by admin on November 28, 2009
Many people think of The Beatles classic film when they hear “A Hard Day’s Night” but the soundtrack album by the same name was a huge step forward for the band’s songwriting. Their first two albums included only 8 original songs each (along with 6 covers) and quite a few of those originals were not particularly good. A Hard Day’s Night was all originals (no covers) and for the most part these songs were a huge improvement over their previous originals.
From the first distinctive chord of “A Hard Day’s Night” the album has it’s own special feeling. High energy & classic songwriting. This album is filled with brilliant singles like the aforementioned title track that leads off the album & “Can’t Buy Me Love” along with gorgeous ballads like “If I Fell” & “And I Love Her. ”
Sure there are a couple of not so great songs on the album. Particularly I have never been a fan of “When I Get Home” which just sounds like a throwaway to me. I’m not a huge fan of “I Should Have Known Better” and “I’m Happy Just to Dance With You” either but they both have their charms.
One of my very favorite songs on the album is “Things We Said Today” which just has this perfect unique vibe to it. Great acoustic strumming with an irresistible McCartney melody. Perhaps my favorite part of the song is when it goes back into verse on the word “enough. ” It’s largely because of those smart little bits of songwriting that their songs still sound so fresh even 40 years later.
“I’ll Cry Instead” is another one of my favorites. It has sort of a faux country sound to it and I don’t normally get into The Beatles faux country songs. But this one and “I’ve Just Seen a Face” (from Help!) are two notable exceptions. I just love Lennon’s singing on this one. It’s a great catchy melody and while the lyrics are kind of silly, they somehow just work.
The album ends with strongly with “You Can’t Do That” & “I’ll Be Back. ” Both are songs that I didn’t get into much at first for some reason but that I appreciate quite a bit now.
If you are mostly a fan of the later Beatles music, it can sometimes be hard to get into their earlier work. But if you have an open mind and understand the context of the times, I think you can appreciate the brilliant tunes included on A Hard Day’s Night.
One bit of trivia that you may find interesting is that A Hard Day’s Night is the only Beatles album that includes only Lennon/McCartney originals. Why is that? Well, it’s because it’s their only early album that doesn’t include any covers. While many of their later albums are all originals as well, by then George Harrison was contributing at least one song for each album. For example every song on Sgt. Pepper is a Lennon/McCartney original except for Harrison’s “Within You Without You. ”
There’s no doubt that The Beatles took a huge step forward artistically in 1964 with A Hard Day’s Night. Of course we now know that it was only the beginning of many huge steps forward The Beatles would take throughout the 1960s.
Marvin J. Markus recommends you get your daily dose of music trivia at music by day. You can read more about The Beatles there as well.
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by admin on November 28, 2009
Many people think of The Beatles classic film when they hear “A Hard Day’s Night” but the soundtrack album by the same name was a huge step forward for the band’s songwriting. Their first two albums included only 8 original songs each (along with 6 covers) and quite a few of those originals were not particularly good. A Hard Day’s Night was all originals (no covers) and for the most part these songs were a huge improvement over their previous originals.
From the first distinctive chord of “A Hard Day’s Night” the album has it’s own special feeling. High energy & classic songwriting. This album is filled with brilliant singles like the aforementioned title track that leads off the album & “Can’t Buy Me Love” along with gorgeous ballads like “If I Fell” & “And I Love Her. ”
Sure there are a couple of not so great songs on the album. Particularly I have never been a fan of “When I Get Home” which just sounds like a throwaway to me. I’m not a huge fan of “I Should Have Known Better” and “I’m Happy Just to Dance With You” either but they both have their charms.
One of my very favorite songs on the album is “Things We Said Today” which just has this perfect unique vibe to it. Great acoustic strumming with an irresistible McCartney melody. Perhaps my favorite part of the song is when it goes back into verse on the word “enough. ” It’s largely because of those smart little bits of songwriting that their songs still sound so fresh even 40 years later.
“I’ll Cry Instead” is another one of my favorites. It has sort of a faux country sound to it and I don’t normally get into The Beatles faux country songs. But this one and “I’ve Just Seen a Face” (from Help!) are two notable exceptions. I just love Lennon’s singing on this one. It’s a great catchy melody and while the lyrics are kind of silly, they somehow just work.
The album ends with strongly with “You Can’t Do That” & “I’ll Be Back. ” Both are songs that I didn’t get into much at first for some reason but that I appreciate quite a bit now.
If you are mostly a fan of the later Beatles music, it can sometimes be hard to get into their earlier work. But if you have an open mind and understand the context of the times, I think you can appreciate the brilliant tunes included on A Hard Day’s Night.
One bit of trivia that you may find interesting is that A Hard Day’s Night is the only Beatles album that includes only Lennon/McCartney originals. Why is that? Well, it’s because it’s their only early album that doesn’t include any covers. While many of their later albums are all originals as well, by then George Harrison was contributing at least one song for each album. For example every song on Sgt. Pepper is a Lennon/McCartney original except for Harrison’s “Within You Without You. ”
There’s no doubt that The Beatles took a huge step forward artistically in 1964 with A Hard Day’s Night. Of course we now know that it was only the beginning of many huge steps forward The Beatles would take throughout the 1960s.
Marvin J. Markus recommends you get your daily dose of music trivia at music by day. You can read more about The Beatles there as well.
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by admin on October 26, 2009
Unfortunately, I found that many people think that the Beatles as the group that sings songs like "She Loves You" & "Can not Buy Me Love." While these simple early tunes are great and have lasted the test of time. It's The Beatles more artistic, experimental songs that I feel are their true heritage. They are songs that inspire are always thinking of music artists for nearly 40 years after they last recorded together.
These seven songs of the Beatles were at their most experimental. Not all these songs are among their best (although some certainly are), but they are all a valuable part of the Beatles catalog back to me.
# 1 "What's The New Mary Jane"
This song is only included John Lennon, George Harrison and John Lennon soon be the wife Yoko Ono. He has not actually been released as The Beatles Anthology 3. It was for The Beatles' incredible 1968 double album called The White Album (it was actually self titled.) It was not included due to time constraints.
The song includes a piano part simple, bizarre lyrics, and crazy sound effects. The last 4 minutes of the song is basically just Spacey sound effects. This is certainly one of those songs that is quite difficult to describe with words. This is definitely a real trip.
# 2 "Revolution # 9"
8 minutes This track was included on the White Album and it has become perhaps the title of the Beatles most infamous. Many hate. Some love it. Count me among those he loves. Do not get me wrong, I do not listen to whenever I put the album on, not what kind of track. But when I listen, I always find fascinating.
# 3 "Tomorrow Never Knows"
Incredibly the last track on Revolver, "Tomorrow Never Knows" was actually the first song recorded for the album. I think it's incredible that song, even after 42 years still sounds like the future. With the words of the book The Psychedelic Experience (which was based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead), the guitars back, insane loops soundtracks, it was a song that struck thousands of years removed from the MOP hits in just 2 years earlier.
# 4 "Wild Honey Pie"
It is a strange song that was entirely sung and played by Paul McCartney. It is simply the refrain "Honey Pie" and some weird guitar resonance.
# 5 "I Am The Walrus"
Perhaps the most perfect songs of the Beatles psychedelic weird. It is endlessly listenable as there are so many layers that you can literally hear something they have never heard before on their 1000th listen.
This was the Beatles at the height of the studio "as an" instrument of phase and it is always inspiring countless musicians experimental rock to date. Forget "I Want To Hold Your Hand," It's all about "I Am The Walrus".
# 6 "Strawberry Fields Forever"
If "Strawberry Fields Forever" is not as bizarre as "I Am The Walrus", it is probably even more perfect. It's a really brilliant song and a bit like "I Am The Walrus" is an incredible example of the studio "as an instrument" aesthetic that the Beatles developed in 1967.
# 7 "Within You Without You"
I think this song is often not the case. And yes, it's very experimental. A "pop" song with a very instrumental on the Indians? Of course there was "Love You To" & "The Inner Light" before, but it took it to the next level. I think it's a brilliant song that takes on Sgt. Pepper perfectly. It is a journey through some weird carnival and you have to make a stopover in India while you are there, of course.
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