But even though this is not the version that millions of baby boomers (like myself) grew up with, it's still an essential album in the Beatles' catalog. Among the originals is their best song never released as a single, "All My Loving." Also Ringo gets a vocal on the song originally given to the Rolling Stones, "I Wanna Be Your Man." And George Harrison gets his first songwriting credit with "Don't Bother Me."

The Beatles raid the Motown vaults for many of the covers. "Please Mr. Postman," "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" and "Money" are highlights. The latter features one of Lennon's best vocals. [It wouldn't be until their next album when they released a collection of all original material.]

All told, this album catches the Beatles while they are still not too far removed from their Cavern Club and Hamburg days. As such, you hear an urgency and energy in their performance that sets their music apart from the rest of the British Invasion that followed. ESSENTIAL


Seriously Under-rated   November 19, 1998
20 out of 21 found this review helpful

I can't get over how critical fans and critics alike are of this wonderful, energetic and fun album. I simply adore it, and it's my number one choice when I need something to get me up and going in the morning! Their youthful energy shines through- this is moons before bitterness, jadedness and egotism crept in. They're just a bunch of kids who enjoyed playing music together, having a great old time recording their originals and covering some classics. This "purity" is what I miss in the later recordings. They seemed to stop loving making music together. But here they are at the pinnacle of fun- and they only got better with A Hard Day's Night (which was originally my favorite early Beatles album, until this one caught me).

My favorite tracks are the rockin' opener "It Won't Be Long", Lennon's gorgeous rendition of "You've Really Got a Hold on Me", George rockin' out on "Roll Over Beethoven", and the driving beat of "I Wanna Be Your Man". And who could forget a classic like Paul's "All My Loving"? And I absolutely love "All I've Got to Do"!

No one will ever compare or even come close to the magic they created. Ever. C'mon! Give this album a chance, people! Appreciate the energy and excitement! It's what started the mania in the first place!


As Significant Now As It Was 40 Years Ago   January 26, 2004
Kim K. (Bayonne, New Jersey)
17 out of 18 found this review helpful

As mentioned already by previous reviewers, this is the British version of Meet The Beatles-which combined a few tunes off their 2nd album with this, their 1st(in the US). I was just a wee lass when these guys arrived on our shores & as soon as I saw them on their very first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, I knew life was never gonna be the same. No matter what age you were if you were around 40 yrs. ago, you realized this was history in the making, the start of something new & exciting in the world of rock & roll music. From the opening cut to the very last, the music sounds just as fresh even now. NY's oldies & classic rock stations will be playing most(if not all)of The Beatles catalog during the month of February. Today's so-called 'boy bands' cannot hold a candle to these guys & all the other great rock/pop bands of the British Invasion of the 1960s. No Beatle album collection is complete without this. Extremely enjoyable & worth 10 Stars.


One of the Beatles strongest early albums.   August 27, 2000
13 out of 13 found this review helpful

Okay, Okay...so the lyrics aren't up to Sgt. Pepper standards --it's still worthwhile to listen to. 'With The Beatles' was released at a time of innocence and decency, so the songs are simplistic. However, the music is to be unmatched. With maybe the exception of "Roll Over Beethoven" and "I wanna be your man", each track is a delightful and delicious melody unto it's own. One of the best kept secrets on the album..heck, best kept secrets in all of the Beatles discography is "All I've got to Do". It has a bluesy feel to it with typical tight Lennon/Macca two part harmony...and one my favorite middle eights they recorded.

Don't overlook "It won't Be Long", and the immortal "All my Loving". After those classic rockers, indulge yourself with Hari's debut track,and a good one to boot "Don't bother Me". Then groovy on down to the rockin harmonica in "Little Child". Alright, now take a rest and enjoy the BEAUTIFUL "Til There was You", one of my favorite Macca ballads. "Please Mr. Postman" and "Hold me Tight" are fine Lennon and McCartney upbeat tracks, even though the former was written by a girl group.

"Devil in Her Heart" is a wonderful sleeper with George on vocals. Lennon ends the album with "Not a Second Time" and "Money", two outstanding tracks.

Okay, from beginning to end..WTB is tight, no filler. Can you say that about most albums today? Actually, can you say that about most albums period?

That's what I thought. Get this!


only for those with ears to hear   February 25, 2000
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

I've read most of the reviews below, and it seems most are doing no more than using this space to air their personal bias about the Beatles. A true shame for those who have never heard this album.

Just for the record: this album catches the Beatles at the first flush of their incredible rise in popularity, and balances their years of experience playing clubs with the freshness of riding the first wave of British Beatlemania. The British public had finally caught on to the Beatles' incredible sound, and the Beatles responded, on this album and Hard Days's Night, with an adreniline rush that is very evident in the grooves (oops, I mean bitstream).

Anyone who knows anything about the early Beatles knows very well that they weren't about silly suits, any more than they were about writing deep lyrics. They were really about music and consolidating all their wonderful influences (R&B, Motown, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Carl Perkins, Elvis, great showtunes) into a wonderful new sound. They were about delivering the finest rock vocals and harmony that those British listeners had every heard. They were about doing their own interpertations of their favorite artists' songs, many times unwittingly blowing the originals away! They were about writing the best songs they could possibly write. Listen carefully to the quality of the individual voices, the quality of the harmonies, and the excitement of the production on this album, and see if you don't get it: the Beatles were, and are, a true musical phenomenon.

It is absurd to say that this doesn't compare to their later work. While growth and change WAS the Beatles, and there is great merit in every phase of their career, there is no way that the later works could match the sense of discovery and excitement that this album conveys. You only expode on the scene once, and this album captures that explosion with the style, grace and musicality that only the Beatles had. They will always have their detractors; there will always be those who do not have the ears to hear, but for the rest of you, if you miss out on this classic, it's your loss, and you only have yourselves to blame.

p.s. This album, possibly more than any of the others, begs for a true remix/remaster from the original four-track session tapes. The latest technology would allow the drums and bass to be moved forward and centered and the voices to fill more of the stereo spectrum. The old mono master tapes were used for this original CD release, and the trasfer was done at the beginning of 1987(and was a horrible trasfer by 1987 standards!). The technology has come a long way since then. Capital, please let us hear these songs the way they could be heard. I have the original Mobile Fidelity vinyl box, and I KNOW how good this can really sound. Don't deprive us any longer!