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11.40pm
19 April 2010
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I wish Beatles For Sale was the best album I ever made.
12.10am
4 December 2010
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Beatles For Sale is my least favorite but I don't hate it. Just that if you rank them, this album falls short. There are some really good songs (No Reply, I'm a Loser, and I'll Follow the Sun), but I think after having a whole album of originals from AHDN, going back to covers just sorta kills the quality. I'm not a fan of the cover songs they did on this album.
2.37pm
12 August 2011
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My favorite song on this album would have to be Rock n' Roll music.
The other songs aren't bad either…
11.25pm
1 December 2009
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Pretty sure I'm repeating myself here, but I guess the main reasons BFS gets little respect are that it's a bit of a retreat (back to the 8 originals/6 covers template of the first two, after the entirely self-composed AHDN) and that 75% of everybody hates "Mr Moonlight" (an estimation but whatever.) Me, I think BFS is excellent – the eight new originals are, as a whole, a major step forward from the eight originals on either of the first two, and if the great "I Feel Fine/She's A Woman" single were considered to be part of the album, it'd loom even larger in their legend.
3.34pm
1 May 2011
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One of the reaons for the displeasure felt towards BFS, imo, is that (i'll get shouted down for this) most average music people like happy, joyful, cheeky beatles doing their yeah yeah yeahs and head shaking ooooo's. This is the album where that is not the case. The first 3 tracks; no reply, i'm a loser, baby's in black; say that from the off but my word what an opening to an album.
The Beatles were knackered after being everywhere all at once and were beginning to see that Beatlemania wasnt the blast it first appeared to be. The sheen was coming off.
Yet I find it a very enjoyable album. Even more so that AHDN.
No Reply has one of the most accusing, threatening lines ever recorded by John in "thats a lie".
One of the biggest problems is Mr Moonlight. One moment in beatle history when someone should have said "its not quite right, anything else…". Thankfully the next time this type of dilemma arose with That Means A Lot and If You Got Trouble during the Help! sessions they ditched them both and found others. (An early time a song should have been ditched, buried deep in the vaults and forgotten, was Hold Me Tight from With The Beatles. 2 minutes 30 seconds of boredom. Or even longer if you have the sessions recordings.)
To quote a beatle "When you're listening late at night, you may think the band are not quite right. But they are, They just play it like that". I presume because they were tired.. but it is very similar to Dr Feelgood's original. John does do a great vocal, shame about the band's musicianship.
Finally i do love how in Rock and Roll Music the piano is pretty much in the backgroup throughout the song until they get to "so keep on rockin that piano" and then its right in your face and played breathlessly till the end.
9.21pm
14 December 2009
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Hmm, I think "Hold Me Tight" choogles along quite nicely with the call-and-responses and the nice synchronized slowdown at the end, but whatever!
4.20am
10 August 2011
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Random thoughts:
BFS or Beatles '65 / Beatles VI?
As an American, I have no recollection of BFS, although I know it's roughly a combination of '65 and / VI.
BFS is obviously the real thing (but '65 DOES have I Feel Fine and She's a Woman)
BFS is perfectly enjoyable, but there's no classic Beatle song on it. (Unless you consider 8 Days a Week a classic; I don't think most people would, as pleasant as it might be). That's the main reason it ranks near the "bottom." [I'll still take it over 99% of the other albums out there in the world]
When Beatles '65 came out, I always wondered who sang Rock and Roll Music. Once you know, it seems rather obvious, but it wasn't so clear right off the bat.
The really acid, trebly guitar solo on I Don't Want To Spoil the Party got me to switch from acoustic to electric guitar – so it has sentimental value + LOVE the harmonies.
Speaking of harmonies, there are few Beatle songs with better harmonies than Baby's in Black (esp. the bridge where Paul goes stratospherically high)
I'm one of those who think Mr. Moonlight is the worst Beatle recording, as much as I admire the opening words. The ice-skating rink organ kills it. It's probably the only time their sense of production deserted them. That Means a Lot would have been better.
[Say, MeanMrMustard, I always liked Hold Me Tight. The melody and lyrics are just OK, but wonderful production. Did you see the dance number in Across the Universe?]
No, the worst album is "Yellow Submarine" through no fault of the Beatles. Who cares about all the incidental music? Right behind, are the American A Hard Day's Night and Help! for the same reason.
12.28pm
4 December 2010
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I really like Eight Days A Week. It's probably my favourite early Beatles song, definitely ahead of I Feel Fine. I remember, as a 7 or 8 year old, hearing the line "eight days a week is not enough to show I care" and being struck by what seemed, at that age, to be sheer audaciousness in songwriting for the first time.
1.16pm
1 May 2011
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"Into the Sky with Diamonds" said:
…BFS is perfectly enjoyable, but there's no classic Beatle song on it. (Unless you consider 8 Days a Week a classic; I don't think most people would, as pleasant as it might be)…
I personally believe that if I'm A Loser or No Reply had been given more appreciation/airtime/exposure they would be viewed as Beatles classics. Admittedly IAL was one of the BFS tracks that was performed on radio, tv and in concert but its always viewed as another album track. No reply was simply an album track. Both songs are highly esteemed by most Beatles fans.
…[Say, MeanMrMustard, I always liked Hold Me Tight. The melody and lyrics are just OK, but wonderful production. Did you see the dance number in Across the Universe?]…
I saw Across The Universe for about 5/10 minutes but it wasnt the Hold Me Tight. I found it dire and so turned it off. The song itself sounds so forced thru to completion. The band kept on going despite it simply not coming together.
No, the worst album is "Yellow Submarine" through no fault of the Beatles. Who cares about all the incidental music? Right behind, are the American A Hard Day's Night and Help! for the same reason…
Whilst i do have a soft spot for the instrumentals on Yellow Submarine and the US Help! & Hard Day's Night they dont make great albums. The 4 'new' tracks on Yellow Submarine would have been a made a strong e.p., unfortunately the e.p. market was dead.
10.45pm
10 August 2011
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Hmmm. I'm guessing you won't agree with my ranking (at http://www.intotheskywithdiamonds.com).
Interesting how Beatle fans can agree that the Beatles were the greatest but then disagree on individual songs. (It's even more dramatic with post-Beatle McCartney songs.)
11.18pm
1 May 2011
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Ranking anything is a personal choice dependant on how each individual interprets and identifies with the subject matter at that/any time. Something that makes the human race so amazing and irritating at the same time. You are therefore right that i disagree with your rankings Into the Sky but you and everyone else would disagree with mine.
5.14pm
26 July 2011
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I've thought a lot about this album since commenting on it in the summer… and finally went back and dug it out of my CD rack and really gave it a good listen — and I find myself enjoying it a lot. I still wouldn't call it one of my favourite Beatles albums, but it certainly has its charms. A few things sure stand out… first of all, John Lennon dominates this album, singing lead vocal on six songs (including Paul's "Every Little Thing") and being very prominent on the joint vocals with Paul ("Baby's In Black", "Eight Days a Week" and "Words of Love"). It's also the most country-flavoured album The Beatles ever released.
And George's guitar playing is very strong on several tracks — his 12-string Rickenbacker breaks are excellent. The chiming intro on "Eight Days A Week" is pure Beatle magic. Apparently, according to Geoff Emerick, Harrison was unhappy with his solo on "I'll Follow the Sun", and Emerick himself calls it "embarrassing" — but I don't get that at all. "I'll Follow the Sun" (one of my favourite tracks on the album) is basically an accoustic number for John and Paul, and the simple eight-note sliding guitar break that George provides sounds perfect to me. Anything fancier than that would have just cluttered the song up.
I have to say, though, that I haven't changed my mind about "Mr Moonlight". John's impassioned intro is great, but the rest of the song just makes me wince, especially the Hammond organ break! Mind you, the guitar break that George played in an earlier take (you can hear this on ANTHOLOGY) is pretty jarring too — sounds like a flock of starlings ready to tear my eyes out! I'm not that fussy about "Kansas City" either.
But overall.. this is a better album than I've given it credit for being, and I'm glad I listened to it again.
7.00pm
20 September 2011
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robert said:
I wish Beatles For Sale was the best album I ever made.
I think that sort of sums it up.
11.17pm
12 March 2010
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IMDeWalrus said:
first of all, John Lennon dominates this album, singing lead vocal on six songs (including Paul's "Every Little Thing")
I agree with most of what you said, except that John is not the lead singer on "Every little thing". He sings the verses and choruses together with Paul, being a little more dominant in the verse (but Paul is still very well audible) and in the chorus Paul is the dominant voice. So all in all another co-vocal.
11.23am
1 May 2011
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Have always wondered if Ringo's 'I Feel Fine' throw away line/comment in Honey Don't is meant as a reference to their up and coming single as its got no reason for it to be there and doesnt fit in with the song theme. And Ringos calls for the guitar solo's in Boys, Matchbox and Honey Dont are great.
3.39pm
26 July 2011
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paulsbass said:
IMDeWalrus said:
first of all, John Lennon dominates this album, singing lead vocal on six songs (including Paul's "Every Little Thing")
I agree with most of what you said, except that John is not the lead singer on "Every little thing". He sings the verses and choruses together with Paul, being a little more dominant in the verse (but Paul is still very well audible) and in the chorus Paul is the dominant voice. So all in all another co-vocal.
Ah okay… I thought it was a double-tracked Lennon on the verses, with Paul joining in on the choruses…. but yeah, that's Paul dueting unison with him (it's clearer in the latter stages, on the line "I will love her forever") -- although John's voice is dominant, to my ear anyway -- in any case, I wouldn't call it a particularly memorable song, although the tympani is a nice touch…. a good recording of an average song, in my opinion.
5.24pm
14 December 2009
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meanmistermustard said:
Have always wondered if Ringo's 'I Feel Fine' throw away line/comment in Honey Don't is meant as a reference to their up and coming single as its got no reason for it to be there and doesnt fit in with the song theme.
I've always thought that to be the case too! (Especially since I first heard "Honey Don't" on Beatles '65, wherein "I Feel Fine" comes three songs later.)
And Ringos calls for the guitar solo's in Boys, Matchbox and Honey Dont are great.
As is "Rock on…anybody?!" in "If You've Got Troubles"!
10.43pm
1 May 2011
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Ooh, I forgot If You Got Troubles, which isnt neccessarily a bad thing. If only John and Paul had.
3.40pm
17 November 2011
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Beatles for Sale had some brilliant songs in "I'm A Loser," their cover of "Rock n Roll Music" and "Every Little Thing" (I like that one, for some reason- the tympani is killer). However, it also had "Mr. Moonlight" which was simply one of the worst things they had ever done. It felt too much like they were stagnating on this album, so Help! came in and saved the day. Still, underdog album or not, it's very much worth appreciating. Happy listening! 
4.33pm
5 November 2011
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"Beatles for Sale" is one of my favourite albums. every song from this album has a five star rating in my music library. 
and it doesn't matter if it's popular or not, it's still great. 
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