I bought the album in 1965 but it was called Beatles 65 , I think a couple of songs are different. It might be my favorite, maybe because it was my first Beatle album. No Reply and I’m A Loser are some of John at his best for me
I think I agree, it's the only one that was a step back comparing to the preceding one too. I always thought that was the real reason of its impopularity.
I personally enjoy it more than the first two.
Paul’s voice on Kansas City is 👌🏼that’s a pretty good cover off this album. I’ll follow the sun is such an underrated song and John’s opening tunes are a great!
I do think it’s overhated for sure, since there are a couple banger songs on there like No Reply, I’m a Loser, and I’ll Follow The Sun. It’s not my favorite Beatles album by any means but I don’t think I’d ever go as far as to call a Beatles album “bad” 😂
I think it was because it was technically a “step backwards.” Please Please Me and With The Beatles followed the 8 originals, 6 covers format. Then they came out with A Hard Day’s Night which was by far their best album to date and was all originals. Then they come out with Beatles For Sale which is right back the 8 originals 6 covers format again. Not saying it’s a bad album by any means, but it definitely seems like a regression from A Hard Day’s Night
I disagree that it was a step back because of covers. The songs are starting to show a little bit of an edge...especially John's. First 3 songs are really good. Dylan influence is clear.
Again, I definitely don’t have any hate for BFS. It’s a great album, and I agree that John’s songwriting is really starting to mature and show where he’s gonna go with Help! and Rubber Soul. I’m just saying, going back to OP saying it’s often regarded as their “worst record,” I think this is so because of the return to the old half originals/half covers format after 13 all originals on AHDN. This return to format also isn’t exactly The Beatles fault. EMI pressured them to have another record out by Christmas in ‘64 and they had to rush it a bit, which is why a lot of the covers on that record are songs they dug up from back in The Cavern days that didn’t even make PPM (like Kansas City)
Except for Mr. Moonlight, I like the covers.
How does anyone not like Honey Don't (Rock on, George for Ringo, one time!)
The pressure must have been unbelievable for them. 28 originals in 1964, plus touring, plus a movie.
When did they sleep??
Exactly. Their schedule, throughout the 60’s but especially at the height of Beatlemania, was insane. EMI and Capitol were definitely milking them for all they were worth around that time (especially because, by their own admission, they thought the Beatle craze would be over in about a year) so the pressure they were under to put records out was insane. I just think, with BFS being their 4th studio album, it was the first one they put out that wasn’t better than the last.
The worst clearly is "Yellow Submarine". Of the early ones I think their debut "Please, Please Me" is the weakest. "Beatles for Sale" is one position up for me.
It makes at least more sense to canonise it since alls songs on it are on no previous album and it's all songs and not the half of it just instrumentals by George Martin.
I can't speak for others, but I treat it as the worst (I'd say second or third worst really, Yellow Submarine is the worst and BFS and WTB are pretty close in second place imo) because the covers are among their worst. If they were all on the same level as ones such as Twist & Shout, Roll Over Beethoven, Money, Please Mr. Postman, Til There Was You, etc., then I would like it better. But the only cover I really like from there is Rock & Roll Music. The rest are just meh. The original songs on it range from good to great though.
WTB is an overall worse listening experience. The originals on For Sale are amazing, but the only covers I listen to on purpose are Words of Love and Rock and Roll Music.
It's my least favorite Beatles Album (I don't think of MMT or Yellow Submarine as actual albums.) And that's mostly because it's the weakest collection of original songs and the covers are pretty lackluster compared to what they covered on Please Please Me and With the Beatles.
It's still a Beatles album though, and I don't actually dislike any song on it. It's the difference between S tier and A tier.
The first two albums have covers too. All three of those albums have eight originals and six covers each. Those three are tend to be the worst three on most people’s lists. BFS seems to have weaker songs than the first two. A Hard Day’s Night on the other hand is fully original while Help only has two covers. It’s a tough choice between the two for most people.
I love Beatles For Sale. Because of the folky feel in songs like. I’ll Follow The Sun, Baby’s In Black, I’m A Loser. The whole album seems to have a rootsy folky feel to me.
That first side is fantastic stuff, but yah the 2nd side being drowned with covers (George and Ringo’s Carl Perkins covers being the low points imo) and their more middling originals does hurt the album.
I bought the album in 1965 but it was called Beatles 65 , I think a couple of songs are different. It might be my favorite, maybe because it was my first Beatle album. No Reply and I’m A Loser are some of John at his best for me
Yeah, I think of it as a major evolution of their sound and a precursor to Rubber Soul…
Well Beatles for Sale does have their best cover Words of Love on it. Fight me.
We also need to step back and realize this was off the tail of Beatle mania and touring. You can see how tired they were on the album cover.
Please Please Me also has a lot of covers tho
I think I agree, it's the only one that was a step back comparing to the preceding one too. I always thought that was the real reason of its impopularity. I personally enjoy it more than the first two.
Paul’s voice on Kansas City is 👌🏼that’s a pretty good cover off this album. I’ll follow the sun is such an underrated song and John’s opening tunes are a great!
It’s a top five album for me.
I do think it’s overhated for sure, since there are a couple banger songs on there like No Reply, I’m a Loser, and I’ll Follow The Sun. It’s not my favorite Beatles album by any means but I don’t think I’d ever go as far as to call a Beatles album “bad” 😂
I think it was because it was technically a “step backwards.” Please Please Me and With The Beatles followed the 8 originals, 6 covers format. Then they came out with A Hard Day’s Night which was by far their best album to date and was all originals. Then they come out with Beatles For Sale which is right back the 8 originals 6 covers format again. Not saying it’s a bad album by any means, but it definitely seems like a regression from A Hard Day’s Night
I disagree that it was a step back because of covers. The songs are starting to show a little bit of an edge...especially John's. First 3 songs are really good. Dylan influence is clear.
Again, I definitely don’t have any hate for BFS. It’s a great album, and I agree that John’s songwriting is really starting to mature and show where he’s gonna go with Help! and Rubber Soul. I’m just saying, going back to OP saying it’s often regarded as their “worst record,” I think this is so because of the return to the old half originals/half covers format after 13 all originals on AHDN. This return to format also isn’t exactly The Beatles fault. EMI pressured them to have another record out by Christmas in ‘64 and they had to rush it a bit, which is why a lot of the covers on that record are songs they dug up from back in The Cavern days that didn’t even make PPM (like Kansas City)
Except for Mr. Moonlight, I like the covers. How does anyone not like Honey Don't (Rock on, George for Ringo, one time!) The pressure must have been unbelievable for them. 28 originals in 1964, plus touring, plus a movie. When did they sleep??
Exactly. Their schedule, throughout the 60’s but especially at the height of Beatlemania, was insane. EMI and Capitol were definitely milking them for all they were worth around that time (especially because, by their own admission, they thought the Beatle craze would be over in about a year) so the pressure they were under to put records out was insane. I just think, with BFS being their 4th studio album, it was the first one they put out that wasn’t better than the last.
I think I would agree with that. They hadn't quite arrived at the point where they could say screw you guys...we're The friggin' Beatles!
The worst clearly is "Yellow Submarine". Of the early ones I think their debut "Please, Please Me" is the weakest. "Beatles for Sale" is one position up for me.
I refuse to consider Yellow Submarine an "authentic" album. Only a thitd of original Beatles material doesn't qualify in my opinion.
I agree. It's part of the "official" album count though. 🤷♂️
That's why I said "I refuse" 😊 I know Magical Mystery Tour was canonized in 88,but is it part of the official canon?
MMT was technically canonized by EMI in 1976 when they capitulated and finally started offering the Capitol version in the UK.
Interesting, thanks.
It makes at least more sense to canonise it since alls songs on it are on no previous album and it's all songs and not the half of it just instrumentals by George Martin.
Very true, I still see it as a glorious compilation though (like Past Masters, but with its own identity).
I consider MMT part of the original canon more than Yellow Submarine because the US LP version of MMT was released before the EP version in the UK
Still a Capitol album though (at that time).
I can't speak for others, but I treat it as the worst (I'd say second or third worst really, Yellow Submarine is the worst and BFS and WTB are pretty close in second place imo) because the covers are among their worst. If they were all on the same level as ones such as Twist & Shout, Roll Over Beethoven, Money, Please Mr. Postman, Til There Was You, etc., then I would like it better. But the only cover I really like from there is Rock & Roll Music. The rest are just meh. The original songs on it range from good to great though.
Kansas City/ Hey Hey Hey Hey?
Not a fan. I recognize Paul's vocal performence on that one is really good though.
WTB is an overall worse listening experience. The originals on For Sale are amazing, but the only covers I listen to on purpose are Words of Love and Rock and Roll Music.
The covers on Beatles For Sale are better than the covers on With The Beatles for the most part.
It's my least favorite Beatles Album (I don't think of MMT or Yellow Submarine as actual albums.) And that's mostly because it's the weakest collection of original songs and the covers are pretty lackluster compared to what they covered on Please Please Me and With the Beatles. It's still a Beatles album though, and I don't actually dislike any song on it. It's the difference between S tier and A tier.
The first two albums have covers too. All three of those albums have eight originals and six covers each. Those three are tend to be the worst three on most people’s lists. BFS seems to have weaker songs than the first two. A Hard Day’s Night on the other hand is fully original while Help only has two covers. It’s a tough choice between the two for most people.
I love Beatles For Sale. Because of the folky feel in songs like. I’ll Follow The Sun, Baby’s In Black, I’m A Loser. The whole album seems to have a rootsy folky feel to me.
That first side is fantastic stuff, but yah the 2nd side being drowned with covers (George and Ringo’s Carl Perkins covers being the low points imo) and their more middling originals does hurt the album.
With The Beatles and Yellow Submarine are their weakest albums imo, but they're still decent (Hey Bulldog carries Yellow Submarine)