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2.24am
17 October 2013
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This might possibly be my favourite album…….Such great memories of perhaps for the first time really listening to music and getting feelings from doing so……Mostly such an up record too…..I recall a pride that the Beatles were English and as good as anything American……That was a first!
Its release coincided with the rooms we rented having some rendering and new window frames put in……. and being able to climb the scaffolding to get in after I intentionally (‘YET AGAIN!!!!’) forgot my key……..Thought I was Batman.
In the film Marylebone station (they departed and arrived at the same station) was round the corner but I missed the filming. It always peeved me that in the LP notes it states Paddington Station which was bollox! …Still many of the London streets in the film were nearby and familiar…….
I’m sure somewhere I’ve done a list and don’t want to do another because it’s likely different……
I hope I’ve put “Ill Be Back’…….as my number one…..But it could easily have been ‘If I Fell ‘
As someone has remarked somewhere…..’The most creative time and enormous musical leaps by the Beatles began with a chord that opens this album and the one that closes Sgt Pepper .
12.22pm
6 February 2018
Offline 1. And I Love Her – it was surprisingly easy picking my favourite song from the album. This song is just utterly breathtaking, like a romantic night under the stars. It’s so sweet and pretty-sounding, with some of Paul’s best vocals yet. My heart just sighs everytime I hear it haha! 10/10
2. A Hard Day’s Night – a classic that’s honestly never gotten old, just so energetic and addictive. 10/10
3. If I Fell – if you haven’t noticed, I have a slightly embarrassing soft spot for romantic slow-dancing songs with beautiful melodies lol. I just love the vulnerability and genuineness of this song, there’s that hopeful tone to it that’s tinged a bit with melancholy and longing for a relationship but not wanting to get hurt. Paul and John’s voices are so good here too, I love how tender and raw they sing. 10/10
4. I Should Have Known Better – This has always been a favourite of mine; you can bop your head to it and I love the sound of the harmonica. I find the subject matter and lyrics utterly adorable and an interesting take on a love song. I think it’s one of John’s most underrated songs. 9/10
5. I’ll Be Back – just so beautiful, and a wonderful way to end an album, like wistfully staring out the window. And maybe it’s just my weird imagination, but I sometimes picture a cowboy riding off into the sunset when I hear this song haha 9/10
6. Can’t Buy Me Love – extremely catchy and lots of fun, has that care-free and lively vibe that’s captured so well on the album. 9/10
7. Things We Said Today – now thinking about it I wish I could put this song higher because it’s so lovely. Paul was making so many good songs during the era and this further proves it; introspective, sophisticated, and a gorgeous melody. 9/10
8. You Can’t Do That – a great rock song, just makes you want to jump and down and shout along with the lyrics haha. It’s a little cynical, but there’s still that playful tone to ease the edginess that I enjoy. 9/10
9. I’m Happy Just To Dance With You – two words: sooooo cuuuuteee!!! If this doesn’t make your heart swell up then I don’t know what will haha. I love Paul and John’s background vocals, and that melody is hard to resist. I dunno man I just really love this song and I find it so adorable 
8/10
10. Any Time At All – good song, catchy chorus, and a really strong vocal performance from John, demanding but fun. It’s not a track I listen to a lot but when I do I always end up enjoying it, so it’s probably considered a hidden gem. 8/10
11. When I Get Home – yeah, the lyrics are a little cheesy (that cow part never fails to make me laugh) but hey you can’t deny how fun and infectious this song is! It’s another one to get you jumping and happy, and I’ve always thought it was slightly underrated by fans. Not their best track by any means but still quite good 7/10
12. I’ll Cry Instead – I really like the lyrics but I find this song to be awkwardly placed on the album, because it comes and goes so quickly and it’s pretty short. But I love the catchy, jangly rhythm to it and the way it showcases John’s insecurities. 7/10
13. Tell Me Why – oh man, I don’t know if people will hate me for this but to me this song is just so…annoying. I feel like they’re literally shouting at me and it’s so relentless, the song barely has time to breathe and it’s slightly too repetitive for my liking. I just never warmed up to the way it sounded, it’s too loud but not in a good way. 4/10
8.04pm
17 October 2013
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50yearslate said
Wigwam said
Edit…I reckon I’ll be Back is where John started putting ‘bits’ together like he does in Happiness is a…..
Whether Ray Davis nicked the idea for Autumn Almanac, or it’s always been a common technique I don’t know.
What makes you think so? It seems normal to me…
Sorry just saw this……I’m not really qualified to actually explain what I’m hearing……..I basically agree with VB……
It’s only a couple of minutes long but it chops and changes a lot…..Intro… Verse..verse..bridge1…verse..verse..bridge 2..verse…verse…bridge 1… verse..outro
Bridge 2 is so unexpected….and the timings are chopped and changed about……..John had gone from following accepted formulas to just doing his own ‘gut’ thing here and I liked it….Added to the drama.
Perhaps it seems normal today………50years later…
But at the time for me brought up on predictable pop…..hearing this extra bridge I remember thinking……(let me clean this up a’ la Dan Maskell after a spectacular shot at Wimbledon) ……’Oh my word! ……Oh I say!!’
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Shamrock Womlbs, 50yearslate5.53pm
9 March 2017
Offline I think i’ll finally have a go at this:
13. I Should Have Known Better
11. Any Time At All
7. I’m Happy Just To Dance With You
4. I’ll Be Back
3. Tell Me Why
1. If I Fell
If you're reading this, you are looking for something to do.
8.05am
14 June 2019
Offline10.41pm
26 January 2017
Offline Looking through these lists I wish that I Should Have Known Better were ranked higher.
"The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles!"
-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues
"We could ride and surf together while our love would grow"
-Brian Wilson, Surfer Girl
5.36am
5 November 2019
Offline 2. If I Fell
5. I’ll Be Back
8. I’m Happy Just To Dance With You
9. Tell Me Why
12. Any Time At All
13. When I Get Home
Surprised about the lack of love for You Can’t Do That and I’ll Cry Instead . Don’t rate AHDN as much as other people, bored of the song tbh
2.53am
28 February 2020
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8.33pm
14 January 2013
Offline4.42am
5 April 2020
Offline What a subject! – from all that I’ve read, my understanding is that either Dick Lester or Walter Shenson or both were chatting with John during a break in the filming of AHDN and they discussed how the film could do with a hit single. That’s what inspired John to write A Hard Day’s Night . He just reeled it off at home that night and brought the song in to the film set the next day. That is what John could do. As an inspirational genius, he could conjure up a great song out of thin air.
My listing by preference:-
2. I should have known better
3. If I Fell
7. You can’t do that
8. I’m Happy Just To Dance With You
10. Tell me why
11. Anytime at all
12. Tell me why
13. When I get home
3.16am
14 June 2016
Offline I find it hard to rank this album because it’s so consistent, but I do know If I Fell , I’ll Be Back and Things We Said Today are my top three.
1.The Beatles 2.Sgt. Pepper 3.Abbey Road 4.Magical Mystery Tour 5.Rubber Soul 6.Revolver 7.Help! 8.Let It Be
9.A Hard Day’s Night 10.Please Please Me 11.Beatles For Sale 12.With The Beatles 13.Yellow Submarine
Most Avid John Fan 2020 and 2021: 
11.21am
1 January 2017
Offline Definitely their strongest album so far at that point. I’m struggling like everyone else here with my ranking as almost every song is consistently good! 
I’m Happy Just To Dance With You
I’ll Cry Instead (am I the only one who wishes The Everly Brothers covered this?)
Any Time At All (I kinda feel bad for putting this at the bottom as one of my friends told me he liked it a while ago, but I personally find it a bit too repetitive.)
The following people thank SgtPeppersBulldog for this post:
Von Bontee"Some kind of happiness is measured out in miles... "
2017:
12.16pm
14 December 2009
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Beware, pepdog: I took the time to rank a bunch of the albums a few years ago only to find that I now dislike a great many of my decisions! (“Third-best song on the album and I ranked it the third-*worst*…What was I thinking?!”)
The following people thank Von Bontee for this post:
SgtPeppersBulldog, Rube, sir walter raleighPaul: Yeah well… first of all, we’re bringing out a ‘Stamp Out Detroit’ campaign.
10.41am
1 January 2017
Offline I’ll take your warning, though I’m feeling quite confident that the top halves of my rankings will mostly remain the same for a good while!
The following people thank SgtPeppersBulldog for this post:
sir walter raleigh"Some kind of happiness is measured out in miles... "
2017:
11.30am
26 January 2017
Offline Ive recently found a new appreciation for Paul’s songs on A Hard Days Night. Really making great use of minor progressions creating a really moody atmosphere. Lyrically he hasn’t reached the highs of Rubber Soul or Revolver , but this is where he really comes into his own as a songwriter.
Things We Said Today – Case in point, he effortlessly weaves between minor and major in support of tremendous melody. “Someday when we’re dreaming” is possibly his strongest melody yet. This is just great songwriting all around.
And I Love Her – Cobain’s cover really opened my eyes to how moody this song actually. Paul claims that George’s classical guitar lick makes the song, and while I think its a welcome addition, what makes the song is the key change into the solo and 3rd verse. Ive talked about it before, but this song is absolutely genius in how warm and positive the lyrics are over the top of one of his darkest compositions.
A Hard Days Night – opening chord is legendary, and still somewhat of a mystery to me as a seasoned musician, its harmonic function is an illusion that I find brilliant. Paul is once again the MVP on this song with his vocal performance during the bridge.
If I Fell – a really under appreciated Lennon/McCarntey classic. Primarily written by John, this one really feels like a true collaborative effort. Similar to With A Little Help From My Friends , (which is credited primarily to Paul by John himself) this song has so many trademarks from both John and Paul. Very nice chord progression as well, particular to brief modulation going into “cause I couldnt stand the pain”
I Should Have Known Better – I love this song, I really do think its one of John’s best love songs and among the best love songs ever written. My only issue with it is that it doesn’t take itself seriously enough. The arrangement is perfect for Beach Boys ‘ Party! but in my estimation it would have been better as a ballad.
I’ll Be Back – this time its John weaving between minor and major. The picardy third during the verse is awesome. Not a big fan of the second middle eight, but I’m a huge fan of the first one.
Tell Me Why – this is an example of a song with a perfect arrangement. Very fun song with great energy. Not the tightest performance but the energy carries it through, and the song itself is really clever.
Any Time At All – the interplay between the vocal and instrumental is so good. The verses aren’t mind blowingly good, but the chorus is great.
Can’t Buy Me Love – an undisputed classic, and deservingly so.
I’ll Cry Instead – this song doesn’t win me over until “when I do you better hide all the girls” coming out of the middle eight back into the main section is great. A little old school and not super authentic but very enjoyable.
You Can’t Do That – I didn’t have strong feelings about this song until one time in highschool I accidentally fell asleep to it on repeat, and I came out of it liking the song more. Great middle eight. They do a great job playing this song live as well.
I’m Happy Just To Dance With You – nothing against these next two, but I had two different friends in college say that it was their favorite Beatles song. It was surprising because both these songs are pretty deep cuts, and not super memorable at that. Maybe I’m the one overlooking them.
When I Get Home – I played this with my friend who loves the song and he sang along to every word. I remember it being a little bit awkward, and I think that describes the performance of this song pretty well. It isn’t quite sure of itself as a song. With that said, I love the “woah I!” at the beginning of the chorus.
"The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles!"
-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues
"We could ride and surf together while our love would grow"
-Brian Wilson, Surfer Girl
7.51pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline Another one of these by me. Will see what comes of what to write (there may be numbering, will see)
- I’ll Be Back – This is probably my current ongoing obsession. I love the opening so much and the lyrics are so good; they give this feeling of repetition (which I hadn’t thought of before typing this which actually fits the song theme really well) yet somehow don’t. The delayed inevitable return which John stated he wouldn’t do in ‘Not A Second Time ‘ but you know he was. The outtakes are great fun and it’s another track which changed so much in arrangement and is so much better for it. Which makes me question a) how many songs changed from beginning to end when recording and b) how many other bands would have just settled with the original.
- And I Love Her – It’s beautiful, intelligent, sophisticated, the imagery is stunning, the solo is gorgeous. For me this is Paul’s first masterpiece. Take 2 is fun and would have been a good track if it was released yet shows how good they were at seeing where a song could and should go. Thanks to the 2023 remix the making of the song has been stripped and it’s wonderful in those ways too.
- If I Fell – Sumptuous. It’s impossible to ever get tired of this. The opening is brilliant, the lyrics are great, the demos are stunning. Seriously. For folk to say John was the hard rocker and Paul the great balladeer is just nonsense when this is up there with anything Paul wrote. And all in a song about possibly ditching the girl you’re with for someone else. Those lovable Beatles.
- I Should Have Known Better – It sounds fantastic and is just a blast. Such a happy song when the title suggests it should be a downer but I get the feeling all is not right in the world of John’s (tho maybe that’s down to the suggestion (rightly or not) of the girl not committing to John when asked (she replies she loves him not she will be his – as given in the book ‘A Hard Day’s Write’ – one of my favourite Beatles books when getting into them)).
- You Can’t Do That – Such a threatening dark song and I love it. The solo takes it up a notch. Maybe lower the cowbell tho.
- A Hard Day’s Night – The opening is magical even to this day (they really knew how to open an album). The track is simply fantastic and sums up how the Beatles were at this time.
Note: The above two could swap and it would be correct as well. - Things We Said Today – A great Paul song admittedly, the changes are so clever, love the live versions. It’s one of those Beatles songs that I don’t often have any inclination to hear but love it when it’s on. Paul didn’t have many tracks on the album but they are all really good.
- Can’t Buy Me Love – Brilliant single, great song, fun to listen to. What else is there to say. Take 2 is amusing with the backing vocals which were rightly exorcised (another change which could have been left in and been good but massively improved the song by being removed).
- Any Time At All – A powerhouse in the same vein as ‘It Won’t Be Long ‘ but probably not as good (maybe a second generation fax simile – maybe the Beatles had already moved on. – Thought: With ‘AHDN ‘ now the album opener they actually had)). Paul’s response vocals are nice (he needed to appear somewhere on the album).
- When I Get Home – The best of the filler material on the album. Ringo’s crashing cymbals are great.
- Tell Me Why – Again filler and everyone knew it. It’s a fun song which like with ‘WIGH’ races thru, never outstaying it’s welcome, but once it’s gone so has any lingering trace of it. John at this time of Beatleness could throw out these tracks without much effort but there is nothing to it. The falsetto line in verse three is about as interesting as you can find.
- I’m Happy Just To Dance With You – More space occupancy. Is there much to say about this? George needed a vocal and John was never singing it (makes me wonder what they would have given Ringo – and thankfully didn’t). The BBC track is fun due to how messed up the lyrics get and it’s cool to hear the instrumental backing track.
- I’ll Cry Instead – The weakest of the filler material. Only interesting for how it was extended in the US. Erm. Not awful but hardly of any note. It exists. That’s about it.
Little surprise the first three tracks are all on ‘Love Songs’ and closely bunched together on side two (I grew up on my dad’s LP despite him having the cassette too, the album has four sides, accept it and move on). ‘Love Songs’ is arguably in my top 5 Beatles albums, definitely my favourite ever compilation.
Question for @Joe. Why do all the links above containing ‘ not work?
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
8.39pm
26 January 2017
Offline As far as album closers go, I’ll Be Back is really strong. The other early albums just throw a rock cover on at the end, and Twist And Shout is a tremendous success, but AHDN really benefits from being made up of all original songs. Eventually they figured out how to properly close out an album on Revolver and Pepper.
"The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles!"
-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues
"We could ride and surf together while our love would grow"
-Brian Wilson, Surfer Girl
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