A Hard Day’s Night
Please Please Me and With The Beatles both had their moments here and there, but A Hard Day’s Night is really where they begun to dig their teeth in. This, their third album, was the first to feature all original material written by Lennon/McCartney and one by George Harrison. The film of the same name was released July 6, 1964 and the album’s release followed four days later on July 10.
Favorite Song: “Tell Me Why”
“Tell Me Why” sequence from A Hard Day’s Night film.
Beatles For Sale
This was the group’s fourth album in 21 months. That’s insane. Studio sessions for the album started just six days after the final session for A Hard Day’s Night (which was the first album to feature all original music by the group). The goal of two albums in a row with all original material was too much for the young Beatles, though. Touring, promoting, and performing took up so much of their time and energy that only eight originals could be written and recorded in time for the release of Beatles For Sale. The wear and tear on the band was captured honestly on the record cover. All of the cover songs are amazing, though, and only make the album that much better.
Favorite Song: “Rock And Roll Music” (Chuck Berry cover)
Help!
This album marked the end of the beginning for the Beatles. They had arrived, they had conquered, and now they wanted to move on. It’s a perfect pop album, if that’s what you’re looking for. It’s also the last Beatles album you’ll find any cover songs on (except for “Maggie Mae” on Let It Be). Fleeting elements of both Folk and Classical music breeze through several of the songs; a change was clearly on the horizon. The film is not as good as A Hard Day’s Night, but still a lot of fun to watch and worth seeing. There are several performances in the movie that, for me, enhance the songs by giving them a little extra depth.
Favorite Song: “You’re Going To Lose That Girl”
“You’re Going To Lose That Girl” recording scene from the Help! film.
Rubber Soul
The change had come, and it’s pretty easy to hear right from the beginning of the album. The songs get a little more complicated and in depth. The quality never wavers for a second; their song writing and musical talents had been sufficiently sharpened by this point. Aside from the famous introduction of the sitar into pop music, the overall feel of the album is more rock and less bubble gum. It’s also easy to hear just how much fun The Beatles were having in this fresh new territory. Rubber Soul is an incredibly exciting album because it’s a clear transition into something new, bigger, and overall better.
Favorite Song: “I’m Looking Through You”
Revolver
This album can really just speak for itself. It’s a perfected and much more awesome version of Rubber Soul. They just nail it. It’s a perfect rock album the way Help! is a perfect pop album; they perfected their craft once again. There’s a steady feeling of transition throughout the entire album. This was the last album The Beatles made while they were still touring. Every other album after Revolver was made purely in the studio with no touring to interrupt. Again, there’s not much more to say about it other than obtain it immediately if you don’t have it!
Favorite Song: “Good Day Sunshine” / “I Want To Tell You” (sorry, impossible choice)
