With The Beatles
	Produced by George Martin
	Released on November 22, 1963
	UK CHART POSITION #1
	Find it at GEMM
82420-2 cover [high resolution scan]

K ronomyth 2.0: A ROCKIN’ LITTLE RECORD. This is the rockin’, raucous second record, which by all accounts was closer to the true mettle of the Beatles. With Beatlemania in full swing, the band was able to exercise more artistic control, and the result was less a contrived product than a reflection of their stageshow captured in the studio: “Roll Over Beethoven,” “Money (That’s What I Want),” “Please Mr. Postman,” “Till There Was You.” The real difference, however, comes in the original material, particularly the opening trio of “It Won’t Be Long,” “All I’ve Got To Do” and “All My Loving.” These songs really snap and feature some killer harmonies that rock the socks off of “Love Me Do.” The album is also notable for featuring the first George Harrison composition, “Don’t Bother Me,” which introduces his downbeat style. It’s one of three tracks where George takes lead vocals (the same number as Paul on this album!), the other two being Beethoven and “Devil In Her Heart.” On this album, it could be said that more of the Fab Four’s individual personalities came to the fore. With The Beatles contains quintessential songs from John (“Not A Second Time,” “You Really Got A Hold On Me”), Paul (“All My Loving,” “Till There Was You”), George (“Don’t Bother Me”) and Ringo (“I Wanna Be Your Man”). The last of their albums to be recorded on two tracks, George Martin and the band were already pushing the limits of the studio with overdubbing; the closing “Money (That’s What I Want)” is in some ways the album’s “Tomorrow Never Knows”--a glimpse into the brave new world to come. For the US releases, it was decided to separate the original compositions from his album and release them on Meet The Beatles, with the covers coming after on the inferior Second Album. Thankfully, Apple has restored some order by remastering the UK releases and resisting the temptation to add bonus tracks, so that you can experience the Beatles in their original stereo splendor today (an experience I would highly recommend).

TRACK LISTING

1. IT WON'T BE LONG    (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
2. ALL I'VE GOT TO DO    (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
3. ALL MY LOVING    (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
4. DON'T BOTHER ME    (George Harrison)
5. LITTLE CHILD    (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
6. TILL THERE WAS YOU    (Meredith Wilson)
7. PLEASE MISTER POSTMAN    (Georgia Dobbins/William Garrett/Brian Holland/Robert Bateman/Freddie Gorman)
8. ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN    (Chuck Berry)
9. HOLD ME TIGHT    (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
10. YOU REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME    (Smokey Robinson)
11. I WANNA BE YOUR MAN    (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
12. DEVIL IN HER HEART    (Richard Drapkin)
13. NOT A SECOND TIME    (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
14. MONEY (THAT'S WHAT I WANT)    (Janie Bradford/Berry Gordy)

CREDITS

GEORGE HARRISON -- lead guitar, vocals
JOHN LENNON -- rhythm guitar, vocals, Hammond organ
PAUL McCARTNEY -- bass guitar, vocals, piano
RINGO STARR -- drums, vocals
George Martin -- piano
Norman Smith -- engineer
Robert Freeman -- front cover photograph

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