In 1994, The Beatles' Live At The BBC was released to worldwide acclaim - hitting number one in the U.K. and number three in the U.S. and selling more than five million copies within six weeks.
In the studios of the British Broadcasting Corporation, The Beatles performed music for a variety of radio shows. Live at the BBC presents the sound of The Beatles seizing their moment to play for the nation. Thrilled to hear these exciting recordings again, Paul McCartney said, 'There's a lot of energy and spirit. We are going for it, not holding back at all, trying to put in the best performance of our lifetimes.'
Between March 1962 and June 1965, no fewer than 275 unique musical performances by The Beatles were broadcast by the BBC in the U.K. The group played songs on 39 radio shows in 1963 alone. Ringo Starr said in 1994, 'You tend to forget that we were a working band. It's that mono sound. There were usually no overdubs. We were in at the count-in and that was it. I get excited listening to them.' On their busiest BBC day, 16 July 1963, The Beatles recorded 18 songs for three editions of their Pop Go The Beatles series in fewer than seven hours.
The group played 88 distinct songs in their BBC sessions - some were recorded many times; others performed just once. At the time, three national BBC stations provided all daytime radio broadcasting in the U.K. Only the Light Programme network might occasionally play a record. Most broadcast music was live music. Consequently, to promote their releases, The Beatles had to play live at the BBC. 'Everything was done instantly,' remembered George Harrison, 'But before that, we used to drive 200 miles in an old van down the M1, come into London, try and find the BBC and then set up and do the program. Then we'd probably drive back to Newcastle for a gig in the evening!'
Newly remastered for reissue, The Beatles' first Live at the BBC album sounds and looks better than ever. This collection of the group's BBC sessions mixed versions of their hits with a treasure trove of 30 songs The Beatles performed on air but never released on record in the 1960s. The compelling track list ranged from a rare performance of the little known Lennon-McCartney original 'I'll Be On My Way' to covers of classic rock 'n' roll and contemporary rhythm and blues songs. At the time of its release, Live at the BBC was hailed by Rolling Stone as 'an exhilarating portrait of a band in the process of shaping its own voice and vision.' It earned a GRAMMY Award nomination for Best Historical Album.
Available for the first time on three pieces of 180 gram vinyl in a double gatefold package.
Live at the BBC was assembled by George Martin in 1994.
Tracklisting
SIDE A:
Beatle Greetings (Speech)
From Us To You
Riding On A Bus (Speech)
I Got A Woman
Too Much Monkey Business
Keep Your Hands Off My Baby
I'll Be On My Way
Young Blood
A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues
Sure To Fall (In Love With You)
Some Other Guy
Thank You Girl
SIDE B:
Sha La La La La! (Speech)
Baby It's You
That's All Right (Mama)
Carol
What Is It, George (Speech)
Soldier Of Love
A Little Rhyme (Speech)
Clarabella
I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry (Over You)
Crying, Waiting, Hoping
Dear Wack! (Speech)
You Really Got A Hold On Me
SIDE C:
To Know Her Is To Love Her
Taste Of Honey
Long Tall Sally
I Saw Her Standing There
The Honeymoon Song
Johnny B Goode
Memphis, Tennessee
Lucille
Can't Buy Me Love
From Fluff To You (Speech)
Till There Was You
SIDE D:
Crinsk Dee Night (Speech)
A Hard Day's Night
Ringo? Yep! (Speech)
I Wanna Be Your Man
Just A Rumour (Speech)
Roll Over Beethoven
All My Loving
Things We Said Today
She's A Woman
Sweet Little Sixteen
1822! (Speech)
Lonesome Tears In My Eyes
SIDE E:
Nothin' Shakin'
The Hippy Hippy Shake
Glad All Over
I Just Don't Understand
So How Come
I Feel Fine
I'm A Loser
Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby
Rock And Roll Music
Ticket To Ride
SIDE F:
Dizzy Miss Lizzy
Kansas City / Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
Set Fire To That Lot! (Speech)
Matchbox
I Forgot To Remember To Forget
Love These Goon Shows! (Speech)
I Got To Find My Baby
Ooh! My Soul
Ooh! My Arms (Speech)
Don't Ever Change
Slow Down
Honey Don't
Love Me Do
From Us To You (Closing)