Customer Rating:  
Summary: With The Beatles
Comment: With The Beatles ***1/2
It is almost impossible to review Beatles albums without going track by track because their albums are always full of brilliant tracks. But what makes it even harder is you have to divide the albums into their sections, John's, Paul's, and George's.
This being their second ACTUAL lp it was generously filled from front to back with tracks in a time where usual six to eight tracks were included on an album.
The originals on the album are a mixed bag really. Lennons' 'It Wont Be Long' is among the groups all time greatest and forgotten tracks. His signature wail is chilling, while the next 'All Ive Got To Do' is decent at best, though Harrison does play a great country twanged solo, sure to have influence the Byrds. Admittedly I am not a great Paul McCartney fan as I find him more fit for Broadway than rock n' roll, his 'All My Loving' is easily the strongest track on the album. 'Don't Bother Me' being the token Harrison track is also among the strongest. 'I Wanna Be Your Man' is classic early Beatles with Ringo on vocals and doing a stellar job at that, while 'Little Child' is a poor attempt at a Chuck Berry number, and 'Not A Second Time' may have been nice in 1964 but runs boring today.
As far as the covers, or 'personal selections' as they called them then they are all fantastic. 'Please Mister Postman' could rival that of 'Twist And Shout' as Lennons best vocal. 'Roll Over Beethoven' haunted Harrison and Lennon that they couldn't write something like it. 'You Really Got A Hold On Me' is almost better than the original Smokey Robinson version, and it sure is sung with more soul. 'Money' is decent however and could have been done better but is still pulled off thanks to Lennon.
With The Beatles is an early Beatles classic. They still hadn't found their niche and become comfortable with themselves but still pulled of a great rock n' roll record none the less.
Customer Rating:
Summary: "It was our policy to give our fans their money's worth"
Comment: This was the Beatles' 2nd album in the UK. Like the debut, Please Please Me, most of this album was recorded in one session. The cover was inspired by the works of Astrid Kirschnerr, whom the Beatles became friends with while in Hamburg. I heard a few takes of "Hold Me Tight" where Paul's voice cracks slightly on take 23, "Let me go on... ohbloodyhell!" (he was even the perfectionist back in 1963). Of course, the engineer (running out of patience) screams "24!" as the Beatles seem to get it right on the take used. On With the Beatles, the Beatles give a nod to Motown with their readings of "Please Mr. Postman," "Devil in Her Heart" sung by George), "Money (That's What I Want" and "You Really Got a Hold on Me" (I recall the latter being on the Beatles' animated series, produced by Al Brodax, where a snake is tightly coiled around Ringo). The Motown influence would be realized on original songs like "Not a Second Time" (part of a trilogy of "no 2nd chance if you blow it the 1st time" songs, including "You Can't Do That" and "Run For Your Life" on later albums; John sang lead on each of the 3) and "All I've Got to Do" (with jazz progressions on the intro). This album also features George's writing debut "Don't Bother Me," a slightly bitter lament over unrequited love, which if he didn't get back, he certainly wasn't going to give any other girl a piece of his affections. "Little Child" is a simple song which recalls the influence of skiffle (folk and blues) with a harmonica played by John. "All My Loving" became famous as the 1st song the Beatles sang on Ed Sullivan. Paul croons sweetly "Till There Was You" from the 1950's show The Music Man. Ringo sings "I Wanna Be Your Man" which, though written by John and Paul wrote this, was 1st recorded by the Rolling Stones as their 2nd single. George sings lead on Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven." Finally, opening the album, John sings lead on the catchy and exquisite "It Won't Be Long" with an impressive closing chord progression. In the USA and Canada, most of these songs would make their way onto Meet the Beatles (which used the same cover photo) and others would find their way onto The Beatles' 2nd Album, both released the following year.
Customer Rating:
Summary: 9 out of 14 songs are five star caliber in my iTunes...
Comment: This is a completely subjective review - not an in-depth analysis:
So I've had this playing in my car CD player for some time now, and I decided today that I'd sit down and assess the album in my iTunes - rank each song, and whatnot. It seems that a whopping 9 of the 14 songs I have felt worthy of receiving 5 stars - and I only give songs 5 stars if I feel they are worthy of repeat listening.
I regrettably do not have 'Beatles for Sale' as part of the catalogue of theirs in my iTunes, but looking at the other albums it seems as if I've rated more songs with 5 stars on this album than any other Beatles album with the exception of 'Abbey Road'. This does not mean that I think 'With the Beatles' is one of their artistic best, but it does give an indication that it is definitely worth owning due to its awesome listenability factor - you could give this album many repeat listens without getting bored of it. Here are the songs that I have rated 5 stars:
It Won't Be Long
All I've Got to Do
All My Loving
Til There Was You
Please Mr Postman
Hold Me Tight
Devil in her Heart
Not a Second Time
Money (That's What I Want)
I will say my least favorite on here is their surprisingly bland version of 'Roll Over Beethoven'. And with the large number of covers (exactly half of the album), it might be a turn off for some folks, but really, if you haven't heard them do stuff such as 'Till There Was You', you are missing out.
'She's got the devil in her heart
Oh, no, no, no, this I can't believe...' and with this, it seems I've finally gotten Coldplay's 'Viva La Vida' out of my head... thank you, George.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Wow
Comment: This really is a pretty good group. The hairstyles are a little strange but I think they have the potential to be moderately successful.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Comment: With the Beatles, one of the best collectable albums of the Beatles strongly recommended. I don't have that much to say, simple, the Mamas and the Papas of Pop and Rock music. The Beatles forever.
Cuban/French, Hector.
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