The Beatles Albums – The Beatles 1

The Beatles Albums – The Beatles 1   

Perhaps more aptly titled “The Beatles’ #1 Singles,” The Beatles:1, issued on November 13, 2000 (on the 30th anniversary of the Beatles’ highly-publicized break-up) is simply a collection of 27 Beatles singles that hit #1 on the UK and US charts between 1962 and 1970. (The B-side single “I Am the Walrus,” which has the distinction of simultaneously holding both the #1 and #2 slots on the charts is oddly missing from the package, as is the phenomenal “Strawberry Fields Forever” which according to the criteria used, only reached #2 on both charts.)   

Beginning with “Love Me Do” (released in the UK on October 5, 1962 and April 27, 1964 in the US), and ending with their swan-song offering “The Long and Winding Road” (released in the US on May 11, 1970), The Beatles:1 essentially tracks the Beatles’ sensational career across nine years as their music climbed to the top of the record charts, reigned as the archetype supreme of quality and creativity, and then took fans on one unimaginable ride after another–until their own journey came to its heartbreaking end.   

Compiled by famed Beatles producer George Martin and the three surviving Beatles (Paul, George, and Ringo) The Beatles:1 provides both a melancholy trip down memory lane, as well as an encapsulation of what many regard the most significant and inventive music of the 20th century.   

While it could be argued that this collection is geared toward new listeners and offers little to true Beatles fans (who likely have the original singles and/or other similar compilations; all 27 songs were made available on remastered collections in 1987, 1988, and 1993), when these extraordinary songs are listened to in succession (as presented here), fascinating insight emerges that may have initially eluded even devout Beatles fans.   

For example, in tracking through phenomenal chart-toppers like “Love Me Do” (track #1), “Yesterday” (track #11), “We Can Work It Out” (track #13), and “All You Need Is Love” (track #18), the relationship between the Beatles’ personal lives and their music becomes apparent. (In latter years, John was quoted as saying all the songs he wrote were ultimately about himself—which would seem quite feasible.) Also, in listening sequentially, the phenomenal evolution of the Beatles music becomes clearly delineated (and particularly apparent on the LPs) as tracks one through eight (1962—1964) reflect their contributions to the British “Mersey Beat” sound (exemplified by “I Feel Fine,” track #7), tracks nine through sixteen (1965—1966) the Folk-Rock-Psychedelic genre they essentially created (exemplified by “Ticket to Ride,” track #9), tracks seventeen through twenty-one (1967—1968) their venture into avant-garde experimentation (heard in “Hello, Good-bye,” track #19), and tracks twenty-two through twenty-seven (1969—1970) their almost full-circle return to their Rock ‘n’ Roll roots (evident in songs like “Get Back,” track #22). (Also, classics like “Ticket to Ride,” “Day Tripper,” and “Paperback Writer” definitively confirm—for both old and new fans–exactly who invented riff-driven Rock.)   

With the Beatles’ still-lamented break-up reintroduced into the American and European psyche on the 30th anniversary of that sad event, not only did The Beatles:1 receive almost unanimous positive reviews from critics, it topped the charts worldwide and has sold over 31 million copies. Also, following its 2000 release, it was the best selling album of the decade–worldwide.