“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

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