Beatles ‘65
BeatleSongs has nothing to offer on this album, as it follows the U.K. releases. The same holds true for Tell Me Why. This album collects some songs from the U.K. Parlaphone release Beatles For Sale, as well as a few “stray” tracks. Here we are provided an example of just how different the U.S. and U.K. markets were at the time, and how musicians were treated.
Side One
Side one
“No Reply”
“I’m a Loser”
“Baby’s in Black”
“Rock and Roll Music”
“I’ll Follow the Sun”
“Mr. Moonlight”
Side two
“Honey Don’t”
“I’ll Be Back”
“She’s a Woman”
“I Feel Fine”
“Everybody’s Trying to Be My Baby”
Interestingly, the album contains two covers of Carl Perkins tunes. This wasn’t necessarily by design, especially on the part of the group as this was a compilation on the part of the record label.
This was one of the first Beatles albums I purchased, and as a matter of fact, was one of the first albums I purchased for myself as well as a teenager. I picked it up new in the early 80s (I don’t remember when, exactly) and during my record collecting days never got around to replacing it with an original copy, like I did with so many other Beatles albums.
One of my favorite Beatles songs is on this album – “I Feel Fine” and the more I listen to it, the more and more I enjoy it. Interestingly, I always just liked the sound of it, and as I got older, I began to understand how important that song is, providing the first use of feedback on a popular recording. Yes, I’m sure you can find feedback on something released earlier, some old Blues record or such, but this was a wide release studio recording. Yes, it was a “happy accident” but left in and it helped to subtly change the face of rock and roll.
A lot of downbeat songs on this album. I wonder what Captiol executives were thinking. “No Reply” “I’ll Follow The Sun” “Baby’s In Black” “I’m A Loser” especially are not happy songs.
I know this isn’t necessarily “canon” especially after the revision of aligning everything to the original U.K. releases, but I have always been partial to this record. Beatles ’65 presents a solid mix of originals and covers showcasing the group’s roots, plus a hint of what was to come in the next phase of their career with Revolver and Rubber Soul. Whenever I’ve been in the mood for some Beatles, but wasn’t sure which era I wanted to listen to (early rocking, experimental middle or big rock band end) I would place this album on and it would satiate my needs.