With the Beatles (1963)

With the Beatles was also released in 1963, a mere eight months after Please Please Me. And this was just a couple of months before Beatlemania hit the US.

It was released the day before news that JFK was shot reached the UK, 23rd was also the day that Dr Who first aired on television. So quite a couple of days in popular culture.

Like like Please Please Me, With the Beatles had several rockan roll as well as soul cover versions, and so had two less Lennon /McCartney originals due to an extra cover and the inclusion of the first George Harrison original.

It was recorded over the summer and early autumn at Abbey Road, between tours, and the sessions also produced the non-album single, "I Want to Hold Your Hand".

I have to admit to being underwhelmed by Please Please Me, and I think I might feel the same way about With the Beatles. We shall see.

"It Won't Be Long"
"All I've Got to Do"
"All My Loving"
"Don't Bother Me"
"Little Child"
"Till There Was You"
"Please Mr. Postman"

Side 2

"Roll Over Beethoven"
"Hold Me Tight"
"You Really Got a Hold on Me"
"I Wanna Be Your Man"
"Devil in Her Heart"
"Not a Second Time"
"Money (That's What I Want)"

"It Won't be Long" opens side one, and already there is an increase in maturity on show. The Paul and John harmonies are perfect, and instrumantation only has a slight nostalgic hint, it rattles along in a most pleasant way, and short enough (as most eatly Beatles tracks were), so doesn't over stay it's welcome.

"All I've Got to Do" opens mid-tempo, but builds to a more powerful creshendo leading tot he chorus, before repeating the trick again. The fade out, at forst I thought was the bridge, with McCartney humming, but fades to silence.

"All My Loving" arrives next, like an old familiar friend, which it is. This is, I suppose, "classic" early period Beatles, it is a wonder, really. What else can I say about a song that we all know so well, and an orignal that hints at the greater songs yet to come on subsequent albums and singles.

The George Harrison penned "Don't Bother Me" comes next. In what would be a familiar pattern, he gets just one composition per album here, and on most that floow. There's nothing wrong with it as a song, but is clearly second division when compared to "All my Loving". George also sings.

"Little Child" is a harmonica driven Lennon/McCartney original that seems to owe more to the past than it does lokking to the golden future that was soon to be theirs. That being said, that is me looking back, rather than hearing this at the time when surrounded on the radio with what passed as popular music. And remember, another self-penned tune, as all the first five tracks were. A remarkable achievement.

"Till There Was You" is the first cover on the record, and is very much in the mid-tempo camp once again. A gentle guitar lead song, with Pauls lament over the top. It's OK. But I'm getting to the point where only Lennon/McCarney originals will do. Maybe the next track will change my mind?

Over familirarity might be another problem, doubly so with a song with so many other versions out in the world, but The Beatles version of "Please Mr. Postman" might well be the best and the most well known. What is wonderful is the playful way the backing vocals play around Lennon's lead, and the backing track compliments the song. A fine way to close side 1.

Side 2 is cover version heavy, and another Ringo Starr vocal lurks there too.

There is only one version of "Roll Over Beethoven" you ever need, and that's Chuck's. That being said, after the poor opening guitar, it settles down ino a song The Beatles made their own, and I soon forgot the original. Of course, this is another the world and his wife i familiar with, and maybe for some fans at the time, the first time they might have heard the song. Made Chuck a few pennies too, I expect.

If I were to think of a typical early period Beatle song, it might sound something like "Hold Me Tight". Another Lennon/McCartney original, and is full of backing vocals, full musical backing and Paul's lead. Seems to me he loses note a couple of times near the end, but that's maybe the charm?

Almost certainly the first time I have heard their version of Smokey Robinson's "You Really Got a Hold on Me" , and another they put their own take on another's song. I don't think I have heard Smokey's version either, but seems a little odd hering a Beatle backing to a clear soul song. I like it, mind. And at a nat's crochet over three minutes, the longest track out of the 14 on the album. OK, just listening to the original, and I love the yearning in Robinson's voice.

Imagine having a good singing voice, and in a band with a recording contract, but having the fourth best voice. Of the two Ringo sung songs, one on each of the first two albus, I like them both. Maybe he's best suited to high tempto numbered, but I can imagine him singing, whilst playing, head nodding and air all a blur. Stays, does its thing, then leaves. Great. That's "I Wanna Be Your Man".

George sings lead again on the cover of "Devil in Her Heart". It features pefect backing vocals, even its not the most inspiring of songs, it does show how the band was now able to sprinkle Beatle magic dst on many different songs and make it theirs.

"Not a Second Time" is the penultimate track, and the last original. The Beatles now clearly have a sound, especially, for me, with the backing vocals. Always a pleasure, even in these early days of their recording career. This isn't their finest moment, but clearly them. A bit too slow for me, but what do I know?

Familiarity breeds contempt, it is said. Well, we all know "Money (That's What I Want)" in various version, co-written by Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford, though probably Gordy just wanted half the writing royalties. Probably. John is on lead vocals, it stretches it to near breaking point, a wonderous thing. With a percussion heavy backing its really is a fine way to close the record.

And to close this first part of their history, because after this it sets serious, glorious and wonderful.

Starts slow, but soon the band find their unique voice, and were on top of their (early) game.

An improvement on Please Please Me.