With the Beatles

But even though this is not the version that millions of baby boomers (like myself) grew up with, it's still an essential album in the Beatles' catalog. Among the originals is their best song never released as a single, "All My Loving." Also Ringo gets a vocal on the song originally given to the Rolling Stones, "I Wanna Be Your Man." And George Harrison gets his first songwriting credit with "Don't Bother Me."

The Beatles raid the Motown vaults for many of the covers. "Please Mr. Postman," "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" and "Money" are highlights. The latter features one of Lennon's best vocals. [It wouldn't be until their next album when they released a collection of all original material.]

All told, this album catches the Beatles while they are still not too far removed from their Cavern Club and Hamburg days. As such, you hear an urgency and energy in their performance that sets their music apart from the rest of the British Invasion that followed. ESSENTIAL


Metamorpho With the Beatles........   April 27, 2008
!Metamorpho;) (N.J.)
19 out of 29 found this review helpful

People. As you know, your beloved Metamorpho can transport himself to different eras. Or so I've told you. And you have no reason to believe otherwise because nobody knows what is real or illusion more than a true Seer. And complete devotion is required, but not a pre-requisite. So, believe me, even with your own limitations on "reality". But - to the point, I can travel time with the help of certain ingredients, such as, malted milk shakes, caesar sald dressing, and salted cashews. There are, of course, other things I add. But they are kept secret because then everybody would time travel. Just think. Cleopatra would be bothered incessantly by lonely men in New York City. Not good people. And, besides, my special brew isn't even known by Colonel Saunders ( or his employees). Special. Huh?

Anyway, this time I wound up at some place in Liverpool called the Cavern Club. I think it was somewhere in the early 60's. Anyway, while nursing a drink and watching the mayhem a band on stage was creating, a man named Brian Epstein sat at my table. "What do you think of them"?, he asked. "Oh, I don't know", I said. "I think they are good but kind of rough looking. They sound good... but I don't know about that drummer". "You're quite right", he said, "but that can be taken care of", as I noticed a cheshire cat smile spring across his face. "And who are you"?, I inquired. "I am their new manager and I have very big plans for them", he replied. "Well", I said with total aplomb, "You'll never sell this group with them looking like street hoods. Clean them up - give them matching outfits, and maybe you'll have a shot", I said, nursing a shot of brandy. "You know, you're right"!, he said with great excitement. "Yes. and while you're at it, ditch that drummer for one more lovable. He just doesn't fit in", I said with total audacity (which is one of my strong points). "I will talk to them. Thanks"! And he ran off leaving me there to search for a Seeress. Take my word people, a Seerest was in very short supply in the early 60's. (I can say no more).

Anyway, this review is about that group. A group that broke all the boundaries. Personally, I thought that this Brian Epstein was looney to consider managing them and yet, yet, at that club I heard something that was great. Something that had a certain charisma - an appealing and infectious sound. They were different, sure, but with a sound that was filtered with their own cohesive abilities. They did old tunes with their own sound. And, to me, this was very new and interesting and alluring for the time.

Little did I know that after their first effort, they would go on to produce this perfect pop masterpiece. And, make no mistake about it, it truly is a pop masterpiece. We are talking about the Beatles, as you know. And they went on in future years to produce many masterpieces. But, for me, in regards to sheer joy, uplift, youthful exhuberence, and rock that was entirely unique and different than what had come before, this is a shining beacon in their catalog and everso shall remain.

What strikes me as so fresh is the interplay of vocals between Lennon and McCartney and the harmonies within. Add to that these chords that were never used in pop music before such as the ending of "It Won't Be Long" and the beginning of "All I've Got to Do". What is incredible to consider is the total group effort to making every nuance of sound count. They were a united unit at this point, each one adding an essential piece to a much bigger puzzle.

Of all their albums, and there are many, none of them make me happier than this one. It grooves, it loops, it does somersaults in the soul somehow. I mean, sure, this music conveys teen angst and the yearning of young love which was so prevailent at the time. But, it's the energy, the pop hooks, the construction of what they were doing which is so imprortant here.

You can't help but be caught up in this sound. The frantic strumming and oh so appropriate lead guitar in "All My Loving". The side by side rythmn and picked out lead in George's "Don't Bother Me". The harmonica rocker of "Little Child" with Lennon's exclaimation whoop! And let's not forget McCartney's foray into doing a show tune, "Till There Was You". What rock group of the time would have dared do this tune? But they did. And, got away with it too boot!

They took known songs and made them their own. "Please Mr. Postman" "Roll Over Beethoven", and "You've Really Got a Hold On Me" are examples of this. Yet, somehow they made the old sound new with their execution. In many ways, I prefer these to the originals. The Beatles, as time has proved, were always one step ahead of everyone. Then again, they set the bar high at this point and, with each evolution, the bar got higher and higher.

In closing, there are moments here I wait to hear. And, believe it or not, I never fail to get that charge I've heard a million times before. Why? Because it's the joy of music. It's the spark of life. It's four young men with confidence and total control. But mainly, it's the combination of four extraordinary musicians that captured our hearts and souls. And, that is for all time people. Anyone who doesn't have this in their archive is sinning against themselves. If so, I would recommend Metamorpho's handy, dandy reality cure. I could suggest a monetary donation. However, do keep in mind, it is priceless. Now, let me travel back there. That Brian Epstein owes me a drink and he also promised a young lady to fawn over your worthy Metamorpho!

All My Seering ------Metamorpho ;)














Seriously Under-rated   November 20, 1998
17 out of 17 found this review helpful

I can't get over how critical fans and critics alike are of this wonderful, energetic and fun album. I simply adore it, and it's my number one choice when I need something to get me up and going in the morning! Their youthful energy shines through- this is moons before bitterness, jadedness and egotism crept in. They're just a bunch of kids who enjoyed playing music together, having a great old time recording their originals and covering some classics. This "purity" is what I miss in the later recordings. They seemed to stop loving making music together. But here they are at the pinnacle of fun- and they only got better with A Hard Day's Night (which was originally my favorite early Beatles album, until this one caught me).

My favorite tracks are the rockin' opener "It Won't Be Long", Lennon's gorgeous rendition of "You've Really Got a Hold on Me", George rockin' out on "Roll Over Beethoven", and the driving beat of "I Wanna Be Your Man". And who could forget a classic like Paul's "All My Loving"? And I absolutely love "All I've Got to Do"!

No one will ever compare or even come close to the magic they created. Ever. C'mon! Give this album a chance, people! Appreciate the energy and excitement! It's what started the mania in the first place!


As Significant Now As It Was 40 Years Ago   January 26, 2004
Kim K. (Bayonne, New Jersey)
17 out of 18 found this review helpful

As mentioned already by previous reviewers, this is the British version of Meet The Beatles-which combined a few tunes off their 2nd album with this, their 1st(in the US). I was just a wee lass when these guys arrived on our shores & as soon as I saw them on their very first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, I knew life was never gonna be the same. No matter what age you were if you were around 40 yrs. ago, you realized this was history in the making, the start of something new & exciting in the world of rock & roll music. From the opening cut to the very last, the music sounds just as fresh even now. NY's oldies & classic rock stations will be playing most(if not all)of The Beatles catalog during the month of February. Today's so-called 'boy bands' cannot hold a candle to these guys & all the other great rock/pop bands of the British Invasion of the 1960s. No Beatle album collection is complete without this. Extremely enjoyable & worth 10 Stars.


the great cover versions of american rock n roll in the 60's   November 6, 2002
16 out of 26 found this review helpful

The Beatles, as many pop groups do, could not match their debut masterpiece. This one is a lightweight album. We all know that the group had years of club playing in Hamburg to develop their early stuff. You should know that Lennon & co were big fans of Elvis Presley, they wanted to do like him. And then they were doing the cover versions of American Rock and Roll they could play in their sleep. My humble opinion, this album is absolutely tame!

PS: Hey the beatles was not alone in the music world. Please check out other better rock bands like Led Zeppelin or Deep purple! their studio & Live albums are more rocking....believe me!