I’ve gone 101 songs without once picking The Beatles, so I’m remedying that now by dedicating a whole theme week to the world’s greatest band.
Today through Friday, I will highlight a song from each of The Beatles’ first five albums, in order. These are the albums that preceded Rubber Soul, Revolver and Sgt. Pepper’s, and for my money they contain many of the greatest songs ever written.
Please Please Me, The Beatles’ debut album, was famously recorded in under ten hours. In stark contrast to the polished, experimental studio work they would do later in their career, this album basically captured their live show on tape with very few overdubs.
John and Paul wrote eight of the album’s 14 songs, including the hits ‘Love Me Do,’ ‘Please Please Me,’ ‘I Saw Her Standing There’ and ‘Do You Want to Know a Secret?’ Wow. That’s just on one album… their first. They were legends, right out of the gate.
‘There’s a Place’ is a very simple song, like many of these early tunes, but it hinted at a depth to come on future albums. While most of the early hits were frivolous love songs, this one was more introspective — the “place” in the title is the singer’s mind, where he escapes his loneliness.
When I feel low, when I feel blue.
And it’s my mind,
And there’s no time when I’m alone.
Meet Me In Montauk 
I look forward to the week of Beatle music. They have written some of the best songs ever–they deserve a whole week! I’m sure you’ll play some of my favorites 🙂
Funny how the word “introspective” doesn’t seem to fit when the music begins to play 🙂 This music, like much of what is written for this first album, is just soooo much fun. I wonder if it’s possible to listen to this song and not tap your foot or bop your head and chair dance. I defy you to try 🙂
I, too, look forward to Beatles week, though I’m wondering what this will do to the election day songs I imagined you were sorting through. Will you suspend the theme for a day? Choose an appropriate song off of the next album in sequence? Or completely ignore the election completely?! Which I simply cannot fathom.
Regardless, I’m confident that this blog’s song-a-day’s foray into the Beatles catalogue will be more successful that American Idol’s was (as evidenced by the Kristy Lee video I shared on an earlier blog). I look forward to hearing some old favorites and discovering some new gems.
I too look forward to the Beatles week, but, at the risk of being a contrarian, I admit to not being a huge fan of this album. With the possible exception of I Saw Her Standing There and Do you Wanna Know a Secret, I find much of this early work kinda lame. Love Me Do has always annoyed me. Never cared for Misery or Please Please Me. The covers are okay–particuarly Twist and Shout, but Taste of Honey annoys me as well. Your pick for song of the day is okay, but would any song on this album make your top 20 favorite Beatles songs? Top 20? They wouldn’t for me.
For me, The Beatles hit their stride with A Hard Day’s Night and vaulted into another realm with Rubber Soul. I suspect that if I were putting together my Beatles Top 20, the first contender would be If I Fell from Hard Day’s Night, then Ticket to Ride and Yesterday from Help.
Anyway, I am looking forward to Wednesday’s song when Clay professes his love for our new first lady with And I Love Her:)
No, I don’t imagine anything from this album would make it on my top 20 Beatles songs. But I do have a lot of affection for the album because it is their first shot across the bow, so to speak.