The Beatles- Meet the Beatles! (1964)

The Beatles - Meet The Beatles

(Capitol Records)

Released in the U.S. on January 20, 1964,

Recorded between February 11 and October 23, 1963.

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About The Album

On January 10, the U.S. was introduced to the Beatles, and on January 20, 1964, Meet the Beatles hit the U.S. on January 20, 1964, to great fanfare after a successful media campaign. With the release and U.S. tour, the album was a monster success. It debuted at #92 in the U.S., and only two weeks later, it was number one for eleven consecutive weeks. It remained in the top position until the record The Beatles Second Album (Capitol) knocked it off. By the 1990s, the album Meet the Beatles had sold over five million copies!

Track By Track Analysis

(+ means "recommended track" and * means released as a single. )

Side 1

Track 1 -"I Want To Hold Your Hand." was released as a single on December 26, 1963, The day after Christmas, the Beatles handed us a gift with the release of "I Want To Hold Your Hand." The track served as the Beatles' first #1 hit in the U.S. "I Want To Hold Your Hand" is also The Beatles' best-selling single, with more than 12 million units sold worldwide. Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, one of the greatest writing teams ever, "I Want to Hold Your Hand" is rather simplistic musically and lyrically. Basically, the lyrics are a plea to get with a girl and an ask to "hold her hand." With the song's success, the Beatles spread their wings. (pun intended). (*+)

Track 2- "I Saw Her Standing There" was also featured on the original pressing of Introducing…The Beatles, the tune was already discussed in episode #3 (Introducing.. The Beatles! Simply put, it's a great track that peaked at #14 on the Billboard Charts. Not bad for a B side!

Track 3- "This Boy" * was initially written by Lennon and McCartney as a three-part harmony vocal exercise, a tribute to the American Doo-Wop groups that were part of the Beatles' inspiration. The song was not a big hit at the time but showed the group's range as singers/songwriters. Who loves this song? Well, this boy does (I'm pointing to myself). (+)

Track 4- "It Won't Be Long" is a lesser-known song by the Fab Four, yet it's still better than most of what everyone else was doing at the time. Take notice of the play on words between "be, long," and "belong." The band also got to say "Yeah" in the song, one of their favorite lyrics. Without getting too nerdy, the tune has some unique harmonic structures, and it would not be long until the use of more advanced harmony becomes the norm for the Beatles. (+)

Track 5- "All I've Got To Do," Lennon wrote much of this one, and it was said to be inspired by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. The verse has a cool syncopated (off-beat) groove that is unique. The band must have found it hard to play because they never played the tune live. Lennon said, "it was written specifically for the American market because the idea of calling a girl on the telephone was unthinkable to a British youth in the early 1960s…I have never called a girl on the 'phone in my life! Because 'phones weren't part of the English child's life."

Track 6 -"All My Lovin'," began as McCartney's brainchild, and it was the first song he wrote the lyrics to before starting first with music. It's pretty fantastic, and despite never being released as a single, it was quite popular and reached number 45 on the Billboard charts. One striking aspect is fast rhythmic guitar strumming of Lennon. Also of interest is the shift into a country groove on the guitar solo. Lyrically it's yet another love song. They all have been so far. At this point, the Beatles were not flying too far into experimental territory. They later will! (+)

Side 2

Track 1- "Don't Bother Me" was the first song written by Harrison. He always disliked it. Harrison is quoted as saying, "I don't think it's a particularly good song, But at least it showed me that all I needed to do was keep on writing, and maybe eventually, I would write something good. I still feel now: I wish I could write something good." He did!

Despite Harrison's self-criticism, the song is not bad. Hearing Harrison take the vocal lead is always a welcomed addition to any Beatles album. Lyrically, the song is not a love song. It's the opposite. Instead of being loved, Harrison wants to be left the hell alone, probably because he wrote it when he was sick in bed. The song contrasts an entire album side in which Lennon and McCartney wrote songs about trying to get noticed, which is a better plan if you want to sell albums.

Track 2- "Little Child" is not the group's best work.; it kind of just sits there on the album. Lennon and McCartney wrote the song to give to someone else, likely Ringo. Instead, McCartney and Lennon sang it. The best part of the tune is Lennon's overblown harmonica which he plays throughout the song, probably to hide that the song is just not that good and could have been written by a little child.

Track 3 -"Till There Was You," was the one cover song on the record. Meredith Wilson wrote it for the 1957 musical "The Music Man." The group often played "Till There Was You" during live sets. Recording a tune connected with an older generation seemed strange for a band trying to establish a new sound. The recording of "Till There Was You" connected the group to the "Great American Songbook," which is not an actual book but an assumed collection of pop standards. The group handles the song relatively well.

Track 4- "Hold Me Tight" In 1980, Lennon said the following about the song 'That was Paul's. Maybe I stuck some bits in there – I don't remember. It was a pretty poor song, and I was never really interested in it either way." He's not wrong. Maybe the group should have held the tune tight and never showed it to anyone.

Track 5 -"I Wanna Be Your Man," was a throwaway of sorts and was even given to the Rolling Stones. Not a bad gift at all. It's as if they said, "Here, open this present; it's a hit single, so we have someone to compete with us. Not feeling particularly close to the song, Lennon and McCartney figured they would let Ringo sing this one.

Track 6- "Not A Second Time" is not a hit and not particularly memorable. George Martin, the Beatles' incredible producer, plays a piano solo on this one. The song has a few nice chords hidden between the fluff, but there is no need to hear it a "second time."

Conclusion:

With Meet The Beatles, the group proved to America with this record that they were, by far, the most talented early British invaders. People went nuts for the record and the Beatles in 1964—Awards and Positions (#1 Billboard Charts, 5X Platinum).

(References come from : https://www.beatlesbible.com/)

Track 4- "Hold Me Tight" In 1980, Lennon said the following about the song 'That was Paul's. Maybe I stuck some bits in there – I don't remember. It was a pretty poor song, and I was never really interested in it either way." He's not wrong. Maybe the group should have held the tune tight and never showed it to anyone.

Track 5 -"I Wanna Be Your Man," was a throwaway of sorts and was even given to the Rolling Stones. Not a bad gift at all. It's as if they said, "Here, open this present; it's a hit single, so we have someone to compete with us. Not feeling particularly close to the song, Lennon and McCartney figured they would let Ringo sing this one.

Track 6- "Not A Second Time" is not a hit and not particularly memorable. George Martin, the Beatles' incredible producer, plays a piano solo on this one. The song has a few nice chords hidden between the fluff, but there is no need to hear it a "second time."

Conclusion:

With Meet The Beatles, the group proved to America with this record that they were, by far, the most talented early British invaders. People went nuts for the record and the Beatles in 1964—Awards and Positions (#1 Billboard Charts, 5X Platinum).

(References come from : https://www.beatlesbible.com/)