The Beatles - Past Masters, Vol. 1
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Free Music Notes for Past Masters, Vol. 1
Free Music Review: Singles and other fun stuff from the Beatles' early days
Hit: 5 Stars
As we go through life replacing the records and cassettes from our youth with CDs, there is always that well remembered album that is not available. Well, the first record I ever owned was "The Beatles Second Album," which, like "The Beatles First Album" was a American album not to be confused with any of the British albums, which are all that is available on CD. That makes "The Beatles: Past Masters Volume One" important because several of the tracks that were on my first album are preserved on this particular CD. The two "Past Masters" volumes collect all the A and B-sides of the group's singles, along with special EP tracks and the Beatles' two German-language recordings of those immortal classics "Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand" und "Sie Liebt Dich." The liner notes provide an appropriate discography of what was recorded when, how it was released, and where it peaked on the British and American charts. Intellectually I know that the group's later songs, such as "Hey Jude," are "better" than their earlier work, but for some reason listening to the early Beatles makes me feel a lot better. Go figure.Free Music Review: A must-have
Hit: 5 Stars
This album and volume 2 are just brilliant. Some people here have said it's like a duplication of the red and blue albums. But that is so not true. These are songs that were B-Sides, singles and other rarities. Even the songs that were hits that are on this album are the original single versions and not the same as the album tracks. The 12 page booklet contains interesting information on each and every track. One thing I don't understand though, is that my cd contains 18 tracks while Amazon only lists their's as 17. "Slow Down" is on my album but not on Amazon's. Is the U.S release different to the one I bought in Canada? But all the other songs are the same.Free Music Review: The Odd Mixer
Hit: 4 Stars
It's taken me years to fully recognize the brilliance of Ringo Starr's drumming.Listen to the intro and fills on "From Me To You," a tune which was lost in the mania in the US, but became a standard in the UK, where the Beatles used it as their signature tune on the BBC. More obviously, listen to the drum intro to what I consider the greatest early Beatles record, "She Loves You," and the thunder cracks Starr throws when the band returns to the intro prior to the second verse. He could swing, and when people talk about the BEAT in Beatles, they're talking about Starr.
There are 16 good reasons to grab this CD, if you don't already have theses singles in some other form. For my money, the volume pedal George uses on "Yes It Is," Paul's hair-raising Little Richard vocals on the rockers, John's over-the-top ferver on "Bad Boy," and Ringo's drumming throughout are great reasons to own this CD. "She Loves You" is easily one of the very best records ever made.
The German versions of two Beatles tunes are nothing more than a curiosity.
Free Music Review: A must for any classic rock collection
Hit: 5 Stars
The Past Masters collections (of which there are two volumes, this one covering the period from 1962 to 1965) are not greatest hits compilations. Rather, they include all of the Beatles tracks not found on their LP's -- meaning that they include both the A and B sides of singles, as well as assorted rarities. Thus what you get on these collections is a combination of some of the best Beatles classics as well as some of their throaways. This volume is not as strong as the second, containing fewer classics, and a handful of early mediocre B-sides, but it is still mostly great. Plus, you get two tracks of the Beatles singing in German. What more could you want?Free Music Review: Worth It for the German Recordings Alone
Hit: 5 Stars
I lifted this from my dad's CD collection before I moved into my own apartment. (Sorry, Dad!) This is such a great little compilation, as it contains such rare and interesting gems.Here are some stand-outs:
1.) Komm Gib Mir Deine Hand ("I Want to Hold Your Hand") & Sie Leibt Dich ("She Loves You")
As far as I know, these are the only foreign-language versions of their hits the Beatles ever released. As such, they are very difficult to find. Even non German speakers can enjoy them as fun, musical oddities, as the music/sound is the same but the lyrics are quite different.
Here is a quick translation of the German lyrics:
In your arms, I feel lucky and happy. I can't love another, even a little, even a little, even a little.
You, are so pretty. Just like a diamond. I enjoy being with you. I want to hold your hand.
Interesting fact? In the German version of "She Loves You," the Beatles sing, "She loves you -- YEAH YEAH YEAH" not "She loves you -- JA JA JA."
2.) "Long Tall Sally" This version is gritty and heart-thumping.
3.) "This Boy" This sometimes-forgotten tune is tenderly crooned. Were it not for the trademark vocals, I wouldn't have thought it was a Beatles tune.
For a Beatles fan in search of variety and/or lesser-known stuff, this is a must have.