Follow the Leader: Episode 87: Adding to the Beatles Red Catalog!
Martinex1: Summer may be wrapping up. School may be back in session. But you can always count on Follow the Leader every Tuesday at BitBA! Get us started pals!
The Beatles released their "Red" and "Blue" greatest hit series in the early 70's and the format was perfect for albums and tape format. Since the mid 80's, and the introduction of CDs, there is much more space for additional music. This would add about 50-55 minutes of music to each set. If you had an opportunity.....and I'm not saying that they are not perfect as they are......what eight - ten songs would you add to the "Red" album to complete the set, in your opinion? If you like this one, maybe we can do the "Blue" album later.
I Saw Her Standing There PS I Love You It Won't Be Long I Wanna Be Your Man Don't Bother Me I Should Have Known Better If I Fell You Can't Do That I'll Follow The Sun I've Just Seen A Face Here There and Everywhere Got To Get You Into My Life
I'm assuming that we should stick with the clear no-covers mandate that those albums had. Original Beatles songs only-- which still knocks out songs that would probably have been included otherwise. Like TWIST & SHOUT (pretty much their theme song for the first couple of years-!), ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN, and maybe PLEASE MR POSTMAN.
I Saw Her Standing There PS I Love You If I Fell She's A Woman Words of Love Got To Get You Into My Life The Night Before I've Just Seen A Face You Won't See Me If I Needed Someone
. . . and you could go ahead and add in the ones on Graham's list that don't merge in the Venn Diagram of our choices, eh?
I always forget how much I enjoy the largely-obscure tracks that make up nearly the entirety of BEATLES VI-- which was nothing more than an American-released money-making album-- not a studio effort at all.
To Red I would also add For No One from Revolver which I recall Lennon saying it was his favorite McCartney composition. It’s also a cool story to read about how the genius French horn player, UKs finest, was supposedly sweating bricks wondering if he could play the solo well.
It has always seemed strange that there's so much from "Rubber Soul" on the Red album and so little from, "Revolver." Maybe Alan Klein felt the acid-drenched style of "Revolver" would jar too much with the straighter feel of the rest of the album. Overall, I'd add:
To Blue I would add the Abbey Road sequence of solos to the end lyrics. It’s really about the only place they themselves jam, and not using / having their studio musicians being in the mix? Is there a boffin out there who knows?
Hi, here is my take on it. I just made a playlist in my Music Tool and it adds up to 50:42 minutes, even if it already includes 21 songs. And Graham asked about 50-55 additional minutes. So here is my list:
1. It Won't Be Long (With The Beatles, 1963) 2. Till There Was You (With The Beatles, 1963) 3. Please Mr. Postman (With The Beatles, 1963) - that's actually one of my all time favorites, even if it is "just" a cover version 4. If I Fell (A Hard Day's Night, 1964) 5. Tell Me Why (A Hard Day's Night, 1964) - maybe not that original, but I like the choir singing harmonies 6. When I Get Home (A Hard Day's Night, 1964) 7. I'll Be Back (A Hard Day's Night, 1964) 8. No Reply (Beatles For Sale, 1964) 9. Words Of Love (Beatles For Sale, 1964) - again a cover version, but a really nice one 10. You're Going To Lose That Girl (Help, 1965) 11. I've Just Seen A Face (Help, 1965) 12. I'm Down (B-Side from Single Help, 1965) 13. If I Needed Someone (Rubber Soul, 1965) - George Harrison should also be mentioned 14. Rain (B-Side Paperback Writer, 1966) 15. Taxman (Revolver, 1966) - again George Harrison 16. I'm Only Sleeping (Revolver, 1966) 17. Here, There And Everywhere (Revolver, 1966) 18. She Said She Said (Revolver, 1966) 19. Good Day Sunshine (Revolver, 1966) 20. For No One (Revolver, 1966) 21. Got To Get You Into My Life (Revolver, 1966)
Looking at the list, I realize how prolifically the Beatles were: Two albums in 1964 and again another two in 1965. Wow! Music was just pouring out of them...
Also I included probably almost any missing song from the Revolver album...
I had a bootleg cassette years ago that a friend gave me that had an extended instrumental jam on it. Some of those tracks were later collected on some of the Anthology sets from the late 90's. John and George traded some fiery guitar licks in that jam. I can't remember if it was included in the Anthology or not.
I've seen several on other lists here that I should have had on mine. The Blue one will be even harder to determine.
"it is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma..."
Early CD technology produced a 60 minute CD. Nowadays, 80 minutes is the norm. Both the Red and the Blue albums were released as two CDs to replicate the double album releases. The Red album contained roughly 63 minutes of music; roughly 17 minutes short of a full CD, or 97 minutes for a two CD release. That's a whole bunch of a lot of Beatles music...
"Boffin"...you Brits.
What songs would I add? I do listen to the Beatles, but mostly so people think I'm cool and hip and with it, mostly. Not enough to add to any discussion about adding music.
(There comes a time when we heed a certain call When the world must come together as one There are people dying And it's time to lend a hand to life The greatest gift of all
We can't go on pretending day by day That someone somewhere will soon make a change We're all a part of God's great big family And the truth, you know, Love is all we need
We are the world, We are the children We are the ones who make a brighter day So, let's start giving There's a choice we're making We're saving our own lives It's true we'll make a better day Just you and me
Send them your heart so they'll know that someone cares And their lives will be stronger and free As God has shown us by turning stone to bread And so we all must lend a helping hand
We are the world, We are the children We are the ones who make a brighter day So, let's start giving There's a choice we're making We're saving our own lives It's true we'll make a better day Just you and me
When you're down and out There seems no hope at all But if you just believe There's no way we can fall Well, well, well Let's realize that a change can only come When we stand together as one
We are the world, We are the children We are the ones who make a brighter day So, let's start giving There's a choice we're making We're saving our own lives It's true we'll make a better day Just you and me).
Chim-- I totally blipped over the fact that WORDS OF LOVE is a Buddy Holly cover--! Oh wow-- that means I get another choice. . . and I'm gonna 2nd the motion for I'M DOWN. That is one heck of a fun pop/rock-unbridled number, in other circumstances it probably could have been a single of its own. --Although my own appreciation of it comes as much from the Shea Stadium films, where this number pretty much went flying out of control, even though it didn't fail. As manic as John Lennon is in that number-- his face and antics read to me as a person in the throes of a horrific attack of stage fright, and since neither fight nor flight is an option, it looks like he's careening down a path of near-hysteria to compensate. . . (there are a number of anecdotes about how badly he suffered from stage fright, which drink and medications went a long way toward alleviating).
But I love that song. . . uh, yes!
WHEN I GET HOME almost made my list as well--- there are a TON of tracked vocals layered into that song. . . fantastic chord-building!
Every single time I listen to I Saw Her Standing There I hone in on McCartney's bass work. And then I think he was around 20 when he wrote that. And then I just sit in awe.
Love this thread. Truthfully, I'd fill the space with just about any combination of the songs already suggested and I'd be happy.
Maybe a tougher assignment: what would you take off the Red Album if you insisted on adding one more song from the lists here?
But HB... Rubber Soul just screams "this is a little different, a further evolution" with the first notes of Drive My Car!
Tough assignment... Although I could definitely drop Girl. Shoot, I'd replace it with the flipside - This Boy.
Charlie, I know the con at Rosemont is this weekend, and kind of wish I was going (although tickets plus parking seems cost-prohibitive). I expect a full report if you decide to see it.
Ha--! I dunno, fellas-- DRIVE MY CAR just never found a spot in my ear. It's one of the few Beatles songs that I don't feel compelled to sing along with, I'm afraid--- Whereas I LOVE both YOU WON'T SEE ME and I'VE JUST SEEN A FACE. If I had to choose, the latter would probably be a better fit on the Red Album--
I'm a pop-song guy. . . what can I say? Heck, I'm re-discovering the Monkees this summer, even!
I dig Girl and Drive My Car because they are pop songs but quite different than typical fare.
Oddly I have the same thoughts towards You Wont See Me and Lucy in Sky with Diamonds that they are "awkward" sounding probably b/c I was first exposed to the remakes first.
Well, there is no accounting for taste, LOL
As for the Monkeys I get stuck on Peter's Song now and then (the closing song to the show) and play it over and over...
22 comments:
The Beatles released their "Red" and "Blue" greatest hit series in the early 70's and the format was perfect for albums and tape format. Since the mid 80's, and the introduction of CDs, there is much more space for additional music. This would add about 50-55 minutes of music to each set. If you had an opportunity.....and I'm not saying that they are not perfect as they are......what eight - ten songs would you add to the "Red" album to complete the set, in your opinion? If you like this one, maybe we can do the "Blue" album later.
Here's my list.....12 songs worth.
I Saw Her Standing There
PS I Love You
It Won't Be Long
I Wanna Be Your Man
Don't Bother Me
I Should Have Known Better
If I Fell
You Can't Do That
I'll Follow The Sun
I've Just Seen A Face
Here There and Everywhere
Got To Get You Into My Life
Graham! This is a genius question! Love it! I’ll be toying with this all day at work! For now I would add She’s a Woman to your list!
I'm assuming that we should stick with the clear no-covers mandate that those albums had. Original Beatles songs only-- which still knocks out songs that would probably have been included otherwise. Like TWIST & SHOUT (pretty much their theme song for the first couple of years-!), ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN, and maybe PLEASE MR POSTMAN.
I Saw Her Standing There
PS I Love You
If I Fell
She's A Woman
Words of Love
Got To Get You Into My Life
The Night Before
I've Just Seen A Face
You Won't See Me
If I Needed Someone
. . . and you could go ahead and add in the ones on Graham's list that don't merge in the Venn Diagram of our choices, eh?
I always forget how much I enjoy the largely-obscure tracks that make up nearly the entirety of BEATLES VI-- which was nothing more than an American-released money-making album-- not a studio effort at all.
HB
To Red I would also add For No One from Revolver which I recall Lennon saying it was his favorite McCartney composition. It’s also a cool story to read about how the genius French horn player, UKs finest, was supposedly sweating bricks wondering if he could play the solo well.
"Rain."
It has always seemed strange that there's so much from "Rubber Soul" on the Red album and so little from, "Revolver." Maybe Alan Klein felt the acid-drenched style of "Revolver" would jar too much with the straighter feel of the rest of the album. Overall, I'd add:
"I Saw Her Standing There"
"Twist and Shout"
"Things We Said Today"
"I'll Follow the Sun"
"I've Just Seen a Face"
"For No One"
"And Your Bird Can Sing"
"Taxman"
"Tomorrow Never Knows"
"Rain"
Steve you are surely the best Beatle boffin I know of!
To Blue I would add the Abbey Road sequence of solos to the end lyrics. It’s really about the only place they themselves jam, and not using / having their studio musicians being in the mix? Is there a boffin out there who knows?
Hi, here is my take on it. I just made a playlist in my Music Tool and it adds up to 50:42 minutes, even if it already includes 21 songs. And Graham asked about 50-55 additional minutes. So here is my list:
1. It Won't Be Long (With The Beatles, 1963)
2. Till There Was You (With The Beatles, 1963)
3. Please Mr. Postman (With The Beatles, 1963) - that's actually one of my all time favorites, even if it is "just" a cover version
4. If I Fell (A Hard Day's Night, 1964)
5. Tell Me Why (A Hard Day's Night, 1964) - maybe not that original, but I like the choir singing harmonies
6. When I Get Home (A Hard Day's Night, 1964)
7. I'll Be Back (A Hard Day's Night, 1964)
8. No Reply (Beatles For Sale, 1964)
9. Words Of Love (Beatles For Sale, 1964) - again a cover version, but a really nice one
10. You're Going To Lose That Girl (Help, 1965)
11. I've Just Seen A Face (Help, 1965)
12. I'm Down (B-Side from Single Help, 1965)
13. If I Needed Someone (Rubber Soul, 1965) - George Harrison should also be mentioned
14. Rain (B-Side Paperback Writer, 1966)
15. Taxman (Revolver, 1966) - again George Harrison
16. I'm Only Sleeping (Revolver, 1966)
17. Here, There And Everywhere (Revolver, 1966)
18. She Said She Said (Revolver, 1966)
19. Good Day Sunshine (Revolver, 1966)
20. For No One (Revolver, 1966)
21. Got To Get You Into My Life (Revolver, 1966)
Looking at the list, I realize how prolifically the Beatles were: Two albums in 1964 and again another two in 1965. Wow! Music was just pouring out of them...
Also I included probably almost any missing song from the Revolver album...
I had a bootleg cassette years ago that a friend gave me that had an extended instrumental jam on it. Some of those tracks were later collected on some of the Anthology sets from the late 90's. John and George traded some fiery guitar licks in that jam. I can't remember if it was included in the Anthology or not.
I've seen several on other lists here that I should have had on mine. The Blue one will be even harder to determine.
"it is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma..."
Early CD technology produced a 60 minute CD. Nowadays, 80 minutes is the norm. Both the Red and the Blue albums were released as two CDs to replicate the double album releases. The Red album contained roughly 63 minutes of music; roughly 17 minutes short of a full CD, or 97 minutes for a two CD release. That's a whole bunch of a lot of Beatles music...
"Boffin"...you Brits.
What songs would I add? I do listen to the Beatles, but mostly so people think I'm cool and hip and with it, mostly. Not enough to add to any discussion about adding music.
(There comes a time when we heed a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
And it's time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all
We can't go on pretending day by day
That someone somewhere will soon make a change
We're all a part of God's great big family
And the truth, you know,
Love is all we need
We are the world,
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So, let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
Send them your heart so they'll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free
As God has shown us by turning stone to bread
And so we all must lend a helping hand
We are the world,
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So, let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
When you're down and out
There seems no hope at all
But if you just believe
There's no way we can fall
Well, well, well
Let's realize that a change can only come
When we stand together as one
We are the world,
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So, let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me).
Chim-- I totally blipped over the fact that WORDS OF LOVE is a Buddy Holly cover--! Oh wow-- that means I get another choice. . . and I'm gonna 2nd the motion for I'M DOWN. That is one heck of a fun pop/rock-unbridled number, in other circumstances it probably could have been a single of its own. --Although my own appreciation of it comes as much from the Shea Stadium films, where this number pretty much went flying out of control, even though it didn't fail. As manic as John Lennon is in that number-- his face and antics read to me as a person in the throes of a horrific attack of stage fright, and since neither fight nor flight is an option, it looks like he's careening down a path of near-hysteria to compensate. . . (there are a number of anecdotes about how badly he suffered from stage fright, which drink and medications went a long way toward alleviating).
But I love that song. . . uh, yes!
WHEN I GET HOME almost made my list as well--- there are a TON of tracked vocals layered into that song. . . fantastic chord-building!
HB
Ah, fun topic! And all my picks have been named. Chim, you covered it like a blanket!
I will name a few definite faves, though:
"No Reply"
"I'll Be Back"
"I'll Follow the Sun"
"Rain"
"Tomorrow Never Knows"
I love the suggestion of I Wanna Be Your Man.
Every single time I listen to I Saw Her Standing There I hone in on McCartney's bass work. And then I think he was around 20 when he wrote that. And then I just sit in awe.
Love this thread. Truthfully, I'd fill the space with just about any combination of the songs already suggested and I'd be happy.
Maybe a tougher assignment: what would you take off the Red Album if you insisted on adding one more song from the lists here?
Doug
Doug! Now that's an idea for next Tuesday! FYI - Comicon CHicago starts tomorrow in Rosemont!
Wait, can I answer Doug's question right now?
Lose GIRL and BABY YOU CAN DRIVE MY CAR.
Replace with I'VE JUST SEEN A FACE and YOU WON'T SEE ME.
HB
But HB... Rubber Soul just screams "this is a little different, a further evolution" with the first notes of Drive My Car!
Tough assignment... Although I could definitely drop Girl. Shoot, I'd replace it with the flipside - This Boy.
Charlie, I know the con at Rosemont is this weekend, and kind of wish I was going (although tickets plus parking seems cost-prohibitive). I expect a full report if you decide to see it.
Doug
HB - you be on the weed, man??? You got that exactly backwards!!! LOL 😂
Ha--! I dunno, fellas-- DRIVE MY CAR just never found a spot in my ear. It's one of the few Beatles songs that I don't feel compelled to sing along with, I'm afraid--- Whereas I LOVE both YOU WON'T SEE ME and I'VE JUST SEEN A FACE. If I had to choose, the latter would probably be a better fit on the Red Album--
I'm a pop-song guy. . . what can I say? Heck, I'm re-discovering the Monkees this summer, even!
HB
I dig Girl and Drive My Car because they are pop songs but quite different than typical fare.
Oddly I have the same thoughts towards You Wont See Me and Lucy in Sky with Diamonds that they are "awkward" sounding probably b/c I was first exposed to the remakes first.
Well, there is no accounting for taste, LOL
As for the Monkeys I get stuck on Peter's Song now and then (the closing song to the show) and play it over and over...
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