“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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“Music To Break Any Mood”   Dick Schory’s New Percussion Ensemble   RCA Victor Living Stereo   1960.   Includes Caravan, Speak Low, Walkin’ My Baby Back Home, Fascinating Rhythm, A Foggy Day, Autumn in New York, I’ll Remember April, Stranger in Paradise, South Rampart Street Parade, and Tortilla.

(67 votes, average: 4.04 out of 5)

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“Aviuva Alegre” Selecao Telefunken Records

(43 votes, average: 3.35 out of 5)

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One of the cool UK PAMA label covers and rocksteady/reggae compilations, “Straighten Up Vol. 4.” (1972) Trojan Records, PAMA’s rival reggae label put out a similar series called “Tighten Up.”

The Groovers– Soul Sister / Jerry Lewis– The Godfather / BB Seaton – Lean On Me / Winston Reedy– Breakfast In Bed / Cornell Campbell – My Confession / Delroy Wilson – Here Comes The Heartaches / The Avengers – Life And All Its Dreams / U Roy – Black Heart / The Avengers – Hijack Plane / BB Seaton – I Want Justice / Stranger Cole – Our High School Dance / Les Foster & Ansel Collins – The Man In Your Life / Junior Byles – Fever / The Clarendonians – Good Hearted Woman / Owen Grey – I Hear You Knocking / Junior English – I Don’t Want To Die

(46 votes, average: 3.78 out of 5)

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“Shut-Ins Serenade” Ray Teare at the Lowrey organ

(51 votes, average: 3.27 out of 5)

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101 Strings “After A Hard Day – Music To Relax By”   The Martini as foreplay.

(42 votes, average: 3.48 out of 5)

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Roger Ramjet and The American Eagles “Amazing Exploits of a Space-Age Hero” RCA Camden (1966) This TV cartoon series ran from 1965 -1968. Famous California radio personality Gary Owens (the original voice of Space Ghost and the announcer on Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In) provided the voice of Roger Ramjet. The series was written by Gene Moss and Jim Thurman. These liner notes above are great and tell the tale! (Check out the show intro here).

Roger Ramjet and his Eagles

Fighting for our freedom

Fly through and in outer space

Not to join him but to beat him.

Roger Ramjet he’s our man

Hero of our nation

For his adventure just be sure

And stay tuned to this station.

Come and join us all you kids

For lots of fun and laughter

As Roger Ramjet and his men

Get all the crooks they’re after.

Roger Ramjet he’s our man

Hero of our nation

For his adventure just be sure

And stay tuned to this station.

(41 votes, average: 2.83 out of 5)

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“Festival au Bresil” Philips

(45 votes, average: 2.82 out of 5)

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“Wham” (1978) . Side A: Lovemaker /In love with love/Say what/Prison of love

Side B: Superslick/Livin of love/Do you feel like dancin/It’s worth waitin for/Boogie uptown.

(40 votes, average: 3.85 out of 5)

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Betinho e seu conjunto dancante No. 1.     Copacabana Records from Brazil.

(31 votes, average: 2.68 out of 5)

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