Beatles For Sale - The Beatles

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Vinyl L.P • Mono • Parlophone Records • PMC 1240.
1964 • U.K.

 Back cover.

 Inner gatefold.

 Labels.

Liner notes:

Side One

1 NO REPLY (Lennon-McCartney)

   Double tracked John. Occasionally Paul. George joins both on chorus.

2 I'M A LOSER (Lennon-McCartney)

   Mainly John. Short passages by John and Paul.

3 BABY'S IN BLACK (Lennon-McCartney)

   John and Paul

4 ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC (Berry)

   John.

5 I'LL FOLLOW THE SUN (Lennon-McCartney)

   Paul, double tracked here and there.

6 MR. MOONLIGHT (Johnson)

   John.

7 KANSAS CITY/HEY-HEY-HEY-HEY! (Leiber-Stoller)

   Paul

Side Two

1 EIGHT DAYS A WEEK (Lennon-McCartney)

   John and Paul. Occasionally George.

2 WORDS OF LOVE (Holly)

   John and Paul.

3 HONEY DON'T (Perkins)

   Ringo sings.

4 EVERY LITTLE THING (Lennon-McCartney)

   John and Paul.

5 I DON'T WANT TO SPOIL THE PARTY (Lennon-McCartney)

   John and Paul.

6 WHAT YOU'RE DOING (Lennon-McCartney)

   Paul.

7 EVERYBODY'S TRYING TO BE MY BABY (Perkins)

   George sings.

Recording first published 1964.

 

BEATLES FOR SALE 

This is the fourth by the four, ‘Please Please Me’, ‘With The Beatles’, ‘Hard Day’s Night’. That’s three. Now… ‘Beatles For Sale’.

The young men themselves aren’t for sale. Money, noisy though it is, doesn’t talk that loud. But you can buy this album – you probably have, unless you’re just browsing, in which case don’t leave any dirty thumbprints on the sleeve!

It isn’t all currency or current though. There’s a priceless history between these covers. None of us is getting any younger. When, in a generation or so, a radio-active, cigar-smoking child, picnicking on Saturn, asks you what the Beatle affair was all about – ‘Did you actually know them?’ – don’t try to explain all about the long hair and the screams! Just play the child a few tracks from this album and he’ll probably understand what it was all about. The kids of AD2000 will draw from the music much the same sense of well-being and warmth as we do today.

For the magic of the Beatles is, I suspect, timeless and ageless. It has broken all frontiers and barriers. It has cut through differences of race, age and class. It is adored by the world.

This album has some lovely samples of Beatle music. It has, for instance, eight new titles wrought by the incomparable John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and, mingling with the new, there are six numbers culled from the rhythmic wealth of the past extraordinary decade; pieces like Kansas City, and Rock and Roll Music. Marvellous.

Many hours and hard day’s nights of devoted industry went into the production of this album, it isn’t a potboiling quick-sale any-old-thing-will-do-for-Christmas mixture.

At least three of the Lennon-McCartney songs were seriously considered as single releases until John popped with I Feel Fine. These three were Eight Days A Week, No Reply and I’m A Loser. Each would have topped the charts, but as it is they are an adornment to this LP, and a lesson to other artists. As on other albums, the Beatles have tossed in far more value than the market usually demands.

These are few gimmicks or recording tricks, though for effect, the Beatles and their recording manager George Martin, have slipped in some novelties. Like Paul on Hammond organ to introduce drama into Mr. Moonlight, which also, and for the first time, has George Harrison applying a thump to an elderly African drum because Ringo was busy elsewhere in the studio, playing bongos. George’s thump remains on the track. The bongos were later dropped. Ringo plays timpani in Every Little Thing, and on the Rock and Roll Music track George Martin joins John and Paul on one piano. On Words Of Love, Ringo plays a packing case.

Beyond this, it is straightforward 1964 disc-making. Quite the best of its kind in the world. There is little or nothing on the album which cannot be reproduced on stage, which is, as students and critics of pop-music know, not always the case.

Here it is then. The best album yet – quite definitely, says John, Paul, George and Ringo – full of everything which made the four the biggest attraction the world has ever known. Full of raw John and melodic Paul; a number from George, and a bonus from Ringo. For those who like to know who does precisely what, there are details alongside each title.

DEREK TAYLOR

Produced by GEORGE MARTIN                             Photography by ROBERT FREEMAN 

The Beatles:

John Lennon: Lead, harmony and backing vocals; acoustic and rhythm guitars; harmonica; tambourine, handclaps.

Paul McCartney: Lead, harmony and backing vocals; bass and acoustic guitars; piano, Hammond organ; handclaps.

George Harrison: Harmony and backing vocals; lead (6- and 12-string) and acoustic guitars; African drum, handclaps; lead vocals (Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby).

Ringo Starr: Drums, tambourine, maracas, timpani, cowbell, packing case, bongos; lead vocals (Honey Don't).

Other musicians:

George Martin: Piano.

Credits:

Producer: George Martin.

Engineers: Norman Smith, Geoff Emerick, Ken Scott, Mike Stone, Ron Pender, A.B Lincoln, Tony Clark.

Recorded: 11 August – 26 October 1964.

Studio: EMI Studios, London, U.K.

Released: 4 December, 1964.

Lyrics:

No Reply.

(Lennon-McCartney)

This happened once before, 

When I came to your door, 

No reply. 

They said it wasn't you, 

But I saw you peep through your window, 

I saw the light, I saw the light, 

I know that you saw me, 

'cause I looked up to your face. 

I tried to telephone, 

They said you were not home, 

That's a lie, 

'cause I know where you've been, 

I saw you walk in your door, 

I nearly died, I nearly died, 

'cause you walked hand in hand 

With another man in my place. 

If I were you'd realize that I 

Love you more than any other guy, 

And I'll forgive the lies that I 

Heard before when you gave me no reply. 

I've tried to telephone, 

They said you were not home, 

That's a lie, 

'cause I know where you've been, 

I saw you walk in your door, 

I nearly died, I nearly died, 

'cause you walked hand in hand 

With another man in my place. 

No reply, no reply.

I'm a Loser.

(Lennon-McCartney)

I'm a loser 

I'm a loser 

And I'm not what I appear to be.

Of all the love I have won or have lost 

There is one love I should never have crossed 

She was a girl in a million, my friend 

I should have known she would win in the end.

I'm a loser 

And I lost someone who's near to me 

I'm a loser 

And I'm not what I appear to be.

Although I laugh and I act like a clown 

Beneath this mask I am wearing a frown 

My tears are falling like rain from the sky 

Is it for her or myself that I cry.

I'm a loser 

And I lost someone who's near to me 

I'm a loser 

And I'm not what I appear to be.

What have I done to deserve such a fate 

I realize I have left it too late 

And so it's true, pride comes before a fall 

I'm telling you so that you won't lose all.

I'm a loser 

And I lost someone who's near to me 

I'm a loser 

And I'm not what I appear to be.

Baby's In Black.

(Lennon-McCartney)

Oh dear, what can I do? 

Baby's in black and I'm feeling blue, 

Tell me, oh what can I do? 

She thinks of him and so she dresses in black, 

And though he'll never come back, she's dressed in black.

Oh dear, what can I do? 

Baby's in black and I'm feeling blue, 

Tell me, oh what can I do? 

I think of her, but she only thinks of him, 

And though it's only a whim, she thinks of him. 

Oh how long will it take, 

Till she sees the mistake she has made? 

Dear what can I do? 

Baby's in black and I'm feeling blue, 

Tell me, oh what can I do? 

Oh how long it will take, 

Till she sees the mistake she has made? 

Dear what can I do? 

Baby's in black and I'm feeling blue, 

Tell me, oh what can I do? 

She thinks of him and so she dresses in black, 

And though he'll never come back, she's dressed in black. 

Oh dear, what can I do? 

Baby's in black and I'm feeling blue, 

Tell me, oh what can I do?

Rock And Roll Music.

(Chuck Berry)

Just let me hear some of that rock and roll music 

Any old way you choose it 

It's got a back beat, you can't lost it, 

Any old time you use it 

It's gotta be rock roll music 

If you wanna dance with me 

If you wanna dance with me.

I've got no kick against modern jazz 

Unless they try to play it too darn fast 

And change the beauty of the melody 

Until they sound just like a symphony.

That's why I go for that that rock and roll music 

Any old way you choose it 

It's got a back beat, you can't lost it, 

Any old time you use it 

It's gotta be rock roll music 

If you wanna dance with me 

If you wanna dance with me.

I took my loved one over 'cross the tracks 

So she can hear my man awail a sax 

I must admit they have a rockin' band 

Man, they were goin' like a hurrican'.

That's why I go for that that rock and roll music 

Any old way you choose it 

It's got a back beat, you can't lost it, 

Any old time you use it 

It's gotta be rock roll music 

If you wanna dance with me 

If you wanna dance with me.

Way down South they gave a jubilee 

The jokey folks they had a jamboree 

They're drinkin' home brew from a water cup 

The folks dancin' got all shook up.

And started playin' that that rock and roll music 

Any old way you choose it 

It's got a back beat, you can't lost it, 

Any old time you use it 

It's gotta be rock roll music 

If you wanna dance with me 

If you wanna dance with me.

Don't care to hear 'em play a tango 

I'm in the mood to gear a mambo 

It's way to early for a congo 

So keep a rockin' that piano.

So I can gear some of that rock and roll music 

Any old way you choose it 

It's got a back beat, you can't lost it, 

Any old time you use it 

It's gotta be rock roll music 

If you wanna dance with me 

If you wanna dance with me.

I'll Follow The Sun.

(Lennon-McCartney)

One day you'll look to see I've gone. 

For tomorrow may rain, so I'll follow the sun. 

Some day you'll know I was the one. 

But tomorrow may rain, so I'll follow the sun. 

And now the time has come 

And so my love I must go. 

And though I lose a friend, 

In the end you'll know, oooh. 

One day you'll find that I have gone. 

For tomorrow may rain, so I'll follow the sun. 

Yes, tomorrow may rain, so I'll follow the sun. 

And now the time has come 

And so my love I must go. 

And though I lose a friend, 

In the end you'll know, oooh. 

One day you'll find that I have gone. 

For tomorrow may rain, so I'll follow the sun.

Mr. Moonlight.

(Roy Lee Johnson)

Mr. Moonlight 

You came to me one summernight and from your beam you made my dream, 

And from the world you sent my girl and from above you sent us love, 

And now she's mine. 

I think you're fine 'cause we love you, Mr. Moonlight. 

Mr. Moonlight, come again please, here I am on my knees, 

Begging if you please, and the nights you don't come my way. 

I'll pray and pray more each day, 'cause we love you, Mr. 

Moonlight, 

Mr. Moonlight.

Kansas City / Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey!

(Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller / Richard Penniman)

Ah Kansas City 

Going to get my baby back home 

I'm going to Kansas City 

Going to get my baby back home 

Well its a long long time too 

My baby's been gone.

Ah, Kansas City 

Going get my baby one time 

I'm going to Kansas City 

Going get my baby one time 

Its a just a 1-2-3-4, 

5-6-7-8-9.

Hey hey hey hey 

(hey hey hey hey) 

Hey, baby 

(hey, baby) 

Ooh now girl 

(yeah, yeah) 

I said yeah now, huh 

(girl, girl) 

Now now now now tell me baby 

What's been wrong with you.

Hey hey hey hey 

(hey hey hey hey) 

Hey now baby 

(hey baby) 

Ooh now girl 

(yeah, yeah) 

I said yeah now, huh 

(girl, girl) 

Now now now now tell me baby 

What's been wrong with you.

I said bye 

(bye bye bye bye) 

Bye bye baby bye bye 

(bye bye bye bye) 

So long 

(so long so long) 

Bye bye baby I'm gone 

(bye bye bye bye) 

I said bye bye baby 

Bye, bye, bye, bye.

Bye now bye 

(bye bye bye bye) 

Bye now baby bye 

(bye bye bye bye) 

....

Eight Days A Week.

(Lennon-McCartney)

Ooh I need your love babe, 

Guess you know it's true. 

Hope you need my love babe, 

Just like I need you. 

Hold me, love me, hold me, love me. 

Ain't got nothin'but love babe, 

Eight days a week. 

Love you ev'ry day girl, 

Always on my mind. 

One thing I can say girl, 

Love you all the time. 

Hold me, love me, hold me, love me. 

Ain't got nothin'but love babe, 

Eight days a week. 

Eight days a week 

I love you. 

Eight days a week 

Is not enough to show I care. 

Ooh I need your love babe, ... 

Eight days a week ... 

Love you ev'ry ... 

Eight days a week. Eight days a week. Eight days a week.

Words Of Love.

(Buddy Holly)

Hold me close and tell me how you feel 

Tell me love is real 

Words of love you whisper soft and true 

Darling I love you.

Let me hear you say the words I long to hear 

Darling when you're near 

Words of love you whisper soft and true 

Darling I love you.

Honey Don't.

(Carl Perkins)

Well how can you say you will when you won't, 

Say you do, baby, when you don't? 

Tell the truth now, is love real? 

But oh well honey don't, well honey don't, 

Honey don't, honey don't, honey don't 

I say you will when you won't, oh honey, don't. 

Well I love you, baby, and you ought to know 

I like the way you wear your clothes, 

Everything about you is so doggone sweet, 

You got that sand all over your feet. 

"Oh, rock on George, one time for me"

"I feel fine"

"I'm sad"

Well sometimes I love you on a Saturday night, 

Sunday morning you don't look right. 

You've been out painting the town, 

uh baby, been stepping around. 

"Oh, rock on George, for Ringo one time"

Every Little Thing.

(Lennon-McCartney)

When I'm walking beside her 

People tell me I'm lucky. 

Yes, I know I'm a lucky guy. 

I remember the first time 

I was lonely without her. 

Can't stop thinking about her now. 

Every little thing she does, 

She does for me, yeah. 

And you know the things she does, 

She does for me, oooh. 

When I'm with her I'm happy 

Just to know that she loves me. 

Yes, I know that she loves me now. 

There is one thing I'm sure of, 

I will love her forever. 

For I know love will never die. 

Every little thing she does, 

She does for me, yeah. 

And you know the things she does, 

She does for me, oooh. 

Every little thing she does, 

She does for me, yeah. 

And you know the things she does, 

She does for me, oooh. 

Every little thing. 

Every little thing. 

Every little...

I Don't Want To Spoil The Party.

(Lennon-McCartney)

I don't want to spoil the party so I'll go, 

I would hate my disappointment to show, 

There's nothing for me here so I will disappear, 

If she turns up while I'm gone please let me know. 

I've had a drink or two and I don't care, 

There's no fun in what I do if she's not there, 

I wonder what went wrong I've waited far too long, 

I think I'll take a walk and look for her. 

Though tonight she's made me sad, 

I still love her, 

If I find her I'll be glad, 

I still love her. 

I don't want to spoil the party so I'll go, 

I would hate my disappointment to show, 

There's nothing for me here so I will disappear, 

If she turns up while I'm gone please let me know. 

Though tonight she's made me sad, 

I still love her, 

If I find her I'll be glad, 

I still love her. 

I've had a drink or two and I don't care, 

There's no fun in what I do if she's not there, 

I wonder what went wrong I've waited far too long, 

I think I'll take a walk and look for her.

What You're Doing?

(Lennon-McCartney)

Look what you're doing, I'm feeling blue and lonely, 

Would it be too much to ask you, 

What you're doing to me? 

You got me running and there's no fun in it, 

Why should it be so much to ask of you, 

What you're doing to me? 

I've been waiting here for you, 

Wond'ring what you're gonna do, 

Should you need a love that's true, 

It's me. 

Please stop your lying, you've got me crying, girl, 

Why should it be so much to ask of you, 

What you're doing to me? 

What you're doing to me.

Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby.

(Carl Perkins)

Well they took some honey from the tree, 

Dressed it up and they called it me. 

Everybody's trying to be my baby, 

Everybody's trying to be my baby, 

Everybody's trying to be my baby now. 

Woke up last night, half past four, 

Wicked woman knocking at my door. 

Went out last night, I didn't stay late, 

Called her home, had a nice teen date.

Memorabilia:

Robert Freeman's cover shot of Beatles For Sale.

Other editions included on this site:

Vinyl:

• L.P U.K • Stereo • Parlophone Records • PCS 3062.

Compact Disc:

• C.D U.K • 1987 • Mono • Parlophone Records • CDP 7 46438 2.
• C.D E.U • 2009 • Stereo Box Set • EMI Records / Apple Records • 0946 3 82414 2 3.
• C.D U.S.A  • 1987 • Mono • Parlophone Records • CDP 7 46438 2.
• C.D Japan • 2009 • Mono Box Set • Apple Records • TOCP-71044 / 5099969945526.
• C.D Canada • 1987 • EMI Music Canada • C2 07777 7 46438 2 5.
• C.D Germany • Mono • Parlophone Records • CDP 746438 2.

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