Music Notes: The Beatles, With the Beatles
December 1st, 2006
The Beatles’ second disc, sporting a now-iconic black and white cover, heads half-lit and shaded, is musically similar to Please Please Me, but with a sharper, darker edge, and a balance of covers and Lennon / McCartney originals.
It Won’t Be Long
= 5 stars
Adore the guitar hooks, similar to I Want To Hold Your Hand but darker and more aggressive; love bordering on lust. Cute wordplay of “be long” and “belong,” finished off with a high falsetto note.
All I’ve Got To Do
= 4 stars
The longing verses move from sad wailing to happy resolution as the whole band joins in. Later, John’s lonely, solo voice finds emotional support when backed by group vocals. This musical interplay is echoed in the lyrics.
All My Loving
= 5 stars
A driving rhythm, relentless guitar strumming, and the sweeping arc of a classic McCartney melody. Add a contrasting middle section and a note perfect guitar solo. This “upbeat McCartney” style has a direct descendant in Can’t Buy Me Love.
Don’t Bother Me
= 2 stars
George contributes this “meh” number featuring major / minor noodling and a wailing middle. Supposedly the first song George ever wrote; sounds like it.
Little Child
= 2 stars
Return of the wailing harmonica. Dislike the somewhat perverse subject matter and the mocking tone of the phrase “I’m so sad and lonely”.
Till There Was You
= 5 stars
Easy to pass off as a throwaway cover from a musical (The Music Man), a perfect example of Paul’s stagey, melodramatic side that would soon inform his own songwriting. Even with the goofy pronunciation he’s remarkably (and appropriately) restrained. Love the note perfect, melodic guitar solo.
Please Mister Postman
= 4 stars
Originally done by a girl group (The Marvelettes), the strategy of John as lead singer with Paul and George on backup vocals sell it.
Roll Over Beethoven
= 4 stars
George couldn’t yet write songs, but this cover with a note-perfect guitar solo makes up for it.
Hold Me Tight
= 3 stars
Great verse but awkward middle, particularly the lead-in back to the verse which is merely a repeat of an earlier part.
You Really Got A Hold On Me
= 3 stars
John’s delivery is witheringly lustful, resembling more a complaint than a love song.
I Wanna Be Your Man
= 2 stars
Once offered to the Rolling Stones, Ringo sings this number which comes off as a lesser Twist and Shout.
Devil In Her Heart
= 3 stars
Reminiscent of Do You Want To Know A Secret, George’s lead is nearly overpowered by John and Paul’s background vocals.
Not A Second Time
= 4 stars
The melody shifting over major and minor chords has an odd yet addictive Asian influence, more than making up for a simplistic piano solo.
Money (That’s What I Want)
= 4 stars
Sarcasm and irony, as The Beatles were now rolling in it.
Wikipedia: With The Beatles
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Previous Album: Please Please Me
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Can’t wait to see what song(s) garner a 1-star rating (Honey Pie?).
This is a great album, though my least fave songs on it are Til There Was You and Money. I’d probably rate Little Child a little higher (maybe 3 stars). The song has some awkward bits, but the mocking tone you dislike is what I love about it (go figure). That tone is a precursor to such biting tunes as Hey Bulldog that come later.
All I’ve Got to Do is probably my favorite track.
Of the covers, I’m partial to John’s Postman and You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me.
Heh… yeah just wait until some of the other albums. There are some 1 star songs for sure.
The early stuff is kind of hard for me to rate because of the benefit of hindsight – some of my favorite stuff is still to come.
BTW Sang commented on the Please Please Me album review.
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