Monday, September 7, 2009

Great Lesser-known Beatles tracks, pre-1966.

The Beatles seem to have a polarizing effect on people - you either love them or hate them.
Even within Beatles fans, you have a) Beatles fans that love their early material at the height of Beatlemania; pre-1966 or b) the fans that really only embrace their experimental studio output once they gave up on touring; 1966-1970.

However, their studio output seems to get more critical praise than their early material. In the shadows of the massively popular Please Please Me's, She Loves You's and I Want To Hold Your Hand's lie truly great and largely overlooked gems from 4 dudes riding a massive wave of creativity way before their egos were inflated beyond repair.

This is a compilation of The Beatles most underrated album tracks, B-sides and EP songs that deserve a second listen:

1. I Should Have Known Better
- "A Hard Day's Night"
One of the last times they used harmonica on a record.

2. Any Time at All
- "A Hard Day's Night"

3. All I've Got To Do
- "With the Beatles"

4. This Boy
- "Past Masters"/B-side to "I Want To Hold Your Hand"
One of few songs to have all 3 singers sing in close harmony.

5. Don't Bother Me
- "With The Beatles"
One of the first songs written by George Harrison.

6. Rain
- "Past Masters"/B side to Paperback Writer
First song to feature backwards vocals and guitars.

7. She Said She Said
- "Revolver"
The only Beatles song that McCartney does not play on.

8. I'll Be Back
- "A Hard Day's Night"

9. I Call Your Name
- "Past Masters"/"Long Tall Sally EP"
Lennon originally gave this song to Billy Kramer & The Dakotas but hated the way they recorded it so he took it and re-recorded it.

10. The Night Before
- "Help!"

11. I'll Follow The Sun
- "For Sale"