The Beatles second UK LP (With The Beatles) is definitely not among my favorite Beatles albums, in actuality it’s arguably their least good album. But that isn’t to say I do not enjoy listening to it in it’s 2009 fabulous remastered form nor is it to say that this album does not have any fine songs on it because because I definitely do and it definitely does.
But I do think that when considering just the 8 Beatles originals on the record, it is arguably the least good selection of original songs John, Paul, George, & Ringo ever released on an album (the very underrated Beatles For Sale (1964) has a far better selection of 8 originals in my opinion) on the other hand, the covers on With The Beatles are good (superior to the covers on Beatles For Sale.)
My favorite Beatles originals to listen to on the With The Beatles Remastered CDs (stereo and mono) are the first three tracks: “It Won’t Be Long,” “All I’ve Got To Do,” and “All My Loving.” In particular I have been loving track number two, “All I’ve Got To Do” in mono. It sounds wonderful.
Another original that has really been making an impression on me is track #9, “Hold Me Tight.” Paul McCartney wrote and sang this song and he’s been very dismissive of it. And while the song is far from Paul’s best work, I think it is a good time.
“Till There Was You” is my favorite cover on the album. It’s an extremely cheesy sickly sweet ballad and while I feel I shouldn’t like it, I do anyway. The record’s final track, “Money” is a great way to end the album. When I listen closely to the remastered mono version I realize that the song rocks much harder than I ever realized.
For most of the CDs I do prefer the stereo mixes when it comes 2009 Beatles box sets but I do think that this particular album sounds better in mono than in stereo.
That being said, The Beatles Remastered Stereo Box Set is the best deal If you can afford just one, got for it.