Songs marked with * previously unreleased
Recorded Live: March, 1962 - June, 1965
Compiled by: George Martin
Cover Design by: Richard Ward / The Team
Label: Capitol CDP-8-31796-2
Producer: George Martin
George Harrison: Vocals, Lead guitar
John Lennon: Vocals, Rhythm guitar, Harmonica
Paul McCartney: Vocals, Bass guitar
Ringo Starr: Vocals, Drums
Well over two hours of material...and you're sorry when "Love Me Do", the final track, fades out. This 2-CD set contains performances of most of their early familiar numbers (a rippin' version of the underrated "Thank You Girl"), a lot of entertaining camaraderie with the DeeJays...and the real treasure, which is a staggering collection of over thirty covers of early rock standards, long-forgotten classics, and some oddity songs all of which are given the unique Beatles treatment. They make an Ann-Margret song rock ("I Just Don't Understand"), they perform some very convincing Country and Western ("Sure to Fall", "I Forgot to Remember to Forget", others), there are some half-serious novelties ("Honeymoon Song", "Clarabella")...George gets a lot of room here that he didn't get in the early Beatles' albums, and anyone who thinks Ringo couldn't drum should give this a listen. Absolute best parts for me: aforementioned songs, "Some Other Guy", "Lonesome Tears in My Eyes", "Hard Days Night" fadeout, John singing "Honey Don't". As indispensible as Sgt. Pepper.
If you know this album you can review it.