The follow-up to Meet The Beatles! was issued on this day by the group’s US label Capitol.
The Beatles’ Second Album was actually their third long player in the United States, if Introducing The Beatles, released by Vee-Jay in January 1964, is included.
The Capitol album contained songs from four different UK releases: With The Beatles; ‘Thank You Girl’ from the ‘From Me To You’ single; both sides of ‘She Loves You’/‘I’ll Get You’; and ‘You Can’t Do That’ from the ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ single. Two new songs, ‘Long Tall Sally’ and ‘I Call Your Name’, were also included.
The Beatles’ Second Album topped the US album charts, replacing Meet The Beatles!; this was the first time an artist replaced itself at the number one spot in America.
Page last updated: 3 November 2020
Believe it or not, there was a method to Capitol’s re-packaging madness. “Meet The Beatles” is made up primarily of original compositions, this album is primarily cover versions, and the follow-up (“Something New”) is basically Capitol’s version of the “A Hard Day’s Night” soundtrack minus the title song.