Ok. I suspect that I am not alone in being a big music fan who has always taken the Fabs for granted. I know all their singles like the back of my hand and can play half of them on the guitar, but I’ve never really explored the albums. To me they are a bit like opera, there to be discovered when I get round to it.
So, where should I begin?
Definitely at the beginning. Julie Andrews was dead right when she described it as “the very best place to start”.
Enjoy your journey!
A Hard Day’s Night.
AHDN is their most joyous, vibrant LP, but 50+ years out of context I’m not how its jaunty, happy pop sensibilities would sound to fresh ears. But you say you’re familiar with the singles, so…
At the other extreme Abbey Road hangs together as a modern album better than almost anything else they did, so it may be a good place to start.
But then again as @minibreakfast says, why not start at the beginning and work your way through?
Yeah, it’s not like there are 42 albums to plough through 🙂
Rubber Soul
Their best by one of those country miles.
Tag We Can Work It Out/Day Tripper double A side on to the end. Recorded as part of the same sessions
Rubber Soul / Revolver and the attendant singles. Twenty five years ago I had a scruffy C90 with those two albums on it, and although I have heard practically every last recorded note of Beatle music since, those are the ones I return(ed) to time and again.
Get it all, start at the beginning, playing in consecutive order. Make sure to play the concurrent singles and B sides that weren’t on albums. Vital these should not be missed (they are on Past Masters and Magical Mystery Tour).
And get the mono versions, at least up to Pepper.
Whatever you do, don’t start with Let It Be.
I’d go chronologically, and wonder that they did it all in just over seven years
On the other hand, Let It be is where I started. And I loved it then and love it now. I was 10 then and 55 now. Imagine (no, don’t start there).
Rather Mr Saucecraft, I’m relatively Beatles agnostic. I can see their “greatness” but barely, rarely listen to them. Bowie was my North Star but I’m not sure how often I listen to him nowadays either.
For what it’s worth, my order of “discovery” from the lofty perspective of a newly minted Rock fan circa 1972 was Let It Be, White Album, Abbey Road, Sgt. Pepper.
I don’t listen much to the boys. But when I do, it’s something from one of those.
Their greatness lies in taking simple elements and make them equal more than the sum of the parts
Two Of Us:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0eI_hbxLfs
The beginning 1, 2, 3, 4 …
Wish You Were Here and Dark Side of The Moon then work your way backwards.
First 4…..the 1980s mono CDs are great and all four can be easily got for about ÂŁ12.
‘Past Masters Volume 1’.
‘Live at the BBC Volume 1’.
For the concise 3 for ÂŁ20 overview.
Hard Days Night – The sound of a 60s pop band at their peak, able to effortlessly write joyful uplifting music.
Revolver – A group stretching themselves and starting to experiment more, while remaining commercial. A template for Oasis and britpop.
Abbey Road – The “let’s get the group together for one last go” absorbing the influences and styles of other bands, but still showing “We’re the Beatles and this is what we do”
I think that’s the correct answer.
Start at the begging by buying the 2009 Stereo CD Box.
Then get the Mono Box CD Box
Then the Stereo Vinyl Box.
Then the Mono Vinyl Box.
Oh in between Anthology 1, 2…err therein lies madness and joy.
….and then the red album and the blue one, and both volumes of Live At The BBC, and 1, and Let It Be Naked, and Love, and….[that’s enough Beatles now…..(Admins)…]
This’ll give you an idea of their style of songwriting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJCkbbMnEPg
The Rutles
If you have a 5.1 system, let me heartily recommend the new “1+” 2-blu-ray / 1-CD – with lots of their best known tracks remixed to 5.1, plus you get the accompanying visuals – I have the stereo / mono CD boxes, but this is the best I have ever heard these songs sound.
The only thing is, I now want all the albums remixed to 5.1 in a nice box set (which will happen one day).
Individual album-wise, I’d start with “A Hard Day’s Night”, then “Rubber Soul” & “Revolver”.
I was going to (seriously) suggest the 1+ Blu-Ray (2BD/1CD) box but KDH was first and correct. That`s if you have a surround set up, even if you haven`t get the 1 DVD. The DVD/BD will take you on a magical journey showing how The Beatles progressed both visually and aurally.
The reports about the 5:1 surround sound may have some merit BUT* with only the early songs. They were originally recorded in Mono! As the DVD/BD goes on it`s chronological journey the surround sound improves especially `Daytripper` onwards.
The remastered stereo though is superb – truly the best I have heard them.
* The surround sound on the early songs is very good, but those who expected a Steven Wilson job were fooling themselves.
The package overall is one of the best I have come across, if you get it you will NOT be disappointed.
Re:Surround Sound: Beatles 1 & 1+.
I have had a fiddle round with the speaker balance of my system (turning down the volume on my front L&R speakers then turning the AV volume up. The 5:1 sound? Brill!
Interesting. I have heard reports of disappointment with the surround sound mixes. Doesn’t seem to have arrived in Canada yet for me to try it out.