Beatles – ”Beatles For Sale” (1964)

Another album on the theme "rescued from my parents' LP collection". Yes, even a classic like this was heading for an unknown destination - the trash or as a gift to some second hand store. I hope it likes it better in my home.

I have always said I like the Beatles from the album Revolver (1966) and onwards. It was then the Beatles began their serious experimenting, both with their music and their minds. The music they created earlier, I have always regarded as somewhat geeky and lightweight, songs like She Loves You comes flickering in my head, and I've never understood what people have raved about when they praised the Beatles’ early works. I am now prepared to ask for forgiveness.

I haven’t listened to Beatles For Sale since adolescence when I tried it out a few times at home. But since I didn’t think it was much to have, it sounded old and out-dated, it remained in my parent’s shelf and bided its time. When I listen to it today, I realize that it’s really, really great. Now I understand that the Beatles was actually a great band even before Revolver and the songs Lennon / McCartney created were something extraordinary. Yes, I know that countless people since the 60s have argued just this, but some people wake up late.

The album was recorded during an intense period of the Beatles career. It had only been a week after A Hard Days Night had been finished in the studio, when they started the new recordings. Moreover, it was recorded parallel with touring, television appearances, radio shows etc. But according to the contract they were under, the Beatles had to release two albums a year, so what can you do.

Since the pace was so high when it came to recording albums, the Beatles didn’t have time to write enough songs. So they did what they often did back then, they filled out with the album with a number of cover songs. The album includes eight original songs and six covers. In my world, some rockabilly numbers can be done without, but apart from those it’s an extremely strong collection of songs. Most known is perhaps Eight Days A Week, but there are other songs that are even better - No Reply, Baby 's In Black, Words Of Love, Every Little Thing, etc. Especially the cover Words Of Love surprised me as it sounds a bit different than other Beatles creations, it’s more the Byrds than the Beatles.

We are still far from Tomorrow Never Knows or Sgt Pepper, and it's sometimes hard to imagine that it’s only a few years before the Beatles created these psychedelic institutions. At the same time, several of the songs from Beatles For Sale could make it on Revolver or any of their subsequent albums. Everything the Beatles did from 1966 wasn’t fuzzy psychedelia, there were still lots of "normal" songs on the albums. It was also room for some experimentation on Beatles For Sale, in Mr. Moonlight we hear a solo with a Hammond organ, and on Every Little Thing Ringo contributes with punches on a timpani.

 

 

It's a surprisingly dark touch on many of the songs, and the music pros on allmusic.com say that the fatigue as a consequence of the Beatles extremely intense years now was shining through. Obviously I recommend Beatles For Sale, I 'm glad I finally have understood the greatness of the early Beatles.

The cover photo was taken in Hyde Park in London.

Tracklist

Side A
1. No Reply 2:15
2. I’m A Loser 2:31
3. Baby’s In Black 2:02
4. Rock And Roll Music 2:30
5. I’ll Follow The Sun 1:46
6. Kansas City 2:33
 
Side B
1. Eight Days A Week 2:43
2. Words Of Love 2:12
3. Honey Don’t 2:55
4. Every Little Thing 2:01
5. I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party 2:33
6. What You’re Doing 2:30
7. Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby 2:23