LIVE AT THE BBC

LIVE AT THE BBC :  It took 24 years since The Beatles broke up before somebody finally got wise and issued this. The boot lickers have been doing it for years. Not really the best of The Beatles but as a piece of history in a certain time, on the greatest band of all time, it is priceless. Made up partly of banters, interviews and live performances, this recordings was made while the boys were still in their infancy stage while moving onto full Beatlemania mode but we don't really enjoy listening to them doing covers, do we when we all know that they are capable of so much more. Still, for what it's worth, what this recordings does proved is that the boys indeed can sing. I like this but as a double CD, it's a tab too much to sit through, Beatles they may be.

Disc 1 

Beatles Greetings : A cute start with introduction from each of the boys.. I use to place this on the first of any Beatles CD that I made. A good start to a reasonable good album.

From Us To You ( Lennon / McCartney ) : The Beatles greetings that segued into this equally cute but short tune from 'From Me To You' which was also their signature tune from their early radio program.

Riding On A Bus : A short interviews from Brian Matthew from Top Gear. 
I Got A Woman ( Charles ) : The first song proper. Originally a Ray Charles song which was also recorded by Elvis Presley. This is good stuff.     Too Much Monkey Business ( Berry ): A Chuck Berry number which have been part of The Beatles repertoire during their live performances.

Keep Your Hands Off My Baby ( Goffin / King ) : Now this is one I truly like. A Carole King / Gerry Goffins original as a follow up to Little Eva's 'The Locomotion". A look at the lyrics will tell you that it's a girl's song but The Beatles were so popular at this time,  they could get away with anything like the time when Ringo sings about 'Boys', when it should have been girls. Anyway this is a rocking fun number.          I'll Be On My Way ( Lennon / McCartney ) : A rather obscure Lennon / McCartney song that was given to Billy J. Krama & The Dokatas for their B side of their debut single. A pleasant enough tune but hardly a classic.

Young Blood ( Leiber / Stoller / Pomus ) : I first heard this song by Leon Russell in The Concert for Bangla Desh and later loved the version by Bad Company. Unfortunately The Beatles doesn't quite did justice to this great song. 

A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues ( Thompson ) : Another forgettable track. If The Beatles have been recording songs like this, it's no wonder that this recordings have been kept hidden for so long. If The Beatles are still around, I'm pretty sure they won't allow this to be released.

Sure To Fall [ In Love With You ] ( Perkins / Claunch / Cantrell ) : Another uninspiring number from the boys.

Some Other Guy ( Leiber / Stoller / Barrett ) : Yet another one. Yawn.

Thank You Girl ( Lennon / McCartney ) : Now we are getting somewhere. This was of course the flip side of 'From Me To You' and it's always enlightening to hear another version of a song that we were so familiar with. 

Sha La La La La :  A short speech.

Baby, It's You ( David / Bacharach / Williams ) : One of my favorite non Lennon / McCartney Beatles song. The ending here is slightly different from the one from 'Please Please Me '

That's All Right [ Mama ] ( Crudup ): Paul's version of an Elvis Presley's number which was also on his ( Elvis ) first album.

Carol ( Berry ) : Almost everybody did a version of this Chuck Berry's number including The Rolling Stones. I wasn't too crazy about this song either I can't really tell whose version was better.

Soldier Of Love ( Cason / Moon ) : Now we get serious. The first really great tune from this CD. In the same vein as 'Anna', this song wouldn't feel out of place in one of their early albums. A great tune and great singing courtesy of John Lennon.

A Little Rhythm : Another speech.

Clarabella ( Pingatore ) : A prelude to 'Long Tall Sally' and Paul's own 'I'm Down'.

I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry [ Over You ] ( Thomas / Biggs ) : Another yawn inducing performance.

Cryin', Waitin', Hopin' ( Holly ) : The Beatles' love for Buddy Holly in display here. 

Dear Wack ! : A Speech.

You've Really Got A Hold On Me ( Robinson ) : This was an outstanding track on the 'With The Beatles' album. Hearing this after so many not so spectacular performances made this a much welcome relief.

To Know Her Is To Love Her ( Spector ) : Again by John Lennon. This is another rather great interpretation of The Teddy Bears' No.1 hit. John were to make another version of this song released posthumourly on the "Manlove Avenue" CD.

A Taste Of Honey ( Marlow / Scott ) : Paul McCartney's take on this ballad as on the "Please Please Me" album. Not much different from the album version.

Long Tall Sally ( Johnson / Penniman / Blackwell ) : This song was part of an EP released by The Beatles in 1964 but this live recording was made before that EP was released.

I Saw Her Standing There ( Lennon / McCartney ): There are so many versions of this song that it is in danger of being over exposed. Nothing special about this version.

The Honeymoon Song ( Theodorakis / Sansom ) : This is a novelty number more for curiosity rather then musically.

Johnny B Goode ( Berry ) : There was a time when every aspiring guitarists have to know how to play this song. The Beatles were no exception and neither were their version of this song.

Memphis, Tennessee ( Berry ) : Another rocker from the Chuck Berry songbook which The Beatles sang half heartedly.

Lucille ( Collins / Penniman ): The Little Richard that Paul so idolised. The Everly Brothers were in the audiences when The Beatles performed this.

Can't Buy Me Love ( Lennon / McCartney ) : The Beatles performed their current smash. Rather a breath of fresh air hearing this after more than a thousand hearing of the original.

From Fluff To You : A speech.

Till There Was You ( Willson ) : Paul's ballad from the movie "The Music Man" from "With The Beatles" album.

Disc 2 

Crinsk Dee Night : Another speech.

A Hard Day's Night  ( Lennon / McCartney ):  This version have the middle instrumental part cut and pasted onto it. Yes it was that obvious. Obviously George Martin haven't master the trick before he did 'Strawberry Fields Forever'

Have A Banana ! : Speech time again.

I Wanna Be Your Man ( Lennon / McCartney ) : The song that The Beatles gave to The Rolling Stones and got Ringo to record their own version of it. Strangely I enjoy this version here more than the one on "With The Beatles"

Just A Rumour : More speech. This was between George and Alan Freeman.

Roll Over Beethoven ( Berry ) : George's track from "With The Beatles". Pity they didn't place his 'Don't Bother Me' here. I certainly prefer that original over this cover.

All My Loving ( Lennon / McCartney ) : Paul's first non single classic.

Things We Said Today ( Lennon / McCartney ) : Another gem from Paul from 'A Hard Day's Night" soundtrack.

She's A Woman ( Lennon / McCartney ) : The flip side of 'I Feel Fine'

Sweet Little Sixteen ( Berry ) : John's version of this Chuck Berry classic followed note by note faithfully of the original. John sang like he was reading off the lyrics. Ironically he was to make another even less inspiring version on his Rock 'n' Roll album. 

1822 ! : Speech time again.

Lonesome Tears In My Eyes ( J & D Burnette / Burlison / Mortimer ) : This track really sounds oridinary. I surely wouldn't have suspect it was The Beatles had I heard it from the radio.

Nothin' Shakin' ( Fontaine / Calacrai / Lampert / Gluck ) : George's affection for rockabilly on show here. Nothing to shout about.

The Hippy Hippy Shake ( Romero ): The boys did an okay version of this song, but, believe me, The Swinging Blue Jeans did this much better.

Glad All Over  ( Bennett / Tepper / Schroeder ): Another unspectacular performance.

I Just Don't Understand ( Wilkin / Westberry ) : After going through four unspectacular and torturous performances, I was rewarded by this jewel. Originally an Ann Margret number, this John Lennon vocal is what made it all worthwhile.

So How [ No One Loves Me ] ( Bryant ) : One more to test my patience.

I Feel Fine ( Lennon / McCartney ) : Now we are back to business. Another Beatles No.1, another version. I could have sworn this was the original version had they not indicated so on the album.

I'm A Loser ( Lennon / McCartney ) : This one was from "Beatles for Sale". A slight change in the lyric made this a novelty piece for Beatles fans.

Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby ( Perkins ) : George's final number from the same album.

Rock And Roll Music ( Berry ) : The same for John.

Ticket To Ride ( Lennon / McCartney ) : Their current single then.

Dizzy Miss Lizzy ( Williams ) : I use to hate this track on the "Help!" album but I grew to love it especially when they increased the bass. The version from"Live At The Hollywood Bowl" was the better version while this version comes in second best.

Medley : Kansas City / Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey ( Leiber / Stoller / Penniman ) : Others may love this but it totally escapes me. I never like this song. Never did.

Set Fire To That Lot : Speech

Match Box ( Perkins ) : Ringo's turn to shine. I never like this track either but I can tolerate this version here much better.

I Forgot To Remember To Forget ( Kesler / Feathers ) : Another forgettable performance.

Love These Goon Shows ! : Speech time.

I Got To Find My Baby ( Berry ) : Yet another uninspiring performance from the boys. Honestly, the things I endure from the boys.

Ooh! My Soul ( Penniman ) : This one flared much better 'cos it was rockier. I remember hearing it first from the "La Bamba" movie.

Ooh! My Arms : The last speech.

Don't Ever Change ( Goffin / King ) : This one is more tolerable. I quite like it.

Slow Down ( Williams ) : This one is from one of their exclusive EP. Nice.

Honey Don't ( Perkins ) : Arguably the most valuable track from this CD. Originally found on the "Beatles for Sale" album but the vocal was by Ringo. The version here are from John. So it's insteresting to compare the two tracks.

Love Me Do ( Lennon / McCartney ) : The boy's first hit ironically is the last song on this CD. Not much different from the available version.

DOP : 22nd December 1994 - A gift from Miss Jen.