rdnzl
I'll Be On My Way
Pastor Of Muppets
Posts: 251
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Post by rdnzl on Jun 2, 2013 5:35:46 GMT
I am completely biased, as a life long Beatles fanatic, to make the claim that the "Please Please Me" album is the greatest debut album ever. I can think of many other debut albums, like "Are You Experienced" (Jimi Hendrix Experience), "Deja Vu"(Crosby Stills Nash & Young), "My Generation" (The Who), "This Was" (Jethro Tull), "Jefferson Airplane Takes Off", or "In The Court Of The Crimson King" (King Crimson); but none of those albums conveys the emotion and excitement of The Beatles' first album.
I became familiar with the tracks from this album through the many U.S. releases of this material. My mom had the Vee Jay album "Introducing The Beatles". I played it quite a lot. I remember it had a black label with silver lettering, and that it was not the stereo version. The songs became imbedded in my 3 year old mind. My mother always said that I learned to walk just so I could play The Beatles on her record player!
It wasn't until my late teens that I heard the "Please Please Me" album proper. I discovered that the British releases of The Beatles' albums were superior to the crappy American albums I grew up on, and I gradually turned my Beatles collection British.
Now I'm 51 years old, and I am familiar with the "Please Please Me" album as well as the stories behind the sessions. In its historical context, "Please Please Me" is an exhilarating affair. Here was a band determined to play well enough to insure that EMI Records would demand more product from them in the future. They utilized the skills they learned in live performance, and they completed the ten songs required for the album in one day, at minimal cost. Each band member was at the top of their game. Ringo did some of his finest drumming at these sessions. Vocally Ringo is heard once, belting out a song previously recorded by The Shirelles called "Boys". While his voice was never great, he manages to hold it together. George does a fine job on lead guitar throughout the album, and he's given a lead vocal on two tracks, "Do You Want To Know A Secret", and "Chains". He always sounded nervous on these tracks to me.
Paul's bass playing skills are prominent as always, and his lead vocal attack on the albums' first track "I Saw Her Standing There", is one of rock and roll's incredible moments. He shows his versatility by shedding his rock 'n roll voice for that of a balladeer on "A Taste Of Honey". For John, this day long session came at a bad time. He was had a terrible cold that threatened to sabotage the session, but he hung in there and gave it a go. In fact, John's vocals on this album are among his best. His cover of Arthur Alexander's "Anna" is superb.However, his most impressive feat is "Twist And Shout", the Isley Brothers screamer that ends the album. John's cold was so rough on his throat that they decided to save "Twist And Shout" for last. John knew that this song would have to be the last. It was done in one take, although a 2nd take was recorded. The 2nd take, although complete, was unusable because take one had rendered John's voice finished for the day. A close listen to the released version reveals Lennon in a voice that was about to give out, and yet he sounded cool.
Vocally, their harmonies are tight; a quality that would become a Beatles trademark from that point forward. Apart from a few piano overdubs added by their producer George Martin at another session, these ten songs were completed on February 11, 1963. Four other songs on "Please Please Me" were the four previously released songs from their first two Parlophone singles (Love Me Do, P.S. I Love You, Please Please Me and Ask Me Why).
So I will stick to my guns and say that "Please Please Me" is the greatest debut album of all time.
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tkitna
I'll Be On My Way
Posts: 214
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Post by tkitna on Jun 2, 2013 7:00:38 GMT
I'm glad you like it enough to feel that way rdnzl, but its not even close to being the best debut album in my world. When I hear PPM, I can see where the boys are going and there are definite moments of gold, but as a whole, I feel its a pretty jumbled mismatch of songs and musical skills. They were just starting in the studio and thats to be expected, but it is what it is. Of course, the album coming out at that time had an affect also.
Give me a few of these debuts and i'd be content-
The Cars Foreigner Led Zeppelin Boston Kansas Music From The Big Pink - The Band Appetite For Destruction - GNR
etc,,,,
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Post by mrmustard on Jun 2, 2013 9:33:39 GMT
Nice review Rdnzl. You should stick to your guns about Please Please Me being the best debut album. It's got to be up there at the top. However if I was forced to give my favourite debut of all time I would have to go with one of your other examples, King Crimsons In The Court of the Crimson King.
Tkitna, that's a ropey list that doesn't really stand up. I agree Boston and The Band are contenders but none of the others even come close. Appetite For Destruction? Come on! Great intro on Welcome To The Jungle but that's about it. A couple of hit songs too. I love Slash but Axl Rose is an arsehole and being an ELO fan isn't enough to make up for that.
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tkitna
I'll Be On My Way
Posts: 214
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Post by tkitna on Jun 2, 2013 10:22:26 GMT
Doesnt really stand up? Zeppelins first? The Cars album is legendary with no bad songs. Foreigner is a record that one would be hard pressed to complain about. I can forgive Kansas, but they are one of my favorites. I'm not a big GNR fan,but Appetite is a historical album. I dont think anybody would argue that. It is the highest selling debut album of all time after all.
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rdnzl
I'll Be On My Way
Pastor Of Muppets
Posts: 251
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Post by rdnzl on Jun 2, 2013 12:00:20 GMT
I stand firm on my position here. I couldn't possibly change my mind about the greatest debut album of all time. Production-wise "Please Please Me" may not have been as technically pleasing as the Boston album, but rock and roll was still in its' infancy in 1963.
And besides, my declaration that PPM is the greatest debut album ever is just my opinion. A reminder of the Led Zeppelin album doesn't change what I believe.
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Post by Mr Kite on Jun 2, 2013 12:35:29 GMT
Great review rndzl.
To say it`s the best debut ever is quite a statement. But a good one . Most debut albums mentioned are not even close to PPM .
Led Zeppelin is a brilliant album but Page had been in the recording world for a few years and if you hear Truth , Jeff Beck with Page in fact on it you have a template for Led Zepp . Same again with Crsoby Stills And Nash . Not really there first time in the studio . For The Beatles to go in the studio and make an album in less than 10 hours with no experience make it without doubt the best debut album ever .
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Post by The End on Jun 2, 2013 16:12:45 GMT
So I will stick to my guns and say that "Please Please Me" is the greatest debut album of all time. Great review, and I would also agree that this is the greatest debut album of all time. Opinions though are like earholes, everyone's got two!!! LOL! AL
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rdnzl
I'll Be On My Way
Pastor Of Muppets
Posts: 251
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Post by rdnzl on Jun 2, 2013 16:53:33 GMT
I tried hard to think of a debut album that beats PPM, and I couldn't find one. And I think that being a life long Beatles fan has influenced my opinion. But I'm happy with it.
Other debut albums that I enjoy that don't come close to PPM in my opinion:
ZZ Top's First Album - This one is actually better than most of the rest of their albums. They became too slick. Gentle Giant - The first of many decent GG albums... Yes -Somewhat decent, but this band didn't find their footing until "The Yes Album". The Grateful Dead - Almost a complete misrepresentation of what the GD were. Many songs recorded way too fast. Axe Victim -Be Bop Deluxe - This is a fine album. Better than PPM? Nope. Vol.1 -Traveling Wilburys - Great album, but not better than PPM. Bob Dylan -Very good album, but not great. The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn- Pink Floyd -Not a huge fan of Syd Barrett's contributions to PF. Still a good album, but not better than PPM. Freak Out! - The Mothers Of Invention - No way is this better than PPM, as ground breaking as "Freak Out" was. Emerson Lake & Palmer - Another fine debut album. Not as good to me as PPM, but it's pretty close! The Wallflowers - A remarkable debut album. I'll probably listen to this today. Not better than PPM. The Aerosol Grey Machine -Van Der Graaf Generator - Wow! I love this one. But still not better than PPM in my opinion.
An opinion isn't wrong just because I think I disagree with it. Everyone else may be right and maybe I'm delusional. But I see that a few agree with me already. But stand up for your opinion. It makes this website more interesting!
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Post by mrmustard on Jun 2, 2013 19:02:28 GMT
I tried hard to think of a debut album that beats PPM, and I couldn't find one. And I think that being a life long Beatles fan has influenced my opinion. But I'm happy with it. An opinion isn't wrong just because I think I disagree with it. Everyone else may be right and maybe I'm delusional. But I see that a few agree with me already. But stand up for your opinion. It makes this website more interesting! Why are you trying so hard to think of another better debut album than Please Please Me. For you there isn't. For me it's out of this and In The Court of the Crimson King. I just feel that based on musical ingenuity and performance, this is why it has the edge on Please Please Me. Ok, so there's no hit singles but that's not the point.
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Post by mrmustard on Jun 2, 2013 19:17:21 GMT
Doesnt really stand up? Zeppelins first? The Cars album is legendary with no bad songs. Foreigner is a record that one would be hard pressed to complain about. I can forgive Kansas, but they are one of my favorites. I'm not a big GNR fan,but Appetite is a historical album. I dont think anybody would argue that. It is the highest selling debut album of all time after all. Sales have got nothing to do it. Appetite For Destruction is a good album but in comparison to Please Please Me and other debut albums mentioned its nowhere near in the same league. Where's the influence on the future of music and other bands? Please don't say Mötley Crüe, Poison and the likes.
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rdnzl
I'll Be On My Way
Pastor Of Muppets
Posts: 251
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Post by rdnzl on Jun 2, 2013 22:34:29 GMT
I tried hard to think, but didn't hurt my brain. Since I was declaring PPM the greatest debut album ever, I wanted to be sure I didn't overlook any albums. Believe me, if The Who's debut was "Quadrophenia", that would have beaten PPM. I'm sure that the fact that The Beatles were my first favorite group has tainted my opinion with prejudice. King Crimson's debut was fantastic. It probably belongs at the top of my list. But in my twisted mind PPM is everything a debut album should be. It came out in 1963, which was a simpler time. Imagine if KC released "In The Court Of The Crimson King" in 1963. That would have been a mind bender!
I'm enjoying this little debate about debut albums, by the way!
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Post by mrmustard on Jun 2, 2013 22:44:18 GMT
Quadrophenia is a fantastic album. By far my favourite Who album and one of my all tome favourites. The Who are currently touring Quadrophenia and I'm seeing them live at the end of the month in Liverpool. Are they or have they been touring over your way rdnzi?
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Post by ROCKY on Jun 2, 2013 23:27:58 GMT
Look below
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Post by ROCKY on Jun 2, 2013 23:31:59 GMT
Of course when you say best selling debut lp of all time it's going to be later (GNR) because there were more frigging people buying records then!lol But if you were to say the most important debut lp of all time (for the music business) it would be Elvis. Then The Beatles. Then anyone else. Without those first two you wouldn't have anyone else. lol
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tkitna
I'll Be On My Way
Posts: 214
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Post by tkitna on Jun 3, 2013 0:00:37 GMT
Doesnt really stand up? Zeppelins first? The Cars album is legendary with no bad songs. Foreigner is a record that one would be hard pressed to complain about. I can forgive Kansas, but they are one of my favorites. I'm not a big GNR fan,but Appetite is a historical album. I dont think anybody would argue that. It is the highest selling debut album of all time after all. Sales have got nothing to do it. Appetite For Destruction is a good album but in comparison to Please Please Me and other debut albums mentioned its nowhere near in the same league. Where's the influence on the future of music and other bands? Please don't say Mötley Crüe, Poison and the likes. I think your love for the Beatles may have you somewhat short sighted here Mr.M. Like I said, i'm not a huge GNR fan, but I recognize AFD for what it is. Influence? Good lord, the album ended hair metal and techno pop in the 80's and drove music back to the harder rock and roll that popular music was craving. GNR was to the late 80's and 90's what the Stones were to the 60's. AFD is a way more consistent album then PPM. PPM has a ton of filler on it. I really cant believe i'm arguing for Guns and Roses, but i'm even more baffled as to how your selling short what many consider the greatest debut album of all time.
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tkitna
I'll Be On My Way
Posts: 214
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Post by tkitna on Jun 3, 2013 0:03:00 GMT
Quadrophenia is a fantastic album. By far my favourite Who album and one of my all tome favourites. The Who are currently touring Quadrophenia and I'm seeing them live at the end of the month in Liverpool. Are they or have they been touring over your way rdnzi? My son and I saw them cover Quadrophenia in Pittsburgh 6 or 7 months ago. Awesome show. Zach is a flat out monster on the skins. You'll enjoy it Mr.M.
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tkitna
I'll Be On My Way
Posts: 214
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Post by tkitna on Jun 3, 2013 0:08:34 GMT
Of course when you say best selling debut lp of all time it's going to be later (GNR) because there were more frigging people buying records then!lol But if you were to say the most important debut lp of all time (for the music business) it would be Elvis. Then The Beatles. Then anyone else. Without those first two you wouldn't have anyone else. lol Really? If you want to play that game then who were the Beatles and Elvis' influences? What if Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins, Little Richard, or Eddie Cochran didnt put out any albums? Would that mean there would be no Beatles? Thats basically what your saying. Why are you saying that more people were buying GNR records at the time then the Beatles? Appetite for Destruction wasnt even intended for mainstream, but it caught on, so I dont buy your reasoning. Believe it or not, Elvis and the Beatles didnt invent music.
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Post by Amadeus on Jun 3, 2013 1:37:45 GMT
Everyone is wrong! The most important and influential LP ever is the first LP ever. 1948. So there! Chew Beatles! And it's a 12 incher too.
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rdnzl
I'll Be On My Way
Pastor Of Muppets
Posts: 251
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Post by rdnzl on Jun 3, 2013 11:01:56 GMT
I'm already preparing my next reviews, "With The Beatles - The Greatest Second Album Of All Time", "A Hard Day's Night - The Greatest Third Album Of All Time"...
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Post by veejayrick on Jun 3, 2013 11:42:16 GMT
I agree PPM was a GREAT debut album, one of the absolute best of all time, but would you consider Santana's 1969 first Lp or Chicago's CTA ? (BTW, "Boys" was a Shirelles original and "Chains" was originally by The Cookies ).
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