Please, Please Me - By The Beatles; But Will, Will It Please, Please You?? (Please Please Me - The Beatles)

Member Name: Caveat-Emptor

Product:	Please Please Me - The Beatles
Date:	04/07/09 (36 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Hear The Fab 4 Take Their First Steps Towards Greatness

Disadvantages: In Later Albums The Beatles Would Be Even Better Than They Are Here

My review of the 'Please Please Me' Album - By The Beatles
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Introduction
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'Please Please Me' was the very first Beatles album -released back in 1963- and it's wonderful to look back and think; this is where it all started -the album that launched the band, that changed the world!

It's EASY to make the mistake of looking at this album with hindsight and say, why didn't the Beatles put more of their own songs on the album (rather than cover versions); because it's EASY to forget that much of what we take for granted today in music...

... independent artistes, taking control of their own careers, writing their own songs and calling the shots; is really all down to the pioneering work OF The Beatles.

They made all those things possibly for today's bands and singer songwriters, but 'Please Please Me' was only the Beatle's first album, they were still 'feeling' their way and had only just begun to blaze a path for others to follow...

...so I get a little annoyed by reviews of this album that don't take the above points into consideration and criticise John, Paul George and Richard (sorry 'Ringo' -lol!) for using some cover versions of other peoples songs on this album (as opposed to their own songs); that was the norm back then - it's only different nowadays because of the fab four's efforts!!

The Tracks
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1. I Saw Her Standing There
This is a stonkingly good rock n roll song (mostly penned by Paul), obviously inspired by the American 50's rock n rollers who the Beatles idolised (Elvis, Roy Orbison, Chuck Berry, Little Richard etc)- I think this track stands up well even among those greats..

2. Misery
Another Beatles self penned song -but this time we get glimpses of the more articulate melodies and vocal stylings that would lead the Beatles to outgrow their rock n roll roots. I can hear the groundwork being laid for many Beatles classics (such as Help and You've Got To Hide Your Love Away) when I listen to Misery.

3. Anna (Go To Him)
This is a slightly obscure cover version -not without it's charm, and I love those sha la la backing vocals -lol!!

4. Chains
This is one of the less interesting covers on the album - it's not bad but it's not that interesting either...

5. Boys
Back to classic rock n roll again with this cover version - and unless my ears deceive me that's a young Thomas The Tank Engine (sorry Ringo) on vocals there!!

6. Ask Me Why
Another beautiful, self penned song well arranged and performed; I hear a lot of Lennon influence in this classic song.

7. Please Please Me
This was the Beatles second single - and it's a great one; right from John's harmonica playing intro through the end this is a fantastic pop record. Originally inspired by Roy Orbison, the demo of the song was later speeded up and revamped into the song we know today. This is brilliant!!!

8. Love Me Do
This was the Beatles first single - and while not their strongest effort, it's interesting to hear the fab four's already well developed sense of vocal harmony taking centre stage.

9. PS I Love You
This was the B side to the Love Me Do single -and has a beautiful middle eight that is so catch it's untrue. This is why the Beatles went on to become the best band in the world!

10. Baby It's You
Another cover - (co)written by Burt Bacharach, who was also known for his impressive melodies - I like Beatles 50's style vocals, it shows their roots off well!

11. Do You Want To Know A Secret
Inspired by J. Lennon watching the late great Walt Disney's snow white, and picking up on one of the lines... This is proper Beatles, with their fledgling sound already maturing to greatness.

12. Taste Of Honey
Although this is a cover version -it's one of the album's highlights. The Beatle's vocal arrangements are first class, as is the way the double up the tempo on the choruses. This is almost a jazz swing song; an early warning sign that there's no style of music that the Beatles couldn't tackle!

13. There's A Place
Another Beatles self written song; here I can see the first steps of Lennon towards his deep introverted song writing style... Without There's A Place there could never have been Strawberry Fields.

14. Twist And Shout
George Martin (producer) left this song till last at the recording sessions -because John Lennon did such an aggressive vocal performance of it, George knew that John's his throat would be 'stripped bear' by this song, and in no condition to record anything else... so it had to be the last track recorded, co-incidentally it ended up also being the last track on the album too -lol!! John didn't disappoint; when it came time to sing his version of this cover version -John 'went for it', and a finer, raunchier rock n roll vocal you will never here. Forget Joe Cocker, this is wilder!

My Verdict
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I love this album it's brilliant early Beatle, and a great signpost to the dizzy heights that they would later reach. Buy it, love it but above all listen to it!!


Hope you found my review of some help, and good luck with your bargain hunting!!

Best wishes,
Brett

Summary: Fascinating Career Start, Great In It's Own Right Too!!!