#83: The Beatles - A Hard Day's Night (1964)

Lennon was the song writing force on this album having been the primary writer for ten of thirteen tracks. I'll be covering the UK release of the album since the US had four of the tracks cut for instrumental versions. The UK version also has a different album cover than the iconic US version (pictured). This was the first Beatles album (and one of the first albums in general) to have all of the songs written by the performers on the album. These aren't covers, these aren't songs written for them, these are their songs. It's such a simple idea today, but it was revolutionary at the time.

And I Love Her
While this album may include love songs that are paper thin, it also includes some that are a little deeper. The title only appears once in the second verse and is more of an afterthought. It has a very different sound from the rest of the record due to the instrumentation. The percussion lacks a standard drum set and instead supplies bongos and claves; the guitars are acoustic and not electric. The song also relies a little more on the vocals and the story than the rest of the album.

Can't Buy Me Love
Whenever I think of early Beatles, I think of this song - it's a classic. It has all of the staples of a good pop song in it's era: memorable lyrics, a simple groove, some quick hits to interrupt the song, has a guitar solo, and it's incredibly catchy. It's early the Beatles at their finest. Best track on the album. If you've never heard this song then you're lying to yourself. It's everywhere - even today.

You Can't Do That
Never before has the threat of domestic abuse sounded good. "I'm gonna let you down and leave you flat. Because I told you before - you can't do that." What I'm particularly impressed on this track with is the guitar part. Harrison really delivers a really solid rock vibe to great vocals on top of the rhythm section. If you're waiting for the next best song about domestic abuse, stick tight - the Beatles have another doosey coming up in a future album.

All in all, it's a solid album. Lennon and McCartney's first full album of songs pushed some boundaries and while those lines are blurred due to historical perspective, the music does hold up. Granted, the recording quality isn't up to today's qualities, but this is really the roots of rock music. The vocals that Lennon and McCartney supply on this album are nothing short of superb.

Tomorrow's album: Rob Thomas' Something to Be.

#69: The Beatles - With the Beatles (1962)

Sometimes I get upset when I want to listen to early rock and roll and the Beatles come on. Also, I don't consider them 'oldies'. I consider them pioneers to modern music. This project has shown me exactly just how much the Beatles were in a league of their own. While there are times in their music they share similarities to the best of early rock and roll, the overwhelming majority is like nothing else heard before it was released.

Please Mr. Postman

It's easy to forget that originally the Beatles were a cover band. This song happened to be an early Motown song. While the song is a slightly updated version of the song to the early rock and roll style, this version really sets itself apart with the "Wait a minute, wait a minute - oh yeah" part of the song. It's really one of my favorite early Beatles songs.

Till There Was You

The Beatles drew from everywhere. On this album you can hear Little Richard, you can hear close harmony country influences, some blues, and even this song from the musical 'The Music Man'. It's such a wonderful song and Paul sings it wonderfully. Even the guitar solo is among the best moments on the album, it's incredibly tasteful. Such a wonderful song.

All My Loving

It'd be a shame to write this review and not talk about one song written by the Beatles. McCartney and Lennon are the greatest songwriters in history. However, this album really shows just how far the Beatles came in such a short time. This song sounds nothing like the other early rock and roll albums I've heard thus far. There's a further mix of genres and there's the X factor. I don't know how else to put it, there's something new that's introduced on this album that's not apparent in other 50's and 60's albums. There's a 'new' sound that's just never been heard for. It's no wonder people went crazy for them.

All in all, I get it now. Now that I hear the context this album was released in, it's completely apparent why the Beatles were so big. I can only imagine never hearing anything like this and then all of a sudden this album changing the landscape. While this was not the Beatles début album, it had to have been just as influential (if not more) to the music community. It's not a must hear album, but it's historical influence is extremely important to pop music.

Tomorrow's album: Regina Spektor's What We Saw From the Cheap Seats.