|
Post by jk on Feb 3, 2021 13:46:59 GMT
Please rate and discuss the Beatles' Beatles For Sale.
You're doing a great job, Cap'n. BFS is as consistently good as its predecessor. I should say now before I forget that folks in the UK looked on in horror and disbelief at the mess Capitol in the US was making of these iconic albums by what was by then (and still is) considered the greatest pop band of all time. Anyway... This one has some real corkers on it, not least "Eight Days A Week" (more fiddling with the concept of time ) and "Rock And Roll Music", arguably the best cover by anyone of a Chuck Berry song. The excellent and respectful Carl Perkins covers are not far behind. Nine or eight? (Decisions, decisions!) H'mm. I think nine.
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Feb 3, 2021 14:07:59 GMT
I should say now before I forget that folks in the UK looked on in horror and disbelief at the mess Capitol in the US was making of these iconic albums by what was by then (and still is) considered the greatest pop band of all time. Anyway... I find this aspect really interesting. Does anyone in the US recall the feeling as these different albums were released here? Was it even well understood, or were the countries sufficiently separated that Americans didn't really realize they were getting different albums?
While I often don't like the sanitizing of catalogues after the fact (e.g. Velvet Underground having just four studio albums, as if the post-Reed material didn't exist), I do appreciate the Beatles having more or less clarified which were the "real" albums, the canonical list of British albums plus singles comps.
|
|
|
Post by kds on Feb 3, 2021 14:09:20 GMT
When I first got into The Beatles, and their albums, Beatles for Sale was one that I pretty consistently overlooked. I've seen the error of my ways in the last decade, as this is still a damn good album.
John Lennon's lyric writing is starting to mature here (apparently, after The Beatles' legendary pot smoking session with Dylan), as evidenced on the opening tracks No Reply and I'm a Loser. You have the iconic Eight Days a Week, and great album tracks Baby's In Black and What You're Doing. No doubt Every Little Thing caught the attention of one Jeff Lynne.
The Beatles are back to doing covers, but that's understandable considering the amount of material on albums and singles they were releasing at the time. I'm with you, JK, in that Rock and Roll Music might be my favorite Chuck Berry cover. Honey Don't is a welcome return from Ringo to the mic. Even the much maligned Mr. Moonlight features great harmonies and a terrific John lead.
I'd say this album, and the next one, might be The Beatles two most underrated (if there's a such thing as an underrated Beatles album).
9
|
|
|
Post by jk on Feb 3, 2021 18:12:45 GMT
I should say now before I forget that folks in the UK looked on in horror and disbelief at the mess Capitol in the US was making of these iconic albums by what was by then (and still is) considered the greatest pop band of all time. Anyway... I find this aspect really interesting. Does anyone in the US recall the feeling as these different albums were released here? Was it even well understood, or were the countries sufficiently separated that Americans didn't really realize they were getting different albums?
While I often don't like the sanitizing of catalogues after the fact (e.g. Velvet Underground having just four studio albums, as if the post-Reed material didn't exist), I do appreciate the Beatles having more or less clarified which were the "real" albums, the canonical list of British albums plus singles comps.
I get the impression that Brian had no difficulty with the less gritty US Rubber Soul ("an album of all good stuff") so I suspect people were happy with what they got and didn't question it. As you suggest, they may well have been unaware of the fact they were getting a different album each time. Maybe @theprofessor has some perspective on this...
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Feb 3, 2021 19:13:55 GMT
8.
This is another one where I want to ensure people understand that an 8 is, in my book, a huge compliment! It means what I consider a very good-to-great album, but one that just doesn't live up to the really great albums, or the very best, the perfect albums.
John Lennon is quoted as saying at the time that "you could call our new one a Beatles country and western LP." I don't quite think it's country music, but it certainly does incorporate a folk and country sound. (Interestingly, all eight originals include acoustic guitar prominently in the arrangements.)
High points? There are many. The bass line in "I'm a Loser, especially in the refrain! The already mentioned cover of "Rock and Roll Music." The not-yet mentioned Buddy Holly cover, the excellent "Words of Love." The gorgeous "If I Fell" and the spectacular "Eight Days a Week" as singles (in the UK and US, respectively). The beginnings of real studio creativity in both recording techniques and arrangements ... there is a lot to love!
Why 8? It's just not quite as strong as some of the other albums, as made noticeable especially by A Hard Day's Night coming right before it. Some of the covers especially are fine, but not all that interesting. Does this slight dip in quality mean it's not a good album? No, it's a VERY good album! It's just not up to their peak.
|
|
|
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Feb 4, 2021 18:23:19 GMT
Please Please Me...love, With The Beatles...it's OK, A Hard Day's Night...love, Beatles For Sale...it's OK. I see a trend here.
Like With The Beatles, I don't hear the great Lennon/McCartney songs on Beatles For Sale. Oh, some are good and very good, especially the first three songs on Side 1. I've never been a big fan of "Eight Days A Week". "I Don't Want To Spoil The Party" and "What You Doing"...they're OK. Actually, two of the covers - "Honey Don't" (especially) and "Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby" are two of my favorite songs on the album.
I was joking with B.E. a while back on another thread about Beatles For Sale, calling it The Beatles' 15 Big Ones (both albums share "Rock And Roll Music" ). Obviously it's much better than that album, but there's quite a few covers interspersed with some not-so-great newies on Beatles For Sale. Of course the production, musicianship, and vocals are top-notch, and it's nice to have Ringo back vocally on a track. The sequencing is atrocious, especially starting with "No Reply" and "I'm A Loser" - and NOT ending with either "Kansas City"/"Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey" or "I Don't want To Spoil The Party" which were no-brainer album closers.
I gave With The Beatles a 6; Beatles For Sale is a better album. I'll go with a 7 because the original compositions were stronger and the covers are also good, but this is not one of The Beatles' better albums.
|
|
|
Post by jk on Feb 5, 2021 18:42:26 GMT
I was joking with B.E. a while back on another thread about Beatles For Sale, calling it The Beatles' 15 Big Ones (both albums share "Rock And Roll Music" ). Obviously it's much better than that album. Obviously!
|
|
|
Post by B.E. on Feb 7, 2021 1:57:26 GMT
I'm not sure if you guys would be interested in joining, but I thought it might be fun, and a perfect time, to put together a top 15 favorite songs to this point (and to do so periodically as we move forward). So, our top 15 from Please Please Me - Beatles For Sale (4 albums; 55 songs), Help - Magical Mystery Tour (5 albums; 66 songs), and The Beatles - Let It Be (3 albums; 59 songs). Sounds like a formidable task, but we are rating the albums and considering our favorites from each anyway, so...just don't sweat the order too much. I don't think I've ever succeeded in any kind of Beatles song ranking, but divvying it up into bite size pieces might just be the answer. 01. Twist And Shout 02. You've Really Got A Hold On Me 03. No Reply 04. Money (That's What I Want) 05. Please Mister Postman 06. Baby It's You 07. I Should Have Known Better 08. If I Fell 09. All My Loving 10. And I Love Her 11. Please Please Me 12. All I've Got To Do 13. Anna (Go To Him) 14. You Can't Do That 15. Rock And Roll Music $50 to the first person to guess my favorite Beatle...kidding! Some really tough cuts were "Tell Me Why", "I'll Be Back", and "I'll Follow The Sun". This really put into perspective how strong A Hard Day's Night is, that Beatles For Sale is lighter on the aces, and, conversely, With The Beatles is top heavy. Of course, this is largely just down to my taste, but I think there's some truth to it beyond that. Anyway, count em - 4 songs from Please Please Me, 5 songs from With The Beatles, 4 from A Hard Day's Night, and 2 from Beatles For Sale. And, reinforcing my point of view on the legitimacy of covers, I ended up with 8 originals vs 7 covers. I'd love to see your lists!
|
|
|
Post by B.E. on Feb 7, 2021 2:29:39 GMT
Cool! There can't be too many of us out there who'd rate this so highly. Funny thing is, ever since closely comparing the Beatles version to Arthur Alexander's original, about a year ago, I can't NOT sing "go with hi-im" like Arthur did. (He adds an extra note to it.) It's not like I hadn't heard the original before, but for some reason it's stuck in my head!
|
|
|
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Feb 7, 2021 3:58:14 GMT
I'm not sure if you guys would be interested in joining, but I thought it might be fun, and a perfect time, to put together a top 15 favorite songs to this point (and to do so periodically as we move forward). I'd love to see your lists! Sure!
01 I Saw Her Standing There 02 Please Please Me 03 I Should Have Known Better 04 A Hard Day's Night 05 If I Fell 06 All My Loving 07 P.S. I Love You 08 And I Love Her 09 Things We Said Today 10 I'll Be Back 11 Boys 12 Do You Want To Know A Secret 13 Honey Don't 14 I'm Happy Just To Dance With You 15 You Can't Do That
|
|
|
Post by B.E. on Feb 7, 2021 4:07:47 GMT
So weird looking at that picture. It's pretty crazy that that even happened.
|
|
|
Post by jk on Feb 7, 2021 22:04:53 GMT
So weird looking at that picture. It's pretty crazy that that even happened. Excuse my ignorance, but who is that bloke?
|
|
|
Post by jk on Feb 7, 2021 22:08:11 GMT
I'm not sure if you guys would be interested in joining, but I thought it might be fun, and a perfect time, to put together a top 15 favorite songs to this point (and to do so periodically as we move forward). So, our top 15 from Please Please Me - Beatles For Sale (4 albums; 55 songs), Help - Magical Mystery Tour (5 albums; 66 songs), and The Beatles - Let It Be (3 albums; 59 songs). Sounds like a formidable task, but we are rating the albums and considering our favorites from each anyway, so...just don't sweat the order too much. I don't think I've ever succeeded in any kind of Beatles song ranking, but divvying it up into bite size pieces might just be the answer. Nice idea, B.E. I'll organize a list in due course.
|
|
|
Post by jk on Feb 8, 2021 14:51:16 GMT
Here's my fifteen in alphabetical order (my favourite? "There's A Place"):
And I Love Her Boys Chains Eight Days A Week If I Fell I Wanna Be Your Man Love Me Do Misery Please Mr. Postman Please Please Me PS. I Love You Rock And Roll Music There's A Place Things We Said Today You Really Got A Hold On Me
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Feb 8, 2021 21:05:21 GMT
I think my 15 songs for the first albums would be along these lines. It's not a ranking, though. More like what was going to become a playlist in running order but then ended up a half-assed effort at best.
I Saw Her Standing There I Should Have Known Better All My Loving Please Please Me Till There Was You I'm a Loser Any Time At All
Rock and Roll Music Can't Buy Me Love I Wanna Be Your Man Tell Me Why Eight Days a Week A Hard Day's Night I'll Follow the Sun Twist and Shout
|
|