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The 4th Beatles album and it was released in 1964. It was between Beatles movie soundtracks and if I’m not mistaken came out around Christmas of that year. There weren’t any singles released from the disc (besides Eight Days A Week), so in my opinion, it’s one of the least known Beatles album because of the time it was released and lack of hit singles off of it. It followed the basic formula of the first two records, 6 covers, and a rocking cover to end the album.
The Album
1) No Reply
This would be the first album where they don’t start the record off with a fast paced number. It’s about medium paced and is a formidable song. Not their best opener but it’s a catchy number with a really good chorus.
Yeah Count: 0
Love Count: 1
2) I’m A Loser
I really like the layout of the song. From the opening to the verses to the chorus and the very countryish solo in the middle. Another very good song from the boys.
Yeah Count: 0
Love Count: 2
3) Baby’s In Black
John Lennon always described this as a fast waltz type of song. I don’t know if that’s true but I know I do like this song too. It has a great lead guitar sound as it sounds full. I don’t know if it makes any sense, but it’s a kick-ass song.
Yeah Count: 0
Love Count: 0
4) Rock And Roll Music
Just a straight-up cover of Rock And Roll Music that has George Martin banging away on the keyboard. There’s not much to this song but it’s an energetic performance that has been played a lot on my local classic rock station actually.
Yeah Count: 0
Love Count: 0
5) I’ll Follow The Sun
A Paul McCartney ballad. It is a very mellow acoustic number and probably one of the simplest yet most effective solos on the album. It fits in perfectly which Geroge Harrison has always been good at. This was a favorite of mine back in the day and as far as early years ballads, there’s not many better.
Yeah Count: 0
Love Count: 2
6) Mr. Moonlight
A loooong time ago, fans voted this the worst Beatles song ever recorded. Who am I to argue?
Yeah Count: 0
Love Count: 5
7) Kansas City/Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey
This number they did a lot in the cavern days and it shows. They only recorded two takes of this song and this is take one. It’s near flawless and George does some good 50’s soloing and Paul is always great at songs like this where he needs to yell.
Yeah Count: 8
Love Count: 0
8) Eight Days A Week
The only song released as a single from the album and it went to number one, somewhere in the world. A very catchy song that shows you that a song doesn’t need to be complicated to be good. There’s only two verses repeated twice each but my favorite part has always been the opening and closing themes.
Yeah Count: 0
Love Count: 22
9) Words Of Love
A Buddy Holly cover. Paul eventually bought the rights to every Buddy Holly songs but he didn’t have the money to do that yet! A very nice cover of a pretty obscure Holly song.
Yeah Count: 0
Love Count: 5
10) Honey Don’t
The opening riff always reminds me of Secret Agent Man and this is Ringo’s opportunity to sing on this album. John Lennon has actually always sung this song (as witnessed by the BBC album, which I will review in the Beatles review run, still ongoing). George has another good country solo that isn’t flashy but is effective.
Yeah Count: 0
Love Count: 2
11) Every Little Thing
The next few songs on this album are awesome. This is a great song with a great sound. George still had his 12 string and it chimes along during the choruses and the opening, solo and ending. It’s a sweet song written by Lennon and probably my second favorite on the record.
Yeah Count: 3
Love Count: 4
12) I Don’t Want to Spoil The Party
The opening guitars are something else, indeed. It’s spanish-flamenco influenced with the basslines being played while strumming and they would perfect it on the rhythm part of Norwiegan Wood. I didn’t like this song when I first bought the record, but now it’s one of my favorite on here, due to the catchy melodies and the great guitar playing that is understated but great.
Yeah Count: 0
Love Count: 4
13) What You’re Doing
This would by my favorite song of the album. There would never be another Beatles song that sounded like this one. It opens with a nice drum beat and George harps in with the beautiful sound of his 12-string. It’s very R&Bish I think and it has the great section in the middle where all you hear is Ringo’s drums and then Paul’s bass has a little introduction to the rest of the band joining in. It’s such a perfect song and totally unlike any other Beatles song, in my opinion.
Yeah Count: 0
Love Count: 2
14) Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby
George covering his idol, Carl Perkins. Great performance that has great guitar lines throughout and very energetic. Perfect end to the album.
Yeah Count: 0
Love Count: 0
The Liner Notes
This one is 8 pages long. The front is the cover and the back is another Beatles photo. The 2nd page (inside cover) has a one page essay written by Derek Taylor. He actually writes about the kids of 2000AD enjoying this album as much as it was enjoyed back in 1964. The third page is the album listing. Pages four and five have a concert picture of the Beatles. Page 6 is another picture while page 7 is the usual CD information stuff.
The Sound
This was recorded WAY back in 1964 using analog tapes and only 4 track tapes to boot. It sounds really good for its age. Nowhere near the standards of today, but the Beatles sounding like this is better than anything released now, in my totally unbiased opinion!
The Final Review
Of the pre-Rubber Soul albums, this is my favorite. It has some great Beatles songs that for one reason or another aren’t that well known. You find that the only songs in heavy rotation on classic rock stations are found on the 1962-66 albums. The only Beatles for Sale song on there is Eight Days A Week. I guess that’s why it’d be surprising this would rank so high on my all time favorite records. If you’re a Beatles fan, you have to pick this record up. It’s full of hidden gems (like What You’re Doing and Every Little Thing) and will keep any listener interested in multiple playings.
7th out of 13.
Final Rating:
9.0
Final Yeah Count: 11
Final Love Count: 49
Cumulative Yeah Count: 147
Cumalative Love Count: 209
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