With The Beatles is not my favorite Beatles album, in actuality it’s arguably their least great LP. That is not to say I don’t love listening to it in it’s 2009 glorious remastered format nor is it to say that this album doesn’t have any groovy songs on it because that is definitely not the case.
I do think that when thinking only about the 8 Beatles originals on the record, it’s probably the least inspiring collection of original compositions John, Paul, George, & Ringo ever put out on an LP (the very underrated Beatles For Sale has a much better collection of 8 originals in my opinion) on the other hand, the six covers on With The Beatles are quite good (better than the six covers on Beatles For Sale, which was their fourth album.)
My most favorite Beatles originals to listen to on the With The Beatles Remastered CDs are the first three songs. Particularly, I’ve been enjoying song #2 “All I’ve Got To Do” in mono.
Another original song that has actually been making an impression on me is song #9, “Hold Me Tight.” Paul McCartney wrote and sang lead vocals on this song and he’s dismissed it as being an album filler. And while I’ll agree the song isn’t perfect, I do think it is a good time.
“Till There Was You” is my favorite cover on the album. It is an extremely sickly sweet love song and while I feel I shouldn’t like it, I do anyway. The record’s final track, “Money” is an excellent way to end the album. When I listen closely to the versions of this song included in remastered box sets I actually hear the song as much more unhinged than I realized. It rocks pretty darn hard.
In general I prefer the stereo versions when it comes to the 2009 Beatles remasters but I do think that this CD sounds better in mono than in stereo.
But I should say that overall, I think The Beatles in Stereo Box Set is a better deal.
