Non-CD EMI

All these albums have not been given a proper CD EMI release.


The Early Tapes of The Beatles (40:15) [Spectrum Music 550 0372]

Originally released on Polydor, these songs are from early sessions the Beatles did with with Tony Sheridan. They performed mainly as a backing band, apart from the first two numbers.

The album is padded out with non-Sheridan+Beatles tracks. Note: there are several versions of Sweet Georgia Brown. I think this is the version that Sheridan recorded without the Beatles.

  1. Ain't She Sweet (2:12) (June 22/23, 1961) *
  2. Cry For A Shadow (2:22) (June 22/23, 1961) *
  3. When The Saints Go Marching In (3:18) (June 22/23, 1961) #
  4. Why (2:58) (June 22/23, 1961) #
  5. If You Love Me, Baby [a.k.a. Take Out Some Insurance On Me, Baby] (2:53) (June 24, 1961) #
  6. What'd I Say (2:39) (January 31, 1963)
  7. Sweet Georgia Brown (2:05) (December 21, 1961) #
  8. Let's Dance (2:33) (October 18, 1962)
  9. Ruby Baby (2:52) (January 31, 1963)
  10. My Bonnie (2:41) (June 22/23, 1961) #
  11. Nobody's Child (3:55) (June 22/23, 1961) #
  12. Ready Teddy (2:01) (December 21, 1961)
  13. Ya Ya (Parts 1 & 2) (Live) (5:08) (August 28, 1962)
  14. Kansas City (2:38) (?)
* - The Beatles
# - Tony Sheridan with The Beatles
other songs by Tony Sheridan and The Beat Brothers

The Decca Session (1st January 1962)

The Beatles auditioned for Decca records and were turned down. The tapes have been released several times, practically always with the Lennon/McCartney originals (denoted by *) missing from the playlist.

No-one really seems to be sure of the present legality of re-issuing these tracks. I think it would be a class idea to remaster the complete tapes and then we could have a decent quality official release.

The songs played are listed here, in the most probable order, according to Mark Lewisohn.

1962 Live Recordings (31/12/62) (71:03) [Baktabak CTAB 5001]

Released in 1977 both sides of the Atlantic with slightly differing track listings, this reel-to-reel tape recording of the Beatles performing their last date at the Star Club is very bad quality.

This CD contains all 30 tracks and is the best release I've found to date. The tapes have not been cleaned up since the original 1977 pressing. Somebody needs to give it a good remaster. The tracks on this release all run into each other.

  1. I Saw Her Standing There (2:39)
  2. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You) (2:44)
  3. Roll Over Beethoven (2:15)
  4. The Hippy Hippy Shake (1:51)
  5. Sweet Little Sixteen (3:27)
  6. Lend Me Your Comb (1:50)
  7. Your Feet's Too Big (2:20)
  8. Where Have You Been All My Life? (1:54)
  9. Twist and Shout (2:06)
  10. Mr. Moonlight (2:32)
  11. A Taste of Honey (1:53)
  12. Besame Mucho (2:42)
  13. Reminiscing (1:45)
  14. Till There Was You (1:59)
  15. Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby (3:03)
  16. Kansas City/Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey (2:14)
  17. Nothin' Shakin' (But The Leaves On The Trees) (1:38)
  18. To Know Her Is To Love Her (3:20)
  19. Little Queenie (3:59)
  20. Falling In Love Again (Can't Help It) (2:10)
  21. Sheila (1:59)
  22. Be-Bop-A-Lula (2:29) #
  23. Hallelujah, I Love Her So (2:09) #
  24. Ask Me Why (2:26)
  25. Red Sails In The Sunset (2:58)
  26. Matchbox (2:36)
  27. I'm Talking About You (1:53)
  28. I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate (2:30)
  29. Long Tall Sally (1:44)
  30. I Remember You (1:59)
# - Lead vocals Horst Obber (?)

The Beatles At The Hollywood Bowl (1977)

Not presently available on CD although I have an old 'Music For Pleasure' catalogue from Spring/Summer 1992 that lists:

BEATLES: AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL - inc. Help, Hard Days Night,
Ticket To Ride, Twist And Shout, All My Loving.

[cd] MfP 5676 | [tape] TC MfP 5676

If you see this anywhere it might be worth picking up. Don't know about the sound quality but as it's an official release should be good. This is something else that is due for a remaster and re-release.

Recorded live, August 23rd 1964 (*) and August 30th 1965

Sessions (1985)

Planned for release (I think only five were actually pressed), this is the infamous Sessions album and related singles that were annoyingly scrapped. These tracks are available on numerous Sessions bootlegs. The songs were remixed by Geoff Emerick who, in my opinion, didn't do a very good job as most, if not all, have been edited slightly and generally messed around with.

    1:

  1. Come and Get It (2.26) (24th July 1969)
  2. Leave My Kitten Alone (2.54) (Take 5 - 14th August 1964)
  3. Not Guilty (3.17) (7th August 1968)
  4. I'm Looking Through You (2.52) (Take 1 - 24th October 1965)
  5. What's The New Mary Jane? (5.59) (14th August 1968)

    2:

  1. How Do You Do It? (1.55) (4th September 1962)
  2. Besame Mucho (2.33) (6th June 1962)
  3. One After 909 (2.53) (5th March 1963)
  4. If You've Got Troubles (2.21) (18th February 1965)
  5. That Means A Lot (2.25/2.27?) (Take 2 - 20th February 1965)
  6. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (3.21) (Take 1 - 25th July 1968)
  7. Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues (1.50) (29th January 1969)
  8. Christmas Time (Is Here Again) (1.08) (28th November 1967)

Singles

U.K.: Leave My Kitten Alone b/w Hello Goodbye (Alternate Version)
U.S.: Leave My Kitten Alone b/w Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (Alternate Version) (Take 5 - 3rd>5th July 1968)

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Last updated: 13th August 1998