The "Beatles For Sale" album (1964). Unfairly ignored or underrated ?

This album is gorgeous, all the way through, even during silly moments, it's such a refreshing look at the band. "What you're doing" is so different at moments it could be a Velvet Underground song.

 

Here, here!

I'll admit I'm a Dexter baby. I have an original Beatles 65 mono that sounds especially great when you do the Y-cable thing to push the noise down 6db. For this set of songs, along with Something New, I go American.

 

For me, the only thing that spoils Something New is the the German sung IWTHYH; it's a totally pointless recording. They could have filled that space with any number of great songs.

 

I may have unfairly ignored this album - need to pull it out again this weekend.

 

Agreed. By the time that rolls around though, I'm already pretty happy.

 

Recently I read that John said (or maybe I heard John say via audio/video) that the Beatles had to do some songs in German, to cater to the Germans. Because the Germans demanded it...or something like that. Probably just at the beginning, for their first two big hits: IWTHYH and She Loves You. (Which the Germans somehow got in stereo...)

Maybe this was a graceful bone they threw to their German fans.

Not that there's anything wrong with wanting an up and coming...British band singing some of their songs in one's native language.

It's what the market demands and the German market must have needed this in order to buy the Beatles early on.

Although I can't rule out that there's more to this story.

And admittedly I haven't researched it...

But back to Beatles For Sale.

What an excellent recording.

I wonder what happened to Help?

Compared to Beatles for Sale?

I'm someone who is glad that George Martin remixed Help.

And Rubber Soul.

But I know others disagree...

The only downside to Beatles For Sale is that it has some of my least favorite Beatles songs:

Definitely Mr. Moonlight.

Also, Rock and Roll Music...I much prefer John's rendition of Twist and Shout.

And I'm not a big fan of Kansas City/Hey- Hey, either.

But the rest of the songs are great.

And well recorded.

 

I didn't think too highly of the actual '87 release but the newer mono and the stereo one from the Capitol release are great releases.

 

Yes. I definitely prefer the 2009 stereo version of Beatles for Sale compared to the 87 Beatles for Sale mono CD.

 

Interesting...which moments does it sound like the Velvets?

 

I've been reading Womack's "Maximum Volume, The Life Of Beatles Producer George Martin" these past few days, and just finished the chapter on the making of Beatles For Sale.

Although I have other sources that talk about recording dates and such, it wasn't until I read this book that it hammered home to me how little studio time they spent on the record, and even then how most of it got done in a handful of marathon recording dates in the cracks between their touring schedule. There was no notion of a thematically-linked album, just banging out songs purely to fulfill their obligation to hand over an LP.

A better title might have been, "Songs We Threw Together On Our Days Off"

If instead of this insanity they were given a fortnight to work on the album, imagine what they could have done? That there is quality at all on this record is a testament to how talented a band they were.

 

What......Better than Twist and Shout? Yes, I like Words Of Love too, but it's not as good as Twist & Shout.

 

...which isn't as good as "Money" (at least IMHO).

 

Yeah, to me Money is the topper-most of the Popper-most.

 

I agree.

Money > Twist and Shout

In my view, Money is the best cover the Beatles ever recorded. It’s more raw, hard hitting, and visceral than Twist and Shout (which I also love). It encapsulates the spirit and energy of the young, hungry, leather clad Beatles at The Carvern club or Hamburg.

Twist and Shout boasts phenomenally ragged, raspy vocals, and it’s very fun, but it is way more lightweight and pop. On the other hand, Money also has incredible singing, but Lennon’s icy delivery is more violent, ruthless, and desperate. Paul’s harmony vocals are spot on, and there is an aura of supreme confidence and unleashed energy not present on TAS.

 

This cover looks like a poor bootleg, all those pictures look unofficial... what were they thinking! Still, a very cool variation to own.

 

I never heard of Beatles For Sale until the late 70's or early 80's, like others I grew up on the American Capitol releases.

Beatles For Sale has 5 Beatles classics,
No Reply
I'm a Loser
Baby's in Black
Eight Days a Week
I Don't Want to Spoil the Party

And 3 great ones,
Every Little Thing
What You're Doing
Words of Love (Buddy Holly)

The rest I can see why Capitol tried to hide them from us.

 

When it comes to covers, I think Please Mr. Postman was a great one by the Beatles. John really put his heart into that one.

 

There's no such thing as an underrated Beatles album.

 

It would have been a much better LP with the "I Feel Fine" & "She's A Woman" single, that was released the week before the LP release.

 

They were no doubt stretched thin for material at the time, and stretched thin in general. Hence all the covers.

Amazing that the originals turned out as well as they did.

 

Rock And Roll Music and Kansas City are stone old classic covers.

 

They debated for hours and hours about the title. It came down to Something New For Sale and Beatles For Sale.

 

Probably their absolute best sounding early record, and maybe their best sounding record until maybe Revolver or Sgt. Pepper.

 

Eight Days A Week
No Reply
I’m A Loser
I’ll Follow the Sun
Rock and Roll Music
I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party
Kansas City

I Feel Fine
She’s A Woman
Words of Love
Baby’s In Black
Every Little Thing
What You’re Doing
Leave My Kitten Alone