When EMI issued in 1988 the original Beatles LPs in CD format, they aimed to provide the fans with all Beatles songs in an easy manner. Prior to CDs, fans had had to buy virtually all singles and/or EPs to get all Beatles songs officially issued. With the Past Masters, the number of CDs necessary to complete the Beatles discography was reduced to 16 (considering the double White Album). A figure that both the BBC and the Anthology releases would take to 23. Of the 33 songs included in the Past Masters, 25 were singles previously edited. The other 8 songs belonged to the Long Tall Sally EP (4 of them), to compilation albums (2) and the other two were singles in German. Some of the songs in the Past Masters may appear as "repeated" from the LPs. That would be the case of Let It Be and Love Me Do, and this is sometimes misleading to the beginner (as a matter of fact I did believe so at a point, and did not buy the Past Masters initially thinking that everything was included in the original 13 LPs). The truth is that the Past Masters are a product that was perfectly designed to fulfill the need of those, like me, that decided to buy all Beatles songs "for ever" in CD format. Hence, the Love Me Do version is the one with Ringo on drums (unlike the one that can be found in Please Please Me, while Let It Be is also the single version (same version as in the Let It Be LP, although with the alternative solo recorded by George Harrison). And so, to the usual question on whether to buy or not the Past Masters, the only answer is YES. It is the only reasonable way to get songs like From Me To You, Yes It Is, I Want To Hold Your Hand, Hey Jude, Lady Madonna, Paperback Writer or Revolution (in its more distorted version). As a matter of fact, it could be advisable to maybe buy these two before getting the other 13, since they compile almost all the singles that the fabs issued in their career. But anyway, Beatlemania is a long river that leads almost everyone of us to the same port, and the order of factors does not change the product. Past Masters - Volume One Recording Dates: 1962-1965 Release Date: March 7th 1988 (CD) Love Me Do McCartney-Lennon John: Guitar, harmonica and Lead Vocal Paul: Bass and Lead Vocal George: Acoustic Guitar, Vocals Ringo: Drums Recording Date: 5 de Octubre de 1962 UK Release: October 5th 1962 (A side single/ P.S. I Love You) US Release: April 27th 1964 (A side single/ P.S. I Love You) Written by Paul one day he did not go to class early in 1958. Since he wasn't really sure on how to finish it, John helped out with the middle eight. Love Me Do was one of the songs rehearse on September 4th 1962 in Abbey Road to decide on the group's first single. How Do You Do It? was Parlophone's favourite, but finally the group's own production was more decisive. However Ringo's drums did not convince George Martin, and a week later the group got together again to record the LP version with Ringo on tambourine. Despite its simplicity, Love Me Do reached the 17 spot in the charts, and although as a song it can't be praised too much regarding its composition, it does show some of the features that would later make the fabs succeed. From Me To You Lennon-McCartney John: Guitar and Lead Vocal Paul: Bass and Lead Vocal George: Lead Guitar and Vocals Ringo: Drums Recording Date: March 5th 1963 UK Release: April 11th 1963 (A side single/ Thank you girl) US Release: May 27th 1963 (A side single/ Thank you girl) When the success reached by Please Please Me started to go beyond all expectations, George Martin insisted that John and Paul had to write more hits. The answer was quick and on the bus of the Helen Shapiro tour, on February 28th 1963, they wrote From Me To You fifty/fifty. The song was inspired by the letter section in NME (From you to us). The writing exercise, designed to reach number one again worked perfectly and From Me To You stayed 7 weeks as number one in the UK charts. Thank You Girl Lennon-McCartney John: Guitar, harmonica and Lead Vocal Paul: Bass and Vocals George: Lead Guitar Ringo: Drums Recording Date: 5/13th March 1963 UK Release: April 11th 1963 (B side single/ From Me To You) US Release: May 27th 1963 (B side single/ From Me To You) Until the arrival of From Me To You, Thank You Girl was going to be The Beatles' third single. A 50-50 collaboration between Lennon-McCartney, the song still shows certain innocence in its composition and recording. Probably trapped by the thrill of their hits, the fabs tried at least with this song to thank fans for taking them to the top. She Loves You Lennon-McCartney John: Guitar and Lead Vocal Paul: Bass and Vocals George: Lead Guitar and Vocals Ringo: Drums Recording Date: July 1st 1963 UK Release: August 23rd 1963 (A side single/ I'll Get You) US Release: September 16th 1963 (A side single/ I'll Get You) Written in a hotel in Newcastle Upon Tyne on June 26th 1963, She Loves You became the first song to deal with love in a third person (rather than the usual first and second persons). As Paul has said several times, this time it was "she" the one with the main role in the story. She Loves You is one of the main symbols o Beatlemania. Frantic, with Ringo opening with his trademark roll, the famous "Yeah-yeah" (that would gain the fabs the nickname of "yeah-yeahs" all over Europe, including Spain -where a whole movement was named ye-ye), the wonderful harmonies and the energy of the guitars and bass. She Loves You became the all time best selling Beatles single in Europe, and after being aired in the ITV program Sunday Night at the London Palladium determined the beginning of a new era. I'll Get You Lennon-McCartney Working Title: I'll get you in the end John: Guitar, harmonica and Lead Vocal Paul: Bass and Lead Vocal George: Lead Guitar and Vocals Ringo: Drums Recording Date: July 1st 1963 UK Release: August 23rd 1963 (B side single/ She Loves You) US Release: September 16th 1963 (B side single/ She Loves You) Written in mid 1964, I'll get you was recorded at the end of a session devoted to She Loves You. The typical Liverpool accent (scouse) that the Beatles use in the song was a fake accent (adopted for marketing purposes during these early stages). Those who knew the group, specially the middle classes, never fully understood why they should talk/sing like this. I'll Get You is one of those "fillers" that nevertheless presents certain interesting details. Although it's not one of the group's best songs, it keeps up with the joy of side A in the single, backing it up with the "oh yeahs" in the middle. I Want To Hold Your Hand Lennon-McCartney John: Guitar, handclaps, Lead Vocal Paul: Bass, handclaps, Lead Vocal George: Lead Guitar, handclaps and Vocals Ringo:Drums and handclaps Recording Date: October 17th 1963 UK Release: November 29th 1963 (A side single/ This Boy) US Release: December 26th 1963 (A side single/ I saw her standing there) After the success of She Loves You as a number 1, LEnnon and McCartney decided to take the US market by surprise. In order to do so, they needed a number one hit that would prove those who said they wouldn't make it wrong. I Want To Hold Your Hand was the perfect choice. Written in the Asher's basement, with Paul and John at the piano, the song is a hit from beginning to end. The song relies in a continuous build up of tension, from the introduction, going through the middle eight. The powerful harmonies of Paul, John and George accomplish at some stages to reach hysteria and head shaking. The outcome was the expected one. In the United Kingdom, it became their first Christmas hit, with a million copies of advanced sales. In the United States, the single got there a little late for the Christmas campaign, and yet the effects were devastating. Up to the point of considering their appearance at the Ed Sullivan Show two months later, the turning point of the postwar culture in the United States. I Want To Hold Your Hand, with its American pronunciation (wanna) also changed dramatically the music in the US, being a reference for all musicians of that time, and also for teenagers in the early 60s. This Boy Lennon John: Guitar and Lead Vocal Paul: Bass and Lead Vocal George: Lead Guitar and Lead Vocal Ringo:Drums Recording Date: October 17th 1963 UK Release: November 29th 1963 (B side single/ I Wanna Hold Your Hand) US Release: January 20th 1964 (LP Meet the Beatles) John wrote This Boy focusing mainly on the vocal harmonies, and he certainly achieved a remarkable result. This Boy (known as Ringo's theme after its instrumental inclusion in A Hard Day's Night when Ringo goes away, although it wouldn't make it to the soundtrack album) is a very special song. Although musically it may not be a wonder and the lyrics are quite weak, nobody should miss the chance of a summer night watching the stars listening to This Boy. Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand Lennon-McCartney John: Guitar, handclaps, Lead Vocal Paul: Bass, handclaps, Lead Vocal George: Lead Guitar, handclaps and Vocals Ringo:Drums and handclaps Recording Date: October 17th 1963, January 29th 1964 Recorded for the West Germany market and hence sung in German, this song is no other than I Want To Hold Your Hand. In a policy never again repeated by The Beatles, the fabs recorded also Sie Libt Dich in German. To the original recording, handclaps and vocals were added at the EMI Pathè Marconi studios in Paris. Sie Libt Dich Lennon-McCartney John: Guitar and Lead Vocal Paul: Bass and Vocals George: Lead Guitar and Vocals Ringo: Drums Recording Date: January 29th 1964 She Loves You turned this time into Sie Libt Dich. According to Lewisohn, a totally new recording made also in Paris (although some think that the backing is the one recorded for the British single). Both songs are nothing but curious, although to those able to understand German they may rise some additional interest. Long Tall Sally Johnson - Pennyman - Blackwell John: Guitar Paul: Bass and Lead Vocal George: Lead Guitar Ringo: Drums George Martin: Piano Recording Date: March 1st 1964 UK Release: June 19th 1964 (EP Long Tall Sally) US Release: April 10th 1964 (LP The Beatles' Second Album) The Beatles' great devotion for Little Richard showed up many times during their career, specially in their live appearances. Paul, who could do great impressions of Richard, sung many times Richards covers on stage (Lennon also dared to do so a few times, although his voice was less appropriate for the task). Long Tall Sally was recorded in a single take, and like in other occasions it captures perfectly the "live" feeling of the performance (even more frantic than Richards'). Outstanding are George solos, and of course, Paul vocals. I Call Your Name Lennon John: Guitar and Lead Vocal Paul: Bass George: Lead Guitar Ringo: Drums and cowbell Recording Date: March 1st 1964 UK Release: June 19th 1964 (EP Long Tall Sally) US Release: April 10th 1964 (LP The Beatles' Second Album) I call your name was one of the first songs written buy John Lennon. In the summer of 1963 the song was slightly changed (in the middle eight) to make it suitable for a cover by Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas. The song shows the lack of experience in composition sometimes, although the middle eight sure improves the final result. The Carpenters would later cover this song resulting in a curious version. Slow Down Williams John: Lead Guitar and Lead Vocal Paul: Bass George: Guitar Ringo: Drums George Martin: Piano Recording Date: June 1st and 4th 1964 UK Release: June 19th 1964 (EP Long Tall Sally) US Release: August 24th 1964 (B side single / Matchbox) Slow Down was written by Larry Williams, a Rock 'n' Roll writer and singer whose songs appeared in the fabs live shows in their early years, and hence making it to their discography. Slow Down was in The Beatles' act from 1960 to 1962, but when it was recorded in 1964 the fabs had probably lost some of the feeling for the song. The result is not what one would expect of a Beatles cover, and appears to be a rushed product of Beatlemania. In any case, I personally enjoy quite a lot some of the vocal harmonies in some parts of the song. The song was recorded on June 1st, while George Martin added piano on June 4th. Matchbox Perkins John: Guitar Paul: Bass George: Lead Guitar Ringo: Drums and Lead Vocal George Martin: Piano Recording Date: June 1st 1964 UK Release: June 19th 1964 (EP Long Tall Sally) US Release: August 24th 11964 (A side single / Slow Down) Matchbox didn't make it to A Hard Day's Night B side. The song that intended to be "Ringo's song" came from Pete Best's time, who already sung it before he left the group. Matchbox was written by Carl Perkins (a Beatles' idol, the fabs played over 10 songs written by Perkins, recording 3 of them officially -plus those included in the BBC and the Anthology-). Curiously, in 1960, when The Silver Beatles toured Scotland, George Harrison used Carl as a name honouring his idol. The cover is not in any case one of the best in the Beatles career. I Feel Fine Lennon John: Lead Guitar and Lead Vocal Paul: Bass and Vocals George: Lead Guitar Ringo: Drums Recording Date: October 18th 1964 UK Release: November 27th 1964 (A side single /She's a woman) US Release: November 23rd 1964 (A side single /She's a woman) John Lennon started writing I Feel Fine during a recording session (probably the one used to record Eight Day's a Week). The song has passes onto the history of modern music as the first time a pop group used feedback in a recording. The sound used in the recording was accidentally discovered by the Beatles when placing one of the electric-acoustic guitars on the floor. The sound produced was similar to the one hat can be heard on the record. The actual recording was accomplished by striking the sixth string free, and gradually increasing the Vox amplifier's volume. The song itself is a small wonder. To the insistent riff of the beginning, Ringo's latin drums are added in a great performance. The vocal harmonies, exquisitely used just give the final touch. Traditionally I Feel Fine has not been considered one of the Beatles greatest songs. However, the single reached the number 1 spot immediately, remaining there for 6 weeks. There must be something to the song. She's a Woman McCartney John: Guitar Paul: Bass, piano and Vocals George: Lead Guitar Ringo: Drums and Chocalho Recording Date: October 8th 1964 UK Release: November 27th 1964 (B side single /I Feel Fine) US Release: November 23rd 1964 (A side single /I Feel Fine) She's a Woman accomplishes in only 2'57'' to change several topics in the recordings of its time. The bass was finally coming alive in the same way that Paul would use it in later recordings. It appears stronger in the final mix of the song. The guitar with a sound very uncommon for its time, high pitched and very distorted. Everything grouped by the guitar's syncopated rythm and the incredible vocals, so high that Paul's voice seems that it may fall apart any second. Put it all together, and what was considered in its time an "experimental" recording, is a very powerful song and with an ending that would favour in endless minutes of jamming in live performances. Apparently the line "Turn me on" was included on Lennon's insistence to give clues on the group's conversion to marihuana (Paul probably wrote the song under its effects). Bad Boy Williams John: Guitar and Lead Vocal Paul: Bass and electric piano George: Lead Guitar Ringo: Drums and Tambourine Recording Date: May 10th 1965 UK Release: December 9th 1966 (LP: A Collection of Beatles Oldies) US Release: June 14th 1965 (LP: Beatles IV) Second Williams' cover in the CD, Bad Boy was written in 1959. The Beatles probably recorded the song in a desperate attempt to deliver enough songs for all records being edited at these time by the fabs. The result is what generally would be considered a "filler", nevertheless interesting. Yes It Is Lennon John: Guitar and Lead Vocal Paul: Bass and Lead Vocal George: Lead Guitar and Lead Vocal Ringo: Drums Recording Date: February 16th 1965 UK Release: April 9th 1965 (B side single /Ticket To Ride) US Release: April 19th 1965 (B side single /Ticket To Ride) I personally don't believe that for the true Beatles fan there's something like a favourite song. However, sometimes I have been pressed by fans, media and others to quote a song as my favourite. That song is Yes It Is. Reasons are strictly sentimental. The truth is that Yes It Is came to my knowledge after having owned all original LP's, in the form of the Love Songs compilation. The deep impression it caused on me the first time I listened to it still lasts, and I get thrills everytime I listen to the song. For John Lennon, everything said in the previous paragraph wouldn't make much sense. Years after the Beatles had ceased to exist, John was asked about the song. He remembered it as a failed attempt to write another This Boy. However, the delicacy of the three-part harmonies, the romantic side of the lyrics (evoking the subjects of 19th century poems) and the atmosphere surrounding the song make of it a special recording. Sincerely, it's a song deserving more attention that the one it draws usually. I'm Down McCartney John: Guitar and Vocals Paul: Bass and Lead Vocal George: Lead Guitar and Vocals Ringo: Drums and bongos Recording Date: June 14th 1965 UK Release: July 23rd 1965 (B side single /Help!) US Release: July 19th 1965 (B side single /Help!) Another true Rock 'n' Roll song written by McCartney, maybe trying to get something similar to "Long Tall Sally". Certainly Paul's vocal is fantastic in a song not lacking the frantic rythm of the best rockers. An excellent way to finish the CD with a fast, powerful song, much to the taste of George Martin.