#27: Roll Over Beethoven

Written by: Chuck Berry
Released: November 22nd, 1963
Appears on: with the beatles
Lead vocal: George

Side two of with the beatles kicks off like a firecracker with Chuck Berry's immortal "Roll Over Beethoven" (here's a really cool performance by Berry). Every rock and roll artist has probably always dreamed about being able to get on stage and rip off that guitar intro (I have and I can't even play guitar) and The Beatles got to do it numerous times as the song became a stage favorite. George was the perfect vocal choice, considering that he'd been doing it since Hamburg and the fact that he's the lead guitarist, so why not let him sing one of the ultimate guitar songs?

An interesting historical note (coming from Bruce Spizer's fascinating books): When Capitol of Canada issued "Roll Over Beethoven" as a single after "I Want To Hold Your Hand", it became a top-ten single. Capitol in the US was actually considering issuing the single here, especially since imported copies of the Canadian single charted on Billboard. However, when George Martin caught wind of this idea, he told them to just wait a few weeks for "Can't Buy Me Love". Martin hated the idea that The Beatles' next his single might not only be a cover, but an older recording that didn't reflect how the group was at the time.

I find it interesting that, unlike many of the group's other covers, "Roll Over Beethoven" is able to stand next to Berry's original. I think everyone in the general public know that it is a cover and by one of the greats in rock and roll, whereas songs like "Twist And Shout" or "'Til There Was You" became part of America's conscious thanks to the Beatles. "Roll Over Beethoven" was a song that everyone knew in 1964 as a Chuck Berry song, yet people also warmed up to the idea of this British band succeeding with an American standard. This even surprised Capitol. Meet The Beatles! was built on the originals of with the beatles and the only cover they put on it was "'Til There Was You" because why would Americans want to hear American songs done by British musicians? The success of the Canadian "Roll Over Beethoven" 45 convinced Capitol that people would love to hear the Beatles no matter what song they do, so The Beatles' Second Album was built on the remaining covers. The front even advertised "Roll Over Beethoven" along with "She Loves You" as the hits on the album!

#26: Please Mr. Postman

Written by: Georgia Dobbins, William Garrett, Brian Holland, Robert Bateman & Freddie Gorman
Released: November 22nd, 1963
Appears on: with the beatles
Lead vocal: John

It took a while for the Beatles to shed their girl-group infatuation (see "Chains", "Boys" and "Baby It's You"), but I think we're all thankful that they kicked that bucket after with the beatles.

"Please Mr. Postman" was recorded by The Marvelettes and became the first number one record for Motown (although still Tamla at the time). The original speaks for itself and is a piece of pure rock 'n' roll heaven (it can be found here).

Of course, the Beatles give a fairly good performance of it, but this is one of those rare cases where the Beatles did not really better the song. It's a nice little corner of the album and just a case of the boys performing a favorite song of theirs, but there are better covers on with the beatles.

#25: 'Til There Was You

Written by: Meredith Wilson
Released: November 22nd, 1963
Appears on: with the beatles
Lead vocal: Paul

Paul's performance of Meredith Wilson's show tune from The Music Man is one of those that just pull at everything you've got. It's touching and sentimental and so perfect. It's not only his vocal (since we've been forgiving him for 46 years of hearing "sawr", I think we can go a few more), but George gives this mind-blowing guitar performance that just blows anything he had done prior out of the water. Anybody who says that George wasn't that great just has to listen to his solo to be proven wrong.

The Beatles constantly brought out "'Til There Was You" as the example of their versatility. Please Please Me had "A Taste Of Honey", but "'Til There Was You" became the favorite. In fact, it is the only cover from with the beatles that Capitol chose to issue on Meet The Beatles! and it was performed during the 1964 world tour.

There are two very famous performances of "'Til There Was You" by The Beatles. The first was at the Royal Command Variety show on November 4, 1963. There, Paul introduces the song as a slower number by one of their favorite American 'groups' - Sophie Tucker!

The second big performance was during the first Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964. The funny thing about that is that their names appear on the screen and John's shows "sorry girls - he's married!".

Paul performed the song on his US 2006 tour, which had actually been the first time he did it on stage since doing it with the Beatles in 1964.

#24: Little Child

Written by: John Lennon & Paul McCartney
Released: November 22nd, 1963
Appears on: with the beatles
Lead vocal: John

While there's not much to "Little Child" aside from John's really awesome vocal, it is interesting technically. On Please Please Me, John was never heard singing and playing the harmonica...at the same time. "Little Child" is easily one of the first examples of The Beatles overdubbing, at least in such an obvious way (Please Please Me does include the trick harmony on "A Taste Of Honey", but the work on "Little Child" is much more extensive).

Nevertheless, "Little Child" is obviously a party track...and a fantastic one at that.

#23: Don't Bother Me

Written by: George Harrison
Released: November 22nd, 1963
Appears on: with the beatles
Lead vocal: George

Most groups are lucky if they have one good songwriter. The Beatles not only were blessed with two...but three.

Sure, George's "Don't Bother Me" isn't anything special. In I, Me, Mine, George wrote that it came about while he was sick in bed and thought he would write a song 'just to see if I could do it'. This obviously would lead to a song about how you want people to just go away. The weird thing about this song, though, is that you'd expect it to be slow, dull and depressing, but that's hardly the case. It's the complete opposite. In fact, we even see people dancing to it in A Hard Day's Night!

"Don't Bother Me" is certainly a cornerstone in Beatles lore, simply because it is George's first song, but other than that, it doesn't do much to stick out. George was obviously trying to write a song much like John and Paul's. Thankfully, he would figure out how to make his songs feel and sound different that a John or a Paul song pretty soon.

#22: All My Loving

Written by: John Lennon & Paul McCartney
Released: November 22nd, 1963
Appears on: with the beatles
Lead vocal: Paul

There are some songs that the second you hear, they always take you back to a particular moment. For me, "All My Loving" is one of those songs that does just that.

I lived in Brockton, MA for the first 19 of my (just about) 20 years, so we would take road trips down the east coast to Florida once a year. One of my favorite CDs to spin was always with the beatles and "All My Loving" was one of my favorite tracks. I remember our 1995 trip, which was the first time I spent a week without my parents, who couldn't come because of work obligations. Instead, I went down with my uncles and my grandfather. They decided that we would drive all the way through the night instead of stopping in Virginia or North Carolina. At about midnight or so, we slid in with the beatles and even though John's first two magnificent songs should wake someone up, I wouldn't wake up until Paul said "Close your eyes and I'll kiss you/Tomorrow I'll miss you..."

"All My Loving" is, at its' simplest point, another one of those 'I'm leaving, but remember I always love you' songs. As pointed before on this blog, though, the Beatles infuse this idea with all the perfect parts. Paul's vocal is as innocent as ever and probably one of his best early vocals. George's classic guitar solo is amazing, John's rhythm guitar parts are good and Ringo proves once again that he is one of the most original drummers in rock at this point.

The only thing more I can say is that I love this song. There is no better way to put it. I loved it when I was a year old...I loved it when I was five...I loved it when I was ten....I love it now...I can't imagine how much I'm going to love it in another ten years. It's just one of those songs that captures eternal youth in two minutes and nine seconds. It will never age and will always be loved, which is what the Bealtes are all about. The Beatles will never grow old, not with songs like "All My Loving" in their repertoire.

"All My Loving" was also the opening song in the first Ed Sullivan Show appearance that was watched by 73 million people. Paul still performs this song to this day, nearly 46 years after it was first recorded, showing that it never ages.

#21: All I've Got To Do

Written by: John Lennon & Paul McCartney
Released: November 22nd, 1963
Appears on: with the beatles
Lead vocal: John

This is really just a quick song, but brilliant in all aspects, from John's masterful vocal to Ringo's fantastic drumming. Everyone is on top of their game, especially in the harmony department.

There's really not much to say about it, which is a shame, since it's such a marvelous song. Still, it's another love song, where the guy is happy that all he has to do is call and he knows his girl will be there. He also justifies this by telling the girl that he will always be there whenever she calls.