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Track Listings
| 1. No Reply |
| 2. I'm A Loser |
| 3. Baby's In Black |
| 4. Rock and Roll Music |
| 5. I'll Follow The Sun |
| 6. Mr. Moonlight |
| 7. Medley: Kansas City/Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey |
| 8. Eight Days A Week |
| 9. Words Of Love |
| 10. Honey Don't |
| 11. Every Little Thing |
| 12. I Don't Want To Spoil The Party |
| 13. What You're Doing |
| 14. Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Banged out in a hurry for the 1964 Christmas market, Beatles for Sale sometimes sounds it, loaded with ill-conceived covers and some of John Lennon's most self-loathing lyrics. On the other hand, the people doing the banging-out were the Beatles, whose instincts for what worked musically were so strong that they could basically do no wrong--any record that has "Baby's in Black", "I Don't Want to Spoil the Party" and the delectable "Eight Days a Week" on it is only "minor" in the most relative sense. And, though their voices had been frazzled a bit by constant touring, they revved them up for some joyous shouting, and indulged their fondness for American country in subtle, playful ways. --Douglas Wolk
Review
As has been noted before, on the cover of Beatles for Sale the band looks, frankly, knackered. And with good reason, too: this was not only their fourth album in two years (and their second in one year), but it had been somehow slotted between touring America several times and making two movies. Its excellence in these circumstances rather makes the time taken between albums by the likes of modern heavyweights – Coldplay and U2, for example – seem like eons. And if from time to time John, Paul, George and Ringo don’t sound as chipper as they did on, say, She Loves You, well… you can’t really blame them.
There’s the full surge of Lennon’s unhappiness in songs like No Reply, I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party and the pretty blatantly spelt-out I’m a Loser. Several of these songs, such as the mad waltz that is Baby’s in Black, bear loud witness to the fact that The Beatles were spending an awful lot of time trundling around the United States, listening to country stations (and thank goodness, as a Beatles album inspired by mid-60s British radio would be an awful thing). Some songs here are covers – the band simply didn’t have time to write enough original material – but, surprisingly, instead of being limp filler, oldies like Kansas City / Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey! and Mister Moonlight are roaringly strong. In fact, the most notable track here – apart from the USA-only single Eight Days a Week – is Lennon’s brilliant, throat-ripping version of Chuck Berry’s Rock and Roll Music, while George Harrison’s comparable love for Carl Perkins makes his cover of Honey Don’t a complete delight.
Beatles for Sale is a transitional album, the group learning their way around studio and becoming more sophisticated. Rubber Soul would see them make another great leap forward (and drop the covers again), but this is a joyous, inventive and exciting album. Especially considering the circumstances it was made in.
--David QuantickFind more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beatles STILL For Sale,
By
This review is from: Beatles For Sale (Audio CD)
So much has been written about the Beatles' music, that I'm going to review this CD on a personal level. I'm time travelling back to 1964 when I was 13. It was Christmas time and I had just seen my first view of a girl in a mini-skirt and white boots as I trudged through the miserable weather in Clacton-on-Sea to buy the latest Beatles single, "I Feel Fine". In the shops I saw the new Beatles LP, "Beatles For Sale" but being a schoolboy they weren't for sale to me as I couldn't afford it. After several not too subtle hints about what I would like for Christmas, I remember the joy of receiving the disc at last. All over the festive season that LP was played so many times that it drove other people mad. In later years I was disappointed that the CD release was in mono only as I was so used to hearing the album in that format. At last, after 45 years (ulp), I can hear this great music again, remastered in stereo for the first time. Not only are the songs so good and still sound fresh, but it takes me back to that dismal out-of-season seaside town where the Beatles helped to make Xmas 1964 so memorable. Hard to pick favourite tracks, but as a Paul McCartney track I'd go for "I'll Follow The Sun", and John Lennon would definitely be I'm A Loser". Some things in life should be preserved and shall never die.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Flawed, but criminally underrated,
By
This review is from: Beatles for Sale (Audio CD)
This one never makes those 'Top 100 Albums of all time' polls - perhaps deservedly so, but usually on the basis of that well worn cliche about 'product churned out for the Christmas market' That may be true, but find any other band who could 'churn out' something of this quality with such a punishing work rate, whilst trying to cater for the demands of an adoring world. The Beatles were knackered by the end of 1964, let's not forget, they didnt just appear suddenly at the end of 1962, they had been touring relentlessly for many (penniless) years previous. So yes the covers may be a little hit and miss, the lyrics a little cynical and weary (something they are subsequently praised for on The White Album), but this is still a minor work of genius, and way way better than some of the so called efforts of more modern bands, eternally indebted to The Beatles, who cheerfully leave three years at least between albums and tours. Contractual obligation product at it's absolute best. Worth investigation, with a superb sleeve photo too, and one of my favourite Beatle albums of their earlier period.
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Hindsight is such an exacting science !!,
By
This review is from: Beatles for Sale (Audio CD)
I have read a lot of the reviews of this album by astro-physicists and marine biologists studying the ancient history of 1960's music, and noted their quaintly officious tones about this being the worst Beatles Album ever.
Well, it may not be their best, but it was recorded when such luminary critics were probably not even born !! I was part of that era, and bought it when it was still only available on vinyl (remember, all those grooves revolving around at 33 r.p.m. ??), and I still listen to that music with an 18 year old's excitement & wonderment !! The music wasn't contemporary rocket science, but the performances were, and that's what made them great.
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