1963 WITH THE BEATLES
WITH THE BEATLES : Only 4 months, fresh from their debut came "With The Beatles". Even better than "Please Please Me" and it's only their second album. Following the same format as their debut, it's a mixture of 6 Lennon / McCartney originals, one George Harrison original and the remaining 6 being covers. The album cover was a reflection of their seriousness they were plying their trade. This albums starts with original songs that were arguably stronger than their debut.
It Won't Be Long ( Lennon / McCartney ) : What a start. What a song. I've loved this song even as a young boy, even when I don't really understand what they were singing about. This was what they meant when they say that music was universal and that it need no words to be understood. Apart from a catchy melody, it have that call-and-respond style of singing that The Beatles so playfully excelled in. A good album starter for any albums.
All I Got To Do ( Lennon / McCartney ) : One of John Lennon's most underrated gems of all. Sung and written in the lay back style of Bob Dylan, this track started of slowly and then moved on to uptempo and then back to slow again. Written as only John could have written it, this was John at his raw and direct best. This song was never included in any of their numerous collection CD which concluded my thinking that this song was criminally neglected.
All My Loving ( Lennon / McCartney ) : Paul McCartney's first classic. Paul always have a natural gift for writing songs that stuck in your mind for days or weeks and this was one of them. Though not released as a single, it was all over the radio. Great it may be but somehow I feel, this is one of those rare Beatles' song that that could have been done better by some other artists. Paul's version is good but it could have been much greater. But that's just me, the song's a standard by any standards.
Don't Bother Me ( Harrison ) : George Harrison's first ever song committed to record and it wasn't bad at all. Don't know why he waited till a few more albums before he starts to write again. This is one of my favorite track on the album.
Till There Was You ( Willson ) : The kind of ballad that Paul McCartney exceeded in.. This was the last cover of a standard that Paul McCartney would be singing as a Beatle. From the next album on, he will be writing his own standard and needless to say, it's much more better.
Please Mister Postman ( Dobbin / Garrett / Garman / Brianbert ) : The first time I heard this song, I was blown away by their vocals. The call-and -respond style of singing were done so effectively here that you can't help sporting a smile when you are listening to it. I loved this when I first heard it and I am still loving it now. One of my favorite Beatles' cover songs.
Roll Over Beethoven ( Berry ): A nice vehicle for George Harrison but somehow lack that something extra. Still it does not warrant a push on the skip button. Tolerable.
Hold Me Tight ( Lennon / McCartney ): Another throwaway, this time from Paul McCartney. I usually skipped this track when I am listening to the album. Paul was to write another song in the 70's with the same title from one of his solo album 'Red Rose Speedway" which is way much better.
You Really Got A Hold On Me ( Robinson ) : If there ever was a contest for the best song that The Beatles ever covered, I guess this will be high on the list. I absolutely adored this song. I've heard the original by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles but this version is way much better. The pleading vocal of John Lennon which will ensured you'll be pressing the repeat again at least one more time.
I Wanna Be Your Man ( Lennon / McCartney ): The song The Beatles gave to The Rolling Stones and which was performed by Ringo Starr here. Not one of my favorite but when you see Ringo sings this on video, you can't help being amused.
Not A Second Time ( Lennon / McCartney ) : The last Beatles original on the album but certainly not the least. Far from it. I've always love this song. It always conjured the image of The Beatles in their cartoon form from their cartoon series to me more then the other songs, whenever this song is played.
Money ( Bradford / Gordy ): Like many of their harder tracks, initially I don't like this track when I first heard it. Being young and impressionable, I guess this was way too raw for me so I usually off the record when I came to this track. Over the years, it grew on me. Not as much as the other tracks but I can appreciate it more now. Hell,who can resist when John Lennon let rips his vocal cord. I can't. John were to performed this song again on one of his few live album in later years.
DOP : 8th June 1992.
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