The Beatles Survivor #1 Winner: Twist and Shout

[bluesno1fann]

Twist And Shout by a landslide for me. One of the band's most iconic and enjoyable early rockers. Who gives a damn if it's a cover - the Beatles made it their own just as the Stones made I Wanna Be Your Man (from With The Beatles) their own!

[Emily]

bye bye 'twist', sad to see you go  

What is your vote for the best song? That's what it's on now.

For me, Please Please Me.

[RangeRoverA1]

Yes, I said it page ago. You didn't vote too, btw.

[Emily]

Yes, I said it page ago. You didn't vote too, btw.

I saw you said, but I thought I'd reiterate in hopes he says Please Please Me! 

I've now voted.

[bringahorseinhere?]

oh my, seems like I just cut my own throat
Please Please Me is the best song on the album.
excellent harmony melody, cool guitar chords, and that
cool E - G - C - B7 - E ending.
That's my vote.

[feelsflow]

My favorite songs from this album are:  "There's A Place" and "Ask Me Why" and "Anna" -in that order.

The three that are left are all very very good, because The Beatles were very very good.  The best band the UK ever produced.

"Twist and Shout" by The Beatles is my favorite version of that song.  I love many of the cover versions they did, one of which is in my Top 3.  John was my favorite singer and writer in The Beatles when I was living thru the times.
Paul had plenty of great songs, and they wrote many many great songs together.  They both added little touches to each others songs to make them better.  John just had so much more Soul in their early days.  Paul couldn't equal that until 1966.

Then something happened...  I'll talk about that when we get there.

What I should have made more clear about my thoughts on "Twist and Shout" is that this performance was not the best, not the best John could do, cover or not.  I don't think it was a great idea to record an album in a day.  I'm sure they thought so too.  Their second album blew the first one away.  We all noticed the six weak numbers, and voted them out in the first six rounds, one after another.

I see these last three standing as almost a tie, but I will pick one:

"Please Please Me" 

[feelsflow]

... the Stones made I Wanna Be Your Man (from With The Beatles) their own!

Hey Rei,  nice to see you are still around.  I see you over on the SHF as well.

I don't think the Stones made it their own, exactly.  They gave it their own unique spin.  As you know, the Stones were basically a covers band in their early days.  They bested many songs with a cover.  It was great they were still playing it on a recent tour.  The Stones sure do beat Paul's lame live version.  The Beatles version?  That's right around the corner.  > 

[RangeRoverA1]

Neither is career highlight in 2 bands. It's little curio for The Rolling Stones as song given to them by the Beatles. That's it. Then everybody forgot & moved on.

[jiggy22]

Twist and Shout purely for John's raw, powerful lead vocal performance. It helped define what Rock and Roll is considered today!

[Gertie J.]

twist and shout

[JK]

I can't be doing with kicking stuff out but the top track for me (on a genius debut album of all good tracks) is "There's A Place", if only for the harmonica and the intervals between the voices.

It's a song of few notes where every single note counts...

[NOLA BB Fan]

There's a Place was my favorite on this album as well.

[B.E.]

Please Please Me vs Twist and Shout... I've been agonizing over this decision for days! I think Please Please Me is a more interesting song and I really love the harmonies and the "C'Mon" section, but I have to go with the iconic Twist and Shout. I love that the Beatles repeated the build up and had a complete ending. For me, it really enhances the experience. Also, the build up itself in the Beatles version is IMO one of the most exciting moments in rock n roll history (along with She Loves You) and perfectly captures the energy of Beatlemania. Interestingly, I just picked up the new release of Live at Hollywood Bowl and was reminded that the Beatles began performing Twist and Shout by jumping from the intro straight to the build up. Assuming that they were performing that song first to kick off the set (as it was sequenced on the live album), what a fantastic idea! Listening to that was a revelation.

Also, for those who have only heard Please Please Me in stereo I recommend listening to the mono version. John's vocal flub and laugh (though endearing) and the odd speed problem at the end of the stereo version are not present in the mono version.

So, I vote for Twist and Shout.

[petsoundsnola]

I Saw Her Standing There for the win.

One of the best opening songs on an album EVER.

What a way to kick off the Beatles' album career!

[Emily]

Also, for those who have only heard Please Please Me in stereo I recommend listening to the mono version. John's vocal flub and laugh (though endearing) and the odd speed problem at the end of the stereo version are not present in the mono version.

Aha!! Thank you! I had all the Capitol lps when I was a kid then at some point replaced them with CDs and whenever I've listened to Please Please Me, I've felt a little irked, feeling like it had a sanitized or... something was different. I'm missing the flub and laugh! I will have to go find a stereo version for nostalgia's sake.

[RangeRoverA1]

2Emily: check the vids of John goofing around in Mellotron. No. 4 is my favorite coz it's dark, a bit frightening & freakish. You'll like it.

[Emily]

2Emily: check the vids of John goofing around in Mellotron. No. 4 is my favorite coz it's dark, a bit frightening & freakish. You'll like it.

Will do. Thanks, RRA1!

[bluesno1fann]

Neither is career highlight in 2 bands. It's little curio for The Rolling Stones as song given to them by the Beatles. That's it. Then everybody forgot & moved on.

I wouldn't quite go that far. For the Stones, it was their first major single (as much as I like Come On), and features not only a prominent and memorable Wyman bass line, but also the first slide guitar work on a British pop/rock single, courtesy of Brian Jones.... back in 1963 there really was nothing like it

[RangeRoverA1]

I wouldn't quite go that far. For the Stones, it was their first major single (as much as I like Come On), and features not only a prominent and memorable Wyman bass line, but also the first slide guitar work on a British pop/rock single, courtesy of Brian Jones.... back in 1963 there really was nothing like it

You & your Wyman. I know you're big fan of his but I don't consider him very spectacular bass player. Competent, good but that's it. But then, I know nothing about guitars, never played any, other than toy guitar. Imo Keith is/was better bass player. Source: ears.

Back to topic - pixletwin, when do you tally votes? 20th September passed.

[bluesno1fann]

I wouldn't quite go that far. For the Stones, it was their first major single (as much as I like Come On), and features not only a prominent and memorable Wyman bass line, but also the first slide guitar work on a British pop/rock single, courtesy of Brian Jones.... back in 1963 there really was nothing like it

You & your Wyman. I know you're big fan of his but I don't consider him very spectacular bass player. Competent, good but that's it. But then, I know nothing about guitars, never played any, other than toy guitar. Imo Keith is/was better bass player. Source: ears.

Back to topic - pixletwin, when do you tally votes? 20th September passed.

The thing with Keith is that he's a typical guitarist playing bass - and it shows. Any doubts about Wyman's abilities would be blown away by his terrific work on songs such as Miss You, 19th Nervous Breakdown, 2120 South Michigan Avenue... etc. He was also brilliant on the early R&B covers such as Around And Around and Route 66 - now there's a bassist who can really swing  ... Always a joy and a challenge to cover on bass IMO

[RangeRoverA1]

I'm aware of those songs you mentioned, in fact "2120 South Michigan Avenue" is in my Top 30 by the Stones & among favorite instrumentals. The bass there is "fat" & groovy but in principle, Bill Wyman isn't good bassist imo. I didn't say that Keith is good, only if compare with Wyman.
good for you to play bass as Bill though.

[pixletwin]

We have a tie.

6 votes for Please Please Me and 6 votes for Twist and Shout.

The first new vote for either one is the SURVIVOR...

Come one. One more person needs to vote.

[B.E.]

I count 7 for Twist and Shout: Reply#193,194,197,200,208,209,212

[Jay]

Please Please Me.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Please Please Me.

I'd rather not....