With The Beatles [Original recording remastered]

A much more accomplished album than their first with a very high quota of classics ("It Won't Be Long", "All My Loving","Not A Second Time"), very good cover versions ("Please Mr Postman", "Roll Over Beethoven" and "Till There Was You") and arguably no fillers - although "Little Child" and George's
"Don't Bother Me" are perhaps not in the same class as the other songs. A worthy album to mark the start of Beatlemania!

It's impossible not to love this energetic early offering. The Beatles own compositions are more assured than on the debut, showing how fast they developed as songwriters, and the cover versions are first rate. I defy anyone not to be swept along by the exuberant blasts through 'Roll Over Beethoven' 'Money' 'It Won't Be Long' etc. George makes his songwriting bow with 'Don't Bother Me', a moody, atmospheric piece that is very different from what Lennon/McCartney were coming up with, which helps to create slightly more variation on this album compared to the first. As for the new Remaster, it's very good but still a bit bass-light compared to other albums. A word to those complaining about the stereo mix still being left/right and nothing in the middle, it could not be done any other way. Contrary to what you may have read on this page by others, the Beatles did NOT have four-track facility for this album, they were still using two-track and consequently when mixing for stereo the music could only be seperated the way you hear it to make it stereo. 'Money' is the exception as it was impossible to create a stereo mix without synching two seperate two-track mono mixes together which is why it sounds very different to the mono. Because of this limited technology, a more palatable stereo re-mix cannot be done. It's unfortunate that the mono mixes are not being made available seperately but thats EMI for you.

The 2nd album from The Beatles finds them more self assured in the studio and the performances here show it. There are more original tracks and they are stronger than those on Please, Please Me. Paul's "All My Loving" for one would have been hit single (as it was in many other countries) though it was eventually further released on an EP of the same name in the UK & other territories such as here in Australia. That they chose not to release a single off this album speaks volumes for their prolific work ethic and productivity. The classic "I Want To Hold Your Hand"/"This Boy" 45 was actually released a week after this album came out.

I again listened to this on headphones. Due to the 2 track recording technology of this album the remastered sound is along the same lines of Please, Please Me, though it's actually an improvement in many ways in that the Instrument/Vocal left/right mix doesn't seem as pronounced even though it's still there. The echo while on some tracks isn't as evident either. In fact "Money" has a more centred stereo mix and sounds very strong because of it. Others such as It Won't be Long, All My Loving, Don't Bother Me, Not A Second Time, You Really Got A Hold On Me, Till There Was You, Please Mr. Postman & Roll Over Beethoven among others really benefit from the remastering. What is really evident to me is the thump from Ringo's bass drum...it never sounded more solid in previous issues. George's guitar work is outstanding and his development is very evident. John was very a very dominant vocal force on these early LP's (up until around Help!) and he sings lead on most tracks.

I've been comparing the 2009 Stereo & Mono remasters with their 1987 counterparts and the results are interesting. Overall both newly remastered versions sound fuller while the 1987 (Mono) CD sounds a little shrill by comparison. There are some differences in a couple of the mixes on this album particularly on Money where the guitar comes in prominently after the opening piano riff whereas on the Mono it's not as evident.

This is an ideal starting point for those new to the Beatles as it really captures the excitement of those times. With The Beatles 2009 remastered is an ideal addition to your CD collection.