| Beatles for Sale | |
 | |
| Released | 4 December 1964 |
| Recorded | August–October 1964 |
| Studio | EMI Studios, London |
| Genre | Folk rock Rock and roll Country Pop rock Rockabilly |
| Length | 33:32 |
| Label | Parlophone |
| Producer | George Martin |
| Album Guide | |
| previous A Hard Day's Night |
next Help! |
Beatles for Sale is the fourth studio album by English rock band The Beatles, released on 4 December 1964 by Parlophone. The album marked a departure from the ebullient tone that characterised the band's previous work, partly due to their exhaustion from a series of tours that established them as a worldwide phenomenon. Musically, it introduced darker moods and more introspective lyrics, with songwriter John Lennon adopting an autobiographical perspective on songs such as "I'm a Loser" and "No Reply". It also reflected the twin influences of country music and Bob Dylan, whom the Beatles met in New York in August 1964.
Beatles for Sale was recorded at London's EMI Studios in between the band's touring and radio engagements. Partly as a result of their hectic schedule, only eight tracks are original compositions, with cover songs being used to complete the track listing; the sessions also produced the non-album single "I Feel Fine", backed by "She's a Woman". Eight of the album's fourteen tracks appeared on Capitol Records' concurrent release Beatles '65, issued in North America only.
In the United Kingdom, Beatles for Sale held the top spot for eleven of the 46 weeks it spent within the top 20. The album was not released in the United States until 1987, when the Beatles' catalogue was standardised for release on CD. Beatles for Sale was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry for shipments of over 100,000 copies, and platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipments of over 1 million copies.
Tracks[]
All songs written by Lennon/McCartney, except where noted otherwise.
Side one[]
| No. | Tittle | Songwriter(s) | Lead Vocal(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | No Reply | Lennon with McCartney | Lennon with McCartney | 2:15 |
| 2 | I'm a Loser | Lennon | Lennon | 2:31 |
| 3 | Baby's in Black | Lennon and McCartney | Lennon and McCartney | 2:02 |
| 4 | Rock and Roll Music | Chuck Berry | Lennon | 2:03 |
| 5 | I'll Follow the Sun | McCartney | McCartney with Lennon | 1:46 |
| 6 | Mr. Moonlight | Roy Lee Johnson | Lennon | 2:33 |
| 7 | Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey! | Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller and Richard Penniman | McCartney | 2:33 |
Side two[]
| No. | Tittle | Songwriter(s) | Lead Vocal(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eight Days a Week | McCartney with Lennon | Lennon with McCartney | 2:43 |
| 2 | Words of Love | Buddy Holly | Lennon, McCartney and Harrison | 2:12 |
| 3 | Honey Don't | Carl Perkins | Starr | 2:55 |
| 4 | Every Little Thing | McCartney | Lennon with McCartney | 2:01 |
| 5 | I Don't Want to Spoil the Party | Lennon | Lennon | 2:33 |
| 6 | What You're Doing | McCartney | McCartney | 2:30 |
| 7 | Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby | Carl Perkins | Harrison | 2:23 |
Credits[]
- John Lennon:lead, harmony and backing vocals, rhythm guitar (1964 Rickenbacker 325), acoustic guitar (1964 Gibson J-160E), 12-string acoustic guitar (1964 Framus Hootenanny), lead guitar (1964 Rickenbacker 325/12) on "Every Little Thing", harmonica, tambourine, piano, and handclaps
- Paul McCartney: lead, harmony and backing vocals, bass guitar (1963 Hofner 500/1), Hammond organ, piano, and handclaps
- George Harrison: lead, harmony and backing vocals, lead guitar (1963 Gretsch 6122 Country Gentleman), (1963 Gretsch 6119 Tennessean), (1963 Rickenbacker 360/12), acoustic guitar (1962 Gibson J-160E), African drum and handclaps
- Ringo Starr: lead vocals on "Honey Don't", drums, and various percussion instruments (tambourine, Timpani,Bongos,Cowbell and Packing Case)
- George Martin: Piano, Production and Photography.
- Robert Freeman: Photography
- Derek Taylor: Liner Notes
Instruments[]
- Grestch Tennessean
- Grestch Country Gentleman
- Rickenbacker 360/12
- Rickenbacker 325
- Framus Hootenanny
- Hofner 500/1
- Gibson J-160E