“American Rock” A compilation featuring Ernie Freeman, Fats Domino Sonny Anderson and … Henri Rene?   From Polydor Brazil. These are Imperial recording artists. Circa 1960.

(55 votes, average: 3.13 out of 5)

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“Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins” John and Yoko Apple Records 1968

With all due respect, this is a true cultural touchstone. Imagine, 40 years ago, the leader of the most famous musical group in the world and one of the leading social, political and creative voices of his generation releasing an album with a cover of himself and his new girlfriend posing for a full-frontal nude . The Beatles had the freedom to do whatever they wanted and the whole world was watching. (This was just the second record released on their own Apple label after George Harrison’s solo Wonderwall soundtrack.) With this radical “artistic” statement, (looped bits and pieces of music and conversation recorded one night prior to John and Yoko “consummating” their relationship), the Beatles of old were clearly no more. Perhaps it took this kind of “up yours” statement to tear himself from the group and his public image and begin his journey as a solo artist. The response to it, and Yoko, from the press and the fans was vitriolic and unkind.

(130 votes, average: 2.99 out of 5)

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French Dylan EP on CBS.   “I Want You”, “Obviously 5 Believers”, “Just Like a Woman”

(65 votes, average: 3.68 out of 5)

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“Beatles For Sale” Parlophone EMI Stereo December 1964. The Beatles fourth official UK album release.

One month before it’s release there were over half-a-million advance orders, which went up to 750,000 … at the time, the highest advance orders for any album. Consequently it went straight to No.1 – knocking “A Hard Day’s Night” off the top slot. The American equivalent album is “Beatles ’65” which once again did not have a matching track list. The next U.S. album, “Beatles VI”, included the six tracks left off of Beatles ’65 !

Incredibly, even though studio techniques were advancing (four-track recorders had now been introduced), three of the tracks on this L.P. were recorded in just 1 take. It should also be noted that during the sessions for this album on 14th August 1964, The Beatles recorded another track for the album (with 5 takes) that was never returned to, nor remixed … “Leave My Kitten Alone”.

The cover to Beatles For Sale was a gatefold sleeve and included cover photography by Robert Freeman, with sleeve notes by Derek Taylor.

The album is a mix of originals and covers. The mood is considerably darker (“Baby’s in Black”) and more personal and introspective (“No Reply”, “I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party”) than their previous release “A Hard Days Night”. Recorded at the height of Beatlemania and non-stop touring, the boys seem to have lost some of their youthful exuberance and are feeling the grind (“Eight Days A Week”). Having encountered Dylan, John is especially interested in expressing himself (“I’m a Loser”) and leaving the “she loves him – he loves her” type songs behind.

1. No Reply

2. I’m A Loser

3. Baby’s In Black

4. Rock And Roll Music

5. I’ll Follow The Sun

6. Mr. Moonlight

7. Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey!

8. Eight Days A Week

9. Words Of Love

10. Honey Don’t

11. Every Little Thing

12. I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party

13. What You’re Doing

14. Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby

(74 votes, average: 4.01 out of 5)

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The Rolling Stones Decca EP   “Time Is On My Side”, “Congratulations”, “Off the Hook”, “Little Red Rooster”.

(66 votes, average: 3.41 out of 5)

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This one’s personal. I met Terry Knight when I was 11. I was traveling alone on a plane from Cleveland to New York just after Thanksgiving 1972. I wasn’t too happy about heading back to boarding school and Terry and his beautiful Swedish girlfriend Pia invited me to sit between them. We played cards and talked and they really cheered me up. He told me that he managed Grand Funk Railroad, which at the time was one of the biggest bands around. We exchanged addresses and about a week later I got a box of Lps, cool T-shirts and other band swag. That Christmas and for the next three Christmas’s Pia and Terry and I exchanged cards. Much later I found this and his other records with Terry and the Pack. I read recently all about his falling out with Grand Funk, his failed attempts to cash in, his panned comeback with Mom’s Apple Pie, (a recalled cover that’s destined to be posted on Lp Cover Lover), and finally his descent into drugs before he got into a fight with his daughter and was killed by her boyfriend in 2004. At the time of my brief encounter, he was on top of the world with eight gold records. To me, he was just a really nice guy who went out of his way to cheer up a sad and lonely kid. I wonder how Pia is today.

(42 votes, average: 3.19 out of 5)

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An early Rock and Roll record from Brazil — Betinho “Rock & Calypso” on Copacabana. (1962)

(46 votes, average: 3.50 out of 5)

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TWIST! “Explosivos Vol. IV.” A compilation from Mexico (I think) with bands like: “Los Electronicos”, “Los Crazy Boys”, “Los Locos Del Ritmo” in addition to Bill Haley Y Sus Cometas! A beautiful golden glow to this one.

(25 votes, average: 3.32 out of 5)

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The hits of the Rolling Stones. Performed by Rockery this is a mockery on the Windmill budget label.

(22 votes, average: 2.64 out of 5)

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The Shakers “Break It All” on Audio Fidelity Records. (1965)

“It’s often difficult to remember just how all-encompassing the Beatles influence was. How the release of the film “A Hard Days Night” instantly revolutionized teenagers and their bands all over the world. Stories of groups like the Byrds emerging from the movie theater with new found direction are well known, and the impact of the British Invasion on other parts of the world (Europe, Japan, Australia) is fairly well established, as well.

But South America is different. One would be hard-pressed to name a band of international fame that sprouted from the original Beatles seed. Unless, of course, you happen to have a copy (original or much bootlegged) of The Shakers 1966 US LP release, “Break It All,” or by some quirk picked up one of their original LPs from EMI Argentina, or the early 90s CD collection from EMI Brazil. All rather obscure on US soil.

The Los Shakers debut LP, each a letter-perfect homage to the sound of a Hard Days Night, Beatles For Sale, and Help. Particularly impressive is that while the heart and soul of these songs are derivative of Liverpool pop, the overall effect is a unique group sound. These songs don’t sound like the Beatles – they sound like Los Shakers, and in turn, Los Shakers sound like a band who studied the Beatles records very, very carefully.” – Amazon

(17 votes, average: 2.88 out of 5)

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