The Beatles Second Record: With The Beatles (1963)
The Beatles second UK LP (With The Beatles) is definitely not among my favorite Beatles albums, in fact it is arguably their least good album. That's not to say I don't enjoy listening to this early classic in it's new remastered format nor is it to imply that it does not have any memorable songs on it because because I definitely do and it definitely does.
I do think that when looking at only the eight Beatles originals on the album, it is probably the worst collection of original songs John, Paul, George, & Ringo ever put out on a record (the underrated Beatles For Sale (1964) has a much better collection of 8 originals) on the other hand, the covers on With The Beatles are quite good (better than the covers on Beatles For Sale.)
My favorite originals to listen to on the With The Beatles Remastered CDs are the first three songs. Particularly, I have been loving track #2 "All I've Got To Do" in mono. It sounds wonderful.
Another original that has actually been making an impression on me is song #9, "Hold Me Tight." Paul McCartney wrote and sang lead on this one and he's been very dismissive of it. And while I'll agree the song isn't perfect, I do think it has a certain charm.
"Till There Was You" is my favorite cover on the album. It is an extremely sickly sweet ballad and while I feel I shouldn't like it, I do anyway. The album closer, "Money" is a great way to end the record. When I listen closely to the versions of this song included in remastered box sets I actually hear the song as much more unhinged than I realized. It rocks pretty darn hard.
For most of the CDs I do prefer the stereo versions(especially with the later albums which are my favorite, anyway) when it comes 2009 Beatles box sets but I do think that this CD sounds better in mono.
I do think that when looking at only the eight Beatles originals on the album, it is probably the worst collection of original songs John, Paul, George, & Ringo ever put out on a record (the underrated Beatles For Sale (1964) has a much better collection of 8 originals) on the other hand, the covers on With The Beatles are quite good (better than the covers on Beatles For Sale.)
My favorite originals to listen to on the With The Beatles Remastered CDs are the first three songs. Particularly, I have been loving track #2 "All I've Got To Do" in mono. It sounds wonderful.
Another original that has actually been making an impression on me is song #9, "Hold Me Tight." Paul McCartney wrote and sang lead on this one and he's been very dismissive of it. And while I'll agree the song isn't perfect, I do think it has a certain charm.
"Till There Was You" is my favorite cover on the album. It is an extremely sickly sweet ballad and while I feel I shouldn't like it, I do anyway. The album closer, "Money" is a great way to end the record. When I listen closely to the versions of this song included in remastered box sets I actually hear the song as much more unhinged than I realized. It rocks pretty darn hard.
For most of the CDs I do prefer the stereo versions(especially with the later albums which are my favorite, anyway) when it comes 2009 Beatles box sets but I do think that this CD sounds better in mono.
About the Author:
Harold Donald Quesenberry loves the MusicByDay Music Blog because it has a lot of posts about The Beatles
