The Beatles Survivor #1 Winner: Twist and Shout

[NOLA BB Fan]

Anna!

[bluesno1fann]

Ask Me Why

[Emily]

Ask me why

[RangeRoverA1]

Baby It's You. Great vocal by John, but it's a ho-hum song

It's very nice of you to say - it's really boring track.

[pixletwin]

Baby It's You. Great vocal by John, but it's a ho-hum song

It's very nice of you to say - it's really boring track.

Is that your vote?

[RangeRoverA1]

Yes - didn't you see I voted for "Baby it's you" before in every round?

[pixletwin]

Yes - didn't you see I voted for "Baby it's you" before in every round?

I can't remember. lol

[B.E.]

Ask Me Why, reluctantly. I enjoy the vocals. Had I voted last round it would have also been for Love Me Do. These songs have never been favorites of mine, but they've been growing on me. In the case of Love Me Do, I'm reminded how I miss John's harmonica playing on the later albums.

[JK]

In the case of Love Me Do, I'm reminded how I miss John's harmonica playing on the later albums.

Yes indeed! Those early tracks with harmonica are like nothing else before or since (except perhaps "Hey! Baby"). 

 

[Rocky Raccoon]

Ask Me Why, reluctantly. I enjoy the vocals. Had I voted last round it would have also been for Love Me Do. These songs have never been favorites of mine, but they've been growing on me. In the case of Love Me Do, I'm reminded how I miss John's harmonica playing on the later albums.

Love Me Do has never been a favorite of mine but I think that harmonica sound alone is iconic so I'm surprised to see it gone so soon.  Also, I saw Paul live a few weeks ago and he's been doing an acoustic version on this tour and it's pretty awesome.

As for my vote, still goes to Anna.

I predict it's going to come down to Twist and Shout, Please Please Me, and I Saw Her Standing There.  And that's when it's going to get tough!

[RangeRoverA1]

I predict it's going to come down to Twist and Shout, Please Please Me, and I Saw Her Standing There.

Some posters here don't like "Twist & Shout", f.ex. Rick Bartlett, edit: EgoHanger1966. They think it is overrated. I consider it "Please please me". good drumming from Ringo & that's about it.

[KDS]

I predict it's going to come down to Twist and Shout, Please Please Me, and I Saw Her Standing There.

Some posters here don't like "Twist & Shout", f.ex. Rick Bartlett, KDS. They think it is overrated. I consider it "Please please me". good drumming from Ringo & that's about it.

I love Twist and Shout

[bringahorseinhere?]

I think that live John energy works on 'twist and shout', but the song itself, is just 'meh'.
No matter who does it.  A bit like the song 'shout', it's 'meh', just not musically exciting I think for me.
maybe heard it too much, maybe played it too much in bands...
 

[feelsflow]

In the case of Love Me Do, I'm reminded how I miss John's harmonica playing on the later albums.

Yes indeed! Those early tracks with harmonica are like nothing else before or since (except perhaps "Hey! Baby"). 

 

The harmonica tracks are part of what makes the early songs unique, as does the three-part harmonies - like on "This Boy."
Two of my favorite Beatles harmonica tracks are "Little Child" and "I Should Have Known Better."

Hey John, we're going to do Bruce Channel next!  "Hey! Baby" - loved Conway Twitty's rockin' Country version in 1970, with steel guitar replacing the harmonica.  Arthur Alexander (writer of "Anna" and "You Better Move On"), and big Lennon influence ("Soldier of Love" and "A Shot of Rhythm and Blues) did a great version.  Channel's version is the best, with Delbert McClinton on harmonica (who Lennon met when The Beatles were second-billed to Channel, 21 June 1962).

My vote goes to "Baby It's You" - the best version of this song.  I always liked Costello's take as well.

[Rocky Raccoon]

My vote goes to "Baby It's You" - the best version of this song.  I always liked Costello's take as well.

You're supposed to vote for your least favorite track.  I do love Baby It's You as well, the Live at the BBC version in particular.

[RangeRoverA1]

I think that live John energy works on 'twist and shout', but the song itself, is just 'meh'.
No matter who does it.  A bit like the song 'shout', it's 'meh', just not musically exciting I think for me.
maybe heard it too much, maybe played it too much in bands...
 

The Beatles version has energy but I like the song itself. Beatles were good as studio band, John & Paul live esp. seemed nervous.

[pixletwin]

John always sang T&S with a bit  more soul live. The PPM version is far more shouty than he typically sang.

[RangeRoverA1]

I didn't say it was with less soul - I said generally, the Beatles weren't that good live; it shows that they didn't like touring & would rather work quietly in the studio.

[KDS]

I didn't say it was with less soul - I said generally, the Beatles weren't that good live; it shows that they didn't like touring & would rather work quietly in the studio.

I think part of the problem was that they couldn't hear themselves.  Concert PAs were nothing in the early to mid 60s, and with all the screaming, it was impossible to hear.  That, and the fact that their studio compositions were getting increasingly difficult to reproduce live, lead to their getting off the road fifty years ago this month. 

If you really want to check out some Beatles live stuff, their BBC releases are quite good. 

[RangeRoverA1]

The 1st thing listed seems like poor excuse. Other artists were equally good live as in the studio, despite the technical issues. Then, the BBs performed their challenging tracks live & I don't just say Pet Sounds.

[KDS]

The 1st thing listed seems like poor excuse. Other artists were equally good live as in the studio, despite the technical issues. Then, the BBs performed their challenging tracks live & I don't just say Pet Sounds.

But, few other bands dealt with the mania that greeted The Beatles at their concerts. 

But, while they did deal with some issues, I really wouldn't say The Beatles were a poor live band. 

And to address pixletwin, John's voice was pretty much shredded by the time they recorded T&S.  It was the last song recorded during a marathon session, and he basically had to shout to produce any kind of usable vocal. 

[Chocolate Shake Man]

The Beatles became the most popular band in Liverpool before they had a recording contract precisely because of the strength of their live act. Keep in mind, too, that Liverpool was the English city at that time where rock and roll music was actually being played live. The Beatles had the capacity for being one of the best live bands but their act had to be structured due to the immense pressure they were under and the rigid schedule that they had. But I do urge anyone to listen to the December 1962 Hamburg show to discover the kind of live act The Beatles genuinely were. The first hand accounts largely discussed what a thrilling experience The Beatles were live.

[RangeRoverA1]

In early years they were good but it doesn't show in youtube videos of when they became famous & got cult status. The show in Japan, f.ex., is very weak. Despite John shredding his voice, "Twist & shout" ended up being very energetic in the studio. From youtube videos seen, The Beatles seemed very static & very nervous. Not the definition of "good live band". I listened to Hamburg shows but didn't refer to them. When they got famous, with albums, they weren't good live.

[KDS]

The Beatles were pretty burnt out by those Japan shows.  Check out Shea Stadium 1965.

[pixletwin]

In early years they were good but it doesn't show in youtube videos of when they became famous & got cult status. The show in Japan, f.ex., is very weak. Despite John shredding his voice, "Twist & shout" ended up being very energetic in the studio. From youtube videos seen, The Beatles seemed very static & very nervous. Not the definition of "good live band". I listened to Hamburg shows but didn't refer to them. When they got famous, with albums, they weren't good live.

John agrees with you. Their manager, Brian Epstein, sort of knocked all the rough edges from them when he took over managing them. It had a huge influence on their live performance. Compound that with not being able to hear themselves play for the next 3 years and it is what it is.