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List Price: $11.98 | | Label: Polydor / Umgd
Salesrank: 109549
Released: November 7, 2000 |
| Our Price: $5.48 |
| Used Price: $5.54 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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In the Beginning Track Listing:
1. Ain't She Sweet - The Beatles
2. Cry for a Shadow - The Beatles
3. Let's Dance - Beat Brothers, Tony Sheridan
4. My Bonnie
5. Take Out Some Insurance on Me, Baby
6. What'd I Say - Beat Brothers, Tony Sheridan
7. Sweet Georgia Brown
8. When the Saints Go Marching In
9. Ruby Baby
10. Why
11. Nobody's Child
12. Ya Ya, Pts. 1-2 - Beat Brothers, Tony Sheridan
In the Beginning Reviews:
Wish It Could Be 5 Stars 
2009-09-24 - If you do some searching around, you'll find that there's another version of this album available on the Internet. As the owner of both, my advice is to stick with this one: the sound seems a little clearer and the bass is a little more vibrant. The story of German record producer/bandleader Bert Kaempfert signing British rock musician Tony Sheridan to record some sides backed by the Beatles is so well documented that the reader can get all the details elsewhere. This collection shows that Mr. Sheridan (he has lived in Germany so long, perhaps that should be Herr Sheridan) was perhaps one of the two most intriguing figures in pre-British Invasion rock (Johnny Kidd is the other). You can really hear the influence of Elvis Presley in Sheridan's singing -- listen for the affectations in Sheridan's vibrato, if nothing else. However, listen to his work as a guitarist, particularly his improvised solo in "My Bonnie." Such string bends and distortion you're unlikely to find in the work of any other British artist who was recording in 1961. Some of the other tracks fall flat: for example, Sheridan himself basically dismisses his guitar performance on the Jimmy Reed song "Take out Some Insurance" in a number of well-documented interviews. Keep in mind that this album is not really about the Beatles. Sure, "Cry for a Shadow" is the sole Beatles piece ever credited to Lennon and Harrison, and the instrumental sounds as much like the Shadows as the Shadows themselves. And, sure, "Ain't She Sweet" features the Beatles sans Sheridan. The historic Beatles material is OK, but the real meat in this album is the strange mix of old school/progressive in Sheridan, as well as the organ playing of the much underrated British keyboardist Roy Young on the tracks on which Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and Best (yes, this is the pre-Ringo Beatles) don't appear. Oh, and if you do buy this album just because the pre-fame Beatles appear on part of it, that's all the more reason to buy this one and not the other one you'll see advertised -- the bass response is better on this one. This is especially notable on the most famous cut that's here: "My Bonnie." Not only does this give the release a warmth, but it also puts Paul McCartney's exuberant electric bass solo on "My Bonnie" in the front of the texture.
The Beatles Before Beatlemania 
2009-06-06 - This CD compiles 12 some tracks the Beatles recorded back in 1962 with Tony Sheridan before they made it big and were struggling musicians. All the songs on here are raw and down to earth rock n roll songs bassicly. Key tracks include, Cry for a Shaddow, and My Bonnie. All in all good album to buy for someone whose knee deep into the Beatles
Sheridan' the Beat!
2008-08-03 - Most who buy this CD already know the history and squirrel away their precious Polydor Decca MGM 45s of Tony Sheridan/Beat Brothers/ Beatles that are offered here. I know I do! No sense in repeating what you know.
However, give it another listen. Not as BEATLES, not as 20th Century SAVIORS, but as a grin and have as much fun as they probably did.
Tony Sheridan may have been a Buddy Holley/Elvis wannabe, but he did have a knack for imitation. He, like the rest of the boys, came from a traditional English music hall childhood where contempory and oldies were part of a "good show". That's why creakers like "Sweet Georgia Brown" "My Bonnie" and "Saints" were recorded. It was manditory, promoters thought couldn't sell without it. Had to hit the grams, aunties, and the tots too. (+ listen to "Take Some Insurance Out"..it has an expletive that passed the censors very risque for the day)
This CD has some Beatle favorites. I think John's vocal of "Ain't She Sweet", is as much fun as he may ever had. "Cry for a Shadow", teenage George's tribute to his guitar hero band the Shadows, has the primal tone of his note perfect touch. "My Bonnie" is a great yelp that helped the Beatles realize they could do anything they wanted.
Nicely remastered, this is not an essential CD. It's more like a Flintstone vitamin than a true archaeological tablet.
A Completists nightmare ends.
2007-09-26 - If you're a Beatles completist, you've probably got most of these tunes already. What makes this package worth it is the original, long sought ORIGINAL SWEET GEORGIA BROWN. (Not the one with the Beatles references). I remember reading a Beatles discography that described chances of finding this on the original 45 as "remote," and that book was printed in the 1970's. Now it's here in digital format, so you can stop searching German garage sales, or whatever you're doing. So, snap this one up, even if you only get the song itself from Amazon downloader or iTunes.
Good for a hardcore fan
2006-12-29 - I bought this album expecting to hear more than two rare Beatles tracks, but that's all there are! The sound quality is quite good, and the two tracks featuring the Beatles sound great, but that's it. The rest are tracks featuring The Beatles backing up Tony Sharidan (England's version of Elvis). Also, according to two books I've read, the liner notes are misleading if not plain WRONG! If you are a purist or a hard core fan, than this is for you, but if you already own Anthology One, don't waste your cash.
