The Beatles A Hard Day's Night REVIEW |
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.ค. 2024
- Matt reviews the fourth US Beatles LP, A Hard Day's Night Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. A comparison to the British release is discussed along with the seldom discussed George Martin orchestrations that were used for the incidental music in the film of the same name. Song clips and anecdotes of the history of this release are discussed and analyzed.
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I think the photos on the British album cover are supposed to evoke the idea of a photobooth machine. Paul hides in one in the train station at the the start of the film
Oh my gosh! Great episode! My dad took my sister and I to the drive-in to see this film. I bought the soundtrack with babysitting money and listened to it over and over and over in my bedroom on a small brown portable record player that opened like a suitcase. I'd forgotten all about the instrumentals on the album! It was a special time. Knew nothing about the British version. You really do make the 60's crackle and pop.
I could totally envision you and your sister at the drive in - what a great way to see it! I appreciate the warm comment.
saw the movie as a 8yr old on release in 1964, my folks, (Dad was 35yrs old & Mum was 32yrs old), took me, my Uncle and Auntie, who were only 12 & 13yrs old, my Auntie actually went to see the Beatles live in Auckland, I couldn't stop telling my mates at school, the individual scenes of the movie, as I was the only one in our school at the time who had seen the movie.
What a great memory!
Those toaster-top pickups on a vintage Rickenbacker have a sound all their own…
👨🏻🦱Ironically, they drop their "Ricks" but Paul picks it up and stays with it throughout his 70's run! He's the reason I play a Rickenbacker bass!👌🏼
I still prefer the British version, the one I grew up on, and , how can you not have things we said today !
I'd say The Beatles shifted their fanbase seismically with the album & film *HARD DAY'S NIGHT* - - expanding the group range to include more *male* fans & music aficionados, as well as the girly teenyboppers. You specify the exact transcendent moment at 4:04 when you observe how they changed the working title BEATLEMANIA to a literary malapropism. This leap ahead in 1964 wouldn't be upped again till REVOLVER - - which dropped any attention to the girly teenybopper market at all, I think. By 1966, the group placed all its confidence in the more elaborate fanbase mined by HARD DAY'S NIGHT.
This was also the last gasp of the *British New Wave* - - a b/w film movement based in low-budget working class realism... adult themes... regional (i.e. not London! & usually northern) locations with regional accents... & portable cameras that the French New Wave explored within the same *1959-64* window.
They caught the train the way Albert Finney caught the bus in SATURDAY NIGHT SUNDAY MORNING in 1960. Tropes of this adult genre framed the group in a senior wage-earning environment beyond Cliff & the Dave Clark 5 & movie vehicles whose variety show format hung onto a college-age youth club vibe.
That's the world Lennon parodied with his fitful line " *Let's do the show right here!* "
The group knew they were transcending the teen market, & they found out not by planning it but by praxis - - by doing. Not in the States but in railway stations & fire escapes & playing fields & Twickenham Studios, as they acted out Alun Owen's script - - itself a study of their recent Ireland gigs.
Director Richard Lester did mix in *surrealism* - - but so did John Schlesinger's *BILLY LIAR* the year before, & *that* was British New Wave too. BILLY LIAR ended with Julie Christie on a train pulling out of a Yorkshire platform bound for London....where she would rendezvous with Terence Stamp at Waterloo Station on Friday night 4 years later for a lyric in a Kinks Song.
HARD DAY'S NIGHT was on the cusp at the end of British New Wave heyday & the return of all those regional camera crews to the capitol just in time for *Swinging London* . Richard Lester plotted those steps from HARD DAY'S NIGHT in 1964 to THE KNACK back in London in 1965.
Their train was originally scripted to leave *Liverpool Lime Street Station* at the start, bound for London - - even more symbolic of Beatles' development parallel with Britain's film industry: Paul McCartney was last to leave Liverpool in 1964 just as the British New Wave finally returned to the capital & bigger budgets.
A pivotal cultural, geographic & economic shift summed up in one low-budget big-profit film.
What's *realism* in HARD DAY'S NIGHT is the nonstop pursuit by girly teenyboppers, including the twin fall to the ground ( *OUCH! OUCH! O-U-U-OUCH!* that fall still hurts: GH wouldn't cop it that bad on film again till the same hand got shocked in the same Twickenham Studios in LET IT BE, about oh say *20 years* later), & Lennon's real & typical fitful laugh at his mates' misfortune at the start... outdoor public locations... a facsimile of a day in the life of The Beatles under their real names & real accents... with a real performance & an accurate pastiche of their press conferences.
The film's realism still gives HARD DAY'S NIGHT a NOW vibe. This offbeat happening of RIGHT NOW realism & Lester's surrealism that stretches Scouse humor to its limit makes the film, naive as it is, a Zen forerunner.
Immediate, experimental, & cool, & so was the album comprising their own songs. Their appeal escaped the confines of the market that Parlophone pitched to with PLEASE PLEASE ME. The Beatles made pop culture take a step up in 1964 & there was no going back, not even in GET BACK.
I could do an entire video on this very substantive comment, 4-D! You said it much better than I did. Yes, so much advancement and I think it was due to the project being both a film and album - It took multiple mediums to convey what was happening in pop! Thanks again.
@@popgoesthe60s52 Thanks for the video, Matt - - keep em coming.
Great review (you do them so well). For me, the UK album is the quintessential early Beatles album, and was probably not surpassed in totality until Rubber Soul.
…great post. For me, the Beatles Second Album was quintessential because my friend Tommy Gerken’s older brother Pat had it and I would go over to his house just to hear it and look at the album cover all the while. Such evocative memories.
I agree. This and "Rubber Soul" we the two albums that defined the Beatles for me. I especially like the American version of both. Can't explain how it just felt good to listen to the albums. is that strange? It FELT good.
I have both 'A Hard Day's Night' UK & US versions ... when you listen to what was happening at the time the music just comes across as exciting and as you put it Matt 'Fresh' ...
As I get older I tend to listen to the older albums ... With the Beatles, Please, Please Me, Beatles For Sale etc I tended to focus on Rubber Soul onwards growing up but now have rediscovered the older albums & relive what turned me onto The Beatles as a child in the 1970's 🥰
I feel the same and have listened to the older albums much more and enjoy them in a different way not that I'm older. Maybe because they are more innocent.
I've also started listening to the early Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly again ... I can see the influence they had on The Beatles early compositions ...
People overlook the early albums and songs but The Beatles were great right from the beginning. The early sound has an explosive energy that the latter Beatles ,as magnificent as that stuff is , lacked.
With the Beatles is like a hurricane, a very intense album which sounds as good to me today as it did in 63 The stark black and white cover is perfect @@popgoesthe60s52
My older sister had this album when it came out. It was a prized possession(she didn’t even have a record player.) Being a rambunctious little brother, I wasn’t allowed to go near it! However, I would sneak in and look at it though. To me it was like holding something mysterious and majestic. It felt like the future!
Don't know if you're aware that on "Ringo's Theme", the guitar riff is played by Vic Flick. Well known session guitarist, and also the same guy who played the James Bond theme. He was featured on an episode of TV's "Pawn Stars."
I did not know that - thank you Jeff!
The clip is still up in you tube . . He sells his white strat (with modified pick up conveniently not mentioned as a totally original 60's Stratocaster) and Ringo's theme is mentioned/played during the conversation.@@popgoesthe60s52
Terrific discussion, Matt. I was a 14 year old when the album and film came out. I still have my original United Artists version of the album which I purchased as soon as it came out and still love it to death. Great memories from a great time to be alive.
Another winner of a review, Matt. I turned 6 in June of '64 and also saw the movie late that summer at the drive-in with my older sister and parents. I'll never forget my mom laughing hysterically during the open field jumping about scene during Can't Buy Me Love. As far as preference, I'll take the U.S. soundtrack album cover and the British lp, more definitely being better as far as songs go. A quick side note to commend you on the incredible graphics you use for your videos, recalling you mentioning that graphic designing being your profession. The amount of work you put into your videos is astounding.
I appreciate that Rick. My profession compels me to talk more about grachics than the average joe. Some people even give me a hard time about it!
Please don't change a thing Matt...your videos are par excellence!!!
Eventually, the US Soundtrack would become Capitol canon in the late 70's with a reissue on vinyl, as well as cassette, using the stereo mixes. I love the US album, even though I love the UK cover, and those George Martin orchestrations are very fun to listen to, he knew how to have fun with The Beatles music, which was great to hear on his album, Off The Beatles Track.
That one snippet they played sounded straight out of Brubeck and Desmond.
That’s because Capitol became owner of the United Artists/Liberty label in 1979, @PaulinaAngel.
An anomaly that has taken me years to get past is in the recording of, "If I Fell". Even though I was a "Capitol snob", I prefer the United Artists' version because it doesn't contain the "break" in Paul's voice when he sings, "...would be sad if our new love was in vain". His voice falls/drops off on the word, "vain" on their Parlophone release. That shows the attention to detail not given in the UK release, or maybe The Beatles kept it in on purpose, "just because" for whatever reason, although I think it's highly unlikely that George Martin would purposely do that during this boom in their careers. Because things were happening quickly for them, it might have been rushed and/or simply overlooked.
I didn't know Capitol became owner! Thanks for that.
Yes, good point about the crack in Paul's voice.
To put the historical album sales and revenue in another perspective, the US population is about 50% larger now than in 1964 and movie ticket prices were about $1.25 as opposed to about $11 today. Plus there were no streaming services back then. Thus we can get a better feel for just how significant of a hit this was.
Yes, far more people back in the 1960s heard the North American version more than any other version, which is why I wanted to give it some needed attention.
I watched the movie again only a couple of weeks ago. It stands up really well. They looked like they were having a lot of fun.
Very interesting, Matt. Those intrumentals on the US version are new to me.
Nice post, Matt. Takes me back. Although very young I had already seen Hatari and Dr. No and loved both soundtracks prior to A Hard Day’s Night. I became particularly fond of George Martin’s arrangement of This Boy that played during Ringo’s scene with the boy playing hooky from school. It worked so well as a break from the mania of the film as a whole.
Agreed. The Martin scores have really grown on me.
I was actually there, Matt, and I feel pretty damn lucky about that! "A Hard Day's Night" came to the movie theatre in our town right around the time of my birthday, and my older teenage sister took me and a bunch of my friends to see it (I think it was 50 cents each for us kids under 12). Of course everybody screamed the whole way through - it was just so exciting!
Great episode, definitely a fun album but never better than the UK release
Awesome editing and info, Matt... Really enjoyed this. Was happy to find a CD version of the American release still available on the used market.
Thank you!
I once played this album for a friend who'd never heard it. He described it one word: Joy
Joy indeed!
Another great review! I like the American versions because I grew up with them. A trivia bomb....The American HDN cover was printed 2 sided (stereo on one and mono on the other) to save money. You can see that the back cover was glued on to whatever side they "didn't need". You can see it if you look close..
Great review sir! I'm a UK viewer and an avid Beatles fan since 1963 (aged 11) and still get butterflies when I hear that magical chord strike at the start of A Hard Days Night (and of course the whole album too) but I always wondered why there was only 13 tracks instead of the usual 14. What a revelation as I've never heard about the Jimmy Nichol rehearsal replacing Ringo's recording session.
“A Hard Days Night” is almost the Perfect Single
It’s just such a killer song, it would have been incredible to see the Movie in ‘64 on its first release
For as amazing as all the songs are on this album, through the years, If I Fell keeps climbing the ranks as being among my all-time favorites.
Great to see a new upload from you sir and a good topic too ! That was the version of the album my sister, who was alive and a screaming Beatlemaniac in real time, so all the Beatles albums I was hungrily listening to as a toddler were the original Capitol USA releases. She had such oddities as Beatles Second Album, Something Else, Yesterday and Today and what remains one of my favorite Beatles albums ever - the long lost Beatles VI record which collected a lot of the songs from what, for me, has always been my Beatles favorite musical period. The Beatles 65 was another one she had which I really loved. She also had the Yellow Submarine soundtrack with the George Martin second side. Of course I was very young and while I played them constantly I didn’t treat them with the reverence they deserved and they’re long gone. But I consider myself very fortunate to be the younger brother of a full fledged Beatlemaniac. She also had some extremely weird Stones albums but that’s another topic for another time. AND she loved the Monkees and CCR too so I was one fortunate little brat indeed.
I’d be interested to hear your take on the Magical Mystery Tour. I consider myself as avid a Beatles fan as anyone but imo some fans get willfully blind on the subject of that film. It’s a bore, it’s a mess, it’s not funny. Furthermore ‘Head’ by the Monkees absolutely trounces it. Some people get REALLY infuriated when you say that but I consider it a fact.
I appreciate the comment, teddy!
The best thing about the United Artists AHDN Soundtrack album is that it has And I Love Her without the double-tracked lead vocal. A lot of people are not aware of this version (which was used in the film). It is only available on the UA album and IMO it makes the commonly known version sound cheesy by comparison.
Very good point, Ken - I wish I had mentioned that.
I recall a Lennon interview where he notes that "Tell Me Why" was based off of the "girl bands" at the time (The Supremes, Martha & the Vandellas, etc.) . It really has a Motown vibe to it; especially the intro. Matt, as usual; your facts and input really add to the review... I also grew up with the U.S. versions (being from Gary, Indiana). Although once my buddy shared his British versions, I did feel ripped; but I did find those instrumental versions interesting. But I couldn't stand that Capitol intro to the song "HELP!". ;)
funny, I always thought it was a ripoff of Why Do Fools Fall in Love by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers-- I guess Morris Levy missed it-- lucky for the Beatles!! LOLLLLLLL
Thank you Beau-Jarred. The work you and the team are doing is helping me get through this. The music is so healing to this old soul. At first, I could only cry about Melanie but all the new music coming out excites me with joy. I almost feel guilty for finding a smile on my face. I can see Melanie smiling and , a butiful smile it is. The portrait on page 9 of "Lake days" is just beautiful. That smile is forever in my heart. I have bought all 3 new books and will buy the cds and albums you made for us. Such a gift to us. It's almost like Melanie knew she was about to leave us and wanted to leave us something to help get through the grief. I will miss her more than you know. Know that the labor of love you and the team are doing is much appreciated. God bless you all.❤
thank you for another great US beatle album review! growing up in the sixties my family didnt have this album, we had "Something New". always thought it was strange to hear "Cant Buy Me Love" and "I Should Have Known Better" on the "Hey Jude" album. it would be interesting to see your review of those two albums as well. i love the cover artwork on all the early US beatle albums. they were always colorful and exciting.
Thanks for the comment, Toni.
Thank you so so much for another informative & entertaining video on their wonderful American albums.You are one of if not THE top of Beatles TH-cam channels. Thanks!
The story told at the time about the title was that they were leaving the studio when Ringo started saying the line, "that was a hard day's..." and at that point they got outside where he saw that it was night and changed it upon seeing that it was dark to "a hard day's night".
Great review . Really interesting to hear that the established press and community of critics at the time had given the album positive reviews, especially since there were just Beatles originals on it (aside from Martin's bits from the film score). I could imagine that many of these "adults" felt that they had to listen to "kids" music when they got their first copy; and then had their minds changed.
I tried to find reviews from that time, and came across this one by Bosley Crother of the NY Times: "THIS is going to surprise you-it may knock you right out of your chair-but the new film with those incredible chaps, the Beatles, is a whale of a comedy.I wouldn't believe it either, if I hadn't seen it with my own astonished eyes, which have long since become accustomed to seeing disasters happen when newly fledged pop-singing sensations are hastily rushed to the screen. " ... "when the boys tumble wildly out of doors and race eccentrically about a patterned playground to the tune of their song "Can't Buy Me Love," hits a surrealistic tempo that approaches audio-visual poetry."
I think Bosley Crother was around 60 years of age in 1964 (If I got the right WIkipedia entry).
Great review - thank you for including that in the comments, Michael!
I love the UA Soundtrack! It's thru this record I became a Beatles Freak. Bored one summer day, 1970ish, I'm flipping thru my mom's record collection and I'm hit with this red and black cover with black and white photos of 4 haircuts. "What's this?" I put it on the turntable, drop the needle and am hit with that cord! Holy cow what is this? I coukdn't stop playing it. I too really enjoy the instrumentals, even then. I liberated that record from my mom's collection and started my own collection that day. I still have that record. Good job sir!
I have yet to find out when the album cover photos were taken. I've researched it and even asked (believe it or not), Mark Lewisohn, and even he didn't know when they were taken (which I found strange given that he relates the history of the Beatles in extraordinary detail in "Tune In" going back decades.)
Excellent review and summary, especially considering you were too young to have been there. It was crazy! First, "I Want to Hold Your Hand" changed everything and was me discovering music. Then they were on Ed Sullivan. Then they had 7 of the top 10 songs on the chart. Then I went with a friend to watch "A Hard Day's Night". I was literally pushed back in my seat at the theater. My mind was blown and has never been the same since. Ask someone who was there, this is not an exaggeration.
I love your channel and, wow, this episode is one of your absolute best. Well done, Matt!
Well, thank you Pete! I enjoy shedding some light on these forgotten US releases.
As a younger fan who started out consuming their albums via CD, I had no idea the American soundtrack version even existed, let alone that there was an extended version of “I’ll Cry Instead”. A quick google search for that extra verse is fruitless- maybe I’ll have to ask my father-in-law if he has it. Either way, great to learn! Thanks.
That version is out there. The UK version clocks in at 1:44 in length while the US is 2:06.
I have both versions. The US version repeats a verse, or you could say the UK version cut out a verse.
How fitting that you'd review a Beatles LP on the 60th anniversary tonight of their debut on Ed Sullivan. I was 14, sitting in our den about 6 feet from the TV screen, mesmerized by what I was witnessing. The buzz about the Fab Four was already at a high pitch ever since the local AM station, KLIF in Dallas, had put "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" in heavy rotation in January. Then came all the early singles. I and all my buddies were still devouring/digesting Meet the Beatles and the 2nd album when in June they floored us with the Hard Day's Night soundtrack. They delivered exactly what we wanted to hear. I think your one-word label for it, "exciting", captures its essence perfectly. My fave is "Tell Me Why" because it just sizzles from beginning to end and their vocal work throughout is stupendous. Of course, there ain't a runt in the litter as they say so it hasn't lost one iota of its punch in almost 6 decades. Way to go, Matt. Well done.
Thank you, Rollie!
11:30 In addition to the three song snippets "from dance scenes", there's also "She Loves You" from the concert scene.
Also, I'm wondering if the instrumentals "I Should Have Known Better" and "And I Love Her" were actually used in the film. I'm not aware of their presence in it.
Great episode, Matt. Always liked the movie and 'I should have known better'. You answered a question I always had. Why wasn't "I should have known better" released as a single. Definitely puzzled why it wasn't a hit. Good stuff!
It reached #53 on the Billboard Hot 100 as the B-side of "A Hard Day's Night," and #1 in Norway, the Netherlands, and Chile.
@orbyfan wasn't on the Red Album though.
Neither was do you want to know a secret which reached number two on the Billboard charts or PS I Love You which reached number 10 on the Billboard charts
@josephdonato8154 maybe George didn't favor any of them.
I remember listening to the soundtrack album at my friend's house. His older brother had it and I had already seen the movie with my mother so I already knew all the songs, but I was only 6 and I wanted to hear more Beatles songs and wondered why it contained all these instrumentals? Lol
I love the UA album. It captures the sensibilities of the time perfectly. The Martin instrumentals are a great inclusion in an overall great snapshot of 1964 60's. While Something New included some of the film music, the UA really nailed it. Loved the different mixes too. It totally captured the feel of this short slice of time in 1964. Great episode Matt. Thanks. :- )
The covers of these always remind me of my 7th grade music classes. My teacher had huge posters of them on one of the wall. He used to joke around and say he wanted a giant “T” to display with all the Beatles stuff in the room.
When I was a teenager my dad had the United Artist album and the Meet the Beatles original albums and they got ruined in a flood. Wish I had them today
ThanX Matt.... Great video.... I saw HDN in the theater when I was 8 years old and my 13 year old brother "had to" take me - per our mom.... It was something else as there were a bajillion girls there and all they would do is scream and throw popcorn. As a little guy wanting nothing to do with the opposite sex it was something else... Could hardly hear anything... I can't imagine how the concerts were as they were deafening... Thanks for all the great work you do for us. Looking forward to your next one...
The versions of "I'll Cry Instead" are different on the mono and stereo pressings of the "Something New" album. The mono pressing has the version with the extra verse. I saw the movie when it was reissued theatrically in 1982, and "I'll Cry Instead" was used for a prologue, accompanying still photos of the type on the album cover.
"Ringo's Theme (This Boy)" reached at least #57 in Record World (the August 22, 1964 issue is the only one from its chart period available online), and peaked at #57 in Cash Box on August 29. The other side of the single, "And I Love Her," peaked at #105 in Billboard on August 1, and #71 in Cash Box on August 8.
The Beatles' version of "This Boy" reached #1 on the CHUM chart in Toronto, but "Ringo's Theme (This Boy)" by George Martin and his Orchestra peaked at #42 on September 14. It reached #12 on CFUN in Vancouver on September 12, was a top 40 hit in Winnipeg and Peterborough (chart info incomplete), and was a pick hit of the week in Edmonton (July 17) and Montreal (August 15).
Thanks for that additional chart info, Orby!
Good video , very interesting , Matt. Thanks !
Can't go wrong with this classic soundtrack. Finally found a mono copy recently and I've spinning this record like crazy! PLAY LOUD
Great video as always Matt!!
Great review Matt - no comment about that American cover! On release we sat through the movie twice at The London Pavilion, Piccadilly!
hi matt,you can hear a lot of advanced writing by this time,something brewing in the craft of the songs,good things to come after the movie and tracks,,take care....bill
You're a mind reader Matt. I was just remembering watching this at the local theater back then. I spent alot of time at the candy machine. The girls wouldn't stop screaming. I didn't hear any of it that day! Capital should do a RSD release of the soundtrack. I to love the American cover. Great times Matt. Thanks for the video. Great job!
No prob, St. Rose. That would be a great RSD release!
Great review Matt. I only have the UK version. It would be fun to have the US version as well. Great album and movie.
Congratulations on your latest LP appearance!
I was there, Matt and it was marvelous. I was the San Antonio premiere of the movie (with oversized souvenir ticket) in the Summer of 1964, and it was as close as San Antonio (or I) ever got to the Beatles. For 1964 San Antonio it WAS a Beatles concert. I lined up to get tickets the Saturday before the next Saturday opening, with kids who spent the night on the sidewalk. A local rock band put on wigs and played Beatles songs in the theater lobby and the girls shrieked. During the movie, the next Saturday, girls screamed continuously, and the pitch and volume rose with the full screen head shots of the boys (and the movie was full of them). Girls spontaneously burst into dance in the theater aisles; it looked like convulsions, wild. I never saw anything like it. The US soundtrack is golden to me. I can hear every track on it in my head.
What a great account, Joe - thanks for sharing!
As a first generation Beatles fan, I too grew up with the US version of A Hard Day's Night. But ever since the early 1970s when I got a copy of the UK album, I've never listened to the US version. I respect and admire George Martin, but when I want to listen to the Beatles, I don't want to hear Martin's instrumentals (Giles continues to do this with his inclusion of Martin's instrumental tracks on the deluxe box sets). The second side of my copy of Yellow Submarine is in mint condition. However, I much prefer Martin's contributions to AHDN to Ken Thorne's work on Help!
It's worth noting that Capitol didn't miss out entirely on the songs from AHDN. Something New contains 5 of the 8 tracks from the ADHN soundtrack, and the other three were featured on singles. Oddly A Hard Day's Night, I Should Have Known Better and Can't Buy Me Love did not appear on a Beatles album during the time they were an active band. Plus 4 of the 5 tracks from AHDN on Something New were issued as the a/b sides of two singles. Only Tell Me Why was not featured on a Capitol 45.
I've always wondered why EMI didn't use I Call Your Name from the Long Tall Sally EP as the 14th track for AHDN. It would have maintained the all Lennon/McCartney songwriting. Or if they wanted a Ringo vocal track, they could have used Matchbox.
But the most interesting thing for me about AHDN--the UK version--is Lennon's total domination of it. Paul and George have only one lead vocal apiece (OK, Paul gets a bit on the title track, but otherwise that is all Lennon too). The album was a highwater mark for John.
I'll be covering the Something New tracks in a separate review. Yes, I Call Your Name could have been used, but things were happening so fast for them, they probably lost track, grabbed Jimmy Nichol, and kept truckin'.
Great review! Thanks Matt!
This is a great review and overview of the album. I never had that one, and always wondered why Capitol hadn't released "A Hard Day's Night," only releasing some of the songs on "Something New." George Martin's version of the title song sounds kind of like Dave Brubeck's "Take Five."
Another truly excellent review.
Hey, Matt! Nice review. I was hoping, however, that you were going to mention a bit about the mix variations between the U.S. and UK versions - esp. And I Love Her and If I Fell..
I bought the UK versions of A Hard Days Night, Help and Beatles for Sale in Genoa Italy when I was in the US Marine Corps in 1972.
As I have commented a few times, it’s always interested to hear a view from the US, especially presented in such an erudite manner. It’s a real shame that the US mixes mostly aren’t available - I have both Capitol boxes and the US Albums sets, but we all know the latter used the 2009 masters used from the UK editions. We simply weren’t really aware of these album differences back in the 60s. The UK album could have actually been quite different- imagine they hadn’t come up with quite the amount of material that they did, and Long Tall Sally and, say, Matchbox (giving Ringo his album vocal outing) could have been on the album, thus making it a more typical Beatles 63-65 LP configuration. As an aside you mentioned the Searchers, I always think their influence was far larger than generally recognised. They were arguably the second biggest group here in late 63 into 64 - first 4 singles being nos 1,2,1,1 in the charts - and Lennon loved Needles and Pins. Incidentally, as you well know, the Byrds also picked up the sound - listen to N&P and then Feel a Whole Lot Better!
Thank you for the substantive comment, Nigel. The Byrds, though not often reported, loved the Searchers and I have Michael Clarke interview where he states this. I will eventually do a Searchers History so stay tuned!
@@popgoesthe60s52 Yes please! I have interviewed Frank Allen and talked with John McNally several times in recent years - lovely guys. I expect you have access to all the material you need, but if you should need any book recommendations or discography information then do get in touch - they aren’t the best documented band. On the Byrds, I exchanged emails with Roger McGuinn many years ago and all was going fine until I mentioned the Searchers….it then went very quiet! Carry on the great work Matt - love the channel!
A very honest and insightful analysis! In total aggreement with you! Thank you.
Thank you, Antonio!
My older sisters got this album (and the two before it), probably around the time it came out (the year I was born). I was sucked in by early Beatles music at a young age (7-8 years old) and was an instant fan. I would pore over every word on the sleeves, and I clearly remember noticing that the round label on this LP was different than the label on the two earlier Capitol albums. I remember even back then being struck that a movie company could do a record deal with a band separate from their main label. I remember being pretty 'meh' about the instrumental tracks, sometimes even skipping past them. But usually not, just because it was a nuisance.
My favourite scene in A Hard Day's Night was when the Beatles were frolicking in the grass, goofing off while Can't Buy Me Love was sung in the background. Just a fun scene of them rolling around acting silly for no real reason.
Great video Matt! When I first started listening to the album 40 years ago I didn't like the instrumentals. Now I am also getting into more of a jazz sound. I will have to pick up the American version.
Same for me. I have a more acquired taste for those period-jazz instrumentals.
My favourite George Martin instrumental is Theme One which featured on Radio One. Van Der Graf Generator did a great prog version.
@popgoesthe60s52 Matt, the special added touch was that Capitol Records came back on the heels of The Hard Days Night soundtrack album with Something New album here in the US which was a perfect addition as it included other songs from the movie plus the addition of those from the 2nd Side of the UK Version. On the Capitol albums Volume 1 this album adds to the Beatles American catalog. Excellent video!
Thank you, Gerard!
Thank you so much for covering the American albums, especially "A Hard Day's Night." I never noticed how similar to Brubeck's "Take Five" the instrumental version of the titular track was. Excellent production and presentation, as usual!
Yeah, Martin copped from the best!
Enjoyed your HDN Review
Being older than yourself
I saw the movie on the first day of release, and of course brought the album on the day of release.
Because at the time of release we had nothing to compare the album to anything else. All we had at the time was
Please Please Me
With The Beatles
Most people from London enjoyed the film. Because we could recognise the places they used in it.
I enjoyed your review
But as you said, you were to young to appreciate the complete movie/music. At that time.
The British fans disliked the American release. Because it felt like Capitol & United Artists were 'using them'
But it was a Good Review
Pretty cool review. I wonder what the missing 14th song was going to be
Anyhow, this album has some truly great songs. Lennon and McCartney really upped their songwriting game with this record
They worked on _You'll Know What To Do_ and _No Reply_ at that late session.
Conocí éste álbum, así como todo el catálogo norteamericano, cuando fuí a los Ángeles en 1971 , yo era entonces un adolescente de 14 años de edad y estaba fascinado con tal descubrimiento pues en México tenía sus propias versiones, muy diferentes inclusive en calidad de sonido y en especial éste álbum me llamo la atención por los geniales arreglos orquestales en las versiones de George Martin, simplemente el señor era un excelente arreglista musical y productor y de ahí viene la creciente superación musical de los Beatles.
¡Gracias por el recuerdo y mucho éxito para el canal!
Nunca supe lo diferentes que eran las versiones mexicanas de los LP. ¡Agradezco los comentarios, Alberto!
Fine effort, Matt!
I made it a mission in the early 80’s to get all the British releases and liked them better because of the song selections. I did have all of the American releases by the late 70’s. I always found it interesting that “You Can’t Do That” appeared on the Capitol release The Beatles Second Album and some of the other songs not on the United Artists AHDN, appeared on the Capitol release “Something New.” As always your review was very informative and helpful to those who are early in their Beatles journey.
Thanks for commenting, Ed!
"I Should Have Known Better' / "If I Fell" was a #1 single in Australia. We got the UK version of the LP, plus the George Martin E.P.
The George Martin take on A Hard Days Nights reminds of Dave Brubecks' "Take Five". ( Btw writing this comment on the 60th anniversary of the Beatles on Ed Sullivan! )
Right on. Sorry I repeated lol
Great review! I was happy to hear the praise for the George Martin tunes, since I have always loved those. Probably because I loved the movie so much and it truly evokes images of thge different scenes in which they were used; but like you, I really dig 60s soundtrack music.
Great segment Matt. I agree with you on the design and cover art of the American version. More fun and more dynamic.
I first saw AHDN up here in Canada in late 1964. It is a great film - still wildly entertaining - and was highly influential on other filmmakers exploring the 60`s comedy genre. Richard Lester`s fast-paced kinetic editing, Alun Owen`s witty script, the gorgeous black and white cinematography by Gilbert Taylor; all conspired to create a cinematic masterpiece. Of course having the film chock full of Beatles music didn"t hurt either!
The first album I had that included songs from the film was the Something New album. As you state in your video, Capitol seemed clueless early on but then it seems they woke up, and rush released Something New to "capitalise" (pun intended) on the popularity of the songs from the film, although the title song was missing!. I still think that If I Fell B/W And I Love Her is one of the greatest Beatles singles.
Something New is going to be a hard one to review but I'll have to start preparing! Thanks Robert!
Great video, looking forward to the Help soundtrack. Wasn't She Loves You in the film as well ?
Yes. And Don't Bother Me . And I Wanna Be Your Man.
Good video
There was a lot of info that I did not know about
Nice review I love your channel
I appreciate that, Bubba.
Cool! I remember being disappointed when HDN was released on CD. “Where are the Martin instrumentals? This is all wrong.” Last year I found a sealed vinyl copy. How refreshing it is to hear it with more clarity than my old worn out original copy.
Well thank God SOMEONE finally reviewed this! I've been waiting all this time to find out if it was good! LOL j/k Thanks for the review!!
That Andrew Sarris quote is great.
My pleasure.
I think it is quite fun that here in Sweden the film is called "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!"
That's also a great title.
I just wish this release had the other song that was cut from the movie, which was "You Can't Do That"
a missed opportunity when I bought it in '64.
Good video as always. I originally thought you were going to review the movie for some reason. That would be fun. I hope you do the Help! soundtrack soon too.
I did a book review on the film which sort of covers the film too. Check out that video here: th-cam.com/video/rgwMSenrorc/w-d-xo.html
Great info Matt. I had read that Richard Lester didn't like I'll Cry Instead and didn't want it in the film. Too bad, I thought it was a great tune. They ended up with Can't Buy Me Love playing in two big scenes, the field and the police station. I'll Cry would have been great in the latter scene. Ringo, I'm sure you know, said he was drunk the whole time he did his solo acting bit. The film script was nominated for an AA. G. Martin got a nomination for music adaption (or something like that). I'm sure you also know about the documentary made on the train trip they took from NYC to Washington DC before the film came out. They (somebody who could make the call) felt it was too much like HDN and didn't want a conflict. Eventually it was released (not sure when). If you watch the doc., they clown around a lot in some ways like the film, just without a script or director.
HELLO, MY NAME IS CHARLES
I LIKE POP GOE'S THE 60'S
LIKE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
THE BEATLES
Welcome, Charles!
The movie also featured a brief piano rendition of "I'm Happy Just To Dance With You", during which Ringo joined in with some jazzy drums before The Beatles performed the actual song. I've always wondered if that little piece was also by George Martin. Either way, it could have been a cool addition to the soundtrack.
I forgot about that! That would have been a nice addition.
This is a great record. I think I prefer this version to the U.K. Version as well. When I first began collecting Beatles albums in the early 1980s this was a record I wanted in the worst way and was excited when I got my hands on one. Love Tell Me Why along with the I Should Have Known Better and If I fell. The stereo version has weird panning on the Beatles tracks but aside from that it’s a great listen. Thanks for doing a video for this one Matt!
The instrumentals sound great. We never had access to that version of the album in Australia. Americans and Canadians must have a completely different experience of the album than those of us who only had the EMI version. Whereas we perceive it as a normal two-sided Beatles album, the soundtrack element must dominate for you over there. In fact, we almost forget that the album has a film associated with it. Its the same with HELP! Cheers.
Thank you, Wayne!
Find it interesting (And ironic!) that an early name considered for the movie was "Beatlemania". In the late '70s/early '80s, a movie was made with that title, with four actors portraying the Beatles giving one long extended concert, performing songs from their entire time together as a group. The Ex-Beatles sued, attempting to keep the movie from being made. Didn't know about George Martin's four instrumentals, like his version of "A Hard Day's Night", which sounds jazzy. Think both the movie and soundtrack are wonderful, with both possibly defining the height of Beatlemania/the first phase of their international fame. A couple of other of the Beatles contemporaries tried copying them, by starring in their own movies. The Dave Clark Five made "Having A Wild Weekend" and Herman's Hermits also made a couple of movies (May be a stretch calling the Hermits contemporaries of the Beatles, LOL!).
Went to the San Jose release with my best friend and his family. Didn’t hear a word of it for all the screaming.
I like the version of the album that says, 'Written by United Artists...released thru Alun Owen" on the back cover
Great overview, Matt: thanks. First gen Beatle fan here, and actually saw the movie in a drive-in theater when it first came out. I was lucky enough to find the UK albums back in 1969, and they have been my go-to ever since. The UK version is my 2nd favorite Beatles album (Revolver is #1), but as a soundtrack I think the US version works quite well, and stands up, unlike Capitol's "collections of songs" records. Time has made me appreciate this more, in stark contrast to my feelings towards the Capitol records. Look forward to your next video.
Thanks for the comments! More to come.
Hi Matt. As I'm from England, I love this album and believe it to be a genuine classic. I was interested to hear what you said about the US version, including the instrumental pieces (after all, George M had worked with John Barry, the Bondmeister), so much so that I have just ordered the US Albums Box set so I can get a copy of it ! Cheers Tim
Thank you, Tim - it is a great listen!
I always felt that the "top half of their heads" cover photo was a nod (if you will!) to the "left sides of their heads" cover on Meet/With The Beatles
I’ll Be Back is such a great track. But is often overlooked on such a brilliant LP.
You may also wish to note that the mono mixes of the Beatles' recordings in the U.S. _A Hard Day's NIght,_ as well as Capitol's _Something New,_ were different from the UK mono mixes. For the film songs, the U.S. mixes more closely resembled the mono mixes actually used in the film, with such differences as Paul's voice a lot more NOT double-tracked in "And I Love Her" than in any UK mix. And the United Artists album actually used only those MONO mixes for both the mono AND "STEREO" versions of the LP. Their "stereo" version did a bunch of "hard panning" to 'pretend' they were "stereo" recordings, such as in "Can't Buy Me Love" having the audio over in one channel for the lyric "I don't care too..." then suddenly switching to the other channel for "much for money", and back to the first to continue with "for money Can't Buy Me Love!" Meanwhile, the mono version of Capitol's _Something New_ also contained non-UK mono mixes of most of the UK-LP-side-two songs, with one of the more prominent distinctions being in the "instrumental break" of "Any Time at All" (you can actually hear this U.S. mono mix in the episode of the Beatles Cartoon series devoted to that song!).
As a footnote, only the U.S. MONO mix of "I'll Cry Instead" had the extra verse. Any version of the United Artists album has this (see above), but the stereo version of _Something New_ uses a stereo mix, and thus has it the standard shorter length.
Thanks for clarifying that. It is often confusing to discuss some of the different mixes.
Thanks Matt! Def agree with you as usual.🎸🎼🎶😊