The Beatles - Live at the BBC
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Free Music Notes for Live at the BBC
Free Music Review: A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND A HEARTY YEAH, YEAH, YEAH!
Hit: 5 Stars
I really love this collection. Not only is it a real treat for the ears, it is also a nod to the pioneers of rock and roll. It is a history lesson contained on 2 delightful CDs.Inveterate Beatle fans will love this collection; for folks just getting familiar with the Beatles or who prefer the more well known songs, e.g. "Can't Buy Me Love," "A Hard Day's Night" will certainly appreciate all the fine music these CDs have to offer.
Each Beatle is individual, unique and distinct and it is that individuality that shines through like a beacon during their performances and interviews. Their musical blends "Come Together" nicely; George demonstrates excellent, strong lead guitar playing on early rock and roll hits such as "Young Blood," "Lucille" and "Nothin' Shakin." Indeed, it is George Harrison's treatment of such early classics that add to the appeal of this collection; he demonstrated a real flair for rockabilly style.
Ringo maintained a steady beat and provided humorous insights into the Beatle banter of the day; John regaled his listening audience with his gift for natural expression and Paul remained, in a sense, the spokesman. Paul, also could hold his own during a light hearted exchange. However, it is McCartney who provided the most serious answers and insights into Beatle exchanges and issues related to the group. One could regard Paul as the Ambassador; he provides a strong voice of reason and background into the world's most successful band.
Timeless classics such as "Things We Said Today," "A Hard Day's Night" and "Can't Buy Me Love" are included in this collection. Interviews with the Beatles are interspersed throughout the collection; the wide range of songs from early rock classics of the 1950s to their own then current hits make for an enjoyable listening experience. It is truly a lesson in the early days of rock and roll; one listens to the Beatles' interpretations and opinions of the early rock pioneers and one gets a real sense of how these early rockers influenced the Beatles to the extent that they did.
Previously unrecorded Lennon-McCartney tunes such as the haunting "I'll Be On My Way" are included on these CDs. The beautiful ballad was later recorded by Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas, contemporaries of the Beatles who had a short-lived stint in the rock and roll sun. Chuck Berry is honored throughout the collection; John Lennon's treatment of "Too Much Monkey Business" will delight most listeners and certainly encourage people to dance! "Sweet Little Sixteen" and "Roll Over Beethoven" have also been included on these CDs; "Johnny B. Goode" and "Memphis Tennessee" all stand as musical testament to how Chuck Berry strongly influenced the Beatles' sense of music and style.
This collection is such a worthwhile treat. It is truly a gift -- the gift of the Beatles' previously unrecorded work being made available for the listening public. It is something that will certainly be appreciated, loved and played many times.
Free Music Review: Top rate material from the Fab Four
Hit: 4 Stars
The Beatles' only official live document, excluding the 1977 release of LIVE AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL (out of print, thankfully) which was never more of an interesting side note as the screaming fans almost made the band inaudible and the tape quality was simply not that exciting, stands as the long lost link in The Beatle's impeccable legacy as muscicans.Twenty nine of these cuts have been previously unreleased, and while, sadly, there are still a few more cuts from these sessions left in the vaults, this by far and large presents the lion's share of the BBC sessions. What makes this package really first rate are the previously unavailable cuts which would have made a really good double album back in vinyl days. Had they released a double album of just good old fashion rock and roll covers it would stand proud against the rest of their legacy, and beating Dylan to the punch of having the first double album ever. Why a lot of these cuts never made it has always been beyond me. The songs here really shows The Beatles' roots and influences and how they assimilated them into their own sound in the very heights of Beatlemania, that time era of 1963-1965 where no one could get enough of them. While I've never been a fan of The Beatles doing Chuck Berry, they do a cut of his toward the last of Disc 2 (I think it is "Don't Go"), which is really good. Almost all of the cuts were good enough to be included on those first five albums, although the takes themselves may not have been. The sound is generally pristine though because of some of the tape quality it suffers a little on a few cuts but never sinks below listenable, as AMG points out. The rest of the cuts are from their official canon, with such early staples as "Hard Day's Night," "I Saw Her Standing There," "Can't Buy Me Love," and "Things We Said To Day" highlighting the show.
Another very interesting thing is it shows this band playing live, and you can just feel the rush and giddy excitement these boys had, and gives you an insight into why The Beatles have become such a major part of our culture. Very highly recommended as a look at the creative processes of The Beatles and just good solid rock and roll back in the early days before they would move onto lush psychedelic music of the last half of their career. This album has been a staple of my Beatles collection ever since I bought it back in 1998 or '99, and I haven't understood why Amazon did not include this until just recently.
Bottom line: Top rate stuff. Buy it today! This has been out since 1994 and you haven't got it already?????
Free Music Review: Distilled Beatlemania
Hit: 5 Stars
For those not fortunate to hear the fab four in concert, the Live At The BBC double CD affords a glimpse into the group before the trappings of fame and ego metamorphosed into elaborate studio albums and psychedelic anthems.These recordings were captured, in mono, when the group would broadcast on the BBC, a program that continued into early 1965. While the first disc contains many of the cover songs that they honed to perfection in Hamburg, the second CD begins to trace the group after their fame spread across the oceans to the United States. The evolution of their sound is dramatic, as cover songs give way to Lennon/McCartney originals.
Of special interest is the banter among the group members and the MC; you can see why John was the cutup, Ringo the life of the party, and George the quite one, while Paul's charisma shines through.
One wishes that the recordings were in stereo, or that they were as cleaned up as those on the anthology series. Alas, this is isn't so, but this doesn't detract from the importance of the tracks, or the group. It is raw Beatle energy and charm, and should be part of any Beatle fan's discography.
Free Music Review: Live At The BBC
Hit: 5 Stars
This CD will give the listener a view into The Beatles prior to 1964. Many of the songs are from their playlist going back to their Hamburg days. Most of the selections are just the four Beatles, no double tracking, no studio magic, just their normal gig performances, done for the BBC radio microphones. One striking feature to me is the excellence of George Harrison's lead guitar. He is and was one of the very best. His lead work goes beyond what was typical and expected of that day and is a precursor of what rock guitar would become. He is a master of the Rock-a-billy style, yet with a definite Liverpool sound. Their wit, humour, and incredible charisma also is very evident in the chat with the various MCs prior to playing. The CD also gives fascinating insight into the popular music of the early 60s, just prior to the British invasion. Live At The BBC is a must have not only for the Beatles fan, but anyone interested in music history of the 20th Century.Free Music Review: Something for the hardcore Beatles or Rock N' Roll fans
Hit: 4 Stars
You will absolutely love this album as long as you love the Beatles or if you happen to be a fan of the late 50's - early 60's Rock N'Roll.Live at the BBC reveals where the Fab Four came from musically. Most of the songs on this album are covers that the Beatles did in the very first stages of their careers. The covers were done with amazing passion and energy that soon would propel the Beatles to the top of the musical world. 'Johnny B. Goode,' 'Roll over Beethoven,' 'Sweet Little Sixteen,' 'The Hippy Hippy Shake,' 'Dizzy Miss Lizzy,' and 'Rock & Roll Music' are all preformed with relentless fervor, and the listener can definitely feel how much fun those four young kids had recording those songs. The cover of 'You Really Got a Hold on Me' is perhaps a glimpse into the future and reminds of the wonderful harmonies on 'I Want to Hold Your Hand.' Live at the BBC also features the first original compositions by the Beatles such as 'Can't Buy Me Love,' 'Love Me Do.'
The part that I love the most about this album is that it gives you a chance to really appreciate how those four kids changed Music forever. The songs on Live at the BBC exemplify what music had been before Paul, John, Ringo, and George put their brilliance to work - the songs on the album are careless, have very simple melodies and lyrics, sort of resemble each other. The Beatles started revolutionizing music by making it ever more complex both when it came to sound and lyrics. Live at the BBC is a great testimony of the enormous influence the Beatles had.
As I said in the beginning of the review the album is absolutely wonderful. The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because the variety of the material on it is not that great, and the quality of recordings is at times horrendous. That being said, if you love the Beatles - this album definitely has a place in your collection.