The Beatles - With The Beatles

With The Beatles

The Beatles' second album, released in November 1963, featured eight original compositions (including the first from George) and six favourite covers of Motown and R&B hits.

The album contained no singles, which was virtually unheard of for that time. And yet it stayed in the top of the chart for 21 weeks, displacing their first album Please Please me. The Beatles were hogging the chart for 51 weeks consecutvely! This album became the first-ever million selling album by a group in UK.

1. It Won't Be Long (Lennon-McCartney): John is on lead vocal with Paul and George doing the harmonies. George provides a 6-note repetitive guitar riff throughout the song.

2. All I've Got To Do (Lennon-McCartney): Althougt this song is absent from any Beatles retrospective album, it has John at his raw and direct best; Paul supplies harmonies in this simple but likeable song.

3. All My Loving (Lennon-McCartney): This is one of Paul's first classic, and one of my favourite Bealtes songs. Paul's lead vocal is supported by John and George on harmonies. George also provides a country and western guitar playing during the instrument break.

4. Don't Bother Me (Harrison): This is the first George Harrison song to appear on a Beatles' album. In addition to the usual instrumentation, George's solo vocal is backed by Paul beating on claves, John on tambourine, and Ringo on loose-skinned Arabian bongo.

5. Little Child (Lennon-McCartney): John's blues harmonica leads into this rhythm and blues song. The lead vocal is a duet between John and Paul, but John predominates. Paul also overdubs on this track with piano.

6. Till There Was You (Wilson): Taken from Meredith Wilson's broadway musical, The Music Man, this melodic ballad has Paul in fine form with John and George playing acoustic guitars and Ringo beating gently on bongos. Paul is also on electric bass.

7. Please Mister Postman (Holland): This is one of my favourite Beatles covers. (This Brian Holland's song was a No. 1 hit song for US Motown girl group the Marvelettes in 1961. It was a top hit for The Carpenters, too, in 1975.) It features John on lead vocals with Paul and George adding some interesting backing vocals.

8. Roll Over Beethoven (Berry): This rendition of Chuck Berry's rock 'n' roll classic has George in solo vocal. This song will have everybody swaying to the chugging rhythm guitar and funky bass from John and Paul, and the guitar riffs from George.

9. Hold Me Tight (Lennon-McCartney): Paul is on lead vocal, with John and George adding backing vocals and joining in on chorus.

10. You Really Got To Hold On Me (Robinson): Originally recorded by US group the Miracles, this Smokey Robinson song has John and George (and not Paul) in lead vocals. George Martin sits in on piano.

11. I Wanna Be Your Man (Lennon-McCartney): With its simple lyrics and melody, I would consider this the weakest track on the album. Ringo handles the lead vocal with a helping hand from John and Paul in the chorus. The instrumentation is supplemented by John on Hammond Organ and Ringo on Maraccas. (The Rolling Stones subsequently made a minor hit with their cover on this song.)

12. Devil In Her Heart (Drapkin): George takes over the lead vocals for the third time in the album on this Richard P. Drapkin song, originally recorded by US girl group the Donays. John and Paul add in the harmonies and backing vocals. Ringo is on drums and maraccas on this breezy samba-beat number.

13. Not A Second Time (Lennon-McCartney): The song features a double-tracked vocal from John with George Martin on piano. With only John on acoustic guitar and Ringo on drum, the other two Beatles were not present on this song.

14. Money (Bradford-Gordy): The album closes with a showstopping moment from John tearing through a Janie Bradford and Berry Gordy (Motown Rocords' boss) song, originally a hit single for US artiste Barrett Strong. Paul and George provide the backing vocals. George Martin's piano is featured predominantly on this powerful rendition of Money.

With The Beatles still remains fun and fresh after all these years.

(p.s. The album sleeve photo by Robert Freeman is arguably the most iconic of The Beatles ever taken.)