Daveportivo's Cultural Evaluation Facility

So the Beatles forth album and their second of 1964 is without doubt their most frustrating. Listening to it now you can't help but feel that this was one of the biggest lost opportunities in music history. Reviewing these albums in order it's clear that Beatles For Sale was one giant step back, an undoubted throwaway. It's a real shame because this is by no means a bad album, it's not even close, but this just feels like the Beatles reverting to the pre A Hard Day's Night formula. So you've guessed it the covers are back, and not just one or two this record contains six full covers and eight Beatles originals. This shouldn't really be considered surprising after all this is the fourth album that the Beatles had churned out within less than nineteen months! That is just staggering, even with the covers, these guys were flying all over the world, touring, starring in oscar nominated motion pictures and they were fitting in time for four full LPs and one off singles in between, it's truly remarkable. The Beatles truly set the bar in terms of being prolific songwriters, and even more remarkably it was never a case of quantity over quality they constantly deliver. With such high demand, and a record label intent on cashing in on Beatlemania it's perhaps not surprising to see the Beatles revert to their initial formula, but this record just feels out of place. This feels like a prequel to A Hard Day's Night not the sequel.

Similar to With The Beatles it's clear that the lads had outgrown covers, their own music shines on this album and it feels like a let down when you get to the cover versions which feel obvious and even tedious (see Mr. Moonlight). While it maybe easy to bypass Beatles For Sale this would be a mistake, because in between the frustration and the retrospective feel are some of the Beatles best tracks. John Lennon is on fire on this record. It's like he told the lads to stand back and watch how it's done because the Lennon owns this record and the first three tracks are utterly sublime. It was just about now that Lennon was coming into his own as a vocalist, and sounds dare I say it....sexy. His voice is so smooth and his tone and pitch are divine throughout. Best of all while the album format may have taken a back step, the lyricism is still driving forward into maturity. Lennon opens the album with the gorgeous No Reply with a snarky yet coy tone Lennon sings of his unfaithful girlfriend. His tone hits the spot perfectly, it's a sort of disbelieving, even patronizing cynicism, he knows he's caught his girl red handed and while she may give "no reply" to his phone calls, ultimately it's she who has No Reply to his Inquisition.

From then it continues to get darker with I'm A Loser. It's a wonderful contradiction, the music bounces and jangles with immense charm while Lennon croons with an accepting apathetic tone, as if he's simply given up on caring, vocally he truly has become the loser, it's a clear standout. It also contains one of my all time favourite verses;

The detachment in Lennon's voice adds a real x-factor to those lines which you can't quite detect on the song sheet. And that final line is so emotive and a feeling that I'm sure at one time or another we've all felt. It's followed by Baby's In Black written for friend and photographer Astrid Kritchherr, it was the first sign of the kind of goofy experimentalism that would captivate the world on the White Album. Here the boys ditch the classic pop formula and write a song in a waltz time pattern, so I guess first you conquer the ballroom, then the dance hall and then when your really big you tackle show tunes. It really stands out on this record, it's divisive among the fan base, many regard it as silly, yet its this kind of sweet charming and ultimately cheeky track that made the Beatles stand out. Personally I love the idea of making music to cry, laugh and waltz to, now come on tell me that doesn't have world wide appeal? Okay....so it is just me then.

Beatles For Sale may feel like the record where John Lennon took his first big strides forward as a songwriter but you just can't keep Paul McCartney away from the spot light, and he contributes another of his signature ballads. The shift from McCartney the Buddy Holly rocker to McCartney the unparalleled balladeer was in full effect. I'll Follow The Sun with it's sombre yet hopeful mood and it's delicately plucked guitar is an absolute delight. Elsewhere 8 Days A Week feels like a nature successor to A Hard Day's Night, although oddly, in away it feels more like a precursor, a little shallow, a little less developed but still utterly brilliant. I'm still struggling to get my head around the idea that this record came out after A Hard Day's Night it just doesn't fit. Every Little Thing feels rather bland, but should be noted for an intriguing instrumental arrangement with the booming thud of Ringo's drums, a soft piano line and some subtle guitar work. The track itself may not be particularly memorable but it shows signs of the Beatles begining to experiment with their arrangements. Similarly What's Your Doing sees The Beatles changing up the routine and going with a drum intro. However it's one last spark from Lennon that redeems the later half of the LP I Don't Want To Spoil The Party sees Lennon exploring sorrow and detachment more thoroughly.

Beatles For Sale is ultimately weighed down by covers of the six none really standout, and they add little to the record, Mr. Moonlight is an unholy dirge, Rock And Roll Music is a decent fist of a cover but it feel hideous out of place, yet it feels far more at home than album closer Everybodies Trying To Be My Baby which should never have made the cut. Only the Ringo sung Honey Don't brings a smile to your face, but it's more the goofy charm of Ringo's voice than the songs artistic merits that leave you with a warm feeling inside. However a disappointing batch of covers aren't enough to sink this album, John Lennon was just beginning to discover the immense talent that lay at his finger tips and his exploration of sorrow and the feeling of detachment gives his tracks real edge. McCartney throws in a classic ballad for good measure and of course it wouldn't be a Beatles record without a timeless number one in the form of Eight Days A Week. There is something so frustrating about the record, it truly is a case of one step forwards two steps back; however Lennon doesn't just take a measly step he takes a giant stride and guarantees that this album has more than enough thrills to make it a worthwhile addition to the Beatles back catalogue. Alot of Beatles For Sale flaws are highlighted by context, when heard as a stand alone record it's an enjoyable romp but after the promise of A Hard Day's Night we were all hoping for more than just a bit of fun.