The Beatles - Abbey Road

Abbey Road

This is the official 11th UK album by the Beatles, released in September 1969.

After the near-disastrous sessions for the "Get Back" album (later re-titled as Let It Be) in January 1969, The Beatles briefly settled their differences long enough to record Abbey Road, in July, which was to be their last studio-recorded album.

Side One of the album (vinyl) is John's concept of indivitual tracks, while Side Two has Paul's now famous 'Pop Opera', a long suite of compositions, many of them being relatively short, segued as one.

The record sleeve shows the Beatles walking across a zebra crossing in Abbey Road away from the recording studio. This, with the album's closing track 'The End', was regarded by many as being the message from the band saying "it's the end of the Bealtles". (The Bealtes disbanded on 10.4.70, six months after the release of this album.)

Abbey Road became one of the most successful Beatles albums ever. The album debuted straight to No. 1 in the UK chart and stayed a total of 17 weeks at the top.

All songs credited to Lennon-McCartney, except where noted.

1. Come Together: The track is written by John and features a lead vocal from him with harmonies in places from Paul. John and George both play the lead guitars. John also plays the piano while Ringo doubles on drums and maraccas.

2. Something (Harrison): This is, to my opinion, undoubtedly the best song from the album. George sings solo vocal on his own song. It was issued as the A-side of a single and this was the first time a George Harrision song was used on as an A-side of a Beatles single. John plays the lead guitar together with George. Their friend, Billy Preston plays the organ. The orchestration is by the George Martin Orchestra. (The first line of the song: "something in the ways she moves" was based on a James Taylor's song.)

3. Maxwell's Silver Hammer: Paul's first song on the album features himself on lead vocal with harmonies from John. Paul and John also dubs in the backing vocals. John is on lead guitar while George doubles on acoustic guitar and synthesiser. Paul is also on bass and piano. Ringo is heard banging a hammer on an anvil for added effect.

4. Oh! Darling: Paul again sings (a harse and gusty) lead vocal on this dramatic track; the backing vocals are from John and Paul. The instrument backing includes Paul on piano, lead guitar from George who also plays the synthesiser.

5. Octopus's Garden (Starkey): This is the second (and last) song written by Ringo to be included in a Bealtes album. Ringo sings lead vocal with backing from John and Paul. John and George both play the lead guitars. Paul is also on piano while George adds in the synthesiser. It also includes some sound effects like bubbles blowing and gargling backing vocals in the instrumental break.

6. I Want You (She's So Heavy): This is actually two songs joined together as one, but without a link. The lead vocal and the bluesy lead guitar are by John. Paul harmonises in places. George, who plays the rhythm guitar, adds in the moog synthesiser to creat the white noise or "wind" effect. Billy Preston is on organ. The song has a long repeated guitar riff at the ending until the song stops abruptly.

7. Here Comes The Sun (Harrison): On this second song from George which he sings lead vocal and plays an acoustic guitar and synthesiser. The backing vocal are from John and Paul. The strings are provided by session musicians.

8. Because: This song features a close harmony from John and Paul. John is on lead guitar and harpsichord while George adds in the programmed moog synthesiser. Ringo is not present on this track.

The "Pop Opera" suite:

9. You Never Give Me Your Money: This track is a medley of four separate songs welded together as one. The first song, You Never Give Me Your Money, features Paul singing lead vocal and backing himself on a piano. On the second song, That Magic Feeling, Paul's singing is backed by a honky-tonk style piano. The third song, One Sweet Dream, is an upbeat rock 'n' roll song by Paul and the fourth song has Paul and John repeating the lines : "1-2-3-4-5-6-7, all good children go to heaven". The backing vocals are from John and Paul. John is on lead guitar. Paul adds in the piano while George handles the rhythm guitar. Ringo doubles on drums and tambourine.

10. Sun King: John's vocals are double-track for the lead, then multi-tracked to produce his own harmonies. John plays the lead guitar and maraccas. Paul is on bass and harmonium. George also plays lead guitar while ringo is on drums and bongos on this track that sounds like tribal chants. George Martin joins the Beatles on organ.

11. Mean Mustard: John, who plays piano on this track, sings lead vocal with Paul harmonising here and there. Paul also plays the fuzz bass guitar whle Ringo doubles on drums and tambourine. George plays lead guitar on this short track.

12. Polythene Pam: Another short track with John on lead vocal and Paul on harmony vocal. John plays both acoustic and lead guitars. Paul is on bass and lead guitar too. George doubles on rhythm guitar and tambourine with Ringo on drums and maraccas.

13. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window: Paul sings lead vocal and joins John for the backing vocals. John plays the acoustic guitar with Paul taking the role of playing the lead guitar. George plays the bass while Ringo doubles on drums and maraccas.

14. Golden Slumbers: Paul sings solo vocal on this short melody. Paul doubles on bass and piano. Ringo is only other Beatle presence. Session musicians provide the string.

15. Carry The Weight: The first part of this track has the Beatles singing in 4-part harmony. The second part of the song is the second verse of You Never Give Me Your Money. This has Paul on lead vocal and backed himself on piano, and with the orchestration from George Martin. The final part returns to the Beatles singing Carry The Weight. John plays the lead guitar in this short track.

16. The End: This track again is made up of 4 parts. It starts with Paul singing lead on a verse. This is followed by a 16-second Ringo drum solo (the first and only on a Beatles record). The third session changes into a jam session with backing vocals (love you....) from John, Paul and George. John and Paul sing the final verse. John is on lead guitar with Paul on piano and George on rhythm guitar. The strings are added by session musicians.

17. Her Majesty: After an 18-second silence from The End, Paul suddenly breaks into a vocal solo, backing himself on acoustic guitar, on this short track.

The Beatles - Yellow Submarine

Yellow Submarine

This is the 10th album by The Beatles in UK; it was issued as the soundtrack to the cartoon film of the same name.

When it was released in vinyl record in January 1969, only one side of the album contained songs from the Beatles, and out of the 6 songs only 4 were 'new' songs. The first song Yellow Submarine had been released in 1966 as a single and also as a track in Revolver. Another song All You Need Is Love was a single in 1967 and also a track in Magical Mystery Tour.

The second side of the album was producer George Martin's orchestral score of the film's incidental music.

The Beatles themselves did not consider this a studio album proper, as the four 'new' songs were taken hodge-podge fashion and considered "throwaway" recordings from earlier sessions.

1. Yellow Submarine (Lennon-McCartney): Previously issued on Revolver album.

2. Only A Northern Song (Harrison): George is on solo vocal and plays the organ on this "discordant" track. Paul's bass and Ringo's drums are the only musical parts of the backing. The music gets lost amidst the continual interruptions of off-key instruments intentionally played by all the Beatles. The title of the song was a sarcastic jibe at the publishing company, Northern Songs. The cacophonus "tune up" backing is quite similar to Tomorrow Never Knows and Revolution 9.

3. All Together Now (Lennon-McCartney): Paul's contribution, that sounds like a nursery rhyme, also seems rather half-hearted. He sings the lead vocal with backing vocals from John and George. John strums the banjo while George plays the harmonica. Paul is on acoustic and bass guitars with Ringo on drums and finger cymbals.

4. Hey Bulldog (Lennon-McCartney): John, on piano and lead guitar, sings lead vocal on his contribution to the album. Paul who plays bass is also on harmony vocal. George doubles on lead guitar and tambourine.

5. It's All Too Much (Harrison): George's second contribution to the album has him in lead vocal. He also doubles on lead guitar and organ. John is on lead guitar and provides harmony vocals together with Paul. Ringo is on drums and tambourine. Two session musicians add in the trumpets on the longest song of the album.

6. All You Need Is Love (Lennon-McCartney): Previously issued on Magical Mystery Tour album.

The George Martin Orchestra:

7. Pepper Land

8. Sea Of time

9. Sea Of Holes

10. Sea Of Monsters

11. March Of The Meanies

12. Pepper Land Laid Waste

13. Yellow Submarine in Pepper Land

The Beatles - The White Album

The Beatles - The White Album

The Beatles, more widely known as The White Album, is the band's official ninth UK album released in November 1968. (Magical Mystery Tour is listed as a movie soundtrack.) This was the band's first album released on their then newly formed Apple label.

This double album has no graphics or text other than the band's name on its plain white cover.

The album was written and recorded during a period of turmoil for the group. Most of the 31 songs here were written during the Beatles' visit to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in India in early 1968. The studio recordings were done from May to October.

The gap between John and Paul began to show on this album. Although 26 songs were credited to Lennon-McCartney, the only song they did co-write is Birthday. From this album onwards, all Lennon-McCartney credited songs can be more clearly defined as being written by the lead vocalist on the individual tracks. George had four new songs on this album while Ringo had one.

At the time of recording this album, the Beatles were beginning to be disillusioned with the group; John wanted to leave and Ringo did leave for two weeks. Creative differences, together with the death of their manager Brian Epstein in 1967 and, most famously, the presence of Yoko Ono, all contributed to the beginning of the end of the Beatles.

But amid band squabbling, this Beatles-produced album still received positive reviews and topped the charts of both UK and USA. It is reported that the album sold more than 2 millions copies during its first week in USA alone. This epic album is regarded as one of the greatest albums in rock history.

All tracks credited to Lennon-McCartney, except where noted.

CD1:

1. Back In The USSR: The album starts with a roar and a screech of airplane tyres, as the Beatles emulate the Beach Boys style on this great rock 'n' roll song. Paul is on lead vocals and join John and George in the backing vocals . Paul plays the lead guitar and a 'rocking' piano. George, for the first time on a Beatles record, plays the bass! John is on a six-string bass, too. The band also add in the handclappings to the backing, which the boys have not done for quite some time. The track ends with the sound of an aircraft, which then fades into..

2. Dear Prudence: This acoustic-driven ballad has John on multi-tracked lead vocals and a three part backing vocal from John, Paul and George. George's persisent acoustic guitar phrasings are heard throughout the track. John doubles on lead guitar and tambourine, with Paul on bass, piano and flugelhorn. Roadie Mal Evans helps out on tambourine, too. The song is written by John for Prudence Farrow (sister of Mia Farrow) while the Beatles were in India.

3. Glass Onions: John, on acoustic guitar, is on solo vocal. Paul handles bass, piano and adds in a brief flute lines. George is back to playing lead guitar while Ringo doubles on drums and tambourine. Some session musicians provide the orchestration to this track. John's nonsensical lyrics include references to Strawberry Fields Forever, A Fool On The Hill, I Am The Walrus, Fixing A Hole, etc.

4. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da: On this reggae-like track, Paul is on lead vocal and piano, with John and George joining in for the chorus. George plays acoustic guitar while John handles only the maraccas. Session musicians provide some Jamaican style brass.

5. Wild Honey Pie: This filler is written and performed solely by Paul. In addition to providing all voices singing the line "honey pie" throughout this short track, Paul plays drums, lead guitar, bass and acoustic guitars.

6. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill: Strangely, the track opens with a Spanish style acoustic guitar solo which then leads straight to the chorus. The song is written by John who also sings lead vocal and plays the acoustic guitar and organ. Ringo, Paul and John provide the backing vocals. And for the first and only time on a Beatles' record, Yoko Ono sings on the third verse and also on chorus (where she's joined by Ringo's wife Maureen). Chris Thomas plays the mellotron near the end.

7. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Harrison): This first of four tracks written by George is easily the best song of the album! George enlists the help of his friend Eric Clapton to play the lead guitar on this song. The double-tracked lead vocals is by George, with John and Paul join in on the chorus. John is on acoustic guitar and organ while Paul doubles on bass and piano. George is on both acoustic and lead guitars. Ringo plays drums, castanets and tambourine.

8. Happiness Is A Warm Gun: This surreal track, written by John, is a mini song suite in itself. Consisting of three separate songs, the track begins as a gentle ballad with solo vocal from John. The song slowly changes into a semi-rock song with the repetitive 'Mother Superior jumped the gun'. The third and final section has John shouting out the lyrics with a 'bang bang, shoot, shoot' backing vocals dubbed in by Paul, George and John. John also plays the lead guitar and tambourine.

9. Martha My Dear: This 30s-influenced song is written by Paul about his old sheep dog. Paul is on solo vocal and plays the piano. John takes over the bass playing. Session musicians provide an orchestral/danceband backing.

10. I'm So Sad: This song features a lead vocal from John who also plays acoustic guitar and organ. Paul harmonises in places. George plays both the lead and rhythm guitars.

11. Blackbird: This simple and pleasant song is solely a Paul showcase. He sings solo vocal and backs himself on acoustic guitar and taps on bongos.

12. Piggies (Harrison): Just like his Taxman in the Revolver album, Geroge takes another sarcastic swipe at the greedy, the 'piggies', who always out to make money from them. George, who plays acoustic guitar, is on solo vocal. Ringo is on tambourine only. Chris Thomas plays the harpsichord while some strings are added by session musicians. The sound of grunting and snorting pigs is added for effect.

13. Rocky Racoon: This country-folk flavoured song, written by Paul, has him in lead vocal. The backing vocals are a three-part harmony from John, Paul and George. John plays the harmonium and harmonica, which he has not used for a long time. George is on bass while a honk-tonk style piano is added by George Martin.

14. Don't Pass Me By (Starkey): Ringo finally sings solo on a self-penned song and proves that he, too, can be a good composer. John is on acoustic guitar and tambourine. Ringo also doubles on piano. Sessionist Jack Fallon plays a nice blue glass fiddle in this tune.

15. Why Don't We do It In The Road? : Another multi-tracked solo vocal from Paul who also plays every instrument on this rather short track. He is on piano, drums, lead and bass guitars.

16. I Will: Another short track from Paul who sings solo vocal and back himself sparingly on acoustic guitar and bass. Ringo is the only other Beatles present to supply bongos, together with drums and maraccas.

17. Julia: This beautiful song is written by John is mainly about his love for his mother. John sings solo vocal and back himself with two acoustic guitars. A reference to Yoko (小野洋子) is also inlcuded with the words "ocean child"

CD2

1. Birthday: This is the only track to have been co-written by John and Paul. This moderate fast track with a heavy drum beat from Ringo, features the backing vocals and the lead vocal, predominantly Paul but joins on occasions by John. John plays the lead guitar with Paul on a jangling piano. George plays the bass and tambourine. Session visitors Yoko Ono and Patti (wife of George) helps out in the chorus.

2. Yer Blue: John is on solo vocal on this electric blues track. Both John and George play the lead guitars.

3. Mother Nature's Son: This pleasant simple track is another solo effort from Paul. He sings solo vocal and backs himself on acoustic guitars, bongos. Some horns are added by session musicians.

4. Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey: This rock 'n' roll track, written by John, features him on lead vocal. The backing vocals are from John and Paul. It also features a lead guitar from John, who also plays the maraccas. George is on rhythm guitar and plays the predominant firebell.

5. Sexy Sadie: The track features a lead vocal from John, who joins Paul and George for the backing vocals. John plays acoustic guitar, rhythm guitar and organ while Paul doubles on bass and piano. George is on lead guitar with Ringo on drums and tambourine.

6. Helter Skelter: The screaming lead vocal is from Paul on this heavy and the noisiest song from The Beatles. The backing vocals are from Paul, John and George. John is on lead guitar, bass and saxophone. Paul is also on lead and bass guitars. George plays the rhythm guitar while roadie Mal Evans adds in the trumpet. The song ends with Ringo shouting out his famous statement "I've got blisters on my fingers". This is the song that the Charles Manson murder reportedly inspired, in part, by.

7. Long, Long, Long (Harrison): George's third offering on the album has him on double-tracked solo vocals. Both John and George play the acoustic guitars. John and Paul also dub in the piano and hammond organ.

8. Revolution 1: This recording is a slower, almost acoustic version of the song issued as the B-side of the Hey Jude single. The double-tracked lead vocal is by John. The track has a false start. The do-wop backing vocals are from John, Paul and George. John plays lead and acoustic guitars. Paul is on piano, acoustic guitar and bass. George handles only the rhythm guitar. The brass are performed by session musicians.

9. Honey Pie: The 20s-influenced track features Paul on solo vocal, who also plays the piano. John is on lead guitar while George takes over the bass playing. 15 session musicians add the danceband-type backing.

10. Savoy Truffle (Harrison): This is George's final contribution to the album. George, on lead guitar and organ, sings solo vocal. John also plays some lead guitar. Ringo doubles on drums and tambourine. The recording has a solid brass backing.

11. Cry Baby Cry: John is on solo vocal and plays multi instrument (acoustic guitar, piano and organ) on this track. Ringo in on drums and tambourine while George Martin adds in the harmonium.

12. Can You Take Me Back: This short (27-sec) track links the above song with Revolution 9. The solo vocal is from Paul with backing provided by an acoustic guitar, drums and maraccas.

13. Revolution 9: This is one of John's experimental avant-garde recording. It was created by John and Yoko; it was initially rejected by the other Beatles, but eventully included in the album. To me, it is definitely not music to my ears but just a recording of mixed and edited voices and noises!

14. Good Night: This was written by John especially for Ringo. The 30s style backing is supplied by George Martin and his orchestra with a female choir. Ringo is on solo vocal and no other Beatles are present.

The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour

Magical Mystery Tour

The album was first issued in USA in November 1967. The songs are culled from a UK 6-song double-EP set (soundtrack to the 1-hour television film "Magical Mystery Tour") and 5 cuts from the three singles issued in 1967.

The sound is very much in the vein of "Sgt. Pepper". But unlike "Sgt. Pepper", there's no thematic unity to the materials; therefore, the new album suffers slightly in compariso0n.

But the music is still great, with songs from their singles like "Strawberry Fields Forever", "Penny Lane", "Hello Goodbye" and "All You Need Is Love". And the ballad "The Fool On A Hill" from the film soundtrack is also one of the greatest Beatles songs.

Although this album topped the USA chart, it did not do so well in UK album chart when it was released later (in cassette) in Britain. Sales must have been affected by the results of the "repetitive" double-EP set and the 3 singles released earlier.

All songs composed by Lennon-McCartney except where noted.

The first six songs are from the double-EP set:

1. Magical Mystery Tour: The opening track features Paul on lead vocal and he joins John and George in the backing too. John is on acoustic guitar while Paul doubles on piano. Ringo plays a solid drum beat and adds in tambourine for good measure. This track also featurs three trumpets played by session musicians.

2. The Fool On The Hill: Paul is on solo vocal and he accompanies himself on piano, double-tracked recorder. John is on harmonica and maraccas. George also plays the harmonica and lead guitar in the backing. Ringo has an easy time playing just the finger cymbals. Session musician John Ellory is on flute.

3. Flying (Lennon-McCartney-Harrison-Starkey): This rare instrumental track is the only track issued and composed by all four Beatles. (The only other instrumental track by the Beatles was the Lennon-Harrison 1961 composition Cry For A Shadow in the Beatles' The Early Years album.) On this track, John plays the main theme on a mellotron. Paul and George add in an assortment of guitars. All four Beatles provide the chanting sound heard. Ringo also dubs in the maraccas.

4. Blue Jay Way (Harrison): This is probably one of the Beatles 'forgetable" songs. George is on double-tracked lead vocals, backed mainly by himself on hammond organ and Ringo on drums. George also joins Paul in the backing vocals. This track features phasing (an electronic effect produced by playing two recordings out of synchronisation, to produce a swirling and swishing effect) throughout the track. John plays the the tambourine while a session musician plays the cello. And there are various electronic sounds and backing vocals heard at the end of song.

5. Your Mother Should Know: Paul sings lead vocal and joins John and George for the backing vocals. Paul plays bass and piano; John is on organ, and George plays the tambourine.

6. I Am The Walrus: John is on lead vocal with Paul and George on backing vocals. John is on mellotron while George plays only tambourine. Session musicians provides eight violins, four cellos and three horns. The choir of 6 boys and 6 girls are from the Children of Michael Sammes Singers. Also heard from this intriguing track are various voices, oscillations and discordant sounds from a radio plugged into the recording console.

7. Hello Goodbye: This was released as a single (with I Am The Walrus) 3 weeks prior to the release of double-EP set. This song is also featured in the film. Paul sings lead vocal and joins John and George in the backing vocals. John and George both play the lead guitars. Paul plays the piano, the bongos and conga drum. Ringo is on drums and maraccas. John also plays the organ heard before the Maori-style finale while session musicians adds in the violas that could be heard now and again throughout the track.

8. Strawberry Fields Forever: John is on solo vocal and plays lead guitar and harpsichord on this track, which immortalises forever Strawberry Fields (a Salvation Army orphanagein Liverpool). Paul is on bass, piano, bongos and flute. George plays the lead guitar, too, and handles the timpani. Ringo, as usual, is on drums. Roadie Mal Evans plays the tambourine while session musicians provide alto trumpet, two cellos and two horns.

9. Penny Lane: With this song, the Beatles also immortalise Penny Lane, a bus terminus in Liverpool. Paul's lead vocal is backed up by John in harmony. John, together with George Martin, plays the piano. Beside his normal bass playing, Paul also adds in the string bass and a flute. George is on conga drum and firebell. Session musicians provide the trumpets.

10. Baby You're A Rich Man: Like A Day In The Life, this track is actually two songs joined together as one. John is on lead vocal on the verses and joins Paul and George in the chorus for the Baby You're A Rich Man section. John plays a strange instrument called clavioline and piano. Paul doubles on bass and piano. George plays the tambourine. Ringo plays drums and maraccas.

11. All You Need I Love: The song starts with the French national anthem, Marseillaise. John, on harpschord, is the lead vocalist of this song. The backing vocals are by Paul and Geroge. Paul doubles on bass and string bass. George, apart from lead guitar, also handles violin. George Martin is on piano. Session musicians provide four violins, two cellos, two trumpets, two trombones, two saxphones and one accordian. The chorus in the finale includes friends like Mick Jagger, Keith Richard (both Rolling Stones), Marianne Faithful, Gary Brooker (of Procol Harum), Keith Moon (of The Who), Eric Clapton, etc. At the end of the song, you could hear the word "Yesterday" and John's off-key rendition of "She Loves You". (The song is a "nightmare" for amateur musicians with its 4/4 and 3/4 tempo counts in the verses!)

The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

This is the Beatles' eighth studio album (UK), which was released in June 1967. And it has been regarded by many as the Beatles' finest album and the most influential album of all time.

Recorded over 4 months begining in December 1966, this boundary-pushing album sees the band exploring further the experimentation of their previous album, Revolver.

The album is loosely based on a concept that the Beatles are performing as the ficticious band of the album title. The songs deal particularly with themes of childhood and everyday life.

Despite some of these scintilating songs are actually unrelated, the cohesive transitioning between songs of the album, as well as the use of the two Sgt. Pepper... songs (the opening song & the reprise) as bookends, the album was dubbed by many as the first "concept album". As a result, concept albums by other artistes soon began to appear after this.

The album topped the UK album chart for 27 weeks and won 4 Grammy awards in 1968.

Its album cover, depicting the band posing in front of a collage of famous people, has itself been widely acclaimed and imitated. It is designed by noted British 'pop' artist Peter Blake and his wife, and photographed by Michael Cooper.

All song written by Lennon-McCartney, except Within You, Without You by Harrison:s

1. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band: The rousing opener has Paul in lead vocals, with John and George harmonising on the backing and chorus. Both John and George play lead guitars in the song. George Martin is on organ while a horn quartet is used to fill out the instrumental sections. At the end of the song, there is a sung introduction for "band leader", Billy Shears (Ringo), to perform the next song...

2. With A Little Help From My Friends: This is by far Ringo's best lead vocal performance as a Beatle. John and Paul provide vocal support on the backing and the chorus. Paul also plays the piano while George helps out in tambourine. (This is one of the songs in the album that, to some critics, contains subtle hints on drugs - I get high.. with a little help from my friends.)

3. Lucy In The Sky Of Diamonds: This is another BBC-banned song that had also became the subject of speculation regarding its meaning, as many believed that the song title was a code for L S D, despite John Lennon's denial. Lead vocals are by John with Paul and George joining in on chorus and backing vocals. The introduction music is the hammond organ (which sounds like a harpsicord) played by Paul. John is on lead guitar while George plays sitar.

4. Getting Better: Lead vocals are from Paul, who also joins John for the backing. Both John and George play the lead guitars. George also tries out a new Indian instrument, a tampura, that produces a droning resonant tone. Ringo adds in the bongo while George Martin strikes on the strings of a piano at the end of the song.

5. Fixing A Hole: Paul is on lead vocal again in this up-tempo song. Apart from his normal bass playing, Paul also handles harpsichord and shares lead guitar playing with George. John, who plays maraccas on this track, also supports backing vocal together with George.

6. She's Leaving Home: In Eleonor Rigbty, Paul writes about loneliness. Here, he makes a social statement about a girl running away from home because she she lacks love and attention in her life. Paul sings a double-tracked interwoven lead vocal with John singing here and there. This is the only track on the album where the Beatles do not play any instrument. The only accompanyment is a harp and some violins by session musicians.

7. Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite: John sings the solo lead vocal and plays Hammond organ on this unusual song that depicts a ringmaster of a circus announcing his acts. Paul plays the bass and lead guitar. George, Ringo and two other sessionists play the harmonicas. Producer George Martin adds in Wurlitzer organ to achieve the required sound effect of a fairground.

8. Within You, Without You: This is George Harrison's second attempt in incorporating Indian music in his song. (The first one is Love You To in the Revolver album.) In this more than 5-minute long song, George merges an assortment of Indian instrument (like tabla, tambouras, etc) with eight violins and three cellos. George, in lead solo vocal, is the only Beatle present during the recording. Despite the innovation, I do not like the song as singing in English with Indian music in the background, to me, just could not gel.

9. When I'm Sixty-Four: Lead vocal is from Paul with a 3-part harmony backing from John, Paul and George. Paul plays the piano too. John takes over from George in lead guitar. The sound of the clarinets and bass clarinet is played by session musicians.

10. Lovely Rita: Paul is on lead vocal again, while the backing vocals are done by John, Paul and George. Both John and George play the acoustic guitars. Paul plays bass and piano while George Martin plays a honky tonk piano interlude during the instrumental break.

11. Good Morning, Good Morning: A lively track with plenty of sound effects (cock crowing, dog barking, etc.) and some solid brass played by Sounds Incorporated (a group of Liverpool musicians). The lead vocal is by John, and he is joined by Paul for the chorus. Paul doubles on bass and has a lead guitar solo.

12. Sgt.Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise): John, Paul and George sing lead vocals for this short second version of the title track. Unlike the opening track, there are no horns here. The song fades out to the sound of the acoustic guitar and piano of the last song (climax) of the album...

13. A Day In The Life: This is one of the Beatles' best and controversial songs. The verses sung by John and the chorus sung by Paul are actually two sections that happen to fit, cleverly incorporated and assisted by a 41-piece orchestra. Additional instrumentaions are by George on bongos, Ringo on maraccas and George Martin on harmonium and the Beatles all striking on the pianos at the end of the song.

The Beatles - Revolver

Revolver

Released in August 1966, the seventh album (UK) of the Beatles was often regarded as one of their greatest studio achievements. It contains 14 brilliant and unimpeachable tracks.

With its innovative new sounds on guitars and other instrument, sound effects, new production techniques, this album further cemented the Beatles' reputation as the greatest band of the world.

The album, with its many changes in moods, diversifies with songs like the child-like sing-along Yellow Submarine, a string-driven lament in Eleanor Rigby, a sarcasic social comment on Taxman, the brassy Got To Get You Into My life, etc.

The Beatles played their last full concert three weeks after the release of Revolver. But they did not perform any song from this album because many of the tracks here were too complex for live performance.

The phychedelic cover illustration, part line drawing and part collage, was created by Klaus Voormann, whom the Beatles knew from their Hamburg days.

The album topped the UK album chart for 7 weeks.

All songs composed by Lennon-McCartney, except where noted:

1. Taxman (Harrison): For the first time in a Beatles album, George is the lead vocalist for the starting song. John and Paul provide the backing and harmony vocals. George plays a stong attacking guitar riff, as if in taking a swipe at the taxman. John plays tamborine only on this track.

2. Eleanor Rigby: This McCartney composition (a double A-side single with Yellow Submarine) has become another of the Beatles' classic. Like Yesterday on the Help! album, the song features only Paul who double-track in part to produce his own harmonies. John, George and Ringo were not present. All the backing music is played by a string octet (four violins, two violas and two cellos).

3. I'm Only Sleeping: John plays acoustic guitar and sings lead vocal in this track, with Paul and George on backing vocals. The strange guitar sound is George's over-dubbed, backward lead guitar.

4. Love You To (Harrison): George sings and plays the sitar on his first Indian flavoured composition. he also enslised the help of Anil Bhagwat to play the tablas and session musicians to play other Indian instrument. None of the other Beatles were present.

5. Here, There and Everywhere: This gentle ballad features Paul on multi-tracked vocals. The wordless backing vocals are from John, Paul and George.

6. Yellow Submarine: This is one of the Beatles' most famous sing-along songs, with an catchy chorus. The lead vocal comes from Ringo, with John, Paul and George joining in on chorus. Both John and Paul play the acoustic guitars, while George handles only the tambourine. Some of the sound effects include blowing bubbles, a brass band, engine room noises and shouted orders. The final chorus makes use of all the people at the recording - the 4 Beatles, George Martin, Patti (Harrison's wife), roadies Mal Evans etc.

7. She Said, She Said: One of the Beatles' forgetable songs. John is on double-tracked solo vocal and plays acoustic guitar.

8. Good Day Sunshine: Paul is one lead vocal with harmonies from John. George Martin plays some honky-tonk New Orleans style piano break. The intersting recording features two separate drum beats (by Ringo), one on each channel of the stereo.

9. And Your Bird Can Sing: Lead vocal is from John, with Paul harmonising in parts. The track features a very promient lead guitar riff from George. Ringo also dubs in the tambourine.

10. For No One: A plesant track that feature a solo vocal from Paul, who also plays a bouncy piano. Ringo plays drum and tambourine. John and George were not present for the recording.

The horn is played by sessionist Alan Civil.

11. Dr. Robert: The lead vocals are from John with harmonies in part from Paul. John plays harmonium and maraccas.

12. I Want To Tell You (Harrison): Lead vocals are from George, with John and Paul harmonise here and there. John plays the tambourine and Paul dubs in the piano. It is definitely not one of George's better songs.

13. Got To Get You Into My Life: This track features a solo vocal from Paul with a good solid strong brass backing from a group of sessionists. John shakes the tambourine and George Martin plays the organ.

14. Tomorrow Never Knows: This is one of the first song in the emerging genre of psychedelic music. The drone-like repetitive drum beats with a collage of sound effects made up of reversed guitar, tape loops etc. have this weird hypnotic effect to the listener. John's vocal sounds like he is singing through a megaphone. George is on sitar and lead guitar. The weird song might be innovative but is not one of my favourite Beatles songs!

The Beatles - Rubber Soul

Rubber Soul

This is the sixth UK studio album by the Beatles who began to develop a new musical vision. They moved from the instant Merseybeat sound (as in their first five albums) towards the second stage of their recording career.

The album, often cited as one of the greatest albums in pop music history, contains some of their mid-60s classics like Drive My Car, Norwegian Wood, Nowhere Man, Michelle, etc.

It was after the release of this album (December 1965) that the Beatles decided to give up live performances and concentrate solely on making records.

On this commercially successful and critically acclaimed album, the Beatles tried out new instrument like the sitar in Norwegian Wood and fuzz bass guitar in Think For Yourself.

The album topped the UK chart for 8 weeks on release, replacing its previous album, Help, and remained in the British chart for a 42-week run.

All songs are composed by Lennon-McCartney, excepted where noted:

1. Drive My Car: The lead vocals are from Paul and John, with George doing the backing vocal here and there. George plays some nice guitar riffs on the intro and during the instrumental break. Paul also dubs in the piano while John handles only the tambourine.

2. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown): George plays the sitar for the first time for this classic track. John, on acoustic guitar, sings lead with additional vocals in places from Paul.

Ringo has an easy task of just playing the tambourine at the last two verses of the song.

3. You Won't See Me: Paul is in lead vocals with John and George helping out in harmony for chorus and backing. Again, John plays only the tambourine on this track. The piano is played by Paul while sessionist Mal Evans is on Hammond organ.

4. Nowhere Man: John, Paul and George harmonise for the a capella intro. Paul and George add in backing harmonies when John sing is singing lead vocal. Lyrically, the song jettisons romance entirely, which is a rarity for the group until then.

5. Think For Yourself (Harrison): The first George Harrison's track on the album has him on lead vocal with John and Paul harmonising in places. Paul tries out the then newly invented fuzz bass guitar. John plays the electric piano and the tambourine while Ringo adds in the maraccas.

6. The Word: John, Paul and George harmonise on this track; but John takes on more lead vocals. George Martin plays harmonium and Paul joins in on the piano. Ringo also adds in the maraccas.

7. Michelle: This Beatles all-time standard and one of my favourite songs has Paul singing beautifully in lead vocal, with John and George backing in close harmony. Both John and George play the acoustic guitars. This is the first time that the Beatles adds in some French in their album.

8. What Goes On (Lennon-McCartney-Starkey): Ringo takes over the lead vocal in this rockabilly song co-written by John, Paul and Ringo. John and Paul harmonise for the chorus while George plays some country western style guitar.

9. Girl: John sings a pleading lead vocal while Paul and George provide the backing vocals. John is on acoustic guitar while George plays the sitar for the second time on this deceptively simple track.

10. I'm Looking Through You: Paul in on lead vocal with John in harmony. John is on acousic guitar while George adds in the tambourine.

11. In My Life: A beautifully nostalgical song by John who recalls people and places in his life. Paul harmonises in places while George Martin plays the piano in the instrumental break.

12. Wait: The weakest song in the album with John and Paul in lead vocal duet. John plays the a distinct tambourine while Ringo adds in the maraccas.

13. If I Needed Someone (Harrison): The second (and much better) Harrison song on the album with George on lead vocal, while John and Paul sing the backing vocals. John is on tambourine only while George Martin adds in the harmonium.

14. Run For Your Life: John sings lead vocal with backing vocals from Paul and George. John plays acoustic guitar while George Martin handles the tambourine (which appears on nine tracks(!) on this album).

The Beatles - Help!

Help!

This is the Beatles' fifth UK album and also the sound track from their second film. The album, issued in August 1965, contains seven of the eight songs featured in the film. The eighth song, She's A Woman, is not included on album.

John and Paul wrote 10 new songs for the album while George, who began to show his songwriting talent, contributed two songs. There are two covers (which would be the last non-Beatles written songs that they recorded) in this album too.

The album again topped the UK chart for 9 weeks beginning August.

With Help! the Beatles began to sound more mature and progress away from the simple three guitars and drum format towards a more complex sound, particularly with Paul's Yesterday which features a string quartet.

As with the previous two albums, Robert Freeman was the photographer hired for the cover shot. In the studio, the boys were supposed to spell out the semaphore (without the flag!) for HELP. But the result was far from aesthetically pleasing. So Robert decided to improvise and ended up with the best possible graphic positions of the arms, which spelt out a nonsense word: NUJV!

The first seven songs below are featured in the movie:

1. Help! (Lennon-McCartney): John again leads the way with the title track on lead vocal with Paul and George singing on chorus and (one of Beatles' best) backing. John is on acoustic guitar and Ringo adds in the tambourine in the chorus.

2. The Night Before (Lennon-McCartney): Paul is on double-tracked lead vocals with backing from John and George. John plays the electric piano while again Ringo shakes the maraccas to accentuate the chorus.

3. You've Got to Hide Your Love Away (Lennon-McCartney): A Dylan-influenced folksy song with John on solo vocal. Three Beatles are on acoustic guitar with Ringo keeps beat with tambourine and maraccas. Sessionist John Scott plays the flute at the end of the song.

4. I Need You (Harrison): This is George's composition since Don't Bother Me (from the second album With The Beatles). George is on double-tracked lead vocal, with backing vocals and harmony from John and Paul. John plays acoustic guitar on this track. The eerie guitar sound is played by George using the volume/tone control pedal technique. Surprisingly, there is no instrumental break for this song.

5. Another Girl (Lennon-McCartney): Paul is on lead vocals in this syncopated-beat song with John and George harmonising in parts and on the chorus. John is on acoustic guitar. Paul, apart from playing the bass, also doubles in lead guitar (his first time on a Beatles' album).

6. You're Going To Lose That Girl (Lennon-McCartney): John again sings perfectly well with his nasal (and falsetto) lead vocals. Paul and George supply an interesting backing and also sing on chorus. John is on acoustic guitar again and Ringo adds in the bongos.

7. Ticket To Ride (Lennon-McCartney): This hit single features John on lead vocal with Paul harmonising in parts. Paul again plays some lead guitar in this song. John also adds on some tambourine playing.

8. Act Naturally (Morrison-Russell): Drummer Ringo is the lead vocalist of this song. Paul helps out with some harmony vocals, while John and George play the country and western and rockabilly guitars in the backing. (Act Naturally, written by Johnny Morrison and Voni Russel, was first recorded and a No. 1 country hit song by Buck Owens and Buckaloos in 1963.)

9. It's Only Love (Lennon-McCartney): John, who plays acoustic guitar, sings lead solo vocal in this ballad. George plays a quavering lead guitar while John adds on the tambourine in parts.

10. You Like Me Too Much (Harrison): On this second composition by George in this album, he provides the lead vocal with harmonies from Paul on the chorus. The Steinway piano introduction is played by George Martin and Paul. John is on acoustic guitar and he also plays electric piano in the backing, the instrumental break and ending of the song. Ringo is on drums and tambourine.

11. Tell Me What You See (Lennon-McCartney): The song features a duet by John and Paul, with Paul singing solo in parts. Paul also plays the electric piano in the backing. George dubs in the tambourine while Ringo aslo adds in the claves.

12. I've Just Seen A Face (Lennon-McCartney): Another Dylan-influenced song with lead and harmonised vocals from Paul. Three Beatles plays acoustic guitars with Ringo doubles on drum and maraccas.

13. Yesterday (Lennon-McCartney): This is Paul's most famous song and the best track on the album. For the first time, the other three Beatles were not on this recording. On this Paul solo song, he plays the acoustic guitar and is backed by a string quartet.

14. Dizzy Miss Lizzy (Williams): This Larry Williams song was one of the Beatles' Cavern Club standards. John, who plays the Hammond organ this time, is at his vocal best in this rock 'n' roll classic.

The Beatles - Beatles For Sale

Beatles For Sale

The Beatles' fourth album was released in December 1964, five months after the success of A Hard Day's Night (both the movie and album). For this album, John and Paul wrote eight new songs and added a further six songs from the vast repertoire of materials which they had been performing. Once again, there were no singles released from this album.

Despite the obvious exhaustion from just coming back from their US second major tour, The Beatles began work on this album during August to October. In spite of the strain which shows through on a couple of tracks, this album contains some of their classics, such as Rock And Roll Music, No Reply, Mr Moonlight, Eight Days A Week, etc.

Generally considered as the Beatles' weakest and cover-heavy album, it still topped the US chart for 11 weeks upon release.

(The cover of the album featuring the notoriously exhausted-looking unsmiling Beatles was again shot by photographer Robert Freeman in London's Hyde Park.)

1. No Reply (Lennon-McCartney): Together with I'm A Loser and Baby's In Black, this track depicts a love-lost "trilogy". John is in double-tracked lead vocals, with Paul harmonsies here and there and George joining them for the chorus. John plays acoustic guitar in this track.

2. I'm A Loser (Lennon-McCartney): John sings lead again with Paul harmonises in parts and chorus. John uses many of Bob Dylan's fixations and nuances (e.g. the harmonica playing style). John in on acoustic guitar and Ringo also doubles on tambourine in this track.

3. Baby's In Black (Lennon-McCartney): Lead vocals on this track are a duet between John and Paul. John in on acoustic guitar and Ringo on drums and tambourine again.

4. Rock And Roll Music (Berry): John's power rendition on this Chuck Berry standard makes a far better job than Berry ever did. John also joins George Martin (the producer) and Paul on pianos for the backing. George is on acoustic guitar too on this classic track.

5. I'll Follow The Sun (Lennon-McCartney): A pleasant and relaxing song from Paul in double-tracked lead vocals. John harmonises in places. Both John and Paul play the acoustic guitars. George appears briefly in the instrumental break while Ringo taps gently on the bongos.

6. Mr Moonlight (Johnson): John's screaming opening on this Roy Lee Johnson's obscure song is one of John's best lead vocal moments. Paul harmonises in places and does a Hammond organ solo in the instrumental break. John is on acoustic guitar with George on lead guitar and supplies that hollow "thump" sound on an ancient African drum. Ringo taps on a set of bongos.

7. Kansas City (Leiber-Stoller)/Hey Hey Hey Hey (Penniman): A bouncy medley with Paul on lead vocal. John and George do the backing on the second part of the song. George Martin is on piano. (Kansas City, a rhythm 'n' blue song, written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, has been recorded by numerous artistes while Hey Hey Hey Hey is written by Little Richard [Penniman] who usually performed this song as medley with Kansas City, too.)

8. Eight Days A Week (Lennon-McCartney): This Beatles' favourite has John in double-tracked vocals. He also supplies his own harmonies for this song. Paul harmonies in parts.

9. Words Of Love (Holly): John and Paul close harmony on this Buddy Holly song is the best

example of how perfectly they blended their voices. The hand-clapping sound on the backing is Ringo playing a packing case.

10. Honey Don't (Perkins): On this Ringo's usual one track per album opportunity, he breezes through this old Carl Perkins rockabilly classic with his own sing-along style that suited his voices well. John is on acoustic guitar and tambourine.

11. Every Little Thing (Lennon-McCartney): John and Paul are in close harmony on this track. John is on acoustic guitar, Paul doubles on bass and piano. George plays some pleasant country and western guitar while Ringo includes a timpani drum.

12. I Don't Want To Spoil The Party (Lennon-McCartney): John and Paul again harmonise on lead vocals. John is on on acoustic guitar while Ringo adds in the tambourine.

13. What You're Doing (Lennon-McCartney): One of the Beatles least known songs. The lead vocal is from Paul with John on backing vocal. John is on acoustic guitar while George Martin adds in the piano.

14. Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby (Perkins): The second Carl Perkins song to be included on this album, features George on solo vocal and country and western guitar playing. John again plays acoustic guitar and on tambourine.

The Beatles - A Hard Day's Night

A Hard Day's Night

The soundtrack album from The Beatles' first movie, A Hard Day's Night, features 13 entirely new Lennon-McCartney compositions. The Beatles, for the first time, did not sing any covers on their album.

Although the songs are credited to Lennon-McCartney, all except three are actually by John. However, Paul's 3 songs - And I Love Her, Can't Buy Me Love and Things We Said Today proves that quality is more than a match for quantity.

Three months before the release of this album in July 1964 (during the height of Beatlemania), Can't Buy Me Love/You Can't Do That was issued as a single. And upon the release of the album, the title track with Things We Said Today was also issued as a single. Both, of course, were transatlantic number 1 singles for the band.

The album topped the UK chart for 21 weeks upon release.

1. A Hard Day's Night: From the distinct and easily recognisable opening clang of George's 12-string Rickenbacker, the opening track shows typical Beatles' originality. As the chord fades, John double-tracks the lead vocals with Paul harmonising in parts and also singing lead vocal in the chorus (When I'm home.....). George's guitar sounds like a harpsichord in the instrumental break and at the ending of this hit single.

2. I Should Have Known Better: John's harmonica is heard distinctly in this popular song. It also features John on lead vocals in a double-track solo and on acoustic guitar. Paul, George and Ringo provide their normal bass, lead guitar and drums, respectively, at the instrumental backing.

3. If I Fell: This up-tempo ballad opens with a solo vocal from John (on acoustic guitar) in the first verse. He is then joined by Paul in a duet for the rest of the song.

4. I'm Happy Just To Dance With You: George sings the lead vocals for this song, with John and Paul provide the 'oh-oh' backing. Ringo is on drum and loose-skinned Arabian bongo (that produces a hollow thumping sound that you heard on the track).

5. And I Love Her: This ballad from Paul has become an international standard and one of the Beatles classics. Three Beatles play the acoustic guitars with Ringo on Bongos. It also features a memorable guitar solo by George, who also dubs in the claves accompaniment.

6. Tell Me Why: The vocals are an interesting three-part harmony between John and Paul, with double-tracked vocals from John and Paul harmonising.

7. Can't Buy Me Love: This hit single features a double-tracked solo vocals from Paul. It also has an double-tracked guitar during the instrumental break.

8. Any Time At All: A breezy song featuring the solo vocal from John. It also includes a guitar/piano duet between George and Paul. This song and the following 5 tracks are not featured in the film A Hard Day's Night.

9. I'll Cry Instead: This country and western tinged song features a lead vocal from John with George playing some neat rockabilly guitar. John plays acoustic guitar and dubs in the tambourine.

10. Things We Said Today: In this up-beat ballad, Paul double-tracks the lead vocals with John harmonising in places. John again plays the acoustic guitar and adds in the tambourine at the end of the song.

11. When I Get Home: John sings lead vocals with Paul harmonising in parts. This is one of the Beatles' forgettable songs.

12. You Can't Do That: John shouts out the lyrics in lead vocal, with Paul and George harmonising on the chorus. Ringo plays out a metallic beat on a cowbell and bongos are added for good measure. George is on 12-string lead guitar.

13. I'll Be Back: The last song is an up-tempo ballad featuring a double-tracked lead vocal from John, with Paul harmonising in parts. John, Paul and George are all on acoustic guitars.