criticism, though.
Oh, absolutely. That's what I meant when I said that Paul made it his own. He took a John-led Beatles' song and turned it into a kinda solo Paul McCartney song. The audience reaction could've been edited but I like how they're affected by the song/performance.
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Jan 19, 2021 15:44:23 GMT
The audience reaction could've been edited but I like how they're affected by the song/performance. Absolutely. While I tend to be very cynical and detached about a LOT of things, I have to admit the emotional power of being present for live music. I've said before, I actually teared up at my first Brian Wilson concert (NBA Draft Night, 2001, opening for Paul Simon) when they did "Don't Worry Baby," a song I didn't even like at all ... until that night. Since then, I can't in good conscience belittle emotional responses to live music.
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Jan 20, 2021 13:04:00 GMT
In November 1963--eight months after their debut--the Beatles released their sophomore album, With the Beatles. Like its predecessor, it features a mix of originals (eight) and covers (six). It also includes the first composition by George Harrison to appear on a Beatles album, "Don't Bother Me."
It also followed several singles that had been released between albums, none of which appeared on the album. They were released at different times in different places; we will address them when we get to the compilation albums of non-album singles, Past Masters 1&2.
The album reached #1 in the UK and Germany. It was eventually certified gold (despite being released in 1987) in the US as well as numerous other countries.
Please rate and discuss With the Beatles.
|
|
|
Post by kds on Jan 20, 2021 13:19:58 GMT
9 for With the Beatles. Sonically, it's a better album, and I think the chosen covers fit the band a little better.
There's a bit of growth on this album, probably most notably on All My Loving. Also, thematically, songs like Not a Second Time and George's Don't Bother Me go a little beyond the boy meets girl lyrics.
|
|
|
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 20, 2021 13:41:55 GMT
I like all of the Beatles' albums. I can put any of them on any time and enjoy them. That being said, I probably like With The Beatles less than most of their other ones. Just comparing it with the predecessor, Please Please Me, there aren't as many "highs" - I prefer "I Saw Her Standing There", "Please Please Me", "Twist And Shout", "Do You Wanna Know A Secret", "Boys", "There's A Place", and "P.S. I Love You" over most of the songs on With The Beatles. Oh, there are some real highlights on With The Beatles including "All My Loving", "Please Mr. Postman", "Money", and I guess "It Won't Be Long". However, I find the rest to be middle-of-the-road Beatles' songs. They used the better/best songs - "From Me to You", "Thank You Girl", "I'll Get You", "She Loves You", and "I Want To Hold Your Hand" - as singles. The vocals on With The Beatles are superb as usual, the production again is good, and the album cover was cutting edge. But, I think I'll have to give the album a rating lower than Please Please Me, which I gave an 8. It might be a little harsh but I'm going with a 6. It's just not a favorite. Now, if they would've included those singles on the album...
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Jan 20, 2021 14:58:53 GMT
6
I'm going along with SJS on this. The "flaw," such as it is, is that they simply weren't using the best material they had available--and the album suffers for it! I respect their feeling at the time, which as I understand it was that they thought it was ripping off fans to put already-released (and so already-purchased) singles on albums. But realistically, at least all three A-sides of those non-album singles ("From Me To You," "She Loves You," and "I Want To Hold Your Hand") would have been among the best songs on With The Beatles had they been on it. My rating would have been in the 8-9 range with those songs included.
It's still a really good album, especially for one following its predecessor by just eight months. But I was looking at the Allmusic review this morning and have to disagree almost 180 degrees. They say it's an improvement over Please Please Me (though, having given that five stars, there was nowhere else to go with the rating), about which I disagree. And they say that while the covers are good, it's the originals that stand out; I think it's often the covers that stand out. I love "Til There Was You," "Please Mister Postman," and "You Really Got a Hold On Me" especially.
Among the originals, my favorites are "All My Loving"--the triplet pattern in the electric guitar and constantly walking bass are awesome!--"It Won't Be Long," and "I Wanna Be Your Man."
Six does feel a little low, but honestly I'm closer to 6.5, but just too low to be rounding up. It's still a really good album, to be sure. Unlike jk, 6 is not my floor; it's well over halfway up the ladder and represents an album I appreciate and like. But it's no classic album when set beside the all-timers.
|
|
|
Post by jk on Jan 20, 2021 21:29:05 GMT
I'm not a fan of this album, probably because I'm not much of a Beatles fan (Rubber Soul is the next one I can appreciate). I think "Roll Over Beethoven" is my least favourite cover of a Chuck Berry song by anyone. On the plus side, John's cover of "Please Mr Postman" is cool -- his voice even sounds like that of The Marvelettes' Gladys Horton at times! I actually prefer their version of "You Really Got A Hold On Me" to The Miracles' original, a quite unprecedented state of affairs for me. "I Wanna Be Your Man" has some cool organ on it -- and that's about it.
Six.
|
|
|
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 20, 2021 22:16:27 GMT
The funny thing about the songs on With The Beatles is that I never heard any of them (with the exception of "All My Loving") for years after 1964. We had the 45s of "She Loves You" and "I Want To Hold Your Hand", but we didn't have the album. I even remember playing "I'll Get You". They were the songs that were played prominently on the radio, not the With The Beatles tracks. I heard some of the With The Beatles songs for the first time when I bought that Rock 'n' Roll Music comp in 1976, and when I eventually bought the With The Beatles CD.
I do have to give the early Beatles credit for supplying their fans with nice, full albums. Please Please Me was 14 songs at 32:16 and With The Beatles was another 14 songs at 33:07 - plus the singles and flip-sides! They certainly didn't cheat anybody.
|
|
|
Post by kds on Jan 21, 2021 13:08:11 GMT
The funny thing about the songs on With The Beatles is that I never heard any of them (with the exception of "All My Loving") for years after 1964. We had the 45s of "She Loves You" and "I Want To Hold Your Hand", but we didn't have the album. I even remember playing "I'll Get You". They were the songs that were played prominently on the radio, not the With The Beatles tracks. I heard some of the With The Beatles songs for the first time when I bought that Rock 'n' Roll Music comp in 1976, and when I eventually bought the With The Beatles CD.
I do have to give the early Beatles credit for supplying their fans with nice, full albums. Please Please Me was 14 songs at 32:16 and With The Beatles was another 14 songs at 33:07 - plus the singles and flip-sides! They certainly didn't cheat anybody.
I think one of the things I like about With the Beatles is that it doesn't have a ton of "obvious" Beatles songs, but still rock solid quality.
|
|
|
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 23, 2021 16:57:09 GMT
Two covers on With The Beatles were legitimate oldies - "Til There Was You" (an old show tune) and "Roll Over Beethoven" (released by Chuck Berry in 1956) - but the other four covers were recent recordings/hits:
- "Please Mr. Postman" - released by The Marvelettes in 1961 - "You Really Got A Hold On Me" - released by The Miracles in 1962 - "Devil In Her Heart" - released by Donays in 1962 - "Money (That's What I Want)" - released by Barrett Strong in 1959
That's quite an infatuation with Motown/The Detroit Sound.
|
|