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6.20am
1 May 2019
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There is a book out, called 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. As you would expect, the Beatles place 7 albums on the list, including this one, which was a nice surprise for me. Tom Ewing wrote about this album:
So With the Beatles is simultaneously a quickly turned-around cash-in and a record of real generosity and integrity. And if the structure of the album is pretty similar to Please Please Me , the extra studio time is already starting to tell. On McCartney’s romantic spotlight, showtune “Till There Was You “, producer George Martin builds a wholly convincing soft-focus soundworld around Ringo Starr ‘s bongos. The group harmonies on tracks like their rumbustious “Please Mr. Postman” are even more gorgeously thick. The way the drums rumble in on “Roll Over Beethoven ” is a moment of simple joy.
And those are just the covers. With the Beatles starts with aggressive confidence, “It Won’t Be Long ” taking the “yeah yeah” chants that were the group’s early calling card and turning them into missiles. We’re back, it says, and it’s one of their most thrilling songs. On “All My Loving ” the guitars bubble and tumble and the band finds a new way to marry prettiness and drive. “I Wanna Be Your Man “— Ringo’s best early vocal— has a wolfish, hustling urgency. Not everything the band tries, as writers or interpreters, comes off: draggy girl group revival “Devil In Her Heart ” is an obscurity too far, and George Harrison wins a first songwriting credit for the Shadows-esque “Don’t Bother Me “, but it doesn’t get much spark until the guitar solo.
As for “Money”, well, there simply is no second “Twist And Shout ” in the catalogue, but neither was there any shame in the Beatles trying.
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vonbontee5.17am
28 April 2020
Offline “draggy girl group revival “Devil In Her Heart ” is an obscurity too far” …. I don’t understand why this song is so unpopular! I love it and have done since I first heard back in the 70s on ‘The Beatles’ Second Album’. Somehow my local record shop back then had some of the American albums and I actually bought ‘Meet The Beatles’ and ‘The Beatles’ Second Album’ long before I bought ‘With The Beatles ‘.
Anyway, it is a really catchy song and I love George’s vocals and John and Paul’s backing vocals! George’s guitar is pretty good too!
Instead of being an ‘obscurity too far’, I think it is great that they knew relatively unknown songs like this and weren’t afraid to record them. I think that is great that they covered the early 60’s girl group songs as well as doing the standard Rock ‘N’ Roll covers which no doubt, everyone else did at the time!
5.12am
26 November 2020
Offline I think the most underrated Beatles albums are Let it Be and Magical Mystery Tour . Let’s start with the Latter, Magical Mystery Tour : the Magical Mystery Tour is underrated partly due to being released between Sgt Peppers and the White Album .
5.19am
26 January 2017
Offline Only for Americans. The Magical Mystery Tour we listen to today was the Capitol release, The Beatles never released a MMT LP, making the album itself more underrated?
"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
4.42am
25 February 2020
Offline I should maybe revisit this one
the first 4 songs make for a hell of an opening, but I’ve always found the rest never really lives up to that
I Wanna Be Your Man and You Really Got A Hold On Me are great too, come to think of it
7.42pm
14 June 2016
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This album contains mmm’s favorite song, “Hold Me Tight “
Other than that, this album is a bit weaker than the others. I feel like I don’t listen to this album all too often which gives it a freshness every time I pop it in.
Here | There | Everywhere
It's ya boi! The one and only Billy Shears (AKA Paul's Replacement)
"Sometimes I wish I was just George Harrison" - John Lennon
6.52am
Reviewers
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1 May 2011
Offline William Shears Campbell said
This album contains mmm’s favorite song, “Hold Me Tight “Other than that, his album is a bit weaker than the others. I feel like I don’t listen to this album all too often which gives it a freshness every time I pop it in.
I haven’t released any albums. However, if I did none it would not be weaker than any others.
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William Shears Campbell, The Hole Got Fixed, Vera Chuck and Dave, vonbontee"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
11.17am
14 June 2016
Offline meanmistermustard said
William Shears Campbell said
This album contains mmm’s favorite song, “Hold Me Tight “
Other than that, (t)his album is a bit weaker than the others. I feel like I don’t listen to this album all too often which gives it a freshness every time I pop it in.
I haven’t released any albums. However, if I did none it would not be weaker than any others.
Looks like my T key got stuck. Maybe I should stop sticking my chewing gum inside my keyboard.
The following people thank William Shears Campbell for this post:
Vera Chuck and DaveHere | There | Everywhere
It's ya boi! The one and only Billy Shears (AKA Paul's Replacement)
"Sometimes I wish I was just George Harrison" - John Lennon
12.04pm
28 March 2014
Offline sir walter raleigh said
Only for Americans. The Magical Mystery Tour we listen to today was the Capitol release, The Beatles never released a MMT LP, making the album itself more underrated?
It would be no different than MOST of The American albums.
BEATLES Music gives me Eargasms! 
1.45pm
25 February 2020
Offline I’ve always considered the MMT LP the canon version 
even the sequencing of the first side works a lot better than the double EP tracklisting for me!
2.56pm
4 September 2019
Offline The problem with “Hold Me Tight ” is that it’s so corny. It’s just cringe inducing. It’s the kind of song that if you’re playing it for friends or other people, it’s going to be a little embarrassing. It’s not the kind of song where you’d play it if someone wants to know what the Beatles sound like, and why they’re so great. I remember when I was young, hearing some older kids making fun of the title “Love Me Do “. It’s part of the Paul bad lyrics syndrome (he also could write great lyrics). It’s a bit twee.
Having said all that, if I’m in the mood (and listening on my own), I can enjoy it.
8.37pm
4 February 2021
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Of the 13 Beatle canon albums I ranked With The Beatles # 12 saying of it: ” Effortless execution. Merging traditional rock and roll stompers and ballads with original pop. A happy place to be.”
Unless Paul McCartney knocks on my door I am unlikely to be impressed.
3.44am
26 January 2017
Offline Ive always preferred Please Please Me to With the Beatles. I think A Hard Days Night is superior to both, but this probably is their most underrated album by me, its one that I don’t put on that often, and maybe the only one I haven’t had an extended stretch of repeat listening. For some reason, and maybe its the visual pairing of the cover, but this album sounds darker to me than any other. Lots of chord progressions in minor keys, and isn’t as upbeat or catchy as PPM .
The following people thank sir walter raleigh for this post:
vonbontee"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
5.17am
30 August 2021
Offline My favouritism tends to vacillate between With the Beatles and Revolver , but the former is certainly the more underrated.
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sir walter raleigh, Rube"Nothing is Beatle-proof."
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