The Beatles - Rubber Soul (2009)

While the Beatles still largely stuck to love songs on Rubber Soul, the lyrics represented a quantum leap in terms of thoughtfulness, maturity, and complex ambiguities. Musically, too, it was a substantial leap forward, with intricate folk-rock arrangements that reflected the increasing influence of Dylan and the Byrds. The group and George Martin were also beginning to expand the conventional instrumental parameters of the rock group, using a sitar on "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)," Greek like guitar lines on "Michelle" and "Girl," fuzz bass on "Think for Yourself," and a piano made to sound like a harpsichord on the instrumental break of "In My Life." While John and Paul were beginning to carve separate songwriting identities at this point, the album is full of great tunes, from "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" and "Michelle" to "Girl," "I'm Looking Through You," "You Won't See Me," "Drive My Car," and "Nowhere Man" (the last of which was the first Beatle song to move beyond romantic themes entirely). George Harrison was also developing into a fine songwriter with his two contributions, "Think for Yourself" and the Byrds-ish "If I Needed Someone."

Band: The Beatles
Album: Rubber Soul
Genre: Rock & Roll/Classic Rock
Country: Liverpool, England
Original Data Release: Dec 3, 1965
Label: Capitol Records

"Tracklist"

01. "Drive My Car"
02. "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)"
03. "You Won't See Me"
04. "Nowhere Man"
05. "Think for Yourself"
06. "The Word"
07. "Michelle"
08. "What Goes On"
09. "Girl"
10. "I'm Looking Through You"
11. "In My Life"
12. "Wait"
13. "If I Needed Someone
14: "Run for Your Life"

Rubberl Soul ♪♫

The Beatles - Help! (2009)

Considering that Help! functions as the Beatles' fifth album and as the soundtrack to their second film, while filming, they continued to release non LP singles on a regular basis, it's not entirely surprising that it still has some of the weariness of Beatles for Sale. Again, they pad the album with covers, but the Bakersfield bounce of "Act Naturally" adds new flavor (along with an ideal showcase for Ringo amiable vocals) and "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" gives John an opportunity to flex his rock & roll muscle. George is writing again and if his two contributions don't touch Lennon and McCartney originals, they hold their own against much of their British pop peers. Since Lennon wrote a third more songs than McCartney, it's easy to forgive a pair of minor numbers ("It's Only Love," "Tell Me What You See"), especially since they're overshadowed by four great songs. His Dylan infatuation holds strong, particularly on the plaintive "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" and the title track, where the brash arrangement disguises Lennon desperation. Driven by an indelible 12 string guitar, "Ticket to Ride" is another masterpiece and "You're Going to Lose That Girl" is the kind of song McCartney effortlessly tosses off, which he does with the jaunty "The Night Before" and "Another Girl," two very fine tunes that simply update his melodic signature. He did much better with "I've Just Seen a Face," an irresistible folk-rock gem, and "Yesterday," a simple, beautiful ballad whose arrangement, an acoustic guitar supported by a string quartet, and composition suggested much more sophisticated and adventurous musical territory, which the group immediately began exploring with Rubber Soul.

Band: The Beatles
Album: Help!
Genre: Rock & Roll/Classic Rock
Country: Liverpool, England
Original Release Date: Aug 6, 1965
Label: Capitol Records

"Tracklist"

01. "Help!"
02. "The Night Before"
03. "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away"
04. "I Need You"
05. "Another Girl"
06. "You're Going to Lose That Girl"
07. "Ticket to Ride"
08. "Act Naturally"
09. "It's Only Love"
10. "You Like Me Too Much"
11. "Tell Me What You See"
12. "I've Just Seen a Face"
13. "Yesterday"
14. "Dizzy Miss Lizzy"

Help! ♪♫

Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of The Beatles (2007)

Band: Various Artists
Album: Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of The Beatles
Genre: Child/Lullabie
Country: United States
Release Date: Jan 2, 2007
Label: Baby Rock Records

"Tracklist"

01. "Yesterday"
02. "Across the Universe"
03. "Michelle"
04. "Strawberry Fields Forever"
05. "I'm Only Sleeping"
06. "Hey Jude"
07. "Something"
08. "Yellow Submarine"
09. "Here There and Everywhere"
10. "Here Comes the Sun"
11. "And I Love Her"
12. "If I Fell"

Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of The Beatles ♪♫

The Beatles - A Hard Day's Night (2009)

A Hard Day's Night was the first Beatles album of all original material, and the first to feature George Harrison playing his Rickenbacker electric 12 string guitar (on the opening chord of "A Hard Day's Night," for instance). The distinctive sound of the 12 string inspired countless guitarists including Roger McGuinn and David Crosby of the Byrds. The film from which these songs hail remains a classic combination of happy 60's naiveté and nascent hipster wit. Many of the most important rock bands to emerge in the latter half of the 60's came into being because of A Hard Day's Night's irresistible vibrancy. The tunes flow like the finest red wine, as the title track leads to the glorious harmonica of "I Should Have Known Better" and the powerfully poignant "If I Fell."

Band: The Beatles
Album: A Hard Day´s Night
Genre: Rock Classic/Rock & Roll
Country: Liverpool, England
Original Date Release: Jul 10, 1964
Label: Capitol/Apple Records

"Tracklist"

01. "A Hard Day's Night [from the Film "A Hard Day's Night"]"
02. "I Should Have Known Better [from the Film "A Hard Day's Night"]"
03. "If I Fell [from the Film "A Hard Day's Night"]"
04. "I'm Happy Just to Dance with You [from the Film "A Hard Day's Night"]"
05. "And I Love Her [from the Film "A Hard Day's Night"]"
06. "Tell Me Why [from the Film "A Hard Day's Night"]"
07. "Can't Buy Me Love [from the Film "A Hard Day's Night"]"
08. "Any Time at All"
09. "I'll Cry Instead"
10. "Things We Said Today"
11. "When I Get Home"
12. "You Can't Do That"
13. "I'll Be Back"

A Hard Day´s Night ♪♫

The Beatles - With the Beatles (2009)

With the Beatles is a sequel of the highest order, one that betters the original by developing its own tone and adding depth. While it may share several similarities with its predecessor, there is an equal ratio of covers to originals, a familiar blend of girl group, Motown, R&B, pop, and rock, and a show tune that interrupts the flow of the album. With the Beatles is a better record that not only rocks harder, it's considerably more sophisticated. They could deliver rock & roll straight ("I Wanna Be Your Man") or twist it around with a little Latin lilt ("Little Child," one of their most underrated early rockers); Lennon and McCartney wrote sweet ballads (the achingly gorgeous "All I've Got to Do") and sprightly pop/rockers ("All My Loving") with equal aplomb; and the propulsive rockers ("It Won't Be Long") were as richly melodic as slower songs ("Not a Second Time"). Even George Harrison first recorded song, "Don't Bother Me," is a standout, with its wonderfully foreboding minor key melody. Since the Beatles covered so much ground with their originals, their covers pale slightly in comparison, particularly since they rely on familiar hits (only "Devil in Her Heart" qualifies as a forgotten gem). But for every "Roll Over Beethoven," a surprisingly stiff reading of the Chuck Berry standard, there is a sublime moment, such as Lennon soaring interpretation of "You Really Got a Hold on Me," and the group always turns in thoroughly enjoyable performances. Still, the heart of With the Beatles lies not in the covers, but the originals, where it was clear that, even at this early stage, the Beatles were rapidly maturing and changing, turning into expert craftsmen and musical innovators.

Band: The Beatles
Album: With the Beatles
Genre: Rock & Roll/Classic Rock
Country: Liverpool, England
Original Date Release: Nov 22, 1963
Label: Capitol/Apple

"Tracklist"

01. "It Won't Be Long"
02. "All I've Got to Do"
03. "All My Loving"
04. "Don't Bother Me"
05. "Little Child"
06. "Till There Was You"
07. "Please Mister Postman"
08. "Roll Over Beethoven"
09. "Hold Me Tight"
10. "You Really Got a Hold on Me"
11. "I Wanna Be Your Man"
12. "Devil in Her Heart"
13. "Not a Second Time"
14. "Money (That's What I Want)"

With the Beatles ♪♫

The Beatles - Please Please Me (2009)

Once "Please Please Me" rocketed to number one, the Beatles rushed to deliver a debut album, bashing out Please Please Me in a day. Decades after its release, the album still sounds fresh, precisely because of its intense origins. As the songs rush past, it's easy to get wrapped up in the sound of the record itself without realizing how the album effectively summarizes the band eclectic influences. Naturally, the influences shine through their covers, all of which are unconventional and illustrate the group superior taste. There's a love of girl groups, vocal harmonies, sophisticated popcraft, schmaltz, R&B, and hard driving rock & roll, which is enough to make Please Please Me impressive, but what makes it astonishing is how these elements converge in the originals. "I Saw Here Standing There" is one of their best rockers, yet it has surprising harmonies and melodic progressions. "Misery" and "There's a Place" grow out of the girl group tradition without being tied to it. A few of their originals, such as "Do You Want to Know a Secret" and the pleasantly light "P.S. I Love You," have dated slightly, but endearingly so, since they're infused with cheerful innocence and enthusiasm. And there is an innocence to Please Please Me. The Beatles may have played notoriously rough dives in Hamburg, but the only way you could tell that on their first album was how the constant gigging turned the group into a tight, professional band that could run through their set list at the drop of a hat with boundless energy. It's no surprise that Lennon had shouted himself hoarse by the end of the session, barely getting through "Twist and Shout," the most famous single take in rock history. He simply got caught up in the music, just like generations of listeners did.

Band: The Beatles
Album: Please Please Me
Genre: Rock & Roll/Classic Rock
Country: Liverpool, England
Original Data Release: Mar 22, 1963
Label: Capitol/Apple

"Tracklist"

01. "I Saw Her Standing There"
02. "Misery"
03. "Anna (Go to Him)"
04. "Chains"
05. "Boys"
06. "Ask Me Why"
07. "Please Please Me"
08. "Love Me Do"
09. "P.S. I Love You"
10. "Baby It's You"
11. "Do You Want to Know a Secret"
12. "A Tast of Honey"
13. "There's a Place"
14. "Twist and Shout"

Please Please Me ♪♫

The Beatles: Stereo Box Set (2009)

The Beatles always stood apart from their peers, a self evident statement that sadly extended to the treatment of their catalog in the digital age. Where all their peers from the Byrds to the Who have had their catalogs remastered and reissued in deluxe editions, sometimes several times, the Beatles remained stuck in the early days of digital, their 14 albums plus Past Masters singles collection remaining untouched since 1987. Anniversaries came and went, but no remasters arrived until the release of the video game The Beatles Rockband pushed a long overdue revamping of the band entire catalog into the stores on 9-9-09. This reissue campaign corrects almost all the problems of the original 1987 CDs: the sound and artwork are improved, and all the original mono and stereo mixes finally see the light of day. Naturally, it's possible to quibble about some details of the presentation, particularly the decision to split the reissue into two separate box sets, one covering the stereo mixes and one the mono mixes, with only the stereo mixes available as individual discs (it's still possible to complain that the albums do not add era-specific singles or outtakes, but such expansions were never really in the cards), but both boxes still constitute the best Beatles by far. Crucially, it's also inarguably the best sounding Beatles music ever released, robust and rich even on the earliest rock & roll. None of the albums have been remixed, Although Help! and Rubber Soul retain Martin 1987 mixes, the original stereo mixes are bonuses on the mono set, so this doesn't shock the way the Yellow Submarine soundtrack did with its reimagined stereo mixes. Nevertheless, these remasters surely do surprise with their clarity and depth, with each album feeling bigger and fuller than the previous CD incarnation, but not artificially so. It's not that these are pumped up on digital steroids; it's that the veil has been lifted, so everything seems full and fresh. Appropriately, there's more to savor from Help! onward, as the Beatles' productions grew ambitious, but Please Please Me, With the Beatles, and A Hard Day's Night all have a strong punch, while Beatles for Sale is warmer than the previous disc.

As a package, the stereo box is slightly unwieldy, it's a large, vertical set with two stacks of discs in slick cardboard sleeves piled on top of each other. No extra book is included with the set, but each disc has its own booklet with dry, straightforward liner notes detailing the recording process instead of analyzing the music. If anything about the set could be called disappointing, it's the mini documentaries attached to each disc as Quicktime files and collected on a DVD bonus for the box. "Mini documentary" may even be stretching what these are: they're three to five infomercials about the albums, not much more informative than the notes themselves. Nevertheless, these do offer annotation, something sorely lacking from the first CDs, and they do replicate the original notes, in the case of Magical Mystery Tour, including the entire storybook; in the case of Pepper, all the 20th anniversary annotation is added, finally bringing the Beatles to the same standard for reissues that every other major (and most minor) bands have had for years now. And the story, at least for the stereo box, is not the packaging, it's the glorious sound that makes this such a treat. There's also no question that those who waited 22 years to hear a better version of the Beatles will not be disappointed (although they may still wonder why it took so long for the Fabs to be treated as they deserve).

Band: The Beatles
Album: The Beatles: Stereo Box Set
Country: Liverpool, England
Genre: Classic Rock
Release Date: Sep 9, 2009
Label: Capitol Records

"Albums"

01. "Please Please Me" (1963)
02. "With the Beatles" (1963)
03. "A Hard Day's Night" (1964)
04. "Beatles for Sale" (1964)
05. "Help!" (1965)
06. "Rubber Soul" (1965)
07. "Revolver"
08. "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"
09. "Magical Mystery Tour"
10. "The Beatles [White Album]"
11. "Yellow Submarine"
12. "Abbey Road"
13. "Let It Be"
14. "Past Masters"