|
The Album
--Disc One--
1) Beatle Greeting
Just the Beatles doing a roll call with their names and what they play.
2) From Us To You
This was a recording (to the tune of From Me To You) and it was played on their three shows on British holidays.
3) Riding On A Bus
This was a question posed to the boys about if they’re tired of being Beatles. Paul says some things you can’t do anymore, like Riding on the Bus. Good interview.
4) I Got A Woman
This was originally done by Ray Charles and Elvis did a cover of it where the Beatles probably got their version from. It’s a good song and the Beatles do it well. John handles the vocals and rhythm guitar. George does the walking bassline and has a nice chordal solo, including a simulation of the riff he did on the song, “Help!”. The bluesy ending is pretty kick ass too.
5) Too Much Monkey Business
This is a Chuck Berry cover and the fourth time they did this song on the BBC. They’d performing this song since 1960 and again John handles the vocals. It’s a standard Berry song with pretty the same variation of a solo he always uses which George copies well.
6) Keep Your Hands Off My Baby
The Beatles cover this Little Eva hit and the sound is pretty bad but it’s a catchy song and the Beatles were always good for a few covers or two, except on their albums where they usually bring it down. Here, there’s such a mix of stuff on here that makes it a good variety.
7) I’ll Be On My Way
This is a Lennon/McCartney that was never on an album and I for the life of me can’t figure out why. They recorded this in 1963 and could have easily been on With The Beatles (in place of say Little Child) but instead they gave it to Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas. It’s a short song but really good.
8) Young Blood
This was the Coaster’s B-side to “Searchin” which the Beatles also recorded on their Decca audition, and is on the anthology. This is a standard cover, but what I always loved about the BBC album is they had more classic rock song covers where on their albums they’d put a lot of non-rock and more pop stuff and I much prefer this.
9) A Shot of Rhythm and Blues
This is an Arhtur Alexander song and is another classic rock song with a totally neat-o ending. Standard cover here.
10) Sure to Fall (In Love With You)
A great Carl Perkins number (who was one of George’s favourite artists) and George always shines on Perkins numbers. Paul sings this song and it’s actually quite good. I wonder why they didn’t put these great covers on their early albums, and instead put other inferior covers on. These oldie rock songs are always a thrill to listen to and looking at a collection like this makes you realize the incredible amount of songs the Beatles knew.
11) Some Other Guy
This was recorded in 1962 by Richie Barrett and almost every Liverpool group played this song. The Beatles have been doing this since the Cavern and it’s a rollicking song.
12) Thank You Girl
This is the B-side to their From Me To You Single. Just your standard early Beatles song. The bass is mixed really high on this song and everything else seems really far away in sound. This version is actually pretty good, too, and I think it’s better than the recorded version.
13) Sha la la la la!
The Beatles chatting with host Lee Peters.
14) Baby It’s You
This was on the Beatles first album and was a Shirelle’s cover. I’ve always loved this song for the laid-back feel and the solo that calls back to the vocal line. The solo here is almost the same but different near the end, and in my opinion, better.
15) That’s All Right (Mama)
This was Elvis’ first US single and the Beatles had been performing it since the Quarry Men days. Paul handles the vocals and it’s a good overall performance by the boys and another great classic classic oldie-rock song.
16) Carol
John handles this Chuck Berry song and anything Berry is good. Berry, berry good. Ok, I couldn’t resist. Standard Berry cover.
17) Soldier of Love
Another Arthur Alexander song, (same guy who wrote Anna) and it’s a very nice song. It has a pretty odd time signature to open and it’s an R&Bish song. Another great cover on this record.
18) A Little Rhyme
This was a listener’s request written out in rhyme form and read by Lennon.
19) Clarabella
Originally recorded by the Jodimars (refugees from Comets of Bill Haley). Average performance with a Lennon harmonica solo.
20) I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry Over You
Another Elvis cover that is done very well. I love the feel and rhythm of this song and the Beatles were always best at covering pure rock and not R&B (which unfortunately was always on their early records).
21) Crying, Waiting, Hoping
Great Buddy Holly cover that is sung by George and also features a great Harrison solo.
22) Dear Wack!
John reads a letter with band accompaniment.
23) You Really Got A Hold On Me
The Beatles did this on With The Beatles and this version suffers from sound problems as the guitars sound really tinny and small. I said before, when they covered the rock songs, they were great. Songs like this that were R&B/Motown and all they did all right, but there seems to be something lacking.
24) To Know Her Is To Love Her
A hit for the Teddy Bears in 1958, and it was Phil Spector’s first hit song. The Beatles do a really good job on the vocals and it’s something that they really didn’t record in their careers. John does the lead vocals with Paul and George backing him up.
25) A Taste of Honey
The Beatles recorded this on their debut album (Please Please Me) and it’s a good rendition. I always say how the Beatles were at their best covering rock songs, but Paul was always a great balladeer and he did justice to ballads like this and Till There Was You (which is also on this album). This seems slower paced than the album version, though and it makes it move slower and seem like its dragging along at times.
26) Long Tall Sally
This was issued on an EP back in 1964 and Paul does the lyrics (as he does on all Little Richard songs). The album version they recorded in one take and has a lot more pep than this one. George plays an alright solo on this rave-up song. Not as good as the EP, and it’s just an average cover, really. Maybe they weren’t feeling it that day.
27) I Saw Her Standing There
The first song on their first album. It appears they played live in front of a crowd for this song and it’s a good rendition, though the sound isn’t too great.
28) The Honeymoon Song
The theme from the movie, “Honeymoon.” Really odd choice of cover tune by the Beatles but it’s a ballad sung by Paul and done well.
29) Johnny B. Goode
Ahh, Chuck Berry. John sings this version and it’s a Berry cover. Not as good as the other Berry covers on the record but George nails the solo almost exactly. I think people associate this tune now with Back to The Future than anything else, but that riff was the shit in thelate 50’s early 60’s era of guitar players.
30) Memphis, Tennessee
Another Chuck Berry cover. Seems kind of slow paced but a nice cover.
31) Lucille
Another Little Richard song that Paul handles the vocals on and it’s a pretty good song with a good Harrison solo.
32) Can’t Buy Me Love
A very good rendition of the song and this and the last two tracks are the only three songs on disc 1 recorded in 1964. George does a very nice job on the solo and it captures the feel of the song perfectly
33) From Fluff To You
Pretty funny interview with Paul as he talks about his singing and John screams in the background about his book.
34) Till There Was You
Really awesome version of the song that I think is better than the With The Beatles version. Great way to end the disc and George shines on the solo and Paul gives a great vocal performance.
--Disc Two--
1) Crinsk Dee Night
A short Beatles interview about the movie. This comes from the Top Gear show.
2) A Hard Day’s Night
The Beatles doing a pretty good version but its really noticeable that the piano solo is flown in since George Martin couldn’t make the session for the BBC. Pretty humurous actually.
3) Have A Banana!
Still at Top Gear, another Beatles interview.
4) I Wanna Be Your Man
Really good version of the song that Ringo handled the vocals on. The Beatles gave this song to the Rolling Stones as their first star single.
5) Just A Rumour
Funny banter between George Harrison and the host, Alan Freeman.
6) Roll Over Beethoven
Standard George doing Roll Over Beethoven.
7) All My Loving
Pretty good performance of All My Loving with George doing the solo almost note for note.
8) Things We Said Today
Another really close performance to the record. I always have liked this song. It’s not flashy or anything, but the sound of the guitars has always worked for me. The recording gets a bit muffly when it gets louder on the chorus but that’s because of the somewhat inferior BBC recording equipment.
9) She’s A Woman
This is a really tight performance of the song and George does the piano part from the record on guitar here.
10) Sweet Little Sixteen
Another Chuck Berry number on this CD release, and John handles the lyrics on this one. The Beatles usually did pretty well covering Berry, and this is another example of that.
11) 1822!
This is some pre-song banter on John’s part.
12) Lonesome Tears In My Eyes
This is a Johnny Burnette song and is sung by John. It’s a medium paced rock song and it’d be classified as decent at best.
13) Nothin’ Shakin’
Another decent medium rock number sung by George. The rockabilly number was first performed by Eddie Fontaine.
14) The Hippy Hippy Shake
This is a cover of Chan Romero’s version and is a fast-paced that Paul sings and it’s pretty darn good.
15) Glad All Over
This is another Carl Perkins song and as usual its vocals are handled by George. The rockabilly numbers that Perkins did suited George to a T in the early years and he really excelled on it.
16) I Just Don’t Understand
This is actually an Ann-Margret song (!) that the Beatles performed on the show once. It’s funny actually, that they did an Ann-Margret song and you’d think they wouldn’t be suited to do it, but it doesn’t suck.
17) So How Come (No One Loves Me)
This was an Everly Brothers tune that the Beatles do an admirable job of covering.
18) I Feel Fine
Ahhh, the first song with controlled feedback. They almost get it for the BBC taping, and the song is solid the rest of the way through. The riff is easy as it isn’t too much stress on the fingers, and it’s a great song.
19) I’m A Loser
A really spot-on live version of this song. Excellently done.
20) Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby
By this time, George had played this song probably every day for years and it shows here. It’s a tight performance with the same solo he uses on almost every version.
21) Rock And Roll Music
Yet another Chuck Berry song and it sounds like it was recorded live. The sound isn’t great, but the song is energetic.
22) Ticket To Ride
This one sounds like it was recorded in the BBC studios. The guitars are tuned a quarter step down like on the album and is really polished.
23) Dizzy Miss Lizzie
Average version of the album cover.
24) Medley: Kansas City/Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
The Beatles recorded the album version in ONE TAKE, so this they know this song well. Good version here which is not unlike any of the others they’ve done, I’m sure.
25) Set Fire To That Lot!
This is Rodney Burke making fun of Ringo, that bastard!
26) Matchbox
A Ringo-sung tune! I don’t particularly care for this song, but the version is almost the same as the one on the album. The solo is better though.
27) I Forgot To Remember To Forget
This is George singng an Elvis tune. It’s decent, a bit too slow paced for my liking, and the sound made it hard to hear.
28) Love Those Goon Shows!
More Lennon banter.
29) I Got To Find My Baby
Wha? Another Berry Cover? It’s a pretty good one too. John sings and plays the mouth harp on this one.
30) Ooh! My Soul
It’s a Little Richard number so three guesses on who does the vocals. Really rocking number that the Beatles do well.
31) Ooh! My Arms
More Beatles banter.
32) Don’t Ever Change
Really nice song and cover of The Crickets (Buddy Holly’s old backing band). Paul and John appear to be handling the singing duties. Great song.
33) Slow Down
This is a Larry Williams song that appeared on the Long Tall Sally EP. It’s about the same as the recording and it’s just an average song and cover.
34) Honey Don’t
On the album, Ringo sang this song, but before that, John always sang it. This is one of the versions where John sang it before handing it over to Ringo. The version is very similar to the album, except for the singing of course.
35) Love Me Do
To end the disc, we go back to the beginning. The Beatles first ever single and this version was from July 1963. Still a great song, 41 years later, and a nice performance to boot.
The Liner Notes
This is a very comprehensive track listing, much the same formula that would be used on the Anthology issues. It’s an astonishing 48 pages long. Page 1 is the cover and there’s the back. Full page photos are found on pages: 2, 5, 6, 10, 13, 14-15, 19, 23, 24-5, 27, 30, 32-3, 37, 41, 43,44, and 47. There’s a short essay written by Derek Taylor on pages 3 and 4 and an essay by Kevin Howlett on pages 7-9 and 11-12. The rest are the information for all the songs on the disc (when it was recorded, when it aired, and notes about the song). There’s also a little pamphlet for Beatles merchandise.
The Sound
This was recorded WAY back in 1963-1965 using analog tapes and very little, if any overdubs. Some of the songs sound downright shitty, but that’s the nature of the BBC taping back then. It’s just a treasure trove of Beatles rarities and some of the stuff has not been heard since it’s recording. It’s really for Beatles completists only and they’d listen to anything Beatles, no matter how scratchy.
The Final Review
I know I’ve mentioned it throughout the entire disc, but the covers on here are really good. Maybe it’s because I’m impartial to the oldie-early-rock songs but some of these covers are amazing. It also shows how really good of a band the Beatles were. Most of this stuff was recorded live or with very few overdubs. They could really play and we really see how good George was on those early rock song solos. The sound on here is suspect on some songs, but that’s to be expected. It’s a great double disc set, but really, it’s for hardcore Beatles fans or fans of just their early years. It isn’t really a compilation that new fans would enjoy unless they have been listening to the Beatles and are huge fans. It’s a great set with almost all the songs being never released on CD and probably not having been heard since their first airing. It’s a great look back on the early years and just how good they were live, and the wide range of songs they knew and performed.
Final Rating:
8.5
|
