And the revolution begins. The last Beatles record to feature traces of the band’s early rock and roll influences, Beatles for Sale also functions as a harbinger of what was to come, as John Lennon’s songwriting reflects his embrace of Bob Dylan’s folk rock. There’s also a distinctive change in moods. The record opens with a trio of darker-flavored material, “No Reply,” “I’m a Loser,” and “Baby’s In Black” much more despairing than anything the quartet had previously attempted.
Part of Capitol/Apple’s quintessential Beatles catalog masters series on LP, Beatles for Sale has been remastered by a dedicated team of engineers that includes Guy Massey, Steve Rooke, and Sam Okell with Paul Hicks and Sean Magee. Proper care and a painstaking series of steps were taken to ensure that music lovers would hear the Fab Four in all their stereo glory with unprecedented clarity and transparency.
Recorded only four months after A Hard Day’s Night, the effort involves much of the same repeat echo techniques yet also adds a few new wrinkles. “Everybody’s Trying to Be My Baby” and “Rock and Roll Music” are enhanced with extra slap-back echo to pay homage to band’s early influences. This pressing opens up the previous veil, allowing the effects to be more prevalent and detailed.
In addition, there’s a more solid drum foundation, thanks to Ringo’s acquisition of a larger 22-inch Ludwig kick drum. Again, this LP pressing brings the instrumentation to the fore in a way never before imaginable. Same goes for the myriad percussive accents and the nylon-string Jose Ramirez acoustic guitar that appears on several tracks. Combined with the move toward songwriting that addresses weariness and bleakness, shifts that balance the go-for-all romp of covers such as “Kansas City/Hey! Hey! Hey!,” the Beatles turned in what was then their most diverse—and unexpected—record to date.
Tracklist:
No Reply
2. I'm A Loser
3. Baby's In Black
4. Rock And Roll Music
5. I'll Follow The Sun
6. Mr. Moonlight
7. Kansas City : Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey!
8. Eight Days A Week
9. Words Of Love
10. Honey Don't
11. Every Little Thing
13. What You're Doing
14. Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby
