If you’ve known me for any extended amount of time, then you know that my all time favorite band is The Beatles. One of my blogging goals for 2015 is to have a regular feature and because I’m completely random, I will be featuring a Beatles album monthly. This is exciting because it gives me a chance to relisten to these albums again. I’m not exactly reviewing it (as I am not a music reviewer) but instead enjoying it as a fan.

It’s movie time again with The Beatles! Interestingly I believe I saw this movie first before really getting into the band. It was on PBS and I remember the ski resort scenes and also the fact that it was in color. Anywho if you haven’t seen Help!, it’s a lot of fun. It’s drastically different from A Hard Day’s Night as it’s more of The Beatles in crazy locations doing crazy things (I mean Paul shrinks for goodness sakes and Ringo is about to get sacrficed) and it’s in color! But it’s still a lot of fun and it gives a good insight to what it was like during the 60s.

This is actually one of my favorite Beatles albums. Almost all the songs are ones that I can listen to over and over again. There’s such a range on here from silly love longs to things that are deeper with more feeling. You have George starting to write more and Ringo gets to do his country/western sound that he loves so much. I think this is the last album for a while that uses a cover. There are a lot of classic Beatles songs on here and they all sound really good.

What I think is most interesting is how “Yesterday” is tacked on near the end. I know that they handled packaging differently when it was originally released in the US but here with its placement it seems almost like an afterthought. Which of course is funny because it is one of the most (if not THE most) covered pop song of all time. And it’s such a lovely song too.

• Help! (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – John
• The Night Before (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – Paul
• You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – John
• I Need You (Harrison) – Lead Singer – George
• Another Girl (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer- Paul
• You’re Going to Lose That Girl (Lennon/McCartney)-Lead Singer – John
• Ticket to Ride (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer- John/Paul
• Act Naturally (Russell/Morrison) – Lead Singer – Ringo
• It’s Only Love (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – John
• You Like Me Too Much (Harrison) – Lead Singer – George
• Tell Me What You See (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – Paul/John
• I’ve Just Seen a Face (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – Paul
• Yesterday (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – Paul
• Dizzy Miss Lizzy (Williams) – Lead Singer – John

Standout Songs: Help!, You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away, Ticket to Ride, Yesterday

Personal Favorites: It’s Only Love, Tell Me What You See, I Need You, You’re Going to Lose that Girl, I’ve Just Seen a Face

Least Memorable: You Like Me Too Much, Dizzy Miss Lizzy

As you can see I LOVE this album. And there are MANY songs that I love so much. In fact because there are so many that I love, I’m going to highlight two of them today.

“It’s Only Love” is just simple and beautiful to me.

The lyrics to “Tell Me What You See” are what I once told a guy I like. I mean seriously, open up your eyes because I’M RIGHT THERE. But whatevs.

Fun fact: the Beatles are NOT spelling Help on the cover with their arms. In fact they aren’t spelling a word at all. In fact it’s just saying NUJV.

Next Month: Rubber Soul

If you’ve known me for any extended amount of time, then you know that my all time favorite band is The Beatles. One of my blogging goals for 2015 is to have a regular feature and because I’m completely random, I will be featuring a Beatles album monthly. This is exciting because it gives me a chance to relisten to these albums again. I’m not exactly reviewing it (as I am not a music reviewer) but instead enjoying it as a fan.

Honestly this is probably the weakest of all of the Beatles albums. While there are some stellar contributions on here, some of the songs seem like the band is putting in as little effort as possible. The cover songs chosen seem fluffy and to be honest quite forgetful. It sort of feels like the studio and their manager wanted them to continue to cash in on their popularity (hence the title) and a lot of the songs on here seems like they were chosen as filler material. To be honest, I personally did not realize this album existed until much later in my liking of the band. It’s kind of a forgettable album as there are no lead singles coming off of it.

One song of note is John’s “I’m a Loser” because it’s more autobiographical and not just a silly love song. It’s quite emo. I use that phrase a lot but really there’s no other way to describe this song. “Eight Days a Week” is such a great sing along song. I heard Paul sing it in concert two years ago and it’s just the perfect song to get everyone in a good mood.

• No Reply (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – John w/Paul
• I’m a Loser (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – John w/Paul
• Baby’s in Black (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – Paul/John
• Rock and Roll Music (Berry) – Lead Singer – John
• I’ll Follow the Sun (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – Paul
• Mr. Moonlight (Johnson) – Lead Singer – John
• Kansas City/ Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey! (Leiber and Stoller/Penniman) – Lead Singer – Paul
• Eight Days a Week (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – John
• Words of Love (Holly) – Lead Singer – John/Paul
• Honey Don’t (Perkins) – Lead Singer – Ringo
• Every Little Thing (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – John/Paul
• I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – John/Paul
• What You’re Doing (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – Paul
• Everybody’s Trying to Be My Baby – (Perkins) – Lead Singer – George

Standout Songs: Eight Days a Week, I’m a Loser

Personal Favorites: What You’re Doing, I’ll Follow the Sun

Least Memorable: I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party, Everybody’s Trying to Be My Baby, Words of Love, Honey Don’t

While I totally love “I’ll Follow the Sun” because it says exactly how I feel when I realize I need to move on from someone, I also really enjoy “What You’re Doing”. The beat is very much on point and the song as a whole feels quite simple. But the lyrics are words I’ve thought or said to and about people so it’s almost as if they wrote that song based on my experiences alone.

I’d also like to mention the cover. The out of focused shot and the non smiling faces make them look less like teen pop idols and more towards the direction of the deep thinking rockers. Granted I can’t say the same thing for a lot of the songs on the album but what’s good on here is very good.

Next month: Help!

If you’ve known me for any extended amount of time, then you know that my all time favorite band is The Beatles. One of my blogging goals for 2015 is to have a regular feature and because I’m completely random, I will be featuring a Beatles album monthly. This is exciting because it gives me a chance to relisten to these albums again. I’m not exactly reviewing it (as I am not a music reviewer) but instead enjoying it as a fan.

Lights, camera, action! It’s movie time with The Beatles! A Hard Day’s Night is the soundtrack to the movie they starred in and The Beatles third album. Released in 1964, this album (and the movie) is EVERYTHING about the British Invasion and the early 60s. The songs are upbeat and light but not fluffy. It just still sound so classic and hip over 50 years (!) later.

Every song on this album is an original composition, with John being the lead writer and singer on the majority of them. I believe this is the only album where Ringo does not get to sing a song. George’s one song is kind of a throwaway one.

• A Hard Day’s Night (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – John/Paul
• I Should Have Known Better (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – John
• If I Fell (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – John/Paul
• I’m Happy Just to Dance With You (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – George
• And I Love Her (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – Paul
• Tell Me Why (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – John
• Can’t Buy Me Love (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – Paul
• Any Time At All (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – John
• I’ll Cry Instead (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – John
• Things We Said Today (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – Paul
• When I Get Home (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – John
• You Can’t Do That (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – John
• I’ll Be Back (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – John

Standout Song: A Hard Day’s Night

Personal Favorites: If I Fell, I’ll Be Back

Least Memorable: Tell Me Why, When I Get Home

The first half of songs appear in the movie while the other half were written for but not included in the movie. The songs are still mainly love songs, with “And I Love Her” being an absolute beautiful one from Paul. Most of John’s songs seem a bit angry at either himself or the girl but then John’s the emo one of the group so this is nothing new. I think what’s best about this album is that it sounds like they are really enjoying themselves throughout it. The excitement from the movie spills over into the album when one listens to it. It sounds like it was a lot of fun to record this one.

While almost all the songs on here are favorites, my personal favorite is “If I Fell”. It says everything about how I feel and would probably want to say to a guy one day.

If you haven’t seen the movie, then I HIGHLY recommend it. It’s really fun and unlike other movies of the time period which also starred rock and pop stars, A Hard Day’s Night is not cheesy or gimmicky at all. The film being in black and white makes it more artsy and the writing is so good, you think the Beatles are just acting as themselves. It holds up incredibly well to this day. It’s one of my favorite movies and an all time classic.

Next Month: Beatles for Sale

If you’ve known me for any extended amount of time, then you know that my all time favorite band is The Beatles. One of my blogging goals for 2015 is to have a regular feature and because I’m completely random, I will be featuring a Beatles album monthly. This is exciting because it gives me a chance to relisten to these albums again. I’m not exactly reviewing it (as I am not a music reviewer) but instead enjoying it as a fan.

Look at that cover, y’all. No one is smiling. We’re getting all moody and pensive here!

With the Beatles is the second studio album released by The Beatles in November 1963, interestingly on the same day that JFK was assassinated. If you remember, Please Please Me was released that same year in March so to have two full albums in released in 8 months in incredibly impressive when you think about it takes years for some artists just to do one album. Plus there are eight original songs on here including George’s first song!

• It Won’t Be Long (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – John
• All I Got to Do (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – John
• All My Loving (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – Paul
• Don’t Bother Me (Harrison) – Lead Singer – George
• Little Child (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – John
• Til There Was You (Willson) – Lead Singer – Paul
• Please Mister Postman (Dobbins/Garrett/Gorman/Holland/Bateman) – Lead Singer – John
• Roll Over Beethoven (Berry) – Lead Singer – George
• Hold Me Tight (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – Paul
• You Really Got a Hold On Me (Robinson) – Lead Singer – John
• I Wanna Be Your Man (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – Ringo
• Devil in Her Heart (Drapkin) – Lead Singer – George
• Not a Second Time (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead Singer – John
• Money (That’s What I Want) (Bradford/Gordy) – Lead Singer – John

Standout Song: Money (That’s What I Want)

Personal Favorites: Not a Second Time, Don’t Bother Me, Please Mister Postman, You Really Got a Hold On Me

Least Memorable: Hold Me Tight, Devil in Her Heart

Unlike their first album which was recorded in one day (!), this one took the span of three months. None of these songs were released as singles so unlike most albums today, if you bought this you were listening to all brand new to me songs. For me, personally, this was the first Beatles album I listened to non stop so it holds a special place in my heart. It’s not a collection of songs that is earth-shaking but they are all very enjoyable to hear.

George gets his first song on here (plus sings lead on two more) so that’s a huge step up for him. “Don’t Bother Me” is a song where he sounds pretty pissed off and I love that. Ringo gets a song that was originally used by The Rolling Stones so once again it’s like he’s getting leftovers. Two of my favorite covers, “Please Mr. Postman” and “You Really Got a Hold On Me” are originally Motown songs and their rock and roll versions put a very nice spin on them. While it’s not a huge favorite of mine, “Money” features John really going at the song which is always fun.

The songs are still mostly light and about romantic love though my personal favorite, “Not a Second Time” is from John who’s been hurt and refuses to allow that person to hurt them again. I’ve loved this song ever since I first heard it because it resonates so very much in my life.

Overall, it’s a good follow-up album. Things are still pretty light but the fact that there are a bunch of original songs that have stood the test of time show that they definitely were not one hit wonder.

Next Month: A Hard Day’s Night

If you’ve known me for any extended amount of time, then you know that my all time favorite band is The Beatles. One of my blogging goals for 2015 is to have a regular feature and because I’m completely random, I will be featuring a Beatles album monthly. This is exciting because it gives me a chance to relisten to these albums again. I’m not exactly reviewing it (as I am not a music reviewer) but instead enjoying it as a fan.

Please Please Me was the first full studio album released by The Beatles in March 1963 under the Parlophone label with George Martin as the producer. They recorded this album in less than 13 hours on a single day. Can you imagine how insane that is compared to what people do today? There are 6 covers on here and the rest are Lennon/McCartney originals.

• I Saw Her Standing There (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead singer – Paul
• Misery (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead singer – John/Paul
• Anna (Go to Him) (Arthur Alexander) – Lead singer – John
• Chains (Goffin/King) – Lead singer – George
• Boys (Dixon/Farrell) – Lead singer – Ringo
• Ask Me Why (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead singer – John
• Please Please Me (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead singer – John/Paul
• Love Me Do (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead singer – John/Paul
• P.S. I Love You (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead singer – Paul
• Baby It’s You (David/Williams/Bacharach) – Lead singer – John
• Do You Want to Know a Secret (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead singer – George
• A Taste of Honey (Scott/Marlow) – Lead singer – Paul
• There’s a Place (Lennon/McCartney) – Lead singer – John/Paul
• Twist and Shout (Medley/Russell) – Lead singer – John

Standout song: Twist and Shout

Personal favorite songs: Twist and Shout, Anna (Go to Him), Baby It’s You, Please Please Me

Least memorable: Boys, Chains

While the Beatles had recorded songs before, this was the first album they recorded together as a group. I know that bands, groups, and singers these days have albums coming out when they are young teens but almost all the time they never write their own songs. A lot of those songs also have four or more writers credited. So for a bunch of guys that are 23 or younger (!!), this is pretty incredible.

Most of the songs are very light about love. There’s nothing too deep lyrically in these songs plus the guitar chords sound quite simple and not as complex as they will become later on. This album sounds very oldies like. I also find it interesting that everyone in the band gets to sing. These days it almost feels like a lot of popular bands really consist of the band backing up the lead singer (who usually doesn’t play an instrument either). Here George gets two and even Ringo joins in on the fun. Unfortunately for them, the selections chosen for them aren’t very outstanding. Two of these songs were originally done by girl groups so it’s a curious selection. Then again so was “Baby It’s You” but I just adore that song in general so maybe it’s in the way it’s sung.

Twist and Shout is the best song on this album. It was also the last song recorded during that 12+ hour session and you can absolutely tell that in John’s voice as it’s basically ripped to shreds.

All in all a decent first album. While, it’s not my favorite and other than “Twist and Shout” there’s nothing really jumping out, it’s a darn good start.

Next month: With the Beatles