Beatles

Though the two originals have plenty of "mileage", they don't sound "chewed" and a great deal of high frequency energy remains in the grooves. Nonetheless, this new AAA reissue sounds tonally identical to the original.

It's just far superior in every other way. It's more transparent, more detailed and far cleaner overall—not that this ever was a great recording. In fact, I'd argue that Please Please Me, though primitively recorded, sounds more immediate and "in the studio".

But that's not the point. The point is, the meticulous note taking and listening that's the hallmark of producer Steve Berkowitz's output is evident here. His aim was to give you the original experience and that's what you get here. A 100% success, better in mono than in stereo and a perfectly pressed record too.

Here's what I wrote about the stereo box. I have to admit I've softened somewhat on my contention that this is a weak follow up to Please Please Me.

When you consider that the first album was essentially the group's well-honed stage act and that's pretty much what they had, for a sophomore effort where many groups fall, this is a better than average effort though it follows the first album's formula (the annotation admits it) combining originals with American covers—six of them here—though it's easier to argue that the first album's originals were more eclectic, especially for older fans who were familiar with most if not all of the Motown covers and definitely "Roll Over Beethoven". It's also easy to argue that the covers were done with far greater sophistication and interpretive effectiveness, particularly Lennon's "You Really Got a Hold On Me". Covering Smokey took balls.

The highlights are the melodically superior, teen-aimed "All My Loving" and the darker, more sophisticated "Not a Second Time", though the rhythmically dynamic "All I've Got to Do" marks another songwriting step forward.

Also, in "retro-retrospect" and considering the history in Mark Lewisohn's book, it's easy to understand why, the album concludes with "Money" (co-written by Berry Gordy, Jr. and performed originally by Barrett Strong), another superb Lennon screamer cover designed to conclude the set with "Twist and Shout"-like rousing energy. It succeeds. You believe John. This reissue's sound on the side closer is far better than I've ever heard it. The piano overdubbed by George Martin has never sounded this clean.

The Beatles needed to break out of this album formula next time and of course they did. Also in the midst of recording this album, Parlophone released on August 23rd, 1963 the single "She Loves You"/"I'll Get You" recorded on July 1st. On October 21st they recorded "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and it was put in the can while they finished this album, finally issued on November 22nd 1963 the day Kennedy was assassinated and eight months after the release of Please Please Me. The single "I Want to Hold Your Hand" was released in the U.K. a week later and within a week it had replaced the previous #1 tune "She Loves You".