The Beatles - Beatles for Sale (Full album 1964)

“Beatles for Sale” is the fourth studio album by the English rock band The Beatles. It was released on 4 December 1964 in the United Kingdom on EMI's Parlophone label. Eight of the album's fourteen tracks appeared on Capitol Records' concurrent release, “Beatles '65”, issued in North America only. The album marked a departure from the upbeat tone that had characterised the Beatles' previous work, partly due to the band's exhaustion after a series of tours that had established them as a worldwide phenomenon in 1964. The songs introduced darker musical moods and more introspective lyrics, with John Lennon adopting an autobiographical perspective in compositions such as "I'm a Loser" and "No Reply". The album also reflected the twin influences of country music and Bob Dylan, whom the Beatles met in New York in August 1964.
The Beatles recorded the album at EMI Studios in London in between their touring and radio engagements. Partly as a result of the group's hectic schedule, only eight of the tracks are original compositions, with cover versions of songs by artists such as Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and Little Richard being used to complete the album. The sessions also produced a non-album single, "I Feel Fine" backed by "She's a Woman".
In Great Britain, “Beatles for Sale” held the number 1 spot for 11 of the 46 weeks that it spent in the top 20. The album was similarly successful in Australia, where the band's cover of Berry's "Rock and Roll Music" also topped the singles chart. One of the songs omitted from the US version of the album, "Eight Days a Week", became the Beatles' seventh number 1 in the US when issued as a single there in February 1965. “Beatles for Sale” was not released in the US until 1987, when the Beatles' catalogue was standardised for release on CD.

“Beatles for sale” este al patrulea album de studio al trupei engleze de rock The Beatles. A fost lansat pe 4 decembrie 1964 in Marea Britanie la marca Parlafhone apartinand lui EMI. Opt din cele paisprezece piese ale albumului au aparut pe lansarea concurenta si exclusiva de la Capitol Records din America de Nord, sub denumirea de “Beatles ‘65”. Albumul marcheaza plecarea de la tonul optimist al lucrarilor anterioare ale trupei, partial datorita oboselii dupa o serie de turnee care i-au fixat ca fenomen mondial in 1964. Cantecele introduc stari mai intunecate si versuri mai introspective, cu John Lennon adoptand o perspectiva autobiografica in compozitii, ca “I’m a Loser’ si “No Reply”. Albumul reflecta de asemenea influentele gemene ale muzicii country si a lui Bob Dylan, pe care cei de la Beatles l-au intalnit in New York in august 1964.
Trupa a inregistrat albumul la EMI Studios in Londra intre turnee si angajamentele radio. Partial, ca rezultat al programarii agitate, doar opt piese sunt compozitii originale, celelalte fiind preluari de la artisti ca si Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly si Little Richard, pentru a complete albumul. Sesiunile de inregistrare au produs un single ce nu apartine albumului, “I Feel Fine” pe o fata si “She’s a Woman” pe cealalta.
In Marea Britanie “Beatles for Sale” a stat pe locul 1 timp de 11 saptamani din cele 46 cat a fost in top 20.Albumul a avut un succes similar in Australia unde preluarea dupa Chuck Berry la “Rock and Roll Music” a ajuns pe primul loc in clasamentele single-urilor. Unul dintre cantecele omise pe versiunea din Statele Unite, “Eight Days a Week”, a ajuns al saptelea nr.1 al trupei in Statele unite, dupa lansarea lui in februarie 1965. “Beatles for Sale” nu a fost lansat in Statele Unite pana in 1987 cand catalogul Beatles a fot standardizat pentru lansare pe CD. 

List of tracks

Side 1

1.       "No Reply"   Lennon        2:15

2.       "I'm a Loser"          Lennon        2:30

3.       "Baby's in Black"   Lennon and McCartney   2:04

4.       "Rock and Roll Music" (Chuck Berry) Lennon        2:31

5.       "I'll Follow the Sun"        McCartney   1:49

6.       "Mr. Moonlight" (Roy Lee Johnson)   Lennon        2:38

7.       "Kansas City/Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey" (Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller/Richard

           Penniman)  McCartney   2:38

Side 2

1.       "Eight Days a Week"        Lennon with McCartney  2:43

2.       "Words of Love" (Buddy Holly) Lennon and McCartney          2:04

3.       "Honey Don't" (Carl Perkins)     Starr  2:57

4.       "Every Little Thing"         Lennon with McCartney  2:04

5.       "I Don't Want to Spoil the Party"         Lennon with McCartney   2:33

6.       "What You're Doing"       McCartney   2:30

7.       "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby" (Carl Perkins)          Harrison       2:26

Personnel

The Beatles

John Lennon – lead, harmony and backing vocals; acoustic and rhythm guitars; harmonica; tambourine, handclaps

Paul McCartney – lead, harmony and backing vocals; bass and acoustic guitars; piano, Hammond organ; handclaps

George Harrison – harmony and backing vocals; lead (6- and 12-string) and acoustic guitars; African drum, handclaps; lead vocals on "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby"

Ringo Starr – drums, tambourine, maracas, timpani, cowbell, packing case, bongos; lead vocals on "Honey Don't"

Additional musician

George Martin – piano and producer