5 comments about Revolver [UK].

1. After shifting gears with RUBBER SOUL, The Beatles turned out another classic album in REVOLVER. Split into two albums when first issued in the US (YESTERDAY AND TODAY -- initally with the "Butcher shop" cover and then switched to the Steamer trunk cover of the lads -- and REVOLVER with less songs. YESTERDAY AND TODAY used some tracks off REVOLVER'S UK release such as "Dr. Robert" and some 45 singles that had not been collected elsewhere such as "Paperback Writer", "We Can Work it Out"). There are a number of really stand out songs on this one: Harrison's "Taxman", Paul's "Got to Get You into My Life", John's "She Said, She Said" (reputedly inspired by an acid party where Lennon heard Peter Fonda utter the line "I know what it's like to be dead."). Also are the eeriely sad "Eleanor Rigby" and the jaunty "Yellow Submarine" and "Good Day Sunshine". Topped off with the grand finale, "Tomorrow Never Knows" (a psychedelic song if ever there was one.) A Good time is guaranteed for all.



2. Released in August, 1966, at roughly the same time the Beatles stopped touring for good, "Revolver" remains amazing in its sheer variety. The songs are all over the map: Paul McCartney pays tribute to Motown with the horn-driven "Got To Get You Into My Life"; Ringo sings about the joys of living in a "Yellow Submarine" (later the basis for their delightful third motion picture); George Harrison expresses his Indian interests in "Love You To" (and delivers a jab to the Inland Revenue with "Taxman"); and John Lennon explores his own head with "She Said She Said" and the astonishing "Tomorrow Never Knows", in which his voice, filtered through a revolving Leslie speaker, is combined with backward-masking to create an eerie masterpiece, unlike anything heard from a pop group before, even the Fab Four themselves. This new, far more complex music could not have been successfully duplicated onstage, and the group thereafter left live performing behind. Now, the recording studio was their painter's canvas, and would remain so for the remainder of the group's existence.



3. With haunting melodies like "I'm Only Sleeping", "Eleanor Rigby", "Good Day Sunshine" and "She Said She Said" to name just a few, this is a very pleasing Beatles effort to listen to. If anyone needed proof that there's more to the Beatles than their hits, look no further. This album fluctuates effortlessly between vocal-centered pieces and George Harrison's much-loved sitar-driven melodies, and here I've only scraped the surface of the creativity that goes into the instrumentation.
   
   For Revolver is a creative album, a joy to listen to and to take in. The melodies are a true musical mind-scape, ranging from easy-going melodies to the mysterious sound effects of "Tomorrow Never Knows". It is, finely put, a mystery of an album in itself. A truly solid piece of music-making, a year before Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, which is generally considered a cornerstone in that area. Revolver is a very special album to me, and as I hear "I'm Only Sleeping" drifting through my mind yet again, I can see why.



4. Easily one of the Beatles best albums! Diverse songwriting styles are showcased with each song seemingly having a different style yet they blend perfectly with each other. Of course in charge of the production was George Martin as always. It's amazing how much ground this album covers given the fact that none of the fourteen songs featured actually lasts more than three minutes and a half!!
   By the time this album was released in 1966 the band's sound had evolved a lot indeed. Especially when you think that their debut collection was released just three years earlier!
   
   Let's start with guitarist John Lennon who sings five songs here. The first is "I'm Only Sleeping" with a simple band sound of drums, bass, and a lone dominating acoustic guitar is one of the album's best cuts. But, for me, the highlight comes in the middle when Harrison steps in to play an awesome backward guitar solo overdub! Next comes "She Said She Said" with it's lyrics based on an LSD trip is pure power pop with it's loud, bright sounding rhythm guitar and cool lead guitar work thoughtout too! You could say this is early hard rock at it's finest! After that we go into "And Your Bird Can Sing" with a stunning melodic lead guitar intro by Harrison, great vocals and rhythm guitar from Lennon, and memorable bass from McCartney combine to create another power pop classic!
   In "Doctor Robert" a straightforword rock style is showcased with distorted guitars that is nothing short of excellent. In the middle an organ comes in for a nice change. Listen carefully at the end for that awesome arpeggiated, bright-sounding, distorted guitar!! Too bad it fades so quickly!! Now it's on to, by far, the most avant-garde inspired song on the album "Tomorrow Never Knows" that utilizes strange sound effects, a backward guitar solo and a tape loop producing what sounds like a seagull while Ringo keeps it all together with his steady drumming. On top of that Lennon sings some apparently drug inspired lyrics. Very innovative experiment to say the least!
   
   Let's move on to bass player Paul McCartney who also gets to sing in five songs. "Eleanor Rigby" is a stunning two minute neo-classical piece with psychedelic lyrics but it's the great string arrangement by George Martin that really steals the show here! Now it's on to "Here, There, And Everywhere". This got to be one of the band's best love ballads ever! Paul lead vocals harmonize perfectly with the background vocals throughout the song's haunting melodies.
   A nice change of style comes up in "Good Day Sunshine" with it's prominent grand piano and the good time feel of the lyrics but it's already time for another sharp turn and we find "For No One". Nice chord progression played on harpsichord, and after a haunting chorus, a really cool horn solo is included in the middle of the second verse played by session musician Alan Civil. The last one is the seemingly Motown inspired "Got To Get You Into My Life" with a memorable vocal by Paul but the most important thing here got to be it's unforgettable brass arrangement!! Without this the song's impact would have been greatly diminshed!
   
   George Harrison contribued three drastically different songs. "Taxman", the album's opener, is an awesome rocker that's made even better by it's aggressive guitar solo in mixolydian! "Love You To" is by far the most ambitious in which he trades the guitar in favor of the sitar. The result is mesmerizing fusion of Indian and rock music. Note the distorted guitar that comes in for the chorus. Finally "I Want To Tell You" is surpirsingly pop sounding after the more ambitious previous song. It starts with a cool riff. No matter how poppy it may sound there's still room to experiment. This time it comes in that slightly dissonant chord used throughtout.
   
   Drummer Ringo Starr got only got one song to sing: "Yellow Submarine". Probably one of the most popular of this album that later was included in the movie of the same name.
   
   So there you have it! An essential album for the rock fan to say the least!!
   Thanks for taking the time to read!
   Later...



5. What happens when you get four guys from Liverpool, songs like "Taxman", "I'm Only Sleeping" and "Tomorrow Never Knows" and throw in some LSD here and there? You get a rock & roll classic my friend. Revolver was released when rock music was wedged between Folk and Psychedelia, so it should sound way ahead of its time. Does the album stand for the test of time? Read on for my review!
   
   From the opening proto-punk riff of Taxman to the childish nature of Yellow Submarine to the Syd Barret era-Pink Floyd of Tomorrow Never Knows, this album, like I said before, was ahead of its time. Not one song of this album is filler, even Yellow Submarine doesn't get old! George Harrison shines on this album from the bitterness of Taxman to the spiritual Love You To to the difficulty of expressing himself on I Want To Tell You. Paul McCartney also does a superb job with songs like Here There and Everywhere (inspired by "God Only Knows"), the devil may care attitude of Good Day Sunshine to the bitter For Know One and praising pot, that's right POT on Got To Get You Into My Life. Ringo's voice fits Yellow Submarine perfectly and his drumming is fantastic! He keeps it simple yet does a drum fill nice suitable to the songs he's playing. A very UNDERRATED drummer in rock. And who could forget the man himself... John Lennon. His song writing is without a doubt spectacular! Every song that he wrote here is amazing! Seriously, I'm Only Sleeping, She Said She Said, And Your Bird Can Sing, Doctor Robert, and of course, Tomorrow Never Knows. So what are you waiting for? Got out and buy this rock centerpiece. No classic rock fan should be without this album!
   
   Recomended Tracks: Taxman, I'm Only Sleeping, Love You To, She Said She Said, Tomorrow Never Knows

5 comments about Dark Side of the Moon 30th Anniversary Edition.

1. I have never bothered to listen to this Hybrid SACD in stereo.
   On my first listening I was blown away with surround sound where there are many instances where the the 3D sonic events take this album to a newer high. The most notable for me is "On the Run" where the footsteps criss cross not just from side to side but from back to front, and where a plane or something crashes it travels from rear left to front right. There are numerous instances throughout the album where surround sound has added a dimension which I am sure Messrs Waters, Gilmore and Wright would have wished was available when they orinally recorded this title.
   The second thing I noticed was the sound was much clearer and there were things I had never heard on my cd version. I has been along time since I have owned a turntable, and when I did I didn't have a high end sound system.
   On a couple of occasions when I have had friends over for dinner I have put it on and all have remarked at how they are blown away by this version of Dark Side of the Moon
   I would say if you have an SACD compatible DVD player and 5.1 channel amplifier with 6 analog channel inputs this album is must have, particularly if you are a fan on Dark Side of the Moon.



2. Since Rick Wright recently departed this world for that great Gig in the sky this past week, I have decided to do a Floyd review in his honor. Seeing as how he composed two of this albums finest tracks, the instrumental Great Gig, and the tune US AND THEM, I'll go with it, even though EVERYBODY knows how awesome it is. Dark Side is without a doubt one of the finest recordings of all time, and one that gets re-released alot... I'm suprised that I actually do not own my own copy of this. I bought this album in 1993, when it was still being distributed as its 1988 release... I had the disc for what seems to have been forever; despite losing it numerous times (one time I left the CD in the woods, after a "woods" party when I was around fourteen and found it several months later, still in perfect condition!)After a while though I finally wore the surface off it, and have yet to pick up a new copy. Damn, you know... cuz I really wanted to listen to it! This album means alot to me, and I def say that it changed my life, once upon a time ago... at least my way of thinking, in a lot of ways. Every track is stellar, this was the beggining of my fascination with albums that are albums as a whole... meaning that this is pretty much one solid piece of music, rather than a collection of tracks. The lyrics are extremely inspired, and even inspirational to anyone who listens, whether they be stoned or not. Listening to BRAIN DAMAGE/ECLIPSE is like a drug all it's own. Try finding a Dark Side laser show in your local area for added visual stimulation... or synch it up with some wizard of OZ (I was 15 when that little stoner trick was first publicized, have to mention it- start the disc at the third roar of the MGM lion) any which way you chose to use it, this disc is pretty much one you should have in your collection at all times. I wish I did! Oh well, I have Meddle hanging around, I'll rock that album out instead. Later kids. Rick Wright, Shine On.



3. I am an audio engineer and musician by trade. I like Floyd but amd not a huge fan and this is my first album of theirs. For starters, the CD layer sounds like it's at least a 4th generation 1/4" copy duped at too high of a level. Luckily, this master was spared the horrific loudness was exploitation so the sound is fairly open. But the over-cooked source tape causes the loud passages to get a bit mushy and dull.
   
   Now for the SACD. They obviously went through great efforts to try and recreate the original mix as well as possible. The natural dynamics of the recording really shine and there's good usage of all the channels without being overtly weird with placement. The only real problem I can hear is the vocals are a bit overly bright, to the point of being harsh at times. But aside from that, the SACD layer is inof itself well worth the price of the album. Definitely worth owning even if you're relatively new to Floyd like I am.



4. 1973, I was all of 13. This was, in my pre-driver's license days, the only way for me to travel. "Dark Side of The Moon," a big old pair of Koss headphones, and a relatively cheap but OK stereo. Dark room. Posters. Dreams of escaping. Desires of being an astronaut. Wanting to be a pop star. And then this.
   
   Even today, over 30 years later, "Dark Side of The Moon" remains a sonic marvel. When you imagine that this was done well before the advent of digital recording, samples and the like, it becomes all the more impressive. Instruments dart in and out, effects (the clocks, the cash register) flood your head and room with sculpted sound and psychedelics. The wailing voice on "Great Gig in The Sky" (Clare Torry) is downright otherworldly, as are the snippets of conversation that pop up at intervals throughout. The album unfolds in the best conceptual album sense, as nothing here explodes as much as it does infiltrates. It's one of those albums where it's well nigh impossible to listen to it in segments, the cross of songs into each other demands that you take it as a whole.
   
   To this day, "Dark Side Of The Moon" is probably the best known Pink Floyd album, coming along with that masterpiece of dysfunction, The Wall. In many respects they're very much alike. On this, the band was still trying to make sense of Syd Barret's descent into madness (as they did again on Wish You Were Here), on "The Wall" they looks at the crush of success and how it almost drove Roger Waters over the edge. In the case of "Dark Side of The Moon" and its long and pristine sculpted sound (courtesy of a young Alan Parsons), they captured their moment, and over 30 years later, it still stands like a towering achievement.



5. This 30th Anniversary Edition brings back the almost-forgotten thrill of hearing this group the first time many years ago...and the continual enjoyment for a long period.Wonderful !

5 comments about Let It Be.

1. I'm not sure why so many people consider this to be The Beatles' one sub-par album. Can I point out how great the songs "Across The Universe," "Get Back," "I Me Mine," "Dig A Pony," and "Let It Be" are? "I Me Mine" is probably my favorite of Harrison's songs, melodic and angst-y and full of meaning. "Across The Universe" is one of Lennon's best (I think "A Day In The Life" is the only one I like better). Also, "Two Of Us" is pretty good, and "The Long And Winding Road" is a major hit (though not one of my favorites).
   
   So I'm not understanding where this album fails. Like every Beatles album, this album has more than it's share of greatness and winning songs.



2. Many reviews go over the context of this album, with the band beginning to come apart at the seams, the production work of Phil Spector, and so on. Since that has been dealt with at considerable length, I'll just focus on my responses to the music.
   
   The start of this is so quirky! I always enjoyed it. If I have it right:
   
   "'I dig a pygmy,'
   By Charles Hawtrey and the DefAids.
   Part 1,
   In which Doris gets her oats."
   
   I haven't the faintest clue what it means, but it is a good humored introduction. Then, into the first song--"Two of Us." This is one of the "smaller" songs on this CD, but still a bunch of fun! The instrumental work is clean and spare and nice to listen to. Indeed, there are a number of other lesser known works, a number of which are interesting and fun (e.g., "Dig a Pony" or "I've Got a Feeling").
   
   One of the finest of the Beatles songs--"Let It Be." This is one of my personal favorites from their body of work. Neat line:
   
   "When I find myself in trouble,
   Mother Mary comes to me
   Speaking words of wisdom,
   'Let it be.'"
   
   The piano and organ backing is rather spare and effective.
   
   "Long and Winding Road." I enjoy the song, even though it is--in my view--way overdone (Phil Spector gone mad!). Still, it is an effective work (it's interesting to compare this version with a "stripped down" version available elsewhere, as per other reviews).
   
   Another of my favorites--"Get Back." There is an enjoyable start, with the Beatles bantering. Then, the familiar opening music leading into a wonderful song, well sung.
   
   So, not the best of the Beatles. But, I think, underrated by many. Still worth a listen.



3. Okay, let's face it this is The Beatles last studio recording and it still holds up today!
   The truth about this group is that for those who actually saw them or even heard them during their short but triumphant time in the music biz there has never been a group that can hold a candle to them, they changed the music industry and the sound of modern day music for the best!
   While music that is being produced today (some) is very inventive it is still eons behind The Beatles contributions.
   There are many songs that we still hear today that many of us still know all of the words to and usually sing them with great fortitude.
   There are very few "Beatles" releases that are not worth the price being asked and this is not one of them....



4. Often reviewed as a sloppy album it nevertheless is historic for the fact that they split up after this album. I am a Beatle lover, so I like most of their songs, but "Let It Be", "The Long and Winding Road", and "I Me Mine" ( from George) are classics. It's a must have for Beatle fans.



5. Having been informed that they still owed United Artists a third motion picture (the cartoon "Yellow Submarine" didn't count), the Beatles assembled on a cold Twickenham Studios soundstage on the day after New Years', 1969, to begin work on "Get Back", a documentary of recording sessions, to be directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg. Paul McCartney had wanted the band to perform live again, something it hadn't done in two-and-a-half years, and these sessions were to be rehearsals. Magic was expected to be summoned up on cue; it didn't happen. The Fab Four had grown far apart, both personally and professionally. The film well illustrates this: George Harrison bristles at Paul McCartney's lectures on how to perform; Yoko Ono sits in on the sessions, her presence unwanted; and the list goes on. Musically, John and Paul reach deep into their songbag for sparks of inspiration; they perform "One After 909", one of the earliest songs they wrote together, and the old Liverpool singalong "Maggie Mae". Paul gets poignant on "The Long And Winding Road" (an interestingly different version is available on "Let It Be...Naked") and the hymnlike "Let It Be", which eventually became the title for the project. John and Paul team up for "Two Of Us", and trade leads on "I've Got A Feeling".
   But all the forced camaraderie ultimately proved less than successful. To jump-start its creative engine, the group went up onto the roof of their Apple headquarters building in Savile Row, where they had moved the sessions, and started jamming in an impromptu lunchtime concert featuring "Get Back", which was promptly ended by the police.
   Thoroughly disappointed with the results of "Let It Be", and having moved on to other things, the group, for the first time, deemed an entire project unworthy of release; the tapes were given to legendary producer Phil Spector to see if he could improve them. Spector, if his overdubbing is compared to the original material available on "Let It Be...Naked", actually did not alter the sessions radically, though Paul McCartney in particular expressed much dissatisfaction with what he had done (e.g., the female chorus on "The Long And Winding Road"). (Later in 1969 the Fab Four got back together to make a final proper album without the intrusion of motion-picture cameras--"Abbey Road".) "Let It Be" was finally released in the spring of 1970 in a lavish box set, heavily edited down from hours upon hours of studio time. (It was padded out, as well: a studio-altered version of John Lennon's previously-released "Across The Universe" was included, reflecting a lower level of concern with offering the public new material with every release.) By this time, the fatal litigation had begun; the Fab Four were no more.

5 comments about Magical Mystery Tour.

1. A lot has been said about the Beatles, and it leaves little to add. I enjoyed this piece when I first bought it back in 1972, which was 5 years after it's initial release.
   It blew me away then and it still does to this day. All ages will identify with this. Simply enjoyable to listen to.



2. Introduction: My brother, Marc, was a great fan of the Beatles. He was almost nine years older than me, and his music was what I listened to (not always by choice!) when I was a kid. My brother died, suddenly and unexpectedly, on 8/6/2002. Today, 8/10/08, would have been his fifty-seventh birthday.
   
   Magical Mystery Tour was the first album I bought, as a cassette tape, that might not have thrilled my parents. They saw The Beatles as hippies and a bad influence, but they did not openly object. I listened to it over and over again, way back when, and still enjoy the songs, for the most part. I now see the album as a mixed bag, quality-wise. Of course, all of this is just my opinion of the album.
   
   The songs are:
   
   1. Magical Mystery Tour - Where else to start but with the title song? Not every album does, but it makes perfect sense to me. This is a very cheerful, somewhat silly song, and I like it, for the most part, but feel that it has a somewhat weak ending. It is like a tour guide inviting you along for a ride, and the ride is the rest of the album. ****
   
   2. Fool on the Hill - This song seems somewhat of a lyrics-melody mismatch, as the instrumental is cheerful, but the words tell a melancholy tale. It has some real depth to it, as the Fool could be someone under the influence, someone mentally ill, someone who is so rapt up in recreation that he becomes oblivious, or something else entirely. It is interesting to listen to, and is one of my favorites on this album. *****
   
   3. Flying - Hmmm, how did this get here? It is a nice, if not memorable, almost-completely-instrumental piece, with the only vocals not involving any words. It is okay, but no more than that. ***
   
   4. Blue Jay Way - This is easily my least favorite song on this album. Even though I have listened to the album many time, starting decades ago, I keep forgetting it. When I listen to it again, I groan and say, "Why did they do this one?" I find it depressing and shallow, and not worth my time. Maybe I keep forgetting it is that I very much want to forget it. *
   
   5. Your Mother Should Know - This one, as far as mood goes, reminds me a bit of When I'm Sixty-Four, except it is not as catchy or memorable. As far as fitting in with the album, it almost feels like someone said, "We need one more song," and The Beatles complied, similar to when a book feels like the author was writing it to fulfill a contractual obligation to a publisher. ***
   
   6. I Am the Walrus - This is another one from this album that I dislike. It is nonsensical, it meanders, and it is replete with phrases and terms that sound symbolic but, after a while, I get the feeling that The Beatles were just trying to sound inscrutable and enigmatic, to give the impression of depth and profundity, but it has no real depth or meaning to it, as far as I am confirmed. The instrumental part of it is pretty good, though. **
   
   7. Hello Goodbye - Just when you start looking for a towel to throw in, giving up on this album, this gem begins a string of the three best pieces on the album. It is interesting to hear, both musically and lyrically, with a theme of two lovers being completely at odds, without animosity, and drifting away from one another. *****
   
   8. Strawberry Fields Forever - This song is a prime example of me liking something I would not expect to like. If you just read the lyrics, I think the song does not make much sense. But, when I listen to it, I like it. I think it is not a song telling a story, which is what I usually like, but a song meant only to create a feeling or set a mood. It does that, for me, very well. ****
   
   9. Penny Lane - I usually like songs that are about something meaningful and, at first glance, this one is not. It is about ordinary life on a street named Penny Lane. That sounds very mundane and boring. It is not! It sings of neighborhood, home, and community. The melody is cheerful and flowing. Every time I hear this song, I want to stop whatever I am doing and sing along. It is not meaningless. It is about life itself. *****
   
   10. Baby You're a Rich Man - I do like the music and the sound of this song. For some reason, I do not find it memorable. When I listen to it, though, I like it each time, as it talks about how people change when they become wealthy, and how other people might see them. It does get a bit repetitive at the end, though. ****
   
   11. All You Need Is Love - It would have been good to end this album, and this review, on an upbeat note, but it was not meant to be, I guess. This is an odd song, that starts with a brassy fanfare, includes very simplistic lyrics that get repetitive, and I have some concerns about the message. Love is an essential part of life, in my opinion, but if you understand the terms of formal logic, there is a big difference between necessary and sufficient. Air and food are necessary parts of human life, but we die without water, a strong and stable immune system, shelter, and many other things. In other words, air is necessary to life, but it is not sufficient. This song repeatedly forwards the idea that "love is all you need," which means it is a necessary and sufficient ingredient. Maybe I am being way too picky, and I can be, at times, but if you put a point on the table, over and over again, it better stand up to scrutiny. This song does not do so, and it just annoys me. The instrumentals are good, and the voices do sound good, but thumbs down on the message. **
   
   Overall: Many albums have an underlying, connective message, or theme, like chapters in a book. That is not necessary, but I like it, when it is there. This album is at the opposite end of the spectrum. It is a hodgepodge compilation of songs that vary markedly in quality, mood, depth, and message. I still have very fond memories of it from childhood, but that does not make it a good album. It is redeemed, somewhat, by the second, seventh, and ninth songs, and Penny Lane is one of the best work by the group. As an album, it earns thirty-eight of a possible fifty-five stars, or an average rating of 3.45 stars.



3. I have always loved this album. So underrated. So many Beatle albums are good, this one is great. I could listen to this forever, and trust me, I will.



4. 
   Yep, I'd heard plenty of Beatles' songs. But when my brother gave me the LP (vinyl) of this album after it had come out, this was my first Beatles' recording. I wore it out playing it on my cheap record players and too-long-used needles. But it was a lot of fun while it lasted!
   
   The sound is a lot different from the early Beatles albums. There are some glorious songs on this CD--as well as a few idiosyncratic items.
   
   The CD begins with the title song, "Magical Mystery Tour." A pleasing composition, with repetitive (almost hypnotic) lines. A sampling:
   
   "Roll up--Roll up for the Magical Mystery Tour,
   Roll up Roll up for the Mystery Tour.
   I've got an invitation to make a reservation."
   
   Psychedelic music that is still musical!
   
   This is followed by "The Fool on the Hill," a simple tune with good keyboard work. Some lines:
   
   "And nobody seems to like him they can tell what he wants to do.
   And he never shows his feelings but the Fool on the hill
   Sees the sun going down. . . ."
   
   Then, the late Beatles' classic, "I Am the Walrus."
   
   Remember the tag line?
   
   "I am the eggman, they are the eggmen
   I am the walrus goo goo ga joo."
   
   The CD closes out with a series of neat songs, one after the other--"Hello Goodbye," "Strawberry Fields Forever" (I really like that song!), "Penny Lane (Another neat tune), "Baby You're A Rich Man," and "All You Need Is Love" (a classic Beatles' work).
   
   Maybe not as well known or as well reputed as works recorded at about the same time (think Sgt. Pepper. . .), but an estimable work nonetheless.



5. Magical Mystrey Tour is a good album.
   It is not as good as Sgt. Pepper, or some other albums of that time.
   It does have some of the most innovative and original songs the Beatles had ever done.
   What was unique was the way it was recorded. With the technology of the time they had to hire musicians from the London Symphony instead of simply programming keyboards as they do now.
   You hear Cellos and violins along with trumpets and French horns.
   There was no limit to the experimenting and the genuius of Lennon and McCartney. Tis is a prime example of the experimentation they had.
   I remember hearing I am the walrus for the first time in 1967. It was so far from anything else I had ever heard it was not even funny.
   Instead of Rock and Roll you get a lot of classical orchestration. Actually it is quite appealing to me.
   The title song Magical Mystrey Tour was used to open Paul McCartney's World Tour, I have to admit it was a great way to open the concert.
   All you need is Love is included and one of Lennons best.
   Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields is included as well.
   This is not the best album the Beatles have ever done, but it is worthy of a few listens and any Beatles collection....................

5 comments about Led Zeppelin IV (aka ZOSO).

1. Classic rock and roll at it's all time greatest. Including songs that many would say are the best ever recorded,including my self.
   
   A timeless masterpiece that I will enjoy until I die.



2. Beware that the MP3 album for sale here is NOT the remastered version, even though it's linked to the remastered CD version on the amazon site. I discovered this after purchasing and listening to it. The audio is muddy and full of dropouts, and basically sounds like an old audio cassette. This is why it's only $8.



3. It took me forever, but I'm just finally learning to appreciate Zeppelin's most famous album right now. I won't say it's my favorite - I, II and III are just as good, and Houses of the Holy is better. But I now like it. In fact, I think I liked it all the while, but I refused to admit it. See, this marks the point where "Led Zeppelin the band" and "Led Zeppelin the cultural phenomenon" become the same thing. And while I'm definitely a fan of Led Zep the band, I'm kinda shaky on Led Zeppelin the cultural phenomenon. And, I mean, this is the BIG one. The pride and joy of fans, critics, and DJ's everywhere. That and it's got "Stairway to Heaven," a cultural phenomenon within a cultural phenomenon within a cultural phenomenon. Sort of a Russian nesting doll deal there.
   Methinks the problem I had with this for so long is because I listened to it expecting it to be the great masterpiece so many people say it is, and I never really heard it that way. But recently, I did the smart thing: I let my defenses down, and listened to the album for what it was. And I found that it was quite good.
   Let me be up-front about why I'm only giving this four stars. First off, I don't really like "Four Sticks." Parts of it are nice, and parts of it aren't. Secondly, there's the issue of Robert Plant. I've never been his biggest fan, but here he's too much for me, almost ruining a couple of his songs with his "vocal acrobatics." He nearly kills the stop-start, riff-filled "Black Dog" entirely for me with his moans, groans, and grunts behind the guitar solo. Yeah, so it fits with the song's lyrics. But it still sounds bad. And "Battle of Evermore," despite being genuinely gorgeous, also showcases Plant right up in the front. He makes his voice turn somersaults, backflips, and cartwheels, and it just annoys me. Every phrase he gets, he oversings somehow. And then he pulls that crap with an echo effect near the end. It really annoys me. 'Tis a shame they didn't just let ex-Fairport Convention member Sandy Denny sing lead on the whole track, because she's got a beautiful voice. Not only that, but she's also got an authentic English folk voice, and "Evermore" is an English folk song. With a fantastic mandolin part.
   Okay, now I can get to the really good parts. First off, I almost hate to admit it because I'm sick of everyone saying it's the best song ever (gimme a break, it isn't even Zeppelin's best!), but I really, really like "Stairway to Heaven." I won't dwell too much on it, because everyone is probably familiar with it at this point, but it's earned its reputation as one of the greatest guitar tracks in history, and it's definitely a great rock epic. The Hendrix maniac in me thinks "All Along the Watchtower" is the best, the Beatlemaniac in me puts "Hey Jude" in second, and the Who freak in me would rank "Won't Get Fooled Again" as third. But number four (or maybe number five or six, because I can never allow myself to forget "You Can't Always Get What You Want" or "Jungleland") is certainly nothing to sneeze at, especially considering how many genuinely wretched "rock epics" there are out there. Great song, even though I'd take "Over the Hills and Far Away," "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You," and "Ramble On" over it in the Zeppelin catalog. That's just me, though. No "serious" person likes "Misty Mountain Hop," but I think it's fun. Yeah, the lyrics are dumb, but in the harmless, "'70s pothead who says words like 'dude' and 'cosmic' a lot, laughs at absolutely nothing, and eats ten bags of Cheetos a day" sense, not in the "offensively stupid or ignorant" sense. In other words, harmless, and kinda funny. Actually, all the lyrics in Led Zeppelin's entire history that aren't about sex are like that. Plus it's so bouncy! It's the only Zeppelin song you can dance to! How about that? It's a guilty pleasure for me, but I still enjoy it immensely. "Rock and Roll" does just what it promises, and it's my favorite of Zeppelin's short, punchy rockers. Bonzo's rhythm is unbeatable, and there's a multi-tracked guitar solo. Despite my seeming lack of manliness (yeah, I'm a guy), I do have some testosterone, and it really gets what little of it there is pounding. By the opposite token, "Going to California" is one of the prettiest, most quaint, folksy, and downright cute things in Zeppelin's catalog. Despite me not being much of a Robert Plant fan, I still love the way he sings, "La-la-la-la-la" after one of the verses. It's just so damn adorable! And I know that every Zeppelin fan who wasn't theoretically stabbing my hypothetical picture already is doing so now, but hey. Adorable is good. And you want a searing musical interpretation of a hurricane? Check out "When the Levee Breaks," a very successful mood piece and arguably the best song on the record. Bonzo's drums thunder - his intro is justly one of the most famous of all time - Page's guitars sting, burn, and all kinds of other stuff, and Plant's harmonica wails away. John Paul Jones doesn't do much, which is a shame, because he's my favorite member of the band. But hey, you can't have it all.
   If you were to cut out "Four Sticks," and give Robert Plant a bit less time at the mike, this would be a better album. But it's fine the way it is. I still refuse to admit it or anything else Zeppelin ever made is a masterpiece. If that's the way you roll, more power to you. But it's not the way I roll. So no power for me. Oh well. Still, this is probably my second, third, fourth, fifth, or whatever Zeppelin album. It's tough to decide between those first four. They're all very worthy four-star records, and I actually think they're of the exact same quality, more or less. Whatever. Zep's first five all are great.



4. This album ROCKS, with a capital R. John Bonham's drumming is the best. Every song on here is awesome, especially Rock and Roll, and Stairway To Heaven. Another Great song is When The Levee Breaks. It is no wonder that so many rock fans, and magazines consider it to be one of the greatest rock albums ever made.



5. By the far the best Led Zeppelin album you can buy and one of the greatest rock albums you can buy. This is Led Zeppelins best period of time and when they sounded the best and were the best. All eight songs on here are great and this album should be bought by any fan of rock music.
   
   1. Black Dog, a nice start too this album and has good blues singing(Robert Plant), and plus the beat on here is very cool and that guitar sound is very nice. Great song 5/5 stars
   
   2. Rock N Roll, this song has one of the coolest drum intros of all time and its riff and beat cant be sold. A classic song that so many people today still download. Nothing else too say except its a great song and if you havent heard it than download it now. 5/5 stars
   
   3. The Battle Of Evermore, pretty good song but its too soft and gets a little boring 4/5 stars
   
   4. Stairway Too Heaven, great song and great guitar on this song. I love this song great zeppelin song 5/5 stars
   
   5. Misty Mountain Hop, now this is where things start getting heavier. This Led Zeppelin back too the beggining. A nice cool rock beat and a cool drum beat also great song, 5/5 stars
   
   6. Four Sticks, another good song and has a cool drum intro to this and has a nice riff. great all around song,
   5/5 stars
   
   7. Going Too California, a great song also not much more too say, 5/5 stars
   
   8. When The Levee Breaks, a nice way too end this album and has a cool heavy blues rock beat too it. Great song 5/5 stars
   
   buy this album now if you dont have it...

5 comments about 1962-1966 (The Red Album).

1. For those just starting out as Beatles fans.....Welcome. Not sure how to start ? Look no further. Instead of buying different albums or discs trying to figure them out start here. This is the start and pretty much the best of their early work and hits. It will bring alive The Beatles and yea your going to get hooked. You'll play these songs over and over again. They say you can't ware out a CD. You can and you will with this. The only down fall is that you WILL DEMAND MORE. Dont let the heavy price get you. You will find that this is more then worth it's price and a better start then "1" or Past Masters. Without a doubt this is the best way for a new fan to start. I was very happy to open this disc and see it on Apple too. Enjoy and please also see my review on the 1967 - 1970 disc too./No Neck



2. If you've spent any time burning your own audio CDs (i.e. "Redbook" CDs as they are known in optical media world), then you probably quickly figured out that all 26 tracks will easily fit on one standard CD-R (or, if you know your blank CDs, that'll be a Taiyo Yuden!).
   
   So, why are we "given" two CDs? Easy? So the record company can charge $23 instead of $13.
   
   Of course, the label's reason (read: pandering excuse) is that they are being "faithful to the original release." Since when are COMPILATIONS considered to be "original releases"?? Even classic packages such as Marley's "Legend" merely cherry pick the best (and best-selling) songs from his albums--just as every other "Greatest Hits" or "Best of" disc does.
   
   The VERY least that the label could have (SHOULD) done was to add extra tracks. God knows the Fab Four recorded enough hits and out-takes in order to fill these two discs out with a plethora of B-sides, different takes of classic songs, and sides that were unreleased for one reason or another.
   
   Those of us who pay attention wouldn't be sitting around wondering why so many albums by so many albums lesser groups are jammed to the gills with studio cast-offs, lame live versions and the occasional gem. (E.g. look at the "remastered" version of "Who's Next", a half-baked attempt to "recreate" the failed "Lighthouse" project, whose only notable result was the greatest album the Who and Pete Townshend ever recorded.)
   
   Even scraping the bottom of the barrel (creatively at least) they could slapped an interview onto one of the discs. The remastered version of Tull's "Thick As A Brick" has a fascinating 13-14min interview recorded around the time the album was made.
   
   What serious Beatles' fan wouldn't want to hear a good interview with the group, especially one from the period right before the became The Biggest Band in History, selling more than 170,000,000 records (that's more than Elvis and Barbara Streisand combined!).
   
   Bottom line is:
   
   The great songs are here (most of them anyway, "Twist and Shout" anyone?). The CDs sound is excellent; I'd love to a Mobile Fidelity version!
   
   But this package could have been fully fleshed into something interesting, something perhaps even special. That way the $23 we shelled out for this "two" disc set would have been worth it.
   
   Yet with this Beatles' set we get exactly what we would have paid for in 1967.
   
   Hello, record company executives!! It's 40 years later. Time to get a clue. Instead of taking advantage of the 80-82 mins ea. CD gives them, the label decided to pretend they still had to work within the time constraints, between 45 and 50 mins using both sides.
   
   And they wonder more and more people are downloading more and more music: they can pick exactly the songs they want without what used to be called "filler"--but is nowadays called "hit singles".



3. I enjoy every song! These songs I grew up with so they bring back happy memories of singing these songs on the way home from school.



4. A very good compilation, nothing to say about the songs included here. But I think that if you're looking something to start, you can buy this item and the blue album. Another good choice would be the CD called "1", but you wouldn't get some tunes included in this item and its companion (the blue album), but surely a far better sound since the "1" album was given a very good remastering that this compilations lacks, (that's the reason for which I rate this item "only" with four stars) and you will pay less for a single disc compilation. Both choices are here, and each one has its pros and cons, but anyway you can't go wrong with any choice you take.



5. If you like the Beatles, and the early Beatles you'll love this CD, as it
   contains most of the material and good Beatles songs from that period.
   A must have for Beatles Collections.

5 comments about A Hard Day's Night.

1. This CD was AMAZING! It may not be the best Beatles album (Help! and Rubber Soul are, in my opinion), but it's The Beatles, so of course, you gotta love it! 5/5 stars!



2. Usually when some one asks me about the British Invasion, the first thing that comes to mind is this album as well as the movie of the same name. Being the Beatles first album in which all tracks were written by them, this is the album that best represents everything the Beatles early work as well as the early British invasion was about.
   
   The title track is pure pop rock with it's simple and playful lyrics set to a hard rockin' but catchy melody. After having seen the movie, one cannot hear this song without seeing, in their mind, the fab four racing down the street chased by tons of wild fans. It was obvious from the success of both this album and the movie that the British Invasion had completely blown open the doors as the biggest movement in rock history. No longer just a skiffle group from Liverpool, the Beatles had made it in America and were beginning to broaden their skills as songwritingers.
   
   "If I Fell" is one of their first and best ballads. "Can't Buy Me Love" was their most advanced song to date as far as it's simple but universal message goes. While the youthful "I Should Have Known Better" reminds one of "Love Me Do", "I'll Be Back Again" is unlike anything they had done at that time. An acoustic number , it's lyrics seem almost unfinished and it's melody is notably haunting. It's songs like that that make, "A Hard Day's Night" really stand out. Clearly, this album, while not on the level of "Rubber Soul" or "Revolver", saw the group advancing with their musical ambitions.
   
   In a way, this is the group's best early album. While, "Help" saw the band increasing even more in popularity and skill, nothing else best represents the peak of their "pop" days as much as this one.



3. The product is a South American copy of the disk. The Vendor, Innuendo of Florida, ships Brazilian and Argentinian copies and represents them as 'Imports' Every record collector knows that 'Imports' of the Beatles would be EMI prints from Europe, not South America. Amazon is sustaining this misrepresentation by not including the country of origin in its info on the web site. The vendor ship the cd's wrapped in the same wrap used to wrap lollipops - i.e., cheap, no tamper tape like on all the other Beatles CD's I have ordered over the years. Since you have to open the cover to see the poor quality prints of the CD label(faded and blurry, and in Spanish), I first thought that these may be pirated copies or bootlegs. Other than stating that they aren't bootlegs or pirates, the vendor, Innuendo, gives no proof of the authenticity of the CD's. I would suggest that other buyers just use a purchase site for Capitol or Apple Records, and avoid the uncertainty of this Amazon vendor,a nd that they wary of all Amazon copyrighted purchase until Amazon clarifies how it identifies foreign imports and nations of origin in its product information. I still have not heard from Amazon nor the vendor about rectifying my displeasure and issuing an unconditional refund. I will suspend all purchases from Amazon until this matter is satisfactorily resolved. I will use EBay and Buy,com in the meantime. 'Caveat Emptor.'



4. Turning vinyl into compact discs - Thank you! All Beatles Albums are classics. A Hard Days Night is a listening pleasure!



5. This album is seldom offered it right dues in Beatle folklore. In my humble opinion it is in the top three best albums they ever produced. I consider it the best "pop" album of all time. Any one of the songs on this CD could have been released as a single and been a hit in 1964. A lot of them probably could be a hit single now for that matter.

5 comments about 1967-1970 (The Blue Album).

1. For The Beatle beginner this is the second disc to purchase (The first being 1962 - 1966, see my review please). This disc is the hits from 1967 to 1970 but also you will hear how The Beatles were maturing as a group and also changing with the times and yet could still belt out the best music ever created and music that would still find it's way to the top of the charts AGAIN. There will never be another Beatles. In these discs you will hear why. There is not a bad song on either collection. Originally released in 1973 three years after they had called it quits the four did come together to put theses two packages together (1962-1966 & 1967-1970). Even though The Beatles were gone forever the four could still get together in a room and put two perfect packages together and both again go to the top of the charts. /No Neck



2. I enjoy every song! These songs I grew up with and enjoyed singing them walking home from school.



3. Very well liked if you like the beatles in the Late 60S phase this is the Cd For You !! Very well re-mastered and sounds good Favourites are My Guitar Gently weeps, Let It Be, Lucy in the Sky, Long winding road , A must to have !!!



4. Great price for a classic Beatles collection. I owned it on LP & the quality on CD is excellent



5. The copies are from either Brazil or Argentina, this is not stated in the product information. The Vendor, Innuendo has not sent the requested return call tag, and has indicated that it will not give a refund if the product is un-wrapped. It was never wrapped in a factory shrink with the tamper tape on top. I suspect that the vendor may be selling bootleg and/or pirated copies. Buyers beware of purchases made from Amazon and Innuendo. This is product misrepresentation that isn't disclosed until the shipping invoice is sent. 'Caveat Emptor.'

5 comments about Please Please Me.

1. Their first time out with the rawness and powerfully,explosive sound unmatched by any other artist,with the exception of Elvis,Please Please Me,consist of hard rockers and ballads showcasing each member of the band,McCartney's,I Saw Her Standing There,and,A Taste Of honey,Lennon's,Twist And Shout,and,Anna,Harrison's,Do You Want To Know A Secret,and Chains,Ringo takes the cue and wails on the potent rocker,Boys,featuring one of the better Harrison leads and of course there's,Please Please Me,the Beatles were probably not the best musicians in the world,gradually improving through the years,but there was a certain chemistry within themselves that combined a unit of one,with their tight harmonies and the brilliant songwriting,8 of 14 tracks are Lennon/McCartney compositions on here,the rest being covers,of course after this album they went a long way baby,a long and winding road,a great Beatles achievement,and an early glimsp of the geniuses at work.



2. This old stuff is fun to hear, you can hear them grow from one Lp or Cd to the other very raw.



3. I love the Beatles. They can do no harm. No matter what phase of music they were in, they did it well. This is classic, bee bop, love song Beatles and I love every song.



4. After doing gigs in Hamburg for a while The Beatles finally decided to record their first album titled Please Please Me. The group presents a collection of raw 50's style rockers as well some of the sweetest, harmonious pop songs ever put on record. Given, this is not a cohesive LP or semi-concept album such as Sgt Pepper or Abbey Road. Like nearly all LPs of the time, it is a collection of singles as well as "filler" tracks. Also, alot of the material consists of covers rather than original songs.
   
   This is The Beatles early in their career. Long before they cared about making grandiose artistic statements, the fab four simply wanted to make fun Rock-n-Roll numbers. And that they did, with the shout 1.2.3.4 and the driving rhythms of, "I Saw Her Standing There" they rocked harder than few groups did at the time. Aside from rock-n-roll, The Beatles knew how to make soft lush pop on such tracks as, "Ask Me Why", and the girl group covers of, "Chains", and, "Baby It's You". Indeed the Beatles took cues from all of their influences including Chuck Berry, Goffin and King, 60's girl groups, and even R&B artists.
   
   The group had been perfroming as a skiffle group prior to this recording. Like all other skiffle groups, they simply wanted to follow in their heroes (50's rockers) footsteps and make good raw, rock-n-roll. The Beatles were one of the few such groups to make it big. Probably because they had the most talent. Though the songwriting on this album is definitley not as amazing as it would shortly become, the group shows some innovation on the pop rocker, "Please Please Me", and the shout fest, "Twist and Shout". "Love Me Do" shows up here: an early single featuring just drums, bass, acoustic guitar and, of course, John Lennon's harmonica.
   
   Though, in the long run, Please Please Me, may just be a prelude for better things to come, it's still a wonderful piece of rock-n-roll and pop. The Beatles never would never make anything that sounded as simple or striped down again.



5. There is really not much to say. Everyone knows the beatles and their music. There is very little that I would not like. There is always a song or two that don't particularily empress but for the most part it's a good album or should I say CD.

5 comments about Help! [UK].

1. Amazon shipped the CD in a small bubble rapped/lined envelope. The jeweled box was poured out of that envelope, even the art work was cut up but the CD was unhurt! AMAZING!



2. The music on this Classic Rock CD represents the latter end of The Beatles' "early period" (of their three musical eras). It's one of the better albums they ever produced.
   
   This music is mostly of the happy sort, upbeat, and easy to listen to. But don't let that fool you into thinking that these compositions are not intricate and innovative as well. These songs broke a LOT of new ground when they hit AM radio at the time of their initial release.
   
   I acquired this album (33 1/3 LP) when it first emerged in the record stores and always maintained a copy in the latest technology available... LP, 8-track (yikes!), cassette, and now CD. It never seemed to loose appeal for me even as newer [in retrospect] Classic Rock tunes evolved throughout the '60s and into the early '70s. My favorite cuts are "Help!" and "The Night Before". Of course, "Yesterday" was probably the biggest hit of them all and I liked that one as well. "Act Naturally" is a tongue-in-cheek, comic relief rendering (sorry, Buck Owens!) by the always-loveable Ringo Starr.
   
   These songs are taken from The Beatles' film "Help!" which I never actually saw until years after hearing the film's soundtrack. It's sort of a funny, goofy flick that I enjoyed when I finally did get to view it but, commercially, I don't think it garnered much Kudos beyond the fans of The Beatles.
   
   If you're a Classic Rock enthusiast, (present at Woodstock or not!), you won't get hurt on this one -- the tunes are as superb today as they were in 1965.



3. This is not the American release of the Original Soundtrack, it has added a few songs not from that album and left off the original instrumentals such as "In the Tyrol", "rom me to you fantasy" " The Chase" and more.
   Don't know why they can't come up with standard releases instead of UK releases here in the USA, when all we got at the time of release from Capitol was the USA version............now they are all UK.



4. The Beatles-Help ****
   
   Help! is far from the five star classic it is being labeled but it was a precursor to what was to come from the boys. Just around the corner the four lads would release five of the greatest albums in music history, so for me this plays as a warm up lap around the recording studio.
   
   The title track 'Help' really was a personal cry for help from John Lennon, and not to mention on of the groups best. 'Yesterday' is the very best song McCartney ever recorded, it also went on to become the most covered song in history with well over five hundred version to date. 'Hide Your Love Away' would have fit better on Rubber Soul but is a nice addition to Help! ''The Night Before' is pretty catchy and Paul was really on to something here, and 'Ticket To Ride' might be the strongest thing The Beatles ever recorded. John was a true genius. As for the rest of the songs, honestly they are take it or leave it, and just because they are the Beatles does not make them great songs.
   
   Once again while I don't think this is necessarily a classic I do think it is worth owning and one of the best 'early' Beatles albums.



5. I Think this a great servis for de produts, i laike to bay bay this.
   Me gusta mucho el servicio por la compra de los productos por este medio, el servicio de paqueteria es muy bueno y eficiente.