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Only four months had passed since The Beatles released their debut album, and they were back in the studio
recording their second. But the time this album was released, and its counterpart "Meet The Beatles," in America,
The Beatles were the hottest group in show-business. With this second album, EMI records knew that their fans
would buy anything The Beatles released. But, what they did not plan was that this album proved to be a giant step
beyond their first, rather hastily pieced together effort, but still nonetheless -great! In my continuing series, we take
a look at the Beatles' second release from November 22, 1963, and its American counterpart, "Meet The Beatles."
The history, the songs, the lyrics and what they mean are all here!
Oh Look Out! Songs and Albums of The Beatles Part 2 With The Beatles By John T. Marck "You're Giving Me the Same Old Line, I'm Wondering Why..." When "With The Beatles" was released in England on November 22, 1963, not many American's were even aware of its release, or The Beatles for that matter, and had it been released in the US at this same time, it may have gone unnoticed, at least for a while, what with its release coinciding with one of America's darkest days; the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The counterpart in America to "With The Beatles," was "Meet The Beatles!" The albums had similarities, as the cover picture was the same, yet they contained many different tracks. With the British releases, all albums had fourteen tracks to the American counterparts twelve. Additionally, album titles were different until the release of "Sgt. Peppers' Lonely Hearts Club Band." This is discussed in further detail in one of my earlier articles: The Beatles, Their History, Their Songs and What They Mean, 1957-1970. First, let's take a look at the American version, "Meet The Beatles!" This album was dubbed by Capitol Records as "The First Album by England's Phenomenal Pop Combo." This is not exactly true. What Capitol Records probably meant was this was the first album by The Beatles on Capitol Records. The Beatles' first releases in America before "Meet The Beatles," were three singles (45 rpm) and one album. The first single released in America was Please Please Me/Ask Me Why on February 25,1963 on Vee-Jay Records; the next was From Me To You/Thank You Girl on May 27, 1963 on Vee-Jay Records, and She Loves You/I'll Get You on September 16, 1963 on Swan Records. Their first album was titled "Introducing The Beatles," released on July 22, 1963 also on Vee-Jay Records. However, successful in England, these records never quite caught on, until December 26, 1963 when they released "I Want To Hold Your Hand/I Saw Her Standing There as a single on Capitol Records, and on this same day, released the album "Meet The Beatles." From this point Beatlemania started, and the delirium continued. When The Beatles came to America for their first visit, and their appearance of The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964, it was a complete accident and luck that this appearance happened to coincide with having a number one song, "I Want To Hold Your Hand." This was the first time a British group had truly conquered America. Many of the songs on "With The Beatles," and "Meet The Beatles," were the same. The difference was that the British version contained five songs that were not on the American version, and all not written by The Beatles. They are: "Please Mister Postman; Roll Over Beethoven; You Really Got A Hold On Me; Devil In Her Heart, and Money. Conversely, "Meet The Beatles," contained "I Want To Hold Your Hand, I Saw Her Standing There, and This Boy that was not on "With The Beatles." As discussed in more detail in my above referenced article, many of the albums released in America and Britain can get somewhat confusing, before Sgt. Pepper. There are many reasons for this. First, as said, the American albums had twelve tracks to the British fourteen. In England, The Beatles released 22 singles, 14 EP's (extended play 45 rpm's, that contained usually four tracks, but at times five and six), and 13 albums. In America, The Beatles released 32 singles, 20 albums, and a few EP's. These totals are from the first releases through "Let It Be." Other albums did follow both in America and in England, but these were collections of previously released songs. In England, The Beatles' first album was "Please Please Me," which they had five years to prepare for. Following this, with the release of "With The Beatles," they had about five months to prepare. In the early days, both John and Paul in writing their songs, seemed to have a sense of what worked in America, that is, where it appeared as though they were singing their songs personally to each and every girl. That is why most of these earlier songs dealt with love, teen-romance, relationships, etc. Songs like "I Want To Hold Your Hand, From Me To You, Thank You Girl, I'll Get You, P.S. I Love You, and others, made the female audience feel as though The Beatles were singing these to them. Also, in their earlier days at the Cavern Club and others, The Beatles sang to an intimate audience, many of whom they got to know. Upon the emergence of Beatlemania, they could no longer maintain this intimate relationship with their fans. Now, they had to be smuggled in and out of events by the police, and became popular in parts of the world that they scarcely knew, and would never visit. Each song on "With The Beatles," and "Meet The Beatles," that Lennon and McCartney wrote had the same basic theme, love. Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, etc. Regardless, of a repetitive theme, "With The Beatles," and "Meet The Beatles," are two of my favorite albums. They are the core Beatles, that sound that has made them the greatest band in the history of recorded music. All Songs by Lennon and McCartney, unless otherwise noted. Written mostly by Lennon, this song was intended as a follow up to the success of "She Loves You," and the yeah yeah yeah chorus, as well as the play on words and double meanings -like was done in "Please Please Me." Lennon wrote this as an echo of his own life, being lonely, waiting for the girl to return that walked out on him, to come back and make him happy again. It seems that many of Lennon's songs that dealt with broken relationships were not necessarily fueled by romances that didn't work out. In this youth he felt lonely and dejected. His father left him as a child, and in effect, he was dejected again when his mother turned him over to her sister, John's Aunt Mimi to raise him. Then, in 1958, his mother was killed when she was struck by an automobile. Lennon thought and rightfully so, that he lost his mother twice. It was recorded on July 30, 1963. It Won't Be Long It won't be long yeah, (yeah), yeah, (yeah), yeah, (yeah), yeah, it won't be long yeah, (yeah), yeah, (yeah), yeah (yeah), yeah It won't be long yeah, (yeah) till I belong to you Every night when everybody has fun, here am I sitting all on my own It won't be long yeah, (yeah), yeah, (yeah), yeah, (yeah), yeah, it won't be long yeah, (yeah), yeah, (yeah), yeah, (yeah), yeah It won't be long yeah, (yeah), till I belong to you Since you left me, I'm so alone, now you're coming, you're coming on home I'll be good like I know I should, you're coming home, you're coming home Every night the tears come down from my eyes, every day I've done nothing but cry It won't be long yeah, (yeah), yeah, (yeah), yeah, (yeah), yeah, it won't be long yeah, (yeah), yeah, (yeah), yeah, (yeah), yeah It won't be long yeah, (yeah), till I belong to you Since you left me, I'm so alone, now you're coming, you're coming on home I'll be good like I know I should, you're coming home, you're coming home So every day we'll be happy I know, now I know that you won't leave me no more It won't be long yeah, (yeah), yeah, (yeah), yeah, (yeah), yeah, it won't be long yeah, (yeah), yeah, (yeah), yeah, It won't be long yeah, (yeah), till I belong to you, woo All I've Got To Do Written entirely by Lennon, and recorded on September 11, 1963, this was his attempt to deliver the sound of one of his idol's, Smokey Robinson. Another relationship song, and a great one at that! Whenever I, want you around yeah, all I gotta do, is call you on the phone And you'll come running home, yeah that's all I gotta do And when I, I wanna kiss you yeah, all I gotta do, is whisper in your ear The words you long to hear, and I'll be kissing you And the same goes for me, whenever, you want me at all, I'll be here yes I will Whenever you call, you just gotta call on me, yeah, (you just gotta call on me) And when I, I wanna kiss you, yeah, all I got do, is call you on the phone And you'll come running home, yeah, that's all I gotta do And the same goes for me, whenever, you want me at all, I'll be here yes I will Whenever you call, you just gotta call on me, yeah, (you just gotta call on me) Oh, you just gotta call on me, ooh, ooh All My Loving Indeed the most commercially successful song recorded in 1963 that was never issued as a single. This was written by Paul as a direct result of and to his love interest at the time, Jane Asher. On April 18, 1963, The Beatles gave a concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London, and Jane was in the audience. It would be the first time she had seen The Beatles. At this time, she was only 17, but was an accomplished actress. She had been sent to the concert as "Britain's best-known teenage girl," by the BBC magazine Radio Times, as she had been a regular with the BBC as a guest on a show titled "Juke Box Jury." It would be her job to review the concert, and later said, "Now these I can scream for." After the concert she was invited back to the Royal Court Hotel in Chelsea where The Beatles were staying. Here she meet The Beatles, and especially Paul, with whom she spent many hours in conversation. A short time later they began dating, and by year's end, 1963, Paul had moved into a room at the Asher's house on Wimpole Street. It would be through this relationship with Jane that her brother Peter also met Paul. Peter was that of Peter and Gordon fame, and recorded several songs written for him by Paul. This version was recorded on July 30, 1963. Close your eyes and I'll kiss you, tomorrow I'll miss you, remember I'll always be true. And then while I'm away, I'll write home everyday, and I'll send all my loving to you I'll pretend that I'm kissing, the lips I am missing, And hope that my dreams will come true, and then while I'm away I'll write home everyday, and I'll send all my loving to you All my loving, I will send to you, all my loving, darling I'll be true Close your eyes and I'll kiss you, tomorrow I'll miss you, remember I'll always be true And then while I'm away, I'll write home everyday, and I'll send all my loving to you All my loving, I will send to you, all my loving, darling I'll be true All my loving, All my loving, woo, all my loving, I will send to you Don't Bother Me Recorded on September 12, 1963, this was the first song that Harrison wrote and the first of his to be recorded by The Beatles. Although a relationship related theme, his title inspiration came about when he was sick in bed, and was telling people, especially Bill Harry, not to bother him. He had been nagged to write a song while sick in bed by Mr. Harry, the founder of a Liverpool paper known as "Merseybeat." He said years later that it was merely an exercise to see if he could write a song. Since she's been gone I want no one to talk to me, it's not the same but I'm to blame, it's plain to see So go away leave me alone, don't bother me, I can't believe that she would leave me on my own It's just not right, when every night, I'm all alone, I've got no time for you right now, don't bother me I know I'll never be the same, if I don't get her back again, because I know she'll always be, the only girl for me But till she's here please don't come near, just stay away, I'll let you know when she's come home, until that day Don't come around leave me alone, don't bother me, I've got no time for you right now, don't bother me I know I'll never be the same, if I don't get her back again, because I know she'll always be, the only girl for me But till she's here please don't come near just stay away, I'll let you know when she's come home until that day Don't come around leave me alone, don't bother me, don't bother me, don't bother me Don't bother me, don't bother me Little Child Credited to Lennon and McCartney, the lyrics about a sad and lonely boy wanting a girl to take a chance on him, was no doubt inspired by Lennon. Initially written for Ringo to sing, John considered it a hackwork song. Yet, his harmonica solo turned it into something quite dynamic; recorded on September 12, and October 3, 1963. Little child, little child, little child won't you dance with me, I'm so sad and lonely, baby take a chance with me Little child, little child, little child won't you dance with me, I'm so sad and lonely, baby take a chance with me If you want someone to make you feel so fine, Then we'll have some fun when you're mine oh mine, so come on, come on, come on Little child, little child, little child won't you dance with me, I'm so sad and lonely, baby take a chance with me, wow When you're by my side you're the only one, Don't you run and hide just come on, come on, then come on, come on, come on Little child, little child, little child won't you dance with me, I'm so sad and lonely, baby take a chance with me, oh yeah, Baby take a chance with me, oh yeah, baby take a chance with me, oh yeah Till There Was You* Meredith Willson. Recorded by The Beatles on July 30, 1963, this song was one from the Broadway musical, The Music Man. Please Mister Postman* Dobbin/Garrett/Garman/Brianbert. Originally recorded by The Marvelettes, this was one of the better by Lennon, that was not written by The Beatles. The Beatles recorded this on July 30, 1963. In my opinion, the two best songs the Beatles ever recorded that were written by others was Paul on "Long Tall Sally," and John on "Twist and Shout." No doubt about it! Roll Over Beethoven* Chuck Berry. This song written and originally recorded by Chuck Berry was used by The Beatles as early as 1956 in their various club appearances. This version was recorded on July 30, 1963. Hold Me Tight Written by McCartney, this song had been recorded earlier, but the tape was accidentally destroyed. This recording came from a session on September 12, 1963. Paul considered it a "work song," sort of a filler, and Lennon had no interest in it at all. It is, I believe, one of only a few The Beatles ever recorded that should have stayed on the cutting room floor, so to speak. Paul and The Beatles loved the girl groups of the sixties, and Paul tried to fashion this song after the Shirelles. It gets bad reviews because McCartney strays off key at times. It feels so right now, hold me tight, tell me I'm the only one, and then I might, never be the lonely one So hold (hold), me tight, (me tight), tonight, (tonight), tonight, (tonight), it's you, you, you, you, oo Hold me tight, let me go on loving you, tonight, tonight, making love to only you So hold (hold), me tight, (me tight), tonight, (tonight), tonight, (tonight), it's you, you, you, you, oo Don't know, what it means to hold you tight, being here alone tonight with you It feels so right now, hold me tight, tell me I'm the only one, and then I might, never be the lonely one So hold (hold), me tight, (me tight), tonight, (tonight), tonight, (tonight), it's you, you, you, you, oo Don't know, what it means to hold you tight, being here alone tonight with you It feels so right now, hold me tight, let me go on loving you, tonight (tonight), making love to only you, so Hold (hold), me tight, (me tight), tonight, (tonight), tonight, (tonight), it's you, you, you ,you, oo, oo, oo, you, oo You Really Got A Hold On Me "Smokey" Robinson. Originally a hit for Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, it was recorded on July 18, 1963 by The Beatles. I Wanna Be Your Man Written by Paul, this is a basic four-chord song that he wrote for Ringo to sing. Ringo had a very limited vocal range, and thus this song never strayed much from its five words in the title. A fair song, it met with greater success when the Rolling Stones recorded it, when it went to number 12 on the charts and helped develop the "Stones" into a superior act. It took numerous tracks for The Beatles to get this version, having recorded it on September 11, 12 and 30, and October 3, and 23, 1963. I wanna be your lover baby, I wanna be your man, I wanna be your lover baby, I wanna be your man Love you like no other baby, like no other can, love you like no other baby, like no other can I wanna be your man, I wanna be your man, I wanna be your man, I wanna be your man Tell me that you love me baby, let me understand, tell me that you love me baby, I wanna be your man I wanna be your lover baby, I wanna be your man, I wanna be your lover baby, I wanna be your man I wanna be your man, I wanna be your man, I wanna be your man, I wanna be your man, wow , oh, oh I wanna be your lover baby, I wanna be your man, I wanna be your lover baby, I wanna be your man Love you like no other baby, like no other can, love you like no other baby, like no other can I wanna be your man, I wanna be your man, I wanna be your man, I wanna be your man, wah I wanna be your man, oh, I wanna be your man, oh, I wanna be your man, ho, ho Devil In Her Heart* Drapkin Originally recorded by a group known as the Donays, George Harrison liked it and picked it out for The Beatles to record. They did so on July 18, 1963. Rather a good version by them too! Not A Second Time Mainly written by John, it was another fashioned after Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. John's inner feelings come through again, whereby he is saying that after being let down and made to cry, he shuts off his emotions, so as not to be hurt a second time. Recorded on September 11, 1963, it is one of the best on the album, I believe. You know you made me cry, I see no use in wondering why, I cry, for you And now you've changed your mind, I see no reason to change mine, I cry, is through, oh You're giving me the same old line, I'm wondering why You hurt me then, you're back again, no, no, no, not a second time You know you made me cry, I see no use in wondering why, I cry, for you, oo yeah And now you've changed your mind, I see no reason to change mine, I cry, is through, oh You're giving me the same old line, I'm wondering why You hurt me then, you're back again, no, no, no, not a second time, Not a second time, not the second time, no, no, no, no, not a second time Money ( That's What I Want)* Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford. Originally recorded by Barrett Strong, this was recorded by The Beatles on July 18 and 30 and September 30, 1963.
NOTE: All lyrics contained herein (*except) are © Copyright 1963 Northern Songs. All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured. The lyrics contained herein are for the sole use of educational reference for the readers of this article. All other uses are in violation of international copyright laws. This use for educational reference, falls under the "fair use" sections of U.S. copyright law. The same such reference applies to images/photos of album covers used herein. Copyright © 1993-2022 by John T. Marck. All Rights Reserved. This article and their accompanying pictures, photographs, and line art, may not be resold, reprinted, or redistributed for compensation of any kind without prior written permission from the author, or the registered copyright holders. Except as otherwise stated above, all information contained in this article, EXCEPT song titles, lyrics, and photographs, © John T. Marck. A Splendid Time Is Guaranteed For All |
