A Hard Day's Night

Pretty good. Do these guys have any other albums?

It's about damn time. 136 albums and I finally get a Beatles album. I calculated the probability and there was supposed to be a nearly 2/3 chance I should have already got a Beatles album by now. But finally. This album is underrated. I said it. Why? Just look up people's reviews on this page or on reddit or wherever. They'll say, "Oh well I prefer this later Beatles album" and of course you do, the innovation in instrumentation, songwriting, and production spirals out of control following Rubber Soul. But you can't unfairly give this a lower rating cause you have to compare it to something entirely different. Anyway... This is my favorite pre-Rubber Soul album. No covers. Full on McCartney-Lennon pop songwriting genius from start to end. There's something to love about each track. Let's start with the songs I think are perfect. "A Hard Day's Night", "If I Fell", "And I Love Her", and "Can't Buy Me Love". Between superb vocals, complex chord progressions, impactful lyrics, and a fistful of energy and punk, these songs reflect exactly why they're so loved. It's hard to even come close to mimicking these songs, even if you knew their secrets. There are some interesting quirks here and there, like how in "Any Time At All" it feels a bit empty, and yes it is supposed to have more lyrics, but it doesn't detract the power in Lennon's voice, McCartney's high pitch support, and catchy melodic tune. Even "weaker" songs like "I'll Cry Instead" have interesting chord changes and instrument choices that don't make for a dull experience. The Beatles are a pop sensation, and I swear it's really hard for me to write what I love about Beatles albums. I discovered the entire Beatles discography when I was 10, and I never listened to any other album until I was in college. I kept playing those same albums on repeat for years, and even now they're my most frequently visited. I can sing along to every song in their discography. So how can I tell this is worthy of the 5 stars? I can measure how much I like each song but how excited I am to sing along to each of them. So a song like "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" I don't feel much a push to sing along to, and likewise "I'll Cry Instead" I'm the least enthusiastic about. Is this a bias toward catchy pop songs? Well, after knowing all the lyrics to the Abbey Road Medley or the unusual picks in Sgt Pepper or White Album, I don't believe that's the case. Just the ones that really grab my attention. And with this album, more so than any other pre-Rubber Soul album I can belt all the lyrics with some degree of intense enthusiasm. There was nothing that even came close to The Beatles in the early 60s. At least later in the decade you had rock albums by Rolling Stones, Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, Love, etc... but not this early. You were dealing with the likes of Bobby Vinton and Andy Williams... who cares? This album more so than the other pre-RS displays their incredible level of innovation that everyone would follow and adapt to. It's important not to disregard these early Beatles albums. When I'm looking for classic rock n roll, early Beatles albums will always be the first place I look.

This does nothing to dispel my belief that The Beatles are one of the most over rated bands ever. Sound like a slightly updated version of the Everly brothers. I think their position in pop culture buys them a lot of good will.

they're horny and annoying

Haven't really done super-deep dives on any pre-Rubber Soul Beatles records, so this was fun - every song under three minutes and the whole record done in 30. Even the songs I wasn't familiar with were immediately catchy. Rightfully thought of as the pinnacle of this era.

Top of the pile of the early Beatles albums, and also technically a soundtrack. John has a lot of machismo throughout the record, while Paul seems a bit more coy and smitten. You start to get a small taste of things to come as the songwriting starts to get more focused.

Possibly the best of the Beatles Pop albums. Features all time great tracks like ‘Hard Days Night’ & ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ as well as some lesser known greats like ‘I Should Have Known Better’

The first Beatles album containing only original compositions finds the greatest songwriting duo of all time still honing their craft. They won't get it perfect until Help! one year later, but there's enough on this record to show that this lot are here to be taken seriously as composers, not just mop-haired pop stars. Lennon's wicked tongue launches its two pronged attack on, 'I'll Cry Instead' and, 'You Can't Do That', fueled by insecurity and childhood resentment, which contrasts superbly with McCartney's more refined and palatable, 'Can't Buy Me Love' and, 'If I Fell'. They're on their way.

The Beebles

Great stuff.

Dumb beatles >>>>>> Introspective Beatles

’m a much bigger fan of John than Paul mostly due to the Beatles post touring years. Regardless, a John dominated LP suits me just fine. Very solid album with only a  few minutes of filler.  And HDN is from the days when few bands (particularly white bands) putting out  a lot of pumping music.

Not the Rolling Stones.

1 Ah fuck here we go. I have a complicated relationship with The Beatles - in that I generally really don't care for The Beatles. However, after sitting down and giving A Hard Day's Night a good listen... Yeah not much has changed. This is The Beatles at their most bubble gum-poppy, and I just really can't say I see the appeal. Don't have much else to say on this one. Favorite songs: ???? Any Time at All I suppose

The best of the early Beatles records, and the peak of their early pop, Beatlemania years. The quintessential pop album by the quintessential British band. First album of fully original material and every song is a winner from the opening iconic chord of the title track, to the unexpected and premature fade out at the end of 'I'll Be Back'. What's staggering is this would be most bands high point yet the Beatles would get better than this, albeit their best albums would be purely studio affairs. Much has been written elsewhere about this album, it's influence and legacy but all you need to know is that it is that good and is easily a 5 star affair.

A pretentious-free honest straight up rock pop album. Amazing what the Beatles could from the beginning. I know nowadays songs like You can’t do that are impresentable, and with good reason I guess but it’s an almost 60 year old album! Give it a break and enjoy the sound of simpler times, also, Can’t buy me love and the title track rock hard af. I wonder how this album will sound once they make the “stereo 2024 mix”, for me the top was the Mono edition from 2014

The perfect early Beatles album. Has a ton of classics and some hidden gems too. The harmonies on this one are unmatched and the instrumental is improved from "With The Beatles" (although even that was good). This album is pretty significant for The Beatles because it is the first one to feature only songs written by them. The lyrics are an improvement from previous albums but don't compare to later ones. Still, it's an album I like to listen all the time. Also the cover is great! Favorite songs: A Hard Day's Night, I Should Have Known Better, If I Fell, And I Love Her, Tell Me Why, Can't Buy Me Love, Any Time At All, You Can't Do That, I'll Be Back

The quintessential Beatles album. Filled to the brim with catchy tunes and full of the energy that brought them to the top of the music world.

The Beatles’ first record to feature entirely original compositions, and the only one written solely by Lennon-McCartney, A Hard Day’s Night finds the songwriting partnership realizing its full potential, and the band in full swing. George’s jangling guitar had an immeasurable influence on the folk-rock movement, and Ringo’s propulsive rhythms serve as a driving force throughout. Although the group would achieve a higher degree of artistic and critical success in later years, this record stands as the pinnacle of their early work, the purest form of Beatlemania to be heard, and a sign of wonderful things to come. Standout Tracks: A Hard Day’s Night, And I Love Her, Can’t Buy Me Love, Things We Said Today, I’ll Be Back

"A Hard Day's Night" is the third studio album from The Beatles and the first album with all Lennon/McCartney originals. The writing and recording of the album coincided with the filming of their movie with the same name. Side one contains all songs written for and from the movie and were recorded before the filming. To complete an album, additional songs were recorded both before and after the filming. As for the music, yeah, they're all pop classics. "Sputnikmusic"'s Dave Donnelly said it best and I have nothing to add: "short, peppy, pop songs characterized by layered vocals, immediate choruses and understated instrumentation." The US version is different with songs from the George Martin's film score. I admit I would need a diagram of all the US and UK early Beatle album differences. This is the first album with George Harrison using a 12-string Rickenbacker guitar which had great influences on bands like the Byrds. Also, of note, no songs sung by Ringo and no Harrison written songs. Oh, Ringo is credited with the album'/film title with a comment he made during filming. Fun fact. Hard to critique classics and side one starts out with three bona-fide classics: "A Hard Day's Night" with Harrison's guitar starting note. Here's your short, peppy, pop. Oh, McCartney on the cowbell. "I Should Have Known Better" has that great harmonica start and those harmonies. Speaking of harmonies, the third song "If I Fell" has plenty of them and is a ballad of sorts. And, the first side ends with the first single and McCartney song and composed "Can't Buy Me Love." What I can say? Although not as hit-packed, the second side continues the great pop songs. Two favorites for me are the McCartney "Things We Said Today" with his lead singing and the harmonies and Lennon's "You Can't Do That" - I'm a sucker for cowbell. This album is an obvious classic and I admit it's the first time for me listening to it from start to finish. I've listened to their albums starting with "Rubber Soul" multiple, multiple times. Not so much their very early stuff. Well, that's changing.

A John album, but Paul gets to share lead vocals with him on the perfect title track. The George song is fine, but he's not trying to take you home as much he's just looking for someone to dance with. Not much for Ringo to do, although he allegedly originated the album's title, which in turn means he originated the movie's title, where he's featured prominently. Plus I enjoy his cowbell on the title track he inspired. This is either the sixth or seventh best Beatles album, but it's a landmark album: the first one where every song was written by Lennon/McCartney. It's also 30 minutes of pure bliss.

While my heart lies with post-Rubber Soul Beatles, this album is probably their best showcase of their early sound. A strong and well done collection right here.

1. + 2. + 3. = 4. + 5. = 6. - 7. = 8. + 9. = 10. + 11. - 12. + 13. +

One Direction’s “Midnight Memories” for Boomers – two timeless singles and then boardroom-crafted teenybopper filler. Actually, scratch that, because I like the 1D album better overall, and both "A Hard Days Night" and "Can't Buy Me Love" are low-tier Beatles singles, even for the first half of their career. Important for what the Beatles became, sure, but it's the least essential original material in their whole discography, in my opinion. At least the film is actually fun.

I mean...

Of course like many fans I prefer the later Beatles period but this album is probably one of their best early-years ones. First of all it’s all original songs. Some of them sound even more « modern » than others from 1964. McCartney/Lennon prove their songwriting talents and their ability to create simple yet not that simple melodies. Though not as elaborated as their later period albums, A Hard Day’s Night still shows some audacious chords changes and original arrangements. Of course my favourite song is “And I Love Her” which for me could totally have been a post-Rubber Soul song. Brilliant album. Loved it.

The first Beatles album with all songs written by Lennon and McCartney, the album and film combo kick started the rock and roll/folk music explosion in the 60s and opened up the door for British musicians to get big in the US. MEGA influential in other words. There's something so charming and appealing about this album. It makes me feel safe and cosy and nostalgic because all these tracks remind me of endless hours of drinking wine and working through the Beatles chord book with friends. The fact of how freaking difficult to play/complicated their tunes mostly are is confirmation of the song-writing genius, even if they sound like simple catchy songs. It sounds great, the 12-string electric guitar gives it something very unique for the time and the signature layered but very close harmonies add to those feelings and make it very distinctive. They had such a knack for writing extremely relevant and catchy tunes, this album was kind of the first time they show cased those skills after two albums of mostly rock and roll covers. A Hard Day's Night is iconic, I love the fact that Ringo always said really weird things like this and they just built it into their songs, it makes me want to be part of the group because it just sounds so nice and funny. And I Love Her is also a top banger. The artwork is excellent. This vintage photography style makes them all look like statues/busts which is cool.

The Beatles were a staple of the music played in our house when I was growing up. My parents had quite a few of their albums on vinyl (my dad had an opportunity to purchase The White Album on white vinyl, but passed because the person selling it wanted like $20 for it. But yet he and my mom spent thousands on Thomas Kinkade paintings...), we would play "Birthday" on every birthday, and Beatles' lyrics were often quoted in conversation. I still listen to The Beatles every now and then, but I don't think I've ever listened to an entire album of theirs from start to finish (maybe I've listened to all of Revolver or The White Album). I definitely prefer their later works (everyone makes better music when they're on drugs, and I will not be swayed from this), but I really enjoyed sitting back and giving this album a thorough listen. John and Paul really did a great job of writing this album. The lyrics are incredibly catchy and fun to sing along too, and the instrumentation is great too. I love that you can hear so much going on instrumentally; at times it sounds like there's closer to eight people in the studio, rather than a quartet. It's easy to see how these guys started off making "typical pop music," but then evolved so much artistically over their career. Even though the instrumentation may seem rudimentary, every note is executed with perfection, and it all blends together seamlessly to make a sound that was often imitated, but never duplicated. Recently, it seems like The Beatles have been labeled as 'overrated' by a lot of people, but that's utter bullshit. No one has had the career that these guys had, and the sheer volume and quality of their catalog over less than a decade is a marvel and will never be duplicated.

Finally! A Beatles Album! Album 27 on my queue. A true classic - and nice to hear their first true Lennon/McCartney major effort. Lots of hits you know and love. Good to hear some lesser knowns (when I get home) . I forgot how short these albums were - 33 minutes for 13 songs?! Video clip at the end a nice bonus! Enjoy

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+⭐ An extra star for being almost perfect.

A great album. One of the best Beatle albums from the first half of their career.

Classic. Iconic. Amazing.

It's a remarkable album gleaming with youthful exuberance and inexhaustible creativity—fabulous harmonies, fabulous lyrics, and fabulously on-point. The Fab Four certainly earned the name here!

Taas kerran Beatles näyttää. Hyvä ja tehokas levy täynnä just sopivan mittasia poprock-ralleja. Kyl tälle femma irtoaa.

Its the Beatles...but not one of their best. Sadly, because they are the Beatles, they get judged against themselves.

It’s The Beatles: of course it’s going to be great

This record couldn’t have been recommended on a better day. The Best Show is doing a 24 hour marathon show, and I am way more interested in that than hearing The Beatles for the 100,000th time in my 42 years. I know this record, grew up with it thanks to my Mom. So I don’t have to listen again to have an opinion on this one. If you love the Beatles, you’re gonna like this record. Hell, if the Beatles walked in to your house and dropped a deuce in your cereal bowl, you’d probably like that, too. If you don’t like the Beatles, you’re probably not gonna like this one either. Like most everything else, the truth is somewhere in between…it’s an ok record. Now if you’ll excuse that gross over-simplification masquerading as a review of an album by a band most people think can do no wrong, the last three hours of the Best Show 24 hour show are calling my name.

It was better than I thought. Sometimes the simplicity in the music just makes you feel good and it made the vocals stronger

A good album but they hadn't hit their creative stride quite yet

Not a fan ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⡿⠋⠁⠀⠀⠈⠉⠙⠻⣷⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣿⠇⠀⢀⣴⣶⡾⠿⠿⠿⢿⣿⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⣀⣀⣸⡿⠀⠀⢸⣿⣇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⣷⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⣾⡟⠛⣿⡇⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣷⣤⣤⣤⣤⣶⣶⣿⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⠀⠀ ⢀⣿⠀⢀⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠻⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⣿⡏⠀⠀⠀⠀⢴⣶⣶⣿⣿⣿⣆ ⢸⣿⠀⢸⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠉⠁⠀⠀⠀⣿⡇⣀⣠⣴⣾⣮⣝⠿⠿⠿⣻⡟ ⢸⣿⠀⠘⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠁⠉⠀ ⠸⣿⠀⠀⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠟⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠻⣷⣶⣿⣇⠀⠀⠀⢠⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣛⣛⣻⠉⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣀⣀⣀⣼⡿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⡿

One of my favourite

Nice

classic

Even though I prefer their albums when they got more progressive, I love this album. Not a bad song on it.

Perfect.

It's The Beatles, it's woven into the essence of my being, it's always been there because Mum loved Lennon. Even when I hear songs I don't think I know it turns out I suddenly know all the lyrics, like it's part of some collective memory we all have now. It's the ultimate pop record, but above all else, it makes me smile like a fool.

And it’s not even my favourite album by the Beatles. Speaks volumes!

Amazing. Perfectly timed for the day. A favorite album now.

classico, lembrou da viagem

Banger

I mean, it's the Beatles..

Iconic

First record of all originals, and it's ridiculous that there are no duds here. Encapsulates the early era heights before they start evolving.

G7sus4 ¡PUM! Abres un disco dándole con todo a ese acorde explosivo y raro y lo dejas sonar para entrar con una canción cuyo título es contradictorio y difícil de entender a la primera. "A Hard Day's Night" es desde mi punto de vista el disco en el que los Beatles se dan cuenta que pueden hacer lo que se les de la gana. Para empezar, es teóricamente el soundtrack para una película que podría (y tal vez debería) no existir y de cualquier manera está lleno de hits. No solo eso, es el tercer álbum completo que lanzan tras tan solo año y medio de haber sido "descubiertos" por Brian Epstein y durante este tiempo además de grabar tres discos estuvieron en una gira por Reino Unido y Estados Unidos y filmaron la película. Y además de ser el tercer LP, es el primero en el que el no tienen ningún cover. Tener covers era lo normal en aquel entonces, un poco para llenar el tiempo y un poco para mostrar habilidades al retomar canciones que ya habían funcionado con otros. Sin tener ni un cover, el disco es totalmente suyo y les permite meter una gama muy amplia de tracks, desde algo que es casi un bolero con guitarra acústica (And I Love Her), temas con sonido de Folk aunque sin ese tipo de letras (Things We Said Today y I'll Be Back) y cosas que aún suenan al Rock 'n' Roll de la década anterior (You Can't Do That y I'm Happy Just To Dance With You). Otro detalle a notar es como sus propias letras van cambiando. Por un lado, las de estilo de Paul, que aquí son dulces y evolucionarán a ser cursis; y por otro lado las de Lennon, que ya están llenas de celos locos y agresividad que se notarán más en los siguientes discos. Para acabar, la portada. Quizá sin contar Please Please Me, todas sus portadas son icónicas y esta no es la excepción. Que por cierto no sería icónica si las disqueras se hubieran quedado con la portada diseñada para la película.

Es muy complicado ser objetivo con este álbum (quizá con cualquiera de los Beatles, de hecho), pero lo intentaré. Como dato curioso, las primeras canciones que conocí de los Beatles fue por un disco llamado "Oldies but Goodies"; una compilación con algunos de sus primeros álbumes donde venían "A Hard Day's Night" y "Can't buy me love". Esas dos canciones tenían un sonido particular que jamás habría logrado interpretar hasta que leí la reseña de este disco: la Rickenbacker de 12 cuerdas. Nunca había escuchado este álbum completo y en orden, y había un par de canciones que probablemente nunca había escuchado antes, y que no me gustaron tanto: "Anytime at all" y "I'll be back". En una situación normal, eso haría que el disco no fuera 5 estrellas, pero si por otro lado se considera la importancia histórica de este disco, la decisión no resulta tan sencilla. Claro que no soy nadie para dar una opinión tan tajante, pero podría afirmar que no hay nada similar a este disco en esta época . Es rock, sin duda, pero un rock raro: mucho más complejo musicalmente que el "rock & roll", pero a al vez fresco alegre, como si fuera pop, un término que ni siquiera sé si existía en la época. También es interesante cómo lograron incorporar algo de "folk" y quizá algo de blues, pero sin perder su esencia propia.

Up there as one of my favourite Beatles albums. I Should Have Known Better.

Amazing album. 5 star lock.

Classic.

Not their best, but a great album. It's crazy to know that all of their albums came over just a 7 year period. Lots of familiar songs you can listen to over and over again.

classic.

those opening cords....wow!

Obviously going to be a five. No explanation needed.

SOBERBIO

Bealtes! Always 5 stars (except maybe the Yellow Submarine album!)

Briliant! A classic! What a mood lifter 😀

No commentary needed.

A classic!

Classic

Fantastic

First album listened to.

Just loved it!!

100% cool

Is there anything better, really?

Classic

Love The Beatles! A classic and undoubtedly helped shape the music industry

Great mix of completely fresh and Beatles twists on other influences

The ONLY bad thing I have to say about it album is how short it is!

Exquisitely crafted pop music.

It’s The Beatles

Historic

Quality songs embedded in my mind, almost didn't need to listen Very crisp production by today's standards. Refreshing

this is beautiful, a masterfully crafted album. though it won't lose any of its magic without a couple of filler songs. i liked it, it is naive and romantic

Love this album. Love it LOADS.

A great early beatles record that it sounds good after more than 50 years .

Awesome

i'm not sure the beatles would ever get less than 5 stars from me. anything i could say about them would doubtless be redundant, so i'll just remain thankful they found each other, and grateful for the music they've left us.

A Hard Day's Night is what can only be described as Absolute Classic Beatles. Interesting to find out that the first half of the album was a part of the soundtrack from a film of the same name. It was their first album to feature entirely original compositions. It was such a delight to listen to, it felt so comfortable and familiar to listen to, even though this is the first time I have listened to this album in full. Best: A Hard Day's Night; Can't Buy Me Love Worst: Can't pick.

Early proof of genius pop songwriting. 60s pop rock'n'roll at its finest without studio experiments. Arguably the purest of the great Beatles albums.

I've only recently come around to early Beatles. After all these years I think I can finally say this is a pretty great album.

Recently learned the guitar solo on the title track is played slow and the recording is sped up.

Never heard of this band.

Iconic

10/10. Really good album.

9/10 nice pop rock album, the main detractor is the way that all the songs run into each other

good stuff

For the longest it was a battle between Rubber Soul and Revolver as my favorite Beatles album. But now there's a third contender. The Beatles find their songwriter voice on this album, which I believe is their first album um of all original material. And what material it is. The songs are all excellent and the band is so damn tight. Step aside Revolver, move over Rubber Soul there's a new contender to the crown 5 🌟 🤩 ⭐

Classic! Iconic! Wonderful! This was my favorite Beatles CD when I was a kid and it holds up with their 60s rock style that they mastered!

Beatles unforgettable tunes live in my heart forever.

Loved Loved

Really? I don't think I need to justify this one.