Customer Reviews

The Beatles Rock N Roll Music [2 CD] [Japanese Import] [OBI]

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It is too bad this compliation is only available as an import. I bought this on vinyl back in the 1980's when I was in high school and played the disk over and over again. For those out there who think the Beatles can't or don't rock, this set will prove them wrong. Nearly every song is uptempo and hard driving. The first disk covers mostly their early recordings many of which are covers of the 1950's artist that inspired them. Many of these songs like Long Tall Sally were recorded live in the studio with only one or two takes. The second disk contains more of their later and more polished material including the apocolyptic Helter Skelter being arguably one the first truly heavy metal songs. I would love to see this reissue that I may hear these songs in the same order as I used to listen to them. Around the same time, a compliation called Love Songs was release that was equally as impressive as this collection but which displays the band's more melodic, acoustic and sensitive side.

On June 11th, 1976, Capitol released the first in a series of theme albums containing previously released Beatles songs. The double disc set, titled "Rock 'N' Roll Music", mixed a dozen rock 'n' roll cover tunes with 16 rocking Beatles originals. The collection was the first "new" Beatles album issued in three years and, along with the single pulled from the album, marked the return of the group to the Capitol label as Apple had fizzled out by that time. The album's success was due in part to interest in the Beatles generated by Paul McCartney's American tour, number one album "Wings At The Speed Of Sound" and number one single "Silly Love Songs". It also benefited from an extensive marketing campaign; the book and TV-movie "Helter Skelter". which dealt with cult leader Charles Manson's horrific interpretation of songs from "The White Album"; and renewed interest in the fifties and its rock 'n' roll music. This last factor influenced Capitol's decision to use a 1950's decor for the album's jacket and labels.

Although the collection's opening and closing tracks, "Twist And Shout" and "Get Back", were huge hits, Capitol stayed away from most of the group's biggest selling singles, opting instead for album tracks with a rocking beat. Capitol wanted to avoid putting out an album dominated by songs from the group's red and blue greatest hits packages from 1973. Accordingly, some of the band's best known rockers such as "I Want To Hold Your Hand", "She Loves You", "Can't Buy Me Love", "Day Tripper" and "Paperback Writer" are not included. Only "Drive My Car", "Revolution", "Back In The U.S.S.R." and "Get Back" are repeats from the red and blue collections.

In programming the album, Capitol followed George martin's early practice of opening and closing each side with a hard-driving "potboiler". In fact, most of the songs on the album are potboilers. Because each of the songs is actually one rocker after another, the album is well paced, providing an enjoyable listening experience. Sides one and three mix cover tunes with Beatles originals, while side two contains only cover songs and side four mixes six Lennon-cCartney tunes with George Harrison's "Taxman". Capitol's selection of the cover songs was, for the most part, on target. The only glaring omissions are "Please Mister Postman" and "Honey Don't". And while the company's selection of original tunes is less solid, the collection did mark the album and U.S. stereo debut of "I'm Down", which had previously been available in mono only as the B-side of the "Help!" single.

- track listing -

Twist And Shout
I Saw Her Standing There
You Can't Do That
I Wanna Be Your Man
I Call Your Name
Boys
Long Tall Sally

Rock And Roll Music
Slow Down
Kansas City/Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey
Money (That's What I Want)
Bad Boy
Matchbox
Roll Over Beethoven

Dizzy Miss Lizzie
Any Time At All
Drive My Car
Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby
The Night Before
I'm Down
Revolution

Back In The U.S.S.R.
Helter Skelter
Taxman
Got To Get You Into My Life
Hey Bulldog
Birthday
Get Back

The June 19th, 1976 Billboard magazine contained the following review that nicely summed up the collection:

"With Capitol launching the largest advertising and merchandising campaign in history to push this double album, it's a fairly safe bet that the LP will be one of the biggest sellers of the year. Cuts run the gamut from from the earliest singles to some of the later product. All four share lead singing chores; songs include originals as well as covers of the Isley Brothers, Chuck Berry, Wilbert Harrison, Carl Perkins, Larry Williams and a few others. Basically, a good fun set that comes as a welcome relief in a time when music is often not a great deal of fun."

Im October, 1980, Capitol deleted this album from its catalog. It was reissued as two seperate volumes on Capitol's green label budget line.

35 years later, the music still sounds as exhilirating and as high-charged as ever.

If ouy like the beatles in their more upbeat mode, this album is highly recommended. A Five-Star release.

Many years from now I bought this vinyl lp and use to play it again and again..hahaha.
Believe me, if you want to hear the R&R side of the Fab4 don't hesitate in get this one!!