So, it's 44 years ago today that With The Beatles was released. What does everyone think of this album?
I must admit that until recently I had thought of WTB as a blip on the landscape along the road to the great A Hard Day's Night. But recent listens - prompted by the Song Survivor Game - have greatly changed my mind. I am guilty of overlooking this album, sandwiched as it was, between their debut, and AHDN. But I'm forced to admit that it really is an unheralded little gem, including one of Paul's first 'great' songs - All My Loving, as well as the best crop of cover versions to be found on any Beatles album, and a great Lennon vocal to close - Money. Sessions for this album also produced their American breakthrough single - 'I Want to Hold Your Hand', and the rest is history.
If you've previously dismissed this album as just a stopover on the way to greatness, I strongly urge you to give it another listen, you won't be disappointed.
I've
never dismissed WTB--always felt it to be a classic album. Ironically it's the soundtrack Lp for
AHDN that I've always dismissed (on UA) The
film itself is probably their greatest, but apart from "And I Love Her" & "You Cant Do That", I've never been a big fan of the album--and not of soundtrack albums generally speaking (including the American (Capitol) version of Help!)
WTB, on the other hand is worthy to sit side by side w/ Please Please Me as their great opening works. Along w/ the songs you mentioned, I'd add "Little Child", "Till There Was You" (Paul's beautifully sung version of the Meredeth Wilson song from "The Music Man"),
and..probably my favorite song on WTB, "Hold Me Tight" (for late 1963, that song rocks)