I received this cd as a gift over the holiday from my husband and I want to share my views on it with you. First off I have been a Beatles fan since I was about four years old, I remember very distinctly running around with my little transister radio firmly planted to my ear singing "I want to hold your hand" at the top of my lungs. Throughout my life whenever I would be a little glum I would just pop in one of my Beatles albums and I started to feel a little better immediately. Their music is a safe haven for me, a moment in time when my life held a simpler joy in a less complicated world.

I still love to put my albums on but I love to use my surround sound which usually results in an irritating hum developing when I turn the sound up loud. I know I could turn the sound down and enjoy the albums but to me they are meant to be played loud. I have started little by little to replace my entire collection with cds so I can properly enjoy them with surround sound. This is where this collection comes in handy, I can enjoy this collection of twenty seven of their number one songs from the year 1962 to 1970 giving me a variation of the different periods of their music.

All the songs here were digitally remastered at 24 bits resolution from their original analog master recordings at Abbey Road Studios. This cd comes with a sentimental introduction from George Martin

The Songs

Love me do

A simplistic love song that stands up against the hands of time. The recording is crisp but it still sounds as though the voices are on one side and the music is on the other. Surround sound will not work with this one as it is taken from a mono recording.

Love, love me do
you know I love you
I'll always be true
so please love me do
love me do

From me to you

A peppy little number that has you singing along in no time. Use of harmonica and strong vocals from all makes this a strong song.

If there's anything that you want
if there's anything I can do
just call on me and I'll send it along
with love from me to you

She loves you

On the digital remastering Ringo's drums and Paul's bass really come across with a power packed musical punch, very enjoyable to the ears..yeah, yeah, yeah!

You think you lost your love
well I saw her yesterday
It's you she's thinking of
and she told me what to say
she says she loves you and you know that can't be bad
yes, she loves you and you know you should be glad

I want to hold your hand

This is the first song on the cd where the surround sound kicks in and it rewards you with clear power packed fun. Vocals come at you from all corners and they are clearly defined and separated..I am in Beatles heaven!

oh please say to me
you'll let me be your man
and please say to me
you'll let me hold your hand
now let me hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand

I can see the look on my Dad's face to this day when he hears this song.

Can't buy me love

The bass and acoustic guitar really come to the forefront on this recording but Paul's voice although fun to listen to comes out really one sided as far as the separation goes.

I'll buy you a diamond ring, my friend
if it makes you feel all right
I'll get you anything my friend
if it makes you feel all right

cause' I don't care too much for money
for money can't buy me love

A hard day's night

John's voice comes out fresh and clear and Paul plays a beautiful bass line..a slam dunk in the enjoyment department.

It's been a hard days night
and I've been working like a dog
it's been a hard day's night
I should be sleeping like a log
but when I get home to you
I find the things that you do
will make me feel all right

I feel fine

The drums and the guitars really shine in this song and the total band experience is enhanced.

I'm so glad that she's my little girl
she's so glad she's telling all the world
that her baby buys her things you know
he buys her diamond rings you know
she said so
she's in love with me and I feel fine

Eight days a week

Fantastic rhythm guitar and bass and a strong vocal from John will have you singing along in no time.

Ooh I need your love babe
guess you know it's true
hope you need my love babe
just like I need you

Hold me, love me, hold me, love me

I ain't got nothin' but love babe
eight days a week

Ticket to ride

A Beatles single I still have to this day on the Capitol label, this song comes out well balanced and without the snap, crackle, and pops. It also features a strong vocal by John.

I think I'm going to be sad
I think it's today, yeah
the girl that's driving me mad
is going away

She's got a ticket to ride
she's got a ticket to ride
she's got a ticket to ride
but she don't care

Help!

A full bodied, rich sounding song with a nice acoustic guitar and bass. A fantastic lead vocal by John and fun give and take vocals come together wonderfully in this driving song. One of the first songs with some serious lyrics that hint at insecurity and self doubt.

When I was younger, so much younger than today,
I never needed anybody's help in any way
and now these days are gone
I'm not so self assured
now I find I've changed my mind
I've opened up the doors

Help me if you can I'm feeling down
and I do appreciate you being round'
help me get my feet back on the ground
won't you please help me? Help me, help me?

Yesterday

An absolutely remarkable song that sends shivers down your spine just listening to it. A haunting, lovely vocal by Paul, incredible lyrics a subtle acoustic guitar just an all time classic. One of the most covered songs in music history.

Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away
now it looks as though they're here to stay
oh I believe in yesterday

Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be
there's a shadow hanging over me
oh yesterday came suddenly

Day tripper

This song features a wonderful blending of lead vocals by Paul and John and some excellent drumming by Ringo.

Got a good reason for taking the easy way out
got a good reason for taking the easy way out now
she was a day tripper
one way ticket yeah!

It took me so long to find out
and I found out

We can work it out

Fantastic team work from John and Paul, a great blending of lyrics a definite Lennon/McCartney tune. On the surround sound the tambourine comes out just a bit too loud for my liking though.

Life is very short and there's no time
for fussing and fighting my friend
I have always thought that it's a crime
so I will ask you once again

Try to see it my way
only time will tell if I am right or I am wrong
while you see it your way
there's a chance that we might fall apart
before to long

We can work it out
we can work it out

Paperback writer

This song is one of my favorite sing a long songs with a stand out performance on guitar from George and some amusing background vocals.

Paperback writer
dear sir or madam will you read my book?
it took me years to write, will you take a look?
it's based on a novel by a man named Lear
and I need a job so I want to be a paperback writer,
paperback writer

Yellow submarine

An exuberant, playful song chocked full of enjoyable sounds..including the sound of the submarine. A fun vocal by Ringo and silliness prevails throughout. I can't listen to this one without picturing the Blue Meanies and Nowhere Man.

In the town where I was born
lived a man who sailed to sea,
and he told us of his life in the land
of submarines.
So we sailed up to the sun till we found
the sea of green
and we lived beneath the waves in our yellow submarine

Eleanor Rigby

Great vocal by Paul and some serious writing about all the lonely people. This song will stop and make you think, it includes incredible lyrics and it comes off hauntingly beautiful.

Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in the church
where a wedding has been,
lives in a dream,
waits at the window, wearing a face
that she keeps in a jar by the door,
who is it for?

All the lonely people, where do they all come from?
All the lonely people, where do they all belong?

Penny Lane

The classic Beatles sound redefined for the psychedelic 60's it features a beautiful horn arrangement backed by Ringo's steady beat. There is very nice speaker separation on this song which enables you to hear all of the horns not just the one.

All you need is love

This song starts off with a horn proclaiming it the anthem that it has become. Some thoughtful lyrics by John with a beautiful orchestra arrangement captures the season of love in full swing. The lyrics still stand the test of time today and are just as relevant now as they were back then. If this song can't get you singing I'm afraid nothing will.

Hello Goodbye

Paul really comes through on this song that features a strong, steady drum beat from Ringo. This song also features some fun to sing background vocals, very pleasant to the ears.

Lady Madonna

This song features a gritty vocal performance from Paul with a strong piano performance as well. Plenty of horns are used along with melodic backup vocals from the rest of the band.

Hey Jude

This song is still mind numbing after all of these years. Paul turns out a stellar vocal performance with great backup vocals form John and George. The piano and acoustic guitar still sound just as fresh today as it did back when this song was released. You still have to sing along to the na, na's. I was lucky enough to see Paul perform this song live with his band at the old Cleveland Stadium. There was electricity in the air that night and it was very awe inspiring. It was a fantastic sing along song and my only regret is that my Dad was not there to witness this live as this is his favorite Beatles song.

Get Back

The band is really tight on this little number, the guitars, drums, vocals..everything gels beautifully together. Of course whenever I hear this song I picture them jamming away together on the roof!

Jo Jo was a man who thought he was a loner
but he knew it couldn't last
Jo Jo left his home in Tucson, Arizona, for some
California grass

Get back, get back, get back to where you once belonged
get back, get back, get back to where you once belonged

Ballad of John and Yoko

John and Yoko's anthem on the trials and tribulations of getting married and their peace bed-in. A must for Lennon fans, I love the lyrics to this one and the guitar give and take.

Drove from Paris to the Amsterdam Hilton
talking in our beds for a week
The newspapers said, say what're you doing in bed?
I said we're only trying to get us some peace
Christ you know it ain't easy, you know how hard it can be
the way things are going they're going to crucify me

Saving up your money for a rainy day, giving all your
clothes to charity
Last night my wife said,
Oh boy, when you're dead you don't take nothing with you
but your soul..think

Something

This is George's masterpiece, a sexy, loving tribute to women everywhere. It features a stirring vocal by George, great guitar and drums and good backup vocals. This song is second in my book of my favorite George Harrison Beatle songs, my favorite being "Here comes the sun".

Something in the way she moves, attracts me like no other lover
something in the way she woos me
I don't want to leave her now, you know I believe in how

Somewhere in her smile she knows
that I don't need no other lover
Something in her style that shows me,
I don't want to leave her now,
you know I believe in how

Come together

One of my favorite all time John Lennon songs this song is so fun to listen to with all of the rhyming double meaning words he uses in his lyrics. This song features the bass guitar and Ringo at his symbol bashing best. The band really jams on the vocal interlude on this one.

Here come old flat top, he come groovin' up slowly,
he got joo, joo, eyeball,
he one holy roller,
he got hair down to his knee
got to be a joker,
he just do what he please.

He wear no shoeshine, he got toe jam football,
he got monkey finger, he shoot coca-cola,
he say I know you, you know me.
One thing I can tell you is you got to be free
come together right now over me

On a little side note I don't think Lennon ever intended for this to be used in an internet commercial!

Let it be

My absolute favorite Paul McCartney Beatle song, Paul really outdoes himself on this one. This song is an inspirational reaffirmation of belief in the spiritual realm. You really come away believing everything will be all right, it gives me goose bumps every time I listen to it.

When I find myself in times of trouble
mother Mary comes to me
speaking words of wisdom, let it be
and in my hour of darkness,
she is standing right in front of me
speaking words of wisdom, let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Just a little side note, in the song he is not referring to Mary mother of God but to his own mother.

The long and winding road

This is a wonderful ballad with a great vocal by Paul, it features a beautiful orchestra arrangement and it is the perfect ending to this cd.

The long and winding road that leads to your door
will never disappear, I've seen that road before,
it always leads me here,
lead me to your door

I feel like I have been on a long and winding road with this review. For those of you that patiently stayed with me and read the whole thing I thank you.

I wanted this to be a special review because it marks my 40th review and what better way to celebrate than with a review on a band I have always loved since I was a small child.

In Conclusion

Whether you are an occasional listener to the Beatles, a new listener, or a seasoned listener like myself I can guarantee you will love this cd collection of number one hits. Go treat yourself and buy it today!