Beatles for Sale - was it a disappointment at the time?

I'm needle-dropping a lovely EAS Japanese pressing.
Listening to it I realise this is my least listened to Beatles LP, and aside from Eight Days a Week , No Reply and I'm a Loser the songwriting seems patchy. There are a few covers, many seem to stem from Hamburg days, all seemingly played with little enthusiasm.

A Hard Days Night was all originals, so was this a bit of a let down at the time?
Were there any reviews at the time that said this? Did they stall a bit in 64?

They seem a bit flat, like it was a rushed release, which I am sure compared to today it was,
but something's missing for me, Beatles magic pixie dust or something.

Mind you the sleeve is fabulous

 

The Fab Four at their peak.

 

I wasn't disappointed at the time....and I still think the stereo issue, especially, is a great listen....it's the Beatles' album that best lets you hear Abbey Road

 

I vaguely remember a review saying one can hear they are tired and depressed from the marathon of touring and recording.


(In the context of the early Beatles I like the album as much as Rubber Soul, second only to A Hard Day's Night.)

 

The faces on the sleeve say it all.

 

Great album. Underrated. Best cover.

 

No! The album cover really sells this record.

 

The sleeve is great, but the exhausted faces tell their own story. They still managed a one-two-three incredible opening punch. I absolutely love this record.

 

The old story told once again. And what says With The Beatles album cover.

 

Wasn't born until the white album so I don't know but it is one of my top Beatle albums and really is a regular listen for me, much more so than AHDN, Help, or anything previous. Of course I prefer the US MMT to Sgt Pepper so what do I know?

 

I've always liked the album! No complaints from me.

 

My favorite early Beatles album, one of my favorite songs of the Beatles are on there, No Reply and Ill Follow The Sun. Special consideration to Every Little Thing and Im a Loser

 

Being from the USA, I wasn't aware of Beatles For Sale at the time but the US semi-equivalent Beatles '65 certainly wasn't a disappointment.

 

At the time we got Beatles '65

 

Here in the US they didn't give us BFS. We got the very weak Beatles 65 and Beatles VI both of which were weak compared to AHDN.

 

Seen to listen to it more than Revolver.

 

I prefer Beatles 65. It needs I Feel Fine and She's a Woman and even Ill be Back IMO

 

Now, would that be the US A Hard Day's Night with the instrumentals added or the UK A Hard Day's Night? I can't see how either '65 or VI could pale in comparison to the American HDN album...or Help!, for that matter...

 

Very underrated

"Every Little Thing" is an obscure gem

 

I love Beatles For Sale/B65. I was 3/4 years old when they were released.

But I have to think, in 1964/65, few fans suspected some of the songs came from Hamburg, or were written years earlier. I would think, it was just another great new Beatles album. And just in time for Christmas!

 

Either one.

 

Beat me to it!

 

I was 14 when Beatles '65 came out. It was much loved. More manna from heaven.

 

Agree 100%. It's an EP at best, would have made a great EP in fact, but the suits wanted product to sell.

 

A very interesting thread/question, even for us in North America.

Even though I really like this album, I understand it may have raised a few questions upon release, given both the level attained with the previous "A Hard Day's Night" and the fact that there was so many covers on BFS.