Beatles For Sale
by The Beatles

The Beatles fourth album is a step back to the combination of originals and covers. Of the originals, the cover of the album, that lovely shot by Robert Freeman, betrays the mood of the songs. There's a kind of autumnal melancholy about them. The first track, no reply, is one of the Beatles best, and one of the greatest openers on any of their albums. Other strong songs from Lennon-McCartney are, the Dylanish, I'm a loser, every little thing, and the U.S. no:1 single, eight days a week. As for the covers, rock and roll music, the boys take on Chuck Berry's all time classic, is my favourite of all the covers the Beatles did. Kansas city is also good, as is George's vocal spot, everybody's trying to be my baby. Not so good is, Mr moonlight, which features an absolutely appalling organ solo from Paul. Buddy Holly's words of love, is a bit forgetful too. One point I'd like to make is that I feel this album is underrated in the fact that this is arguably the first folk/rock record, alright it's not lyrically important, but it's a predominantly acoustic album, featuring folk, country, and rock'n'roll, four months before Bob Dylan released his magnificent, bringing it all back home, masterpiece. I'm certainly not comparing this record with Dylan's, no, it's more an observation really, less a claim, but I think it's an interesting point. The album though is still definitely one of the band's least essential, but it is a Beatles album, so it's still well worth having for the casual fan. For us fanatics, well, it's essential. (Edited)

It has often been said that The Beatles on this album appear tired, and somewhat uninspirered. If this was so it would not be unnatural, after within two years having recorded four albums and several singles, almost constant touring and with all the buzz around their enormous popularity.

The album title and the bandmembers' own slightly weary attitudes seem to support this theory. However, I will choose to focus on the music which in no way seems tired to me.

The group has in this album perfected their well-known expression, and their own songs are stronger than ever. You could object and say that several of the six cover songs might not be among the most interesting Beatles recordings; and I would not completely disagree.

Like on the later "Rubber Soul" several numbers are characterized by the acoustic guitar, which gives them a crisp but also a soft sound, on a few songs almost folkish.

The great sound and production are also help to demonstrate the group's lush harmonies and their individual vocally strengths.

John Lennon was at this point the group's undisputed vocal center - with Paul and George predominantly as harmonies. A quick review shows that Lennon's takes the lead vocals on "No Reply," "I'm a Loser," "Rock and Roll Music", "Mr Moonlight", "Eight Days a Week," "Every Little Thing" and "I Don't Want to spoil the Party ". On the duets "Baby's in Black" and "Words of Love" it is Lennon you hear most clearly, and even on McCartney's "I'll Follow the Sun" he sings the first verse lines.

There was certainly good reason to leave Lennon lead-vocals. His voice was incredibly powerful these years, and his interpretations of rock and roll songs like "Rock and Roll Music" is nothing less than overwhelming.

McCartney sings "Kansas City", and actually does it almost equally; that track as such does not work as well as the aforementioned is another matter. On the Beatles originals McCartney actually only has lead-vocals on "I'll Follow the Sun" and "What You're Doing". Ringo and George each sing a Carl Perkins number, a thing of which George clearly comes out best.

For me, the album's highlights are many, but especially the two delicate acoustics "No Reply" and "Every Little Thing", are tracks you never grow tired of. McCartney's "I'll Follow the Sun" and "What You're Doing" are almost as good. "Eight Days Week" is a classic that could have been a chart topper, but which was hidden on the back of the stunning "Rock and Roll Music". "I'm a Loser" can almost be regarded as a precursor to the "Help" and "Baby's Black" and "I Don't Want to Spoil the Party" are just good numbers. Among the cover versions, besides "Rock and Roll Music," "Words of Love" comes out the best (it actually sounds like a Beatles' song). "Mr Moonlight", "Kansas City", "Honey Don't" and "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby" are solid recordings but numbers you could have done without if necessary. (Edited)

From madsnyland 10/11/2017 20:10 | #199389 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Often seen as a minor step back from A Hard Day's Night as this album has a lot of cover songs dew to the fact that The Beatles were under a lot of stress and a crazy time table for creating new albums. However the Lennon/McCartney songs on this album are some of the best ones yet to have been released. Just look at the first treo of songs. No Reply, I'm A Loser and Baby's in Black as well as Eight Day's a Week and Every Little Thing. Amazing stuff!! (Edited)

A fantastic album in its own right, sometimes it is best to consider the Beatles work independently instead of the inevitable comparisons - sure it is not Abbey Road, but it is worth listening to on its own merits. (Edited)

People are really harsh on this one...I love all Beatles albums but this one is honestly my favorite. It marks their transition from boy band-type pop to progressive psychedelia type stuff so well, both of which I love pretty much equally. I don't think it's a step backwards or misstep just because the previous record had no covers and this one does. Some of my favorite Beatles tracks are here: I'll Follow the Sun, No Reply, I'm a Loser...and What You're Doing has one of my favorite guitar riffs ever.

I hope the reputation of this one skyrockets one day.