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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Sometimes recording even a single Beatles cover can be a perilous undertaking. So for the Smithereens to have the impudence to rerecord Meet the Beatles in its entirety (even though some purists don't recognize it as canonical) is like taking the studio to edge of the cliff. But wait! While reaching the Fab Four stratosphere is impossible, this New Jersey pop combo, whose last record was released in 1999, comes about as close as any band could in celebrating the 43rd anniversary of this groundbreaking record. Sure, the lead-vocal fury that Lennon and McCartney created in 1964 can't be restored, and the three-part harmonies are less than hair-raising. But from the opening three chords of "I Want to Hold Your Hand," the Smithereens are respectful to the album's legacy, and let virtually no element slip past them. There's that "1-2-3-4!" countdown to "I Saw Her Standing There," the same virile harmonica in "Little Child," and a doo-wop tang to the ever-underappreciated "This Boy." And when "Not a Second Time" fades out the last of the album's 28 minutes, it leaves you wondering if the boys are bold enough to take a crack at Abbey Road in September 2009. --Scott Holter
Product Description
CD 12 Beatles Covers
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
While the Beatles' influence on the Smithereens could always be heard, it takes a particularly special type of genius to cover one of your influences in such a way that captures the spirit of the original and yet reflects your own style. This is especially difficult with a group as outstanding and well known as the Beatles, and yet the Smithereens manage it here in a major way; 'All My Loving' sounds like it could be a DeNizio composition. This is a must for any Smithereens fan; I always knew this was an underrated band, but this album proves beyond any doubt the Smithereens are one of the best bands out there. An almost impossible idea pulled off with class and style. Bravo.
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By TAS
Format:Audio CD
The Smithereens show "all their loving" for the "Meet The Beatles" album with this wonderful tribute to the fab four's 1964 U. S. release. And what an excellent labor of love it is! The Smithereens affectionately invoke the original spirit of the Beatles' landmark album while still managing to sound unmistakably like the Smithereens in the process. Pat DiNizio's distinctive vocals make the band's version of "This Boy" both poignantly wistful and beautiful at the same time. His feverish harmonica playing on "Little Child" is a bluesy-rock jam that builds on the original John Lennon mouth organ blueprint. Jim Babjak prods his guitar to power pop and crunch on rockers like "Hold Me Tight" and he even takes a rare lead vocal turn on "Don't Bother Me". Severo "the Thrilla" Jornacion thrills on pulsating bass. Dennis Diken masterfully switches gears from propulsive drumming on "I Saw Her Standing There" to a rhumba beat on "Till There Was You". He trades vocals with Pat on "Little Child" and follows Ringo's example by doing the lead vocal duties on "I Wanna Be Your Man". The sum of the parts equals a whole lot of fun for Smithereens and Beatles fans alike as The Smithereens joyously celebrate an album that has obviously inspired them and pretty much everyone else who loves rock `n' roll. The Smithereens have taken on a daunting task here but it all works remarkably well from infectious beginning to triumphant end.
The CD comes with a fun booklet that includes informative liner notes by Dennis Diken, Beatles experts/historians like Bruce Spizer, Andy Babiuk, Dave Connolly, musician Lenny Kaye and concert promoter Sid Bernstein. The Smithereens "meet the Beatles" and what a delightful get-together it is!
The CD comes with a fun booklet that includes informative liner notes by Dennis Diken, Beatles experts/historians like Bruce Spizer, Andy Babiuk, Dave Connolly, musician Lenny Kaye and concert promoter Sid Bernstein. The Smithereens "meet the Beatles" and what a delightful get-together it is!
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By BethG
Format:Audio CD
The Smithereens are NO Joke! I started listening to these guys when I was in college in the late 1980's. There has always been a Beatles influence in their music. In fact if I remember right a music critic once described their music as "the Beatles meet AC/DC".
While I never got to see the Beatles during their heyday (I was born in 1966), I have grown to love their music. I find the Smithereens album to be an acknowledgement and a "thank you" from them and bands like them that own a lot of their musical influence to the Beatles. Remember, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
And if you want acknowledgement of true Beatles fans from back in the day of how great this tribute cover album is, my in-laws, who were in college during the Beatles invasion, LOVE THIS ALBUM!
While I never got to see the Beatles during their heyday (I was born in 1966), I have grown to love their music. I find the Smithereens album to be an acknowledgement and a "thank you" from them and bands like them that own a lot of their musical influence to the Beatles. Remember, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
And if you want acknowledgement of true Beatles fans from back in the day of how great this tribute cover album is, my in-laws, who were in college during the Beatles invasion, LOVE THIS ALBUM!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
I HATE CRACKED CD CASES!!!
I BOUGHT THIS CD TWICE FROM DIFFERENT SELLERS AND BOTH WERE LIKE NEW WITH MAJOR CRACKS IN THE CASE.
AMAZON.COM WAS NICE ENOUGH TO SEND ME 2 BRAND NEW NOT CRACKED CD CASES.
AMAZON.COM WAS NICE ENOUGH TO SEND ME 2 BRAND NEW NOT CRACKED CD CASES.
Published 20 months ago by MARSHALLWAR
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fun!
You may have to be both a Smithereens AND Beatles fan to really appreciate this album... but if you are, it's a ton of fun and definitely worth adding to your collection.
Published on May 16, 2011 by Michael Gottberg
1.0 out of 5 stars
Save your money and get the originals!
There is not enough "U"'s in suck to rate this CD. I remember when this group was rockin' with some songs they made classics, why did they have to butcher the Beatles? Read more
Published on June 7, 2009 by S. Kelly
3.0 out of 5 stars
+1/2 -- Sharing the thrill of the Beatles' arrival in the U.S.
Though no one could ever capture the visceral thrill of first hearing Meet the Beatles, the Smithereens have waxed a record that shares the feeling U.S. Read more
Published on April 20, 2009 by hyperbolium
1.0 out of 5 stars
HUH?
What the hell is the point of this? It sounds terrible. The vocals are tired, express none of the freshness of the original records--how could they?? Read more
Published on March 10, 2009 by D. leonard
4.0 out of 5 stars
Better than the Chipmunks! :D
A nice surprise from the Smithereens. Anyone who has seen them live knows they love to toss in a cover version of one of their favorite artists with no warning. Read more
Published on February 1, 2009 by Somewhere in Texas
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Smithereens Are Fab!!!
I got the chance to hear this album on a Delta cross-country flight - thanks Delta! This is an excellent selection of Beatles covers, true to the originals yet the Smithereens... Read more
Published on April 20, 2008 by LanceF
4.0 out of 5 stars
A fun recreation -- a treat for Smithereens fans
The Smithereens have channeled 60s British Invasion pop for their entire careers, and they have used covers of 60s songs all along. Read more
Published on September 18, 2007 by Mark J Dulcey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
I love the Beatles. I love the Smithereens. I love the Smithereens covering the Beatles. Everyone is happy!
Published on September 3, 2007 by Karen Bock-Losee
5.0 out of 5 stars
Smithereens breathe new life into a classic
The Smithereens bring their fantastic sound to this classic and make it brand new again. While it's often hard to improve on an already great classic, The Smithereens use their... Read more
Published on July 4, 2007 by Saverio R. Scheri
