The Beatles second UK LP (With The Beatles) is not among my favorite Beatles albums, in fact I think it’s likely their least good LP. That’s not to imply I do not thoroughly enjoy listening to the album in it’s 2009 glorious remastered form nor is it to imply that this album does not have any great tracks on it because because I definitely do and it definitely does.

But I do believe that when considering just the eight Beatles originals on the LP, it is likely the worst collection of originals the band ever released on an LP (the underrated Beatles For Sale (1964) has a far better selection of eight original songs) on the other hand, the six covers on this album are quite nice (better than the six covers on Beatles For Sale.)

My most favorite Beatles originals to listen to on the With The Beatles Remastered CDs (stereo and mono) are the first three tracks: “It Won’t Be Long,” “All I’ve Got To Do,” and “All My Loving.” Particularly, I’ve been loving song number two, “All I’ve Got To Do” in the remastered mono. It sounds fantastic.

Another original song that has really been making an impression on me is song #9, “Hold Me Tight.” Paul wrote and sang lead on this one and he’s dismissed it as being a “work song”. And while I’ll agree the song isn’t perfect, I do think it is a good time.

Among the cover songs I think “Till There Was You” is my favorite. It’s an extremely cheesy sickly sweet ballad but I think in some strange way it works because of that. The LP’s last song, “Money” is a great way to end the record. 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.

For most of the CDs I do prefer the stereo versions when it comes to the 2009 Beatles remasters but I do think that this particular album sounds better in mono than in stereo.

Harold Donald Quesenberry’s favorite music sites are this Beatles Focused Music Blog and this Online “Radio Station”

Technorati Tags: 1963, British Invasion, Oldies