PAST MASTERS VOLUME TWO

PAST MASTERS VOLUME TWO : The second volume of Past Masters which is my favorite of the two CD. I bought this together with Volume One. You don't think I would buy one without the other, do you. This clearly is the more superior CD of the two. With bigger hits and better songs. Which is not to say, Volume One was bad, far from it. Just a change of time and tastes.

Day Tripper ( Lennon / McCartney ) : This single was released the same time as "Rubber Soul" the album. Other bands would have include this song to sell the album but The Beatles don't need to do that. Wasn't too aware of this song when it first came out 'cos during this time I was dependent of my brother to bring records home and if he didn't, then I couldn't listen to it. I love it thought when I finally got to listen to it proper.

We Can Work It Out ( Lennon / McCartney ) : Double A Side with 'Day Tripper'. The Beatles are spoiling their fans silly. Two great songs for the price of one. Musically The Beatles were going nowhere but up. Non Beatles fans may say I am bias but in all honestly I am not. The music speaks for itself. It's only a matter of personal tastes.

Paperback Writer ( Lennon / McCartney ) :  This Beach Boys type of harmonizing is not really my cup of tea. I like it the first time I heard it but since then, other tunes have replaced it.

Rain ( Lennon / McCartney ) : I much prefer this John Lennon track to 'Paperback Writer'. I first heard this on the "Hey Jude" compilation which I had on record. I detect something similar musically with his solo track 'Mind Game' or is it just me.

Lady Madonna ( Lennon / McCartney ) : Another seemingly familiar songs but can't really be 'cos it's the latest single by The Beatles, for God's sake. I like this on first hearing, it's familiar melody and that Paul McCartney vocal.

The Inner Light ( Harrison ) : The first George Harrison track to appear on a single albeit the B side. A good melody thought the vocal can be draggy.

Hey Jude ( Lennon / McCartney ) : The mother of all singalongs. The first time I heard this, I really wasn't aware it was The Beatles until at least after I've look at the record sleeve. It sounded so different from what they have been doing all along. When I was performing this song with my band, with the audiences joining in the chorus, it brought me to a high that's surely hard to emulate.

Revolution ( Lennon / McCartney ) : The harder 'Revolution' as opposed to the softer 'Revolution ' song on "The White Album". When I first played this track, in all honesty, I thought there was something wrong with the record. I've never heard The Beatles played this hard before. Most would prefer this version but for me it's the one from "The White Album" that I'll root for.

Get Back ( Lennon / McCartney ) : This is clearly the better as compared to the one on the "Let It Be" album. With an urgent marching guitar riff, this is clearly one of The Beatles defining moments.

Don't Let Me Down ( Lennon / McCartney ) : 'Get Back' may be great but the B Side is the one for me. I can play this track a few times in one sitting and never get tired of it. John's heart wrenching vocal is hard to beat and you can actually hear George's guitar weeping in the background. I do this with my band and during my karaoke sessions and I get gratifying from the crowds and just for singing it.

The Ballad Of John And Yoko ( Lennon / McCartney ) : This track have only John and Paul on it but you wouldn't have noticed given the tight and solid musicianship. A solid rock 'n' roll number that can go nowhere but the top. One of my favorite. When this was first released, I was quite taken aback that real people can be the subject in songs. Yeah I was that young but I still know good music when I heard one.

Old Brown Shoe ( Harrison ) : The second George Harrison's track to make it on a single albeit the B side. There are many who swear by this number but it's wasn't for me. Wasn't too crazy for it.

Across The Universe ( Lennon / McCartney ) : I've already heard this from the "Let It Be" album but this is the first version of the song that was released to the public on a charity album. Stripped of Phil Spector's Wall of Sound treatment, this one is clearer and is actually the better version.

Let It Be ( Lennon / McCartney ): This was the version that I first bought on SP and this was the version that I totally and absolutely love. George Harrison's guitar solo was soften down which in my opinion works better than in the album where it was more prominent. If there's one Beatles that I can take to the moon with me, this will be it.

You Know My Name [ Look Up The Number ] ( Lennon / McCartney ) : The flip side of 'Let It Be', this one's an oddity. Most casual fans will not have heard of it except for the hard core. Probably a song made up while they were playing. With a lesser band, it will be a waste of time, but with The Beatles even garbage can be rendered listenable as this track proved. Listen to the whole song and I promise it will bring a smile to your face. I've watch my brother and that's just what happened.

DOP : 6th June 1992.