Beatles for Sale

Banged out in a hurry for the 1964 Christmas market, Beatles for Sale sometimes sounds it, loaded with ill-conceived covers and some of John Lennon's most self-loathing lyrics. On the other hand, the people doing the banging-out were the Beatles, whose instincts for what worked musically were so strong that they could basically do no wrong--any record that has "Baby's in Black", "I Don't Want to Spoil the Party" and the delectable "Eight Days a Week" on it is only "minor" in the most relative sense. And, though their voices had been frazzled a bit by constant touring, they revved them up for some joyous shouting, and indulged their fondness for American country in subtle, playful ways. --Douglas Wolk

1 No Reply Lennon, McCartney 2:16
2 I'm a Loser Lennon, McCartney 2:30
3 Baby's in Black Lennon, McCartney 2:04
4 Rock & Roll Music Berry 2:31
5 I'll Follow the Sun Lennon, McCartney 1:48
6 Mr. Moonlight Johnson, Otis Johnson 2:38
7 Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey! Leiber, Penniman, Stoller 2:38
8 Eight Days a Week Lennon, McCartney 2:43
9 Words of Love Holly 2:04
10 Honey Don't Perkins 2:57
11 Every Little Thing Lennon, McCartney 2:03
12 I Don't Want to Spoil the Party Lennon, McCartney 2:34
13 What You're Doing Lennon, McCartney 2:30
14 Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby Perkins 2:27
15 Beatles for Sale Mini-Documentary [Multimedia]