BEATLES FOR SALE

Fourth Beatles album, from the critics considered their worst because without a big hit ("Eight Days A Week" in America will be hit, coming out as a single); from the predominantly acoustic tone (as for A Hard ...), but also in various cases discharged, melancholic; without any substantial change compared to the previous one, if not the step back to go back to the formula of the first two albums: 8 original pieces and 6 rock and roll covers.

Beatles for Sale starts with a minor, subdued song, "No Reply" (vote 6,5), whose progress in the verse is stunted and lacking is the arrangement; as much as they follow more variations of tone and volume, up to constitute a harmoniously rather rich piece and with a good bridge, on the whole the piece is rather split, not fluent, without a great melody and with arrangement too much in the background. "I'm a Loser" (vote 8) is the best original song of the album (Dylan inspirated?), with excellent catchy folk melody, John's beautiful singing, beautiful chorus, beautiful harmonica solo and guitar, everything flows smooth and pleasant. In practice, the album seems to start with this song, after a false start. "Baby's in Black" (vote 7,5/8) is another inspired song, with beautiful vocal harmonies between John and Paul and an excellent bridge where the melody goes on high notes. Lennon sings the fourth song in a row with "Rock And Roll Music", Chuck Berry's cover (vote 8), at a whimsical pace, where the piano and the drums support a remarkable singing, completely involved in the piece, without any instrumental pause until the end; Lennon seems twisted in the song, coming to a performance similar to that of "Twist and Shout".

The sequence I'm in Loser, Baby's in Black and Rock And Roll Music is the best of the album. There follows a slow, romantic song by Macca (I'll Follow the Sun, vote 7), with a good melody, but very short and not very developed in the arrangement. The second cover, "Mr. Moonlight (vote 7+), for a long time in the Beatles repertoire, is a semi-unknown song (a B side of a 45 rpm) from the summer weather, sea and beach, with a beautiful interpretation of Lennon, an amateur organ solo of Paul. Cute. Closes the first side Paul singing a classic of Little Richard (Kansas City/ Hey Hey Hey Hey, vote 7,5), with the right grit. It is a good cover of the Beatles for the conviction of the song and arrangements.

The second side opens with "Eight Days A Week" (vote 7,5), the most famous song of the LP, written mainly by Paul but with the contribution of John. It is a song typical of their 1964 Mersey beat, cheerful, with great rhythm, acoustic rhythm guitars. Also in this case, as in some "A Hard" rock songs ... it would have helped a greater electric sound to impress the rock rhythm to the album. Note that the first voice is John's. "Words of Love" (vote 6) is a cover of Buddy Holly, and unfortunately it is neither well chosen (Holly has written many better songs) nor well arranged. Lennon sings, in a choir is not known whether with Paul or George. The song sounds rather monotonous and unconvinced. "Honey Dont" (vote 6,5) by Carl Perkins, also in this case a minor piece by its author, is sung with taste by Ringo who repeatedly calls George to perform the solo. Compared to the previous one has the merit of being more rhythmic but remains discharged as a rock and roll song. These two covers below represent the worst sequence of the album.

Here comes a song by Paul, "Every Little Thing" (vote 6,5/7), sung, however, once again by Lennon. It is not a particularly inspired song but the refrain is good, and has an interesting sound of drums, which together with the piano solo is the musical novelty of the piece. "I Do not Want To Spoil The Party" (vote 7,5/8) is the best song on the second side, a rock ballad with country influences written and sung by John, with a beautiful refrain with a double voice, a beautiful guitar solo. "What You're Doing" (vote 6,5/7) is a rock ballad mainly by McCartney supported by good rhythm and good vocal conviction; also presents two electric instrumental pieces. Pretty, but definitely minor and not very original. "Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby" (vote 7), a famous piece by Carl Perkins, played by the Beatles since the early days, is left to sing to George (usually John), who loves Perkins and takes two electric solos; as a cover, however, it sounds scholastic, unconvinced and gritty in execution, to be a very good rock and roll in the composition (in the live at the BBC is played and sung better, it results more engaged).

Overall, John wrote four songs, and sings as a regular nine-piece voice (his four, two of Paul's plus three covers, one of which, Words Of Love accompanied by Paul or George); Paul wrote four songs but sings as the first voice only in three (two of his and a cover); George and Ringo sing in a cover.

The album has some steps in the first side at the height of the previous albums, while in the second side, apart from two original songs, the average quality is also lower than "With The Beatles". BfSale can not be considered a wrong step or a very different Lp from the others, such as compositions, sounds or qualities (apart from "A Hard", which is much better); the acoustic arrangements were already present in "A Hard Day's Night", and the melancholy is not present in all the songs, besides there are at least three good original pieces and two good covers. In short, yes, It is the Beatles' less beautiful album, because it lacks a true masterpiece and only an original song is definitely good, but overall it differs little, in structure and quality, from the first two Lp.

Medium quality of the songs: 7,16; Vote: 6,5/7. Two Stars.