The Beatles - Live at the BBC - Music & Performance - CD

Newly remastered for reissue, The Beatles' first LIVE AT THE BBC album sounds and looks better than ever. This collection of the group's BBC sessions mixed versions of their hits with a treasure trove of 30 songs The Beatles performed on air but never released on record in the 1960s. The compelling track list ranged from a rare performance of the little known Lennon-McCartney original "I'll Be on My Way" to covers of classic rock 'n' roll and contemporary rhythm and blues songs.

From 1962 to 1965, the Beatles made 52 appearances on the BBC, recording live-in-the-studio performances of both their official releases and several dozen songs that they never issued on disc. This magnificent two-disc compilation features 56 of these tracks, including 29 covers of early rock, R&B, soul, and pop tunes that never appeared on their official releases, as well as the Lennon-McCartney original "I'll Be on My Way," which they gave in 1963 to Billy J. Kramer rather than record it themselves. These performances are nothing less than electrifying, especially the previously unavailable covers, which feature quite a few versions of classics by Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley. There are also off-the-beaten-path tunes by the Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly on down to obscurities by the Jodimars, Chan Romero (a marvelous "Hippy Hippy Shake"), Eddie Fontaine, and Ann-Margret. The greatest gem is probably their fabulous version of Arthur Alexander's "Soldier of Love," which (like several of the tracks) would have easily qualified as a highlight of their early releases if they had issued it officially. Restored from existing tapes of various quality, the sound is mostly very good and never less than listenable. Unfortunately, they weren't able to include every single rarity that the Beatles recorded for the BBC; the absence of Carl Perkins' "Lend Me Your Comb," which has circulated on bootlegs in a high-fidelity version, is especially mystifying. Minor quibbles aside, these performances, available on bootlegs for years, compose the major missing chapter in the Beatles' legacy, and it's great to have them easily obtainable in a first-rate package. [Live at the BBC was reissued in 2013.] ~ Richie Unterberger, Rovi

Performer	The Beatles
Music genre	Rock
Media format	CD
Original release date	2020
Is collectible	Y
Number of tracks	100
Has parental advisory label	N
Number of discs	2
Track listing	Beatle Greetings (Speech), From Us to You (Opening), Riding on a Bus (Speech), I Got a Woman, Too Much Monkey Business, Keep Your Hands Off My Baby, I'll Be on My Way, Young Blood, A Shot of Rhythm and Blues, Sure to Fall (In Love with You), Some Other Guy, Thank You Girl, Sha la la la la! (Speech), Baby It's You, That's All Right (Mama), Carol, What Is It, George? (Speech), Soldier of Love, A Little Rhyme (Speech), Clarabella, I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You), Crying, Waiting, Hoping, Dear Wack! (Speech), You Really Got a Hold on Me, To Know Her Is to Love Her, A Taste of Honey, Long Tall Sally, I Saw Her Standing There, The Honeymoon Song, Johnny B. Goode, Memphis, Tennessee, Lucille, Can't Buy Me Love, From Fluff to You (Speech), Till There Was You, Crinsk Dee Night (Speech), A Hard Day's Night, Ringo? Yep! (Speech), I Wanna Be Your Man, Just a Rumor (Speech), Roll Over Beethoven, All My Loving, Things We Said Today, She's a Woman, Sweet Little Sixteen, 1822! (Speech), Lonesome Tears in My Eyes, Nothin' Shakin', The Hippy Hippy Shake, Glad All Over, I Just Don't Understand, So How Come (No One Loves Me), I Feel Fine, I'm a Loser, Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby, Rock and Roll Music, Ticket to Ride, Dizzy Miss Lizzy, Medley: Kansas City/Hey!-Hey!-Hey!-Hey!, Set Fire to That Lot! (Speech), Matchbox, I Forgot to Remember to Forget, Love These Goon Shows! (Speech), I Got to Find My Baby, Ooh! My Soul, Ooh! My Arms, Don't Ever Change, Slow Down, Honey Don't, Love Me Do, From Us to You (Closing)
Record label	Capitol
Composer	Lennon-McCartney
Songwriter	Beatles
Track name	I'll Be on My Way
Duration	14 h
Music media format	CD
Is edited	N
Is enhanced	N