With the Beatles

d bestwhkibb (December 31, 2007)

A vast improvement over their debut, if only REALLY evident in the first three songs. It Won't Be Long is as catchy a rocker as you could possibly ask for, with great pop-up harmonies and a classic Beatles chord progression. All I've Got To Do may be even better, with an atypical dark mood, despite the typical lyrics. The vocal melody, delivery and chord progression are very moody and enigmatic. All My Loving is usually cited as the timeless classic of this album, and although I wouldn't hold it above the other two mentioned, it is certainly so. Paul's first real classic melody - what else can I say about it? It's great. Definitely pick up this album, but only after falling in love with the inherently superior Hard Day's Night.

Bruce Beatlefan (September 30, 2005)

My "Beatle's experience" runs along two tracks, the irreplaceable memories of my youth (single-digit age) of Ed Sullivan appearances, Hard Day's Night/Help movie viewings, '45 discs of which no two labels seemed to match (you know, Swan, Tollie, VeeJay, etc.), watching the "Beatles Cartoon" (remember that?), etc. etc. Of course, this track brings to mind the American album releases and song orders. The other track results from a renewed interest in my middle age of this marvelous era through the Anthology material, Mark Lewisohn books, terrific web sites, and the re-acquiring of the music through what is most readily available--the British albums.

Meet the Beatles is of course the king of the American releases--the one that made the Beatles a household word in our own household. I Want to Hold Your Hand. I Saw Her Standing There. This Boy. My gosh, what a giant part of my childhood this album was.