I'd say 78: red + blue + the three Top 10 hits from the 90s - the other two Top 40 hits don't really feel like they belong in their canon.

Red + Blue + any other charting songs in the top 40 sounds fair and comprehensive to me.

Difficult, though I suppose cannon fodder like My Bonnie and Baby It's You gives the rest a chance to shine. Then again...the new additions to the Red & Blue albums are bizarre in some cases, and I speak as someone who played You Can't Do That a lot as a kid as a B side. Stuff like The Night Before, You're Going To Lose That Girl from Help! Big tunes to anyone who saw the movie aren't there. Good day Sunshine, You Won't See Me, Rain (I mean really? Rain is missing!) For The Benefit Of Mr Kite, Helter Skelter, Good Night, The Two Of Us, Golden Slumbers are all better than lesser tracks (to me) like Octopus' Garden, Old Brown Shoe, I Me Mine, Glass Onion, You Really Got A Hold On Me, Roll Over Beethoven...

 

Of course you can't please everyone.... :lol:

The remastered Red and Blue albums are amazing. The remixes make so many great songs sound even better.

I've added the vinyl editions to my basket on the Beatles' official store. I keep going back and telling myself that £140 is too much for these.

 

I need someone to talk me out of it as I keep hovering over the pay now button :lol:

Will they be cheaper in the winter sales do you think!?

Part of me thinks not but very difficult to know

I console myself with my original vinyl versions which didnt cost £140 - they were my main xmas present from mum and dad for 1975 (blue) and then 1976 (red) when they were twice the price of a normal new album :o

 

I must admit I want to hear the new versions with the extra tracks so I might download a couple of tracks and see how I feel about how they sound vs my previous remastered cd versions of the studio albums and 1.

 

Beatles stuff, though, does not go down in value in the long run, so you might see it as investment....I can't cos once I buy something collectible I'd rather keep it than sell it for money :lol: The first 80's Beatles CD albums though, are not something I view as collectible at all - not as good as the vinyl originals, plastic packaging and sound that is inferior to the remastered versions and I usually just slip the disc in the new packaging with the remastered cd (as a spare - I'm still finding 80's/90's cd's going brown and unplayable after reacting with the inks of the packaging, CBS product is the worst) and I dump the plastic cover to save storage room. :o :lol:

I have a theory that Beatles stuff will decrease in value… if only because I believe it’s not as desirable to as many of each new generation. Not saying it won’t still be popular with some but I don’t think the demand will be anywhere near as high.

I prefer Red over Blue.

I prefer Red over Blue.

 

 

Me too but Blue always outsells red.

I have a theory that Beatles stuff will decrease in value… if only because I believe it’s not as desirable to as many of each new generation. Not saying it won’t still be popular with some but I don’t think the demand will be anywhere near as high.

 

Well Thats true to an extent - but The Beatles aren't a normal pop act. They havent existed for 54 years nearly (despite the 3 special singles), and like Elvis, dead for 46 years, there's still a collectibles market. From a cultural point of view alone it's impossible to think of the 60's without The Fabs being a central part of that era. I guess it will depend on whether future centuries continue to rate them as the greatest pop/rock act of all time, in the way that popular composer Beethoven still is, or whether some newcomer will come along and revolutionise popular music in astounding ways - and I"m not seeing anyone having done that since the 70's, mostly it's variations on a theme and sub genres of old genres. Drake might hold some chart records (thanks to album tracks counting as "hits") but I feel fairly comfortable in predicting he won't be selling vinyl records in 100 years time. he can barely sell them now :lol:

 

Vinyl albums are very sexy, though.....! :lol: £140 is a lot of cash, then again, and I'm probably not buying them myself, but good luck deciding! :)

With The Beatles

 

It's 60 years ago yesterday that the Beatles' second album was released. Unlike the first album, no previous singles were included so there are fourteen tracks for me to review.

 

It Won't Be Long - I've listened to the album a few times and this opening track has been stuck in my head with the repetition of the song's title followed by some "yeah yeah"s. Sung by John Lennon, it's a solid start to the album. I like the word 'belong' being used in the chorus as well as 'be long'.

 

All I've Got To Do - Things slow down a bit for the second track, also sung by John, who puts in a fine vocal. The most noteworthy thing about this one is that it comes to a halt a few times.

 

All My Loving - Although this wasn't a single, I knew it quite well already. I would say it's the highlight of the album. Sung by Paul McCartney, there's a memorable melody to it and some great guitar work.

 

Don't Bother Me - This is the first George Harrison song to appear on a Beatles album and he sings it as well. He wrote it while being confined to his hotel room with sickness and having nothing else to do. It's a reasonable writing debut but not one of the album's highlights.

 

Little Child - There are no guitars on this one which clocks in at under two minutes apart from the bass maybe in the background. Instead we have the harmonica and piano driving the rhythm effectively, this is quite good.

 

Till There Was You - The first cover now, this was written by Meredith Wilson for the 1957 musical 'The Music Man'. It's sung very well by Paul, accompanied by acoustic guitars and bongo drums.

 

Please Mr Postman - A cover of the Marvelettes' American number 1 from 1961 though I'm more familiar with The Carpenters' 1974 version. John sings a raspy lead vocal backed by Paul and George, it's a good version of the song.

 

Roll Over Beethoven - Another cover starts side 2, this time it's the Chuck Berry song from 1956. It's a showcase for George who sings the lead as well as playing the guitar solo. This pales in comparison to the definitive version by ELO which was a top 10 single ten years later.

 

Hold Me Tight - This is a reject from the debut album and perhaps they should have consigned it to the bin, it's pretty dreadful and both Paul (who wrote most of it) and John have said since that they don't like it.

 

You've Really Got A Hold On Me - This is just as bad, George and John seem to be out of tune. It sounds like a singalong from two drunk men in a pub. The original version was by The Miracles in 1962.

 

I Wanna Be Your Man - John and Paul gave this song to the Rolling Stones and it was their second single, reaching number 12, but they've still recorded their own version with Ringo on lead vocal. It's a straightforward two minute rocker and an improvement on the last two tracks.

 

Devil In Her Heart - Another cover now, this time a song by The Donays which wasn't a hit. It's sung by George so the vocals are certainly being shared around on this album. It was OK but another track I would regard as just filler.

 

Not A Second Time - With John on vocals, this is one of the better tracks. There's just drums and piano, I can't detect any guitars.

 

Money (That's What I Want) - This song was first recorded by Barrett Strong in 1959 but I know the Flying Lizards cover from 1979 the best. The Beatles' version is a rousing finish to the album in the same vein that Twist And Shout ended the first one.

 

Overall, this is another good album from the early stages of the group but I think there will be much better to come. You can tell that there was more time spent on it with more recording sessions and takes than the debut album.

Haven’t made a final decision on the track list for the rate yet but thinking to have 2 semis with 40+ songs each and a final with 50 songs.

 

I’m thinking to do a listen-through in our usual chart forum listening slot from 4pm on Sunday 7 January. The #3 sessions would commence the following week. :)

This Boy (B side of I Want To Hold Your Hand)

 

There's a fairly straightforward guitar arrangement running through this song with unobtrusive bass and drums. That all means that the vocals are to the fore and very good they are too with some great harmonies from John, Paul and George. I think this is the best B side so far.

 

@1845814503197348117

 

Looking forward to this :cheer:

 

I don’t have Disney+ but can piggyback on my brother’s subscription like he does with my Netflix :teresa:

Yes, def will give this a watch, finished my listen through of all the Beatles albums in June btw and it was quite the ride which took 4 years.

 

Anyone any ideas on the next classic 60s band I should start with the discography?