With The Beatles

Now this is interesting. The Beatles when they were shite. Listening to this album, I started laughing very quickly. “All I’ve Got to Do” is comically stupid. I kinda liked it though, and I had to save a few of the famous covers like “Mr. Postman” and “Roll Over Beethoven.” Hearing John or Paul (don’t know or care which honestly) on the latter track attempt the “woo” that Little Richard would do belongs in a museum of cringe, in the same wing as Mickey Rooney in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. As an album, this is generally super lame. Important to hear as far as their evolution is concerned, but in isolation, and some 60 years later, it’s pretty awful. Like the Everly Brothers if the Everly Brothers were terrible at singing and harmonizing and pronounced “Beethoven” really strangely. Favorite tracks: Til There Was You, Please Mr. Postman. Album art: Appropriately boring. How were these guys a boy band that drove the world wild? They look as lame as they sound here. 1.5/5

Growing up, I almost exclusively listened to compilation's of the Beatles' greatest hits. Rarely ever, I took the opportunity to listen to a full album by them. Browsing through their discography, I feel like a complete outcast for saying that With the Beatles is my favorite, by a considerable margin. I will admit that the songs that made the biggest impression on me by the Beatles, are mostly scattered throughout Abbey Road, Revolver, Rubber Soul and A Hard Day's Night, but With the Beatles does not contain a single unenjoyable or average track at all. With the slight exception of Little Child, I find that every other song on With the Beatles is exceptionally touching, raw, authentic and sung beautifully. A 5/5 is absolutely deserved.

With The Beatles by The Beatles (1963) In retrospect, With The Beatles had all the elements that would establish The Beatles as the generation-defining musical group they would ultimately become. They would be no flash in the pan. Delicately exploring variations from standard chord structures, they were innovating without leaving the audience behind. They performed with flawless rhythm and grounding. And their melodies were and remain inspiring. The album is not without its flaws. The vocals lack maturity and discipline (especially in doubling dubs, the percussive ‘wows’ and ‘yeahs’, and a few diction flubs). The engineering is stuck in a formulaic rut, with instrumentals in the left channel and vocals in the right (exception: “Money”—the best mix on the album). Almost sixty years later, some of this sounds quaint. But nostalgically quaint. The most soulful original lyric is George Harrison’s “Don’t Bother Me”—the rest are relatively shallow, zeroed in on romantic adolescent male desire. It’s no wonder these songs drove the girls crazy. Their covers of other artists’ songs (six of the fourteen tracks on this record) are usually not as as strong as the originals, and the Lennon/McCartney vocal blend needed development (especially when they sang in unison). But all the essential elements were there—solid guitar by Harrison, and instinctively tight rhythm by Ringo Starr (drums) and Paul McCartney (bass) with vocal and rhythm guitar leadership by John Lennon all put together the complete rock and roll package. The musical standout on this album is “All My Loving”. Listening on headphones for the first time, I was pleased to discover the importance of the sixteenth note played by Harrison on electric rhythm guitar just before the beginning of each measure in the verse, but left off at the start of each phrase. He creates a rhythmic anticipation that drives the already rapid pace. Underrated genius here. He was only twenty years old. While not the best of The Beatles, this work stands as a rock and roll staple, and provides tremendous explanatory power for much of what followed. It shouted, “Wait till you hear what’s coming, folks.” 4/5

Day 31 of Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, and I’ve hit a major milestone! I cannot tell you how excited I was to get my first Beatles record! I didn’t grow up with The Beatles, the iconic Fab Four had been broken up for over a decade before I was even born. Sure, as a kid, I heard The Beatles on TV, radio, movies and even some commercials, they were just never my cup of tea. That remained the case until I got into my twenties... I can’t really explain how, I just suddenly started listening to their music on my own one day, and fell in love. The things about these guys that I had always thought was strange and off-putting when I was a kid quickly became the same things that I admired and enjoyed the most. With The Beatles, today’s album, is the second release from The Beatles, released in 1963, and the first to be released in North America. With The Beatles has the guys playing it safe, smartly, with Motown covers and simple, upbeat love diddly’s. The first unwritten rule in music is to get the girls to like it first, the guys will follow. Even though super innovative and experimental albums like Sgt. Pepper’s and Yellow Submarine seemed light years away musically, those would come only a couple of short years later. Even when The Beatles music would become more complex and psychedelic, their roots always remained closely tied to R&B and Rock n Roll. You would have to press really hard to find a songwriting duo that even comes close to being as prolific as Lennon & McCartney. The lyrics are simple, yet very effective. The singing is crystal clear, and dares you not to sing along. These guys made masterful music making seem so simple, and still, nearly 60 years later, there’s no other act that can touch them. I also really enjoy watching old interviews, these guys were really fucking witty and funny. Now on to the songs.. Nearly half of the track listing for With The Beatles is cover songs. If the entire album was all covers it would still be a smash. The kids from Liverpool take songs like Please Mr. Postman, You Really Got a Hold on Me, Money and Roll Over Beethoven to new heights. If you don’t like these songs, you won’t appreciate The Beatles, these are artists that inspired Beatlemania! This isn’t an album that uses tried and true classics as a crutch, though. The best songs on With The Beatles are originals. Til There Was You is one of my favorite all time Beatles songs. It’s very sweet, melodic and sentimental. All My Loving is nearly the perfect song, period. Hold Me Tight, I Wanna Be Your Man, All I’ve Got To Do, Don’t Bother Me, all really good and iconic songs. This is only one album, It’s amazing that The Beatles only lasted ten years when you look at their monstrous catalogue. There will never be another group that will impact the worlds musical culture as much as The Beatles. The coolest part about it all is that they always paid respect and honored those that paved the way for them. I absolutely cannot wait for more albums from The Fab Four! Please share your thoughts, memories and opinions!!

I know it's a bit sacrilegious, but I've never been much of a Beatles fan. I don't hate them, and I recognize their contribution to everything we currently enjoy in mainstream music, but they've never really done it for me. This album is pretty typical of my enjoyment of them at 2 stars.

Le haiku: Not the Beatles best, Yet the tunes are heckin good, I enjoyed it so.

I hate to not give a 5 to a Beatles album, but this was one of their earlier works where they were still doing some covers and it shows. While I find this record to be short and sweet, there are a few songs that I could do without. Nothing is "bad", but a few songs are skippable if they come on during shuffle mode.

Of all the Beatles albums, why is their weakest offering on this list? As far as early 60s pop goes, it's pretty average. Aside from "All I've got to Do" all the other tracks are pretty boilerplate forgettable or written by other people. Nothing offensively bad, but one of the albums you NEED to listen you before you die?

This is a fine album. Beautiful vocals, gorgeous, harmonies, first rate songs and and tight playing. Not sure who's decision to have the stereo mix as vocals hard right, instruments hard left but I do hate it. Is there a mono mix available for this album? If so I would love to hear it. That's the one thing that keeps this from a straight up 5 star album...4,75 stars

Interesting to see another of their early albums here. I don't give these enough listens honestly. This album is just full of classic songs.

It's probably my least favourite Beatles album and a further listen today hasn't changed that view. Sure there are some good tracks but there's something about it that doesn't resonate, hence it rarely gets played. Actually the song I most enjoyed was 'Don't bother me' (George Harrison's first song) which has a moody breezy feel. I think it's because it's not a major/minor song (looked it up and it's verse is E Dorian mode) plus some Latin percussion. Overall I would call this the Beatles soul album and there's a clear Motown influence, especially in the John Lennon sung tracks. I also like the inspired acoustic performance of the standard 'Til there was you' plus 'All my loving' sounds like a #1, had it been released as a single. 3 seems a bit harsh for the stuff I do like, so given it a 4.

Not the best beatles album but still great from beginning to end. Standout songs: Don't bother me, Please mr postman, devil in her heart

a classic 60’s record. call it cheesy but it wasn’t at the time. these lads were the greatest to ever do it. this album contains some of their all time best songs. they’re so young and cute here but their performances are fucking superb like how can you not love them. if you’rea beatles hater fucking grow up!!!!

I was not expecting to enjoy this album as much as I did. I recognized some songs, but there were new ones that grabbed me and caused me to listen twice through. My first 5 star on a new-to-me album!

Some great songs on here. Enjoyed!

Wonderful and ground breaking.

Great album.

really solid, really beatles-y

Imagine if we could have pop music this good now

Legendary album of The Beatles. Like the rythm. Some songs are perfect.

An underrated album within their discography

Not a Beatles fan

Early Beatles has a time and a place. The time being 60 years ago and the place being nowhere near me.

A lot of people hate the early Beatles albums because it lacks the perfection the later albums achieve both lyrically and musically. My argument for this is that they are SO DAMN CATCHY! I could listen to this for hours on end and even if it is far from their best, I can't stop listening to it!

This is the album where the Beatles start to realize their potential. The album isn’t a couple of singles surrounded by their amateur show material. It’s a little more thoughtful and is the beginning of the through line to the band that changes everything.

Gotta lovem

Noice.

Great freakin' album.

Me gustó, salen temas que no son tan populares o que yo no los tengo tan presentes, pero muy buenos

Siempre molan

QUE BELLEZAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!

Love

I already knew I liked the Beatles, so it’s no surprise to me that I enjoyed this album. I like their earlier stuff more than later stuff, and I hadn’t heard a lot of these covers before. It was nice to hear some stuff I hadn’t heard before.

beatles automatic 5 star

The best!

Come on now. Classic.

britos

Anything by the Beatles is fab in my book.

The Beatles have some great tracks. None of them are here. This is like a half decent pub band who manage to butcher a cover or two. I will say though, Ringo sounds good here.

more beatles...

I am not a huge fan of the Beatles and am an even lesser fan of the older stuff.

It may look like there’s two Beatles missing (Bob Dylan and Yoko) but it’s just Bobby, Yoko’s hair is helping her camouflage in the dark.

I love the Beatles and I’ve never listened to this album. I already love the sound. This is classic Beatles sound. “All my loving” is such a great song. Every bit of it. This album is so great. And it’s a great snapshot of how the music industry worked at that time and how it was changing.

Garage Rock meets Power Pop. Long before anybody uses these terms. Great album

Pure bliss. Old bliss admittedly, but bliss nevertheless.

The Beatles were about to take over the world. 5 starrs or A-.

One of my favourite bands of all time; my very first record ever was The White Album, and it changed my life. Hearing this record makes me reflect on the wonder of chance and fate - that these four young men should find each other, blend their sounds and thoughts and opinions on music - and that the end result would be arguably the most consequential pop music of the 20th century. 1000 stars out of 5.

What a fun album

Absolute banger after banger, 0 skips. It's The Beatles I don't gotta say anymore.

People who say the Beatles are overrated are obviously the most annoying, but people who say they didn’t really get good until Rubber Soul/Revolver aren’t far behind. Five stars.

"With the Beatles," the band’s second studio album, solidifies their signature sound and hints at the greatness to come. It sharpens their pop instincts with tight harmonies, energetic performances, and sharp songwriting. This record has it all—seven original Lennon-McCartney tracks, George Harrison’s first composition (Don’t Bother Me), and a selection of fantastic rock and roll covers. It’s a near-perfect album that captures the raw excitement of early Beatlemania. Favorite Song: All My Loving is an undeniable classic, while Don’t Bother Me surprises as an underrated gem. Their cover of Roll Over Beethoven is pure rock and roll magic. Least Favorite Song: Honestly, there isn’t a weak track here. Album Artwork: Simply iconic. The moody, high-contrast portrait perfectly reflects the band’s rising stardom and remains their most striking cover."

I love the Beatles too much to ever give them less than 5 stars. This may not be my favorite of theirs, but the covers are all great, and some of the originals are great pop songs among the best of the time. It Won't Be Long, All My Loving, and Hold Me Tight remain my favorites, but I enjoy them all.

For me not the best Beatles album from the early days - Hard Days Night is better. But still it has some classics on it, All my loving and Money. I don't think it is conceivable to rate any album by the Beatles less than 5 points. Especially when the Beatles were at the pioneering stage for most groups.

Unfortunately I am the type of basic white boy that will give any Beatles album 5

Tried to listen to this with Beatles bias removed and was still supremely impressed. Crazy to think this was released the year my dad was born (not sure why that seems so unbelievable, maybe because elements of the songs sound so contemporary even today). Another example of how it's easy to see why they were such a big deal and how they've had such a lasting impact on the culture. Solidified my strong preference for Paul's writing over John's although I assume a lot of it was collaborative - Paul's voice is way nicer. Till there was you absolutely blew me away - I haven't been that affected by a song in a long time and have listened to it at least 6 times since yesterday. What an incredibly beautiful tune. In other parts of the album there is a certain lyrical sop factor (and at times creep factor *cough* John *cough* Little Child) common to the time/genre that is unfortunate but they at least have an edge over their contemporaries in the ad lib screaming and hooting in some of the songs - it does well to set them out from the pack. These boys were always destined for greatness.

Love Love Love! One of my favorite Beatle songs is on the album. It's a Buddy Holly cover, Words of Love. Anything they sang had a touch of magic.

A lot of golden oldies here. A soundtrack of the 60s. Classic

Always loved it, particularly the first and last tracks

Listened Before: This album is a gem. Literally any song on here could have been released as a single and probably gone to number one. Solidly written, well produced, and the performance is... well it's the Beatles. Added to Library? N (Not really my style) Songs added to Playlist: Please Mister Postman, All My Loving

Nice to hear some original Beatles - mixed with some covers 👍🏻

The ascent to absolute greatness continues! Some of their greatest early songs are here.

Los amooo

😍😍😍

Hah, this was easy: stone cold classic that was a joy to go back and revisit, it’s been awhile since I listened to it straight through. And I like everything except “Little Child” and possibly “Devil in Her Hear”.

I could just say "it's the Beatles" and give it a five, but I don't think that would do service to this album because it isn't the most well known Beatles album, and indeed it doesn't have... well, any of the songs that they're traditionally known for. But the thing is, every song stands tall on this album. They're not hits, but they're not mediocre either. They put the work in on the songs they wrote for this album, and chose the others that they covered well. It's a fantastic rock album of mostly love songs, and only the Beatles could make it as engaging as it is.

It's about time. 150 albums in before the GOAT arrive.

Quite a time warp. This album was recorded in mid-1963 and released in November of the same year. The band had not yet visited the U.S., the album hit the stores and radio in the same month JFK was assassinated, and the band members were still so very young. It's very difficult for me to extract the history, culture, and context of the band and the bigger picture from the album, and I don't really want to. It's still all before I was born, but it was all such a part of my early youth that it feels quite familiar. Listening to the album, which I haven't heard in so many years but for a few songs here and there, I still find their songwriting talent to be remarkable. Love the performances on the album, too. I hear such great influences on their music -- 50s pop, rockabilly, early rock 'n roll, a teensy bit of jazz swing, hints of very early surf rock, doo-wop, blues, and so on -- yet even as far back as this very early album they still sound very much like The Beatles. Overall, I really enjoy the album. It's fun, it's not overcomplicated, catchy, and I'm glad to have listened to it again.

so twee so cute. so great.

it's crazy how ahead of the time this band was, releasing in 1977. This album sounds like some of early 2000's Alt Rock. They really made a statement releasing music so ahead of the time.

Beatles at their Mop-top height here! Some great tunes on it from the Beatlemania era and pre |John's "Bigger Than Jesus" Gaffe. can really see their progression as songwriters, as usual George just gets a look-in songwriting wise. "All My loving" "Till There Was You" Covers "Please Mr Postman" & "Roll over Beethoven" highlights for me. Of course in the top 1001 albums of all time!

What can I say about The Beatles that hasn't already been said. Super groovy album, vocals on full display with surf-style rock 'n roll instrumentals underneath. The vocal doubling is done so perfectly on select tracks throughout, and the harmonies are very enjoyable. This album truly marks the start of a new era for pop music. Fave tracks: It Won't Be Long, I Wanna Be Your Man, Money (That's What I Want)

What can be said about this record that hasn't already been said? Lennon, in particular, is on fire throughout - reeling off a procession of songs that must have gladdened Cynthia's heart. Little did she know.

This is catchy shit, and while I think I prefer mid to late Beatles much more, that early sound is still so fun.

One of The Beatles's best

Iconic. 5 stars

1001 Albums Generator Day 7 Homer Simpson: "I never knew you were such a Beatles fan." Ned Flanders: "Of course I am! They were bigger than Jesus!" The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy tends to be remembered mostly for concepts and isolated jokes (towels, the Infinite Improbability Drive, Paranoid Android etc), but some of Douglas Adams' observations of behaviour have stayed with me. One of these is a moment shortly after the Earth is demolished. Arthur Dent, having narrowly escaped, is trying to get his head around it. He thinks of his parents and his sister, that he'll never see them again. He doesn't react; it's just too big. He thinks about the person he stood behind in the supermarket queue a few days before. The whole supermarket has gone, and everyone in it. He panics. He tries to start small again and build up, but when it hits him that there's no longer such a thing as a McDonald's burger, he passes out. Talking about The Beatles can be too much to take in; I think that's one of the reasons us fans can be such anoraks. Peter Jackson's Get Back was fantastic because it indulges that impulse to collect minute details, but also because it makes The Beatles smaller, by dropping us right in there at a moment when they were still four friends writing songs, making each other laugh, with a future together still available. This is my way of making them small: talking around the subject to remind myself that this was an album made quickly by a group of bright young men, "a good little rock 'n' roll band," as McCartney puts it. They were still excited just to be doing it. George gets his first songwriting credit here, and maybe it's telling that it's the first song of unmasked, unguarded personal discontent. A sign of things to come. Or maybe it was just a miserable day on a long tour and he felt a bit under the weather in a hotel in Bournemouth. I'm getting ahead of things. They hadn't even been to America yet. So we focus on the details: the verses of All I've Got To Do, and the precise, unique timbre of Ringo's cymbal smacks. Better writers than me can and have talked about their place in the lineage of vocal girl groups, the pros and cons of their covers versus the originals etc etc. The vastness, richness and importance of their story don't persuade me they're a great band; the music does that. But they do help to remind me how miraculous the act of making songs is, and make me want to read, write and discuss other artists with the same close attention. This is the album of theirs I heard last, and not the one I have the greatest personal connection with, but it's absolutely thrilling stuff.

I love the Beatles, so his will score well, but it is so early in their career that they hadn't quite developed into the band they became. Lots of cover versions, which is odd when they had three of the best songwriters (and Ringo). Thus does include the first Harrison song on an LP though, which is interesting. All the songs are good or great, and all are pretty much part of life in Britain. I prefer their later stuff, when they were exploring the fringes of modern music and developing the future, but still love this. It is both good in its own right, and an interesting snapshot of the biggest band in the world, ever, just as they claimed that title.

Great album, all my loving is a 10/10 song

Pure quality rhythm and blues pop.

Rating: 9/10 Best songs: It won’t be long, All my loving, Don’t bother me, Not a second time, Money

What is there to say

85. With the Beatles - Beatles 14 tracks It's pretty hard not to love this. It just flows & keeps you interested & all the tracks are short & sweet & it leaves you wanting more rather than less. It's aged, but that doesn't have to be a bad thing. Is "beautiful" too strong? 5/5

Well it has to be a 5 starts doesn't it. So many top tunes on here!! Like to hear Beatles do covers, as they are covered so much themselves

Hard to know what to say about the Beatles. I've never really been a massive Beatles fan, I like them as much as the next person but you just can't deny how good they are really.

Love this, can't believe it's just 8 months after first album. Great covers as well as originals

so good

Ааааааа

Had not heard this Beatles album before but I liked it. Good collection of tunes with some energy.

I love this stage of the Beatles, it's just music that makes you want to dance and have fun. The vocals and songs are great, even if half are covers!

The Beatles' first huge hit. A classic that I've listened to hundreds of times. Can't get much better in 1963, that's for sure.

just wonderful...

Atemporales. Melodías sencillas con pocos acordes muy bien seleccionadas.

Brings me back to college party days. A classic

Classic Album! Their harmonies are stunning while being so distinct/ creative at the same time. While some of the tracks are covers from other songs, that dosen't make them have less meaning. Love early Beatles work

son los beatles, por supuesto que mi calificación es de 5 estrellas

Always a fan of early Beatles

Although not as great as their debut it´s still a great album in their discography.

Certainly an all time classic.

FINE! I'LL GIVE THEM 5 STARS! DARN IT WHY DO THEY HAVE TO BE SO GREAT. EVERY. DUMB. ALBUM. BRILLIANT.

Yes