WITH THE BEATLES

If I were forced to rank the Beatles albums in order of perceived quality, this one would likely hold the bottom slot. While not a bad album it is certainly a slide from the excellent debut, despite the iconic black and white album cover showing part of their faces hidden. Released just 8 months after the first album and recorded in nearly as little time, it would be the final fab four album to utilize twin track technology.

The problem here is simply the lack of memorable material which is a problem few Beatles albums have. The first two albums were likely culled from a large pool of songs representing their live repertoire of the years late 1962-1963, and it would only be natural that the best tracks they had would be selected for the first. Over the summer of 1963 they probably combined some of the new songs with the tracks passed over for recording on the debut. This would explain the mediocrity. Even the one-two leadoff punch of "It won't be long" and "All I've got to do" are as weak an album start as they would ever manage, without much oomph or charisma. But there are a few gems here that are of interest to fans. "All my loving" is a classic with the interesting guitar and bass parts, and "Till there was you" is another absolutely endearing McCartney vocal. It also features a nice acoustic solo. Lennon has a few rocking covers here that almost get the blood pumping with his sneering attitude and gritty guitar, "Please Mister Postman" and "Money." Aside from those much of the second album just doesn't live up to the debut. I also note those who say that this album sounds better than the debut---to me the first album sounds more alive and defined, this one seems duller somehow in its sound presentation.

While not awful "With the Beatles" is probably one of only two albums I would recommend for fans only. As good as they were, the pace of recordings and shows in this period was intense, though this problem would soon be overcome by their growing studio skills and songwriting abilities.

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