Beatles for Sale

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Beatles for Sale was released on 4 December 1964, the fourth album by The Beatles within 21 months. The group came back exhausted from a year full of tours. Recording began in August at EMI Studios in London and continued during a British tour, and most of the writing was done in the studio. Producer George Martin later remarked that the band was war-weary.

The tone is quieter and gloomier than before. Only eight songs are original work by Lennon and McCartney; the rest are covers of Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly, among others. In No Reply and I'm a Loser John Lennon writes about himself, under the influence of Bob Dylan, whom the group had met in New York that year. Country also colours the sound. In the studio the band tried out new things: Eight Days a Week opens as the first pop song with a fade-in. In the United Kingdom the reviews were favourable.

Listening

Track list

1. 1No Reply2:15Apple Music ↗
2. 2I'm a Loser2:30Apple Music ↗
3. 3Baby's In Black2:05Apple Music ↗
4. 4Rock and Roll Music2:31Apple Music ↗
5. 5I'll Follow the Sun1:49Apple Music ↗
6. 6Mr. Moonlight2:39Apple Music ↗
7. 7Kansas City / Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey!2:38Apple Music ↗
8. 8Eight Days a Week2:44Apple Music ↗
9. 9Words of Love2:04Apple Music ↗
10. 10Honey Don't2:57Apple Music ↗
11. 11Every Little Thing2:04Apple Music ↗
12. 12I Don't Want to Spoil the Party2:34Apple Music ↗
13. 13What You're Doing2:30Apple Music ↗
14. 14Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby2:24Apple Music ↗
15. 15Beatles For Sale4:02Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗