What's the worst thing you can say about the Beatles? During the British Invasion, at the height of "Beatlemania", they're wasn't much. They made the most kick ass tunes, they made girls scream and parents blush. They had hair like no one else, long and all over the place. Oh yeah, and don’t forget the heavy accent. If you hadn't heard a Beatle song, you had to be pretty much on an island somewhere.
The Beatles are one of those bands that recorded great music year after year, until their demise. However, to see them in their early years (1962 - 1966) was something really special. They were young and loving it, and made songs that people in love - or out of it - could relate to. They had been together for so long, and so their early effort really showed them trying to prove themselves in the mainstream. And it worked.
Now, I’m not even going to being start rating Beatle songs. They have a cult following, and I have my life to consider. But if you’re checking this disk out and haven’t heard the Beatles before, here are some you should check out. (All of them are available on the album)
“From Me to You”
From the beginning “da da da da da da da da”, you’re glued to the snappy beat and uplifting chorus. It’s catchy, and you’ll find your self nodding your head to it. Paul does this thing with his voice that’s so Paul. The vocals are smooth and the instrumentals are spot on.
“I Want to Hold Your Hand”
The Beatles said they wouldn’t go to America until they had a decent hit. This was it. It shot to number one, and pretty much started the British Invasion. The claps are so brilliantly live, as they make the entire song flow smoothly.
“Can't Buy Me Love”
You’ll find your self singing along, especially the part that goes “my baby tells me so!” They’re a great snare courtesy of Ringo Starr (hence the reason Pete Best “left” the group)
“Eight Days a Week”
This is just sexy. A great song that shows the desperation of trying to go after you loves. Plus it begins like a track should; kicking in slowly.
“Ticket to Ride”
I was listening to this song in a car with my friend, and he told me this is "the Beatle's greatest love song." I don't know how true that is, but the instrumentals and lyrics on this tune bled so perfectly, it'll make a heart melt. The last lines, "my baby don't care", should have been dragged on for more than just a few seconds, so lovely and smooth they are. Brilliant tune.
“We Can Work It Out”
Definitely check this out. Shows both Lennon and McCartney playing around with chords. Although barely years apart in production, the Beatles slowly started to leave old styles behind and quickly tried to adopt to new production strategies.
“Michelle”
A tune wrecked on this disk perhaps because the sound quality is poor, but still shines as one of Paul’s most unique efforts. For Christ’s sake it’s a Rubber Soul classic. What more can you want? Just listen to the chorus and you’ll know what I mean …
“In My Life”
Indian sitars, John drugged perhaps, and a mood so somber, it’ll make rainy days cry. Great tune.
There are so many more. Literally, this disk is packed with songs, all of which are produced by Lennon-McCartney, and chosen by the group as a whole.
The only flaw is the sound quality. We have people in space, but we can't make "Eight Days a Week" sound better than a live feed from a radio. Sad thing is, the songs on Disk 1 (which were REAL early for the Beatles) are not graced with good quality, although any media player will signal a 320 kbps. Which is sad, because the songs just so fine.
Also Recommended:
The Beatles - The Beatles 1967 – 1970
The Beatles – Rubber Soul
The Beatles – Please Please Me (And Twelve Other Love Songs)
The Beatles – With the Beatles / Help
