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Freeze-Frame Radio -> Freeze-Frame Radio Lounge -> #384 - Beatles - A Hard Days Night (12/13/07)
Post Info TOPIC: #384 - Beatles - A Hard Days Night (12/13/07)
Jeremy Riggs


Do I look a little pale to you?

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#384 - Beatles - A Hard Days Night (12/13/07)
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1964

Rolling Stone says...

This soundtrack to the Richard Lester film cemented all that U.S. listeners had heard about the Beatles' genius in the off kilter beauty of John Lennon's "If I Fell" and the rockabilly bounce of Paul McCartney's "Can't Buy Me Love".

A humbling footnote:  The album was recorded in one day!

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ALL MUSIC GUIDE:

A Hard Day's Night not only was the de facto soundtrack for their movie, not only was it filled with nothing but Lennon-McCartney originals, but it found the Beatles truly coming into their own as a band. All of the disparate influences on their first two albums had coalesced into a bright, joyous, original sound, filled with ringing guitars and irresistible melodies.

A Hard Day's Night is where the Beatles became mythical, but this is the sound of Beatlemania in all of its giddy glory. Decades after its original release, its punchy blend of propulsive rhythms, jangly guitars, and infectious, singalong melodies is remarkably fresh. There's something intrinsically exciting in the sound of the album itself, something to keep the record vital years after it was recorded.

Even more impressive are the songs themselves. Not only are the melodies forceful and memorable, but Lennon and McCartney have found a number of variations to their basic Merseybeat style, from the brash "Can't Buy Me Love" and "Any Time at All" through the gentle "If I Fell" to the tough folk-rock of "I'll Cry Instead."

It's possible to hear both songwriters develop their own distinctive voices on the album, but, overall, A Hard Day's Night stands as a testament to their collaborative powers -- never again did they write together so well or so easily, choosing to pursue their own routes.

John and Paul must have known how strong the material is -- they threw the pleasant trifle "I'm Happy Just to Dance With You" to George and didn't give anything to Ringo to sing. That may have been a little selfish, but it hardly hurts the album, since everything on the record is performed with genuine glee and excitement. It's the pinnacle of their early years.

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AMG Review AMG Pick 1   A Hard Day's Night Lennon, McCartney 2:32
AMG Review AMG Pick 2   I Should Have Known Better Lennon, McCartney 2:44
AMG Review   3   If I Fell Lennon, McCartney 2:22
AMG Review   4   I'm Happy Just to Dance With You Lennon, McCartney 1:58
AMG Review AMG Pick 5   And I Love Her Lennon, McCartney 2:31
AMG Review   6   Tell Me Why Lennon, McCartney 2:10
AMG Review AMG Pick 7   Can't Buy Me Love Lennon, McCartney 2:14
AMG Review   8   Any Time at All Lennon, McCartney 2:13
AMG Review   9   I'll Cry Instead Lennon, McCartney 1:47
AMG Review   10   Things We Said Today Lennon, McCartney 2:38
AMG Review   11   When I Get Home Lennon, McCartney 2:18
AMG Review   12   You Can't Do That Lennon, McCartney 2:37
AMG Review   13   I'll Be Back Lennon, McCartney 2:20


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Jeremy Riggs


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Well, I realize a lot of music lovers will shake their head at me, but I always viewed the Beatles (along with Elvis and a few others) as "your fathers music".

They were over far before I was into music, and by the time I was into music their sound seemed pretty dated.

Mixed in with the fact I don't like things that get TOO popular, and I was not a fan of the Beatles.

Individually I had no use for the solo work of Starr or Harrison (until his late 80's hit GOT MY MIND SET ON YOU.

I could tolerate Lennon, but for the most part thought he was too preachy and too artsy.

Not surprisingly I liked McCartney.  He's the one that had the most pop success when I was growing up and I loved his stuff with Michael Jackson.

The only song I recall ever liking by the Beatles as a child was YESTERDAY (and it's still my favorite) and that was mostly because it was used in a montage on Laverne & Shirley biggrin.gif

Now I like a lot of their music, but still don't personally consider them one of the greatest bands of all time.

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Woo Hoo


The Chosen Woo

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I own nothing but enjoy the Beatles. Having an older sister helped diversify my music tastes. I like a lot of older stuff because of her. I remember her having a big Beatles cloth poster on the ceiling when she was staying in the basement.

However, no matter how much she listened to Rod Stewart, that was not rubbing off on me. I still only like a few songs.

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Jeremy Riggs


Do I look a little pale to you?

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Having an older sibling definately must help Woo.

When I was a kid my parents really weren't into music anymore, so I never got exposed to a lot of this stuff.

In fact, now that I think about it, some of my favorite songs from the 70's are the rare songs my Mom & Dad did like. They'd buy the 45 and be playing it around the house for a couple weeks, and that would apparantly burn it into my head.

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JD The Jazz Doctor


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If given the choice between early beatles stuff and later, for the most part I will go with earlier. Think of what a mind-blower that must have been to be raised on a decade or so of music like "How much is that little doggie in the window" or "Mr Sandman, Bring me a dream...." and then one day turnin on the radio to "SHAKE IT UP BABY NOW (SHAKE IT UP BABY), TWIST AND SHOUT!!!"

 

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MzHartz


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I love the Beatles, and although I don't own this particular one, that's just coincidence. I wish I owned it. Heck, if it weren't Christmas time, I might go out and buy it.

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Jeremy Riggs


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It does amaze me they recorded it in a day.

Bands nowadays spend months in the studio.

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Ultimo


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I too don't have this album (yet!) but do have Abbey Road, Sgt Peppers, Yellow Submarine and the Red and Blue Albums, I love the Beatles, always have and always will, I don't see them as dated, I am one of the youngest members here, and didn't start listening to the beatles till decades after they had split, Lennon died before I was born! But I can still listen to thier music and find it fresh and interesting today.

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garougal


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I love this album - bet then I love the Beatles! I know some people think the music is dated and find that unappealing or overplayed. I'm sort of the opposite - it spoke to an era that revolutionized music, the emotional and intellectual threads of a generation, and I love that. The music still inspires emotion, memories, and reflection. It still energizes me. My mom played the Beatles a lot, so I grew up with that musical influence in my life and that lends to its meaning for me. This album was one of her favorites, so though I don't own it, I have most of the songs and love to play them frequently. smile

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ghostdancer


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I love The Beatles, and I have every single album they ever put out as a group.  While I like "A Hard Day's Night" it isn't my favorite album by them.....that would be St. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" followed by "Revolver".  And if JR checks in his book, St. Pepper is the #1 album on their list of 500.  biggrin 

Anyway, I wholeheartedly agree with JD.  I can't imagine what it was like to listen to the doowop sound of the 50's and then one day, bam, here's this wonderful sound of The Beatles coming out of the radio.  I consider them the true innovators of rock-n-roll......their music was nothing short of a musical revolution!

My parents (both in their 20's when The Beatles hit the USA, and never liking them or their music) credit them with the downfall of society; blaming them for everything from the long-haired hippies and drugs to the sexual revolution. 

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sgmorrell


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I own only Sgt Peppers & Abbey Road....all the other Beatles CD's I have are compilation discs

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firefly


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I am a Beatles fansmile I remember for Christmas one year, I asked my parents for the Beatles' collection and Prince's collection. Weird combination, I know.

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craig uk


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Yeah i can take or leave the Beatles but my fav track is Yellow Submarine! Great track.wink.gif

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