With The Beatles

This review applies to Sept 9, 2104 vinyl mono releases only. I've waited 35 years or more for new issues of pure analog Beatles on vinyl. No digital manipulation, or any manipulation, just music from original analog tapes to LP's. After years and years of disappointing digital releases and digitally modified vinyl, I thought this day would never come. I actually gave up buying music for a 20 year span. Based on listening to these new all analog mono LP's, I have found these Lp's have very little noise, if any, sound fantastic, and the pure analog sound is as good or better sounding than original Capital/EMI/Apple releases, in my opinion. No harsh compressed sound, no 2 dimensional sound, no digitally remastered sound transferred to vinyl, and no more dashed hopes in DVD Audio and SACD. These LP's sound fantastic. Like many Beatles fans, I grew up listening to them in the 60's. They made a violent and polarizing time in America more bearable. In the 60's, I bought and played their LP's until they were damaged beyond repair. I bought into digital music in the 80's only to find that it paled in comparison to pure analog. I should have bought more pure analog LP's while I had the chance, but, thought the medium was gone, whether I liked it or not. Finally I found vintage equipment (Sansui 6700 Receiver, Marantz Model 6300 Turntable, and JBL S312BE Speakers) and set out to spend mega money on EBAY for sealed analog LP's from the 60's and 70's. Unfortunately, many albums made in the 70's were made of cheap thin vinyl and were often warped or had defects/noise when new and right out of the package, but, I persevered and have a good collection of Beatles and other pure Analog LP's and some 45's. You don't have to spend Mega money, however, as these mono releases are superb in quality and sound. There is very little noise, often none between songs. The LP's are flat as they are 180 grams, and most importantly these LP's sound warm and beautiful. I just sat back, closed my eyes and let the music and harmonizing soothe my soul. I did not buy the box set for $375. I bought each individually. This along with a $40 reduction for applying for a credit card brought the total to about $250, and if you get a defective album, you can send it back instead of the whole box. Remember though, "Let it Be" and "Abbey Road" are not included in the box set as they were only made in stereo. Capital US releases like "The Beatles Again" and "Beatles 65" won't be there either, but, you will find those songs in these mono releases anyway. Thank you Apple/EMI/Optimal Media (Germany) for giving audiophiles what they've wanted for so many years. You did good.

The Beatles’ second album improves on the debut in almost every way whether it is in the Lennon-McCartney originals, the choice of covers or the fact that George Harrison’s first song written for a Beatles’ record is as good as any of John and Paul’s. Despite the fact there were no singles taken from the LP, ‘With the Beatles’ has many great songs, some which have become part of the legend or others that are underrated. “All My Loving” may have been a single in the US but it was not in the UK (as far as I know) but it as well known as any song from the early years. Favorites include “It Won’t Be Long” (which is so much better than “She Loves You” or “I Wanna Hold Your Hand”), “All I’ve Got to Do” and George’s song “Don’t Bother Me”. As far as the covers go – the three Motown standards are fantastic; “Mr. Postman”, “You Really Got a Hold on Me” (love this version) and “Money”. These gems make up for some of the tracks that are a little overrated – “Roll Over Beethoven” isn’t all that special and “I Wanna Be Your Man” pales in comparison to the Stones’ version but maybe the Beatles knew that the song wasn’t really for them which is why they gave it Andrew Oldham to present to his boys and let Ringo sing their version. The other covers are just ok but the rest of the originals are great and would pave the ways for Beatles records dominated by Lennon-McCartney classics with an occasional Harrison gem thrown in for good measure. ‘With the Beatles’ continued the Beatles early dominance of the pop charts and helped pave the way for the rock revolution to follow.

Gift

"With The Beatles" was the first step in producing the Beatles more artificially ? It was the change from Beat to Pop ! Comparing all the Beatles`Albums I must say, from the depth of my heart: "Please, Please Me" is the best and most true Album, the Beatles ever had recorded ! You can hear a very fresh, young and soulful kind of music-making ? It was the creative kind of George Martin(Thanks), to produce this LP quasi as a live-LP in the studio, because of only little time and a low budget. So the Sound was getting very more fundamental(bass-drum, drum-breaks and the more rough kind of their singing, than on the later , more technical LP-productions. That was the excellent way to play the real cool Mersey-Beat, but in a high niveau ! That`s why, "I saw her standing there" had become t h e e BEAT-HYMN of all , not to talk about "Twist and Shout" ! But don`t forget "There`s a place","Baby it`s you" and "Taste of Honey" ? And what about "Chains" and "Misery"? That was the time, when the Beatles had to fight for acceptance and fame, and..........They showed, and everyone could feel then their big heart and much fun , in making Music, Music and Music ! So I have more fun to listen to this LP, than to "Seargeant Pepper", wich seems to be only technical work ? So it`s no wonder, that The Beatles tried to catch that early spirit of making Rock-Music, when they started the "Get Back/Let It Be" Album ??? But the spirit had already flown away ! But last not least, there shall be no doubt: I like all the Beatles music ! But I like some more and some less, whenever I differ ! If I had to go to live alone on an island and I could only take one record of the Beatles with me, I would take the LP "Please, Please Me" with me !

This recording and Japanese pressing is how they all should be done. Outstanding. You can hear all the components of each song in total clarity. The vocals, Ringo drumming, guitars..etc. When these were produced 50-60 years ago they made their way only to AM radio so production quality on the originals was sub par. To say the least. The LP vinyl releases didn't add much as the equipment at the consumer level was not exactly high end at the time. Any Parlaphone release and Japanese pressing is off the hook. I have several.

Maravilloso álbum, una buena remasterización.

With the Beatles... Here's my first 180 gm Vinyl LP, "With the Beatles", Parlophone Records, June 1963...Analog Stereo, 33-1/3 R.P.M recording by Parlophone Records, its the UK Release edition, not US Capitol Records, Release edition...ah, hell lot of memories attached with this Record...finally holding it.....just as it would be 53 years ago in 1963... At 180 gm pressing am sure, can even hear my breath in that Recording...some things just get better with Time... ."It won't be long yeah", "Money", "All my loving"...still remain one of the best songs Lennon wrote..a lot of original material is there in this which is not covered fully in this group's later Album like "Help", "Rubber Soul" or "Revolver"....."A Hard Day's Night" movie and the Album is more mainstream and leaves their cavern and club style of playing ...but 1964 demarcates a shift..I guess President Kennedy assassination of 1964 changed the mood of people up till that point, due to which everything reflects that shift and change from early 1965 onwards, and so even the group's music too in Albums like "Revolver", "Rubber Soul"....et al..this Record tries to capture the energy and spirit of the group before all of this and successfully does so...these are the songs that I would hear to before I begin my day with... With The Beatles...

2nd Beatles album, great songs. Starts with John on it won't be long, All I've got to do and All my Lovin', George has a superb guitar solo on All of my Lovin', Don't bother me marks debut of George as a composer. Little Child has George Martin on piano, till there was you comes from the Music Man, Please Mr. Postman comes from the Marvelettes Motown, Chuck Berry Roll over Beethoven is one of the most requested items at concert performances. Hold Me tight features Paul, the Miracles You really got a hold on me is featured with Martin on piano, Ringo is featured on i wanna be your man, hammond organ is played by John, the Donays Devil in her heart with Ringo on maraccas, Not a Second Time is double tracked John and Money is a worthy climax to this cd. Great cover black and white photo cover by Robert Freeman and great black and white inner liner photos. This was the first LP to sell a million records and it stayed in the top twenty for 51 weeks. Excellent Beatles cd. Highly recommended.

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Superb stereo remaster of my favourite Beatles' album of all time. Highly recommended if early Beatles is your thing. Would buy again. Their first album "Please Please Me" (already purchased from Amazon) my 2nd favourite. My only criticism is the packaging Amazon are using for shipping. It is hit 'n miss for vinyl records. My first copy arrived with a curve bent into the flat packaging so that the vinyl disc was bowed and warped from exposure to bottom load crush possibly exacerbated by Qld summer heat. It was a turntable tonearm tracking disaster like riding the crest of a wave twice per rotation. The flat packaging might be adequate for across town capital intracity suburb to suburb, but is too susceptible to potential damage when transported by road via the multiple distro centres and delivery handling of Australia Post over Australian distances in my opinion. i.e. 2500km Vic to Qld in this instance. I had to request return for replacement which I'm pleased to report was handled well and promptly by Amazon's system. The replacement album sent in the same packaging was received in good order. Fingers crossed the next I'm waiting on (Help! on backorder) arrives OK.