ALBUM GRADE: 8.5
Anthology 1 is a compilation album by the Beatles, released on 20 November 1995 by Apple Records as part of The Beatles Anthology series. It features rarities, outtakes and live performances from the period 1958–64, including songs with original bass player Stuart Sutcliffe and drummer Pete Best. It is the first in a trilogy of albums with Anthology 2 and Anthology 3, all of which tie in with the televised special The Beatles Anthology. It contains “Free as a Bird”, billed as the first new Beatles song in 25 years. The album topped the Billboard 200 album chart and was certified 8x Platinum by the RIAA.
SONG GRADES:
1. Free as a Bird – 7
2. “We were four guys … that’s all”
3. That’ll Be the Day – 7
4. In Spite of All the Danger – 6
5. “Sometimes I’d borrow … those still exist”
6. Hallelujah, I Love Her So – 5
7. You’ll Be Mine – 5
8. Cayenne – 5
9. “First of all … it didn’t do a thing here”
10. My Bonnie – 4
11. Ain’t She Sweet – 8
12. Cry for a Shadow – 6
13. “Brian was a beautiful guy … he presented us well”
14. “I secured them … a Beatle drink even then”
15. Searchin’ – 6
16. Three Cool Cats – 7
17. The Sheik of Araby – 5
18. Like Dreamers Do – 5
19. Hello Little Girl – 7
20. “Well, the recording test … by my artists”
21. Besame Mucho – 4
22. Love Me Do – 6
23. How Do You Do It – 8
24. Please Please Me 8
25. One After 909 (sequence) – 6
26. One After 909 (complete) – 7
27. Lend Me Your Comb – 6
28. I’ll Get You – 7
29. “We were performers … in Britain”
30. I Saw Her Standing There – 7
31. From Me to You – 7
32. Money (That’s What I Want) – 8
33. You Really Got a Hold on Me – 7
34. Roll Over Beethoven – 7
35. She Loves You – 8
36. Till There Was You – 6
37. Twist and Shout – 7
38. This Boy – 7
39. I Want to Hold Your Hand – 8
40. “Boys, what I was thinking…”
41. Moonlight Bay – 7
42. Can’t Buy Me Love
43. All My Loving – 7
44. You Can’t Do That – 7
45. And I Love Her – 7
46. A Hard Day’s Night – 7
47. I Wanna Be Your Man – 6
48. Long Tall Sally – 7
49. Boys – 6
50. Shout – 7
51. I’ll Be Back (Take 2) – 8
52. I’ll Be Back (Take 3) – 6
53. You Know What to Do – 6
54. No Reply (demo) – 6
55. Mr. Moonlight – 5
56. Leave My Kitten Alone – 10
57. No Reply – 7
58. Eight Days a Week (sequence) – 6
59. Eight Days a Week (complete) – 7
60. Kansas City / Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey! – 7
Produced by George Martin and Jeff Lynne.