“With The Beatles” is the second work of the world’s most famous British quartet, composed of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, precisely released in 1963, the same year they debuted with the album “Please Please Me” which turned the music scene upside down, amidst a world of seriousness and elegance.
“With The Beatles” is the beginning of a series of albums that would mark a before and after in the world of music in general, as The Beatles practically pioneered the famous “Pop” genre while incorporating it with Rock N’ Roll.
What can we listen to?
Pure joy, a record that uplifts you with a series of extremely cheerful and fun songs, as well as very easy to listen to. It’s a light-hearted album reflecting the world’s need for music that’s practically for everyone—a music to uplift the world’s spirits without pretensions. All this encapsulated in a series of extraordinary and easily digestible compositions, appealing to practically all types of people, creating an immensely popular work.
A couple of guitars, bass, drums, and four voices were enough to bring life to a legendary work. For having been recorded in 1963, it sounds great, especially the remixed stereo and remastered version, a delight for all the band’s fans, as the album’s enhanced spaciousness makes listening even more enjoyable.
Just as we hear ballads like in “Till There Was You” we can also hear pure Rock N’ Roll with the Chuck Berry cover of “Roll Over Beethoven” or well, very Pop/Rock songs like “Hold Me Tight” or “All My Loving” providing variety within the same concept of a rock band.
Short-duration songs: an effective formula
Listening to “With The Beatles” is effortless due in part to its economical duration, as the entire album spans 33 minutes, with each song averaging around 2 and a half minutes. The songs are varied and have different vocal nuances. Paul McCartney and John Lennon share the lead vocals, with George Harrison in the backing vocals, and Ringo Starr taking the lead on “I Wanna Be Your Man,” giving a special richness both to the album and the band. This influence can be seen in bands like Kiss, where each member has a distinctive role.
George Harrison’s guitar is worth paying attention to, as each chord and arrangement is meticulously calculated. A standout example is the solo in “All My Loving,” one of the best guitar solos in rock history, crafted with careful guitar chords designed almost architecturally.
Each song has a special magic, a nostalgia, and positivity that emanates the charisma of The Beatles, four young Britons who simply wanted to make music for everyone.
George Martin: The Fifth Beatle
Producer George Martin also deserves credit for this album. He was responsible for some arrangements, such as the piano on “Money,” among others. A musical genius who was a perfect fit for the Beatles, and truth be told, if it hadn’t been for him, we might not currently know this globally renowned group.
“With The Beatles” is an album to enjoy actively by paying attention or as background music in a social setting. From our personal point of view, The Beatles invented pop, and this album helped the world listen to music in a different way than it was accustomed to.
What do you think? Leave us your comments!
You can also read our review of their album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”.
