1962-1966

This is the red album, not as good as the blue album that spanned the more proggy phase of The Beatles. This early phase of The Beatles is full of chart busting pop songs, and wholesome, unimpeachable love songs at that. It builds to some better material from Day Tripper onward. Best songs here are Norwegian Wood (THIS BIRD HAS FLOWN), Nowhere Man, Girl, Paperback Writer and Eleanor Rigby. The pop songs are ok especially 8 Days A Week and A Hard Day's Night. Overall when these albums arrived on vinyl in the 70s Beatles fans were salivating at the new interest in the group. It was kind of a sign that The Beatles were no more, but this compilation captures the innocence of the 60s though has dated incredibly fast. I guess these two compilations could replace the studio albums for those with a passing interest to the group, but to be honest there are far too many compilations these days on The Beatles.