FEATURE:
Childhood Treasures: Albums That Impacted Me
The Beatles - The Beatles/1962-1966
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IN the first part of a mini-series…
IN THIS PHOTO: The Beatles in 1963/PHOTO CREDIT: Mirrorpix
where I look at albums that made an impact on me as a child, I spent some time with Michael Jackson’s 1987 album Bad. I was aware of Jackson before that but, as a young child, it opened my eyes to Pop music. It is such a stunning album that has songs that lodge themselves in your head. I love other Jackson albums such as Off the Wall, Thriller and Dangerous. In the next edition, I will focus on an album by a very important woman in music. Today, it is all about my favourite band. The Beatles came into my life as early as I can remember. In the family household, there were cassettes – though most of the music from The Beatles was on vinyl. From Abbey Road to Revolver, I was being exposed to these timeless albums. In terms of getting a real sense of The Beatles and the breadth of their music, the compilations known as the ‘red’ and ‘blue’ albums were important. The latter looked at their later-career work. It was the ‘Red Album’ that struck me hardest. With its title of The Beatles/1962-1966, many of their best-known early songs are on the album. I think a lot of people who are fans of The Beatles discovered their music through those red and blue compilation albums. As much as I love the later work, the brilliance and simplicity of the earliest singles mean more to me. Pop songwriting at its very finest, songs such as She Loves You and Eight Days a Week have been unrivalled since they were released.
It is worth bringing together some background and information about the compilation. The 1973-released The Beatles/1962-1966 was certainty popular:
“1962–1966 (also known as the "Red Album") is a compilation album of hit songs by the English rock band the Beatles, spanning the years indicated in the title. Released with its counterpart 1967–1970 (the "Blue Album") in 1973, the double LP peaked at number 3 in the United Kingdom. In the United States, it topped the Cash Box albums chart and peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart while 1967–1970 reached the top spot. The album was re-released in September 1993 on compact disc, charting at number 3 in the UK.
The album was instigated by Apple Records manager Allen Klein shortly before he was dismissed from his position. Even though the group had success with cover versions of songs, particularly "Twist and Shout", 1962–1966 contains only songs composed by the Beatles. The album omits any George Harrison compositions from the era, such as "Taxman", as the content is entirely Lennon–McCartney originals”.
Whereas the studio albums will always be important, so many people now will turn to the red and blue compilations to discover The Beatles. When it comes to a band with such brilliance in their catalogue, there are always going to be songs missing. At twenty-six tracks, we get to hear earliest cuts like Love Me Do (the band’s debut single) to Revolver’s Eleanor Rigby. Some would say songs such as P.S. I Love You, And Your Bird Can Sing and The Night Before should be in the pack. For me, I got a good impression of The Beatles’ career and evolution. I then sought out the studio albums to discover even more.
Whilst I have opted to feature The Beatles/1962-1966, it is clear that the second compendium, The Beatles/1967-1970 is also important. The Beatles Bible discussed why the compilations were released and how important they are:
“The Red and Blue albums were compiled and released in the spring of 1973, a year when the legend of The Beatles was even bigger than it had been when the group was together. Three years after the break-up, all four former Beatles were enjoying enormous solo success.
Less greatest hits collections than surveys of The Beatles' high points, the two double albums became essential introductions for fans who came aboard after The Beatles broke up. For millions of music lovers born after the mid-fifties, these have been and always will be where The Bealtes experience begins.
Also, by 1973 it was becoming clear that the breakup of The Beatles was not going to be, as many had believed, a temporary thing. There was still widespread hope that they would reunite at some point, but their continued success as solo artists made it apparent that the four former Beatles were serious about going their separate ways. The Beatles had never had a career spanning Best-Of or Greatest Hits - in a very real senses all of their LPs were Greatest Hits albums. They had more hit singles that could fit on even a double album, and to complicate things, some of the group's most important songs - "A Day In The Life", The Fool On The Hill", and in England even Yesterday - were not released as singles.
The Red and Blue albums had to tell The Beatles' story in limited time, necessarily leaving out many big songs while conveying a sense of the whole history of the group
The Red and Blue albums do a superb job of condensing a rich and complicated musical journey into four discs that move easily through a range of styles. Through all the changes we always feel at home - because we are in the company of John, Paul, George and Ringo. They never let us down.
Bill Flanagan
Author - Evening's Empire
June 2010”.
In future features, I am going to spotlight albums that affected me as a young child – and up to when I entered high school. Thinking about my earliest music discovery years, The Beatles were as important as any other act. I know that I feature them a lot in some capacity. There is a reason for that. Over three decades after I first heard them, their music is so transformative. It is definitely an album that I cannot be without. As I said, a female artist will feature in the next part. For now, a chance to mark the crucial relevance and power of The Beatles/1962-1966. It is a compilation album that will never…
LEAVE my collection.